Ja'qurius (Jack) Smith from Lakeland, FL committed to Cuse can't currently qualify and he appears headed to Cincy. He should be a VG player for you guys. The new rules makes it hard for schools to take chances anymore as you can lose a scholarship if he doesn't qualify late.

Cincy is killing it in recruiting this year. This looks to be a foundation class to build you back into a contender. Congrats and hope he can qualify for you guys.

https://syracusefan.com/threads/olb-jaqu...se.117322/

(01-05-2018 12:14 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  Ja'qurius (Jack) Smith from Lakeland, FL committed to Cuse can't currently qualify and he appears headed to Cincy. He should be a VG player for you guys. The new rules makes it hard for schools to take chances anymore as you can lose a scholarship if he doesn't qualify late.

Cincy is killing it in recruiting this year. This looks to be a foundation class to build you back into a contender. Congrats and hope he can qualify for you guys.

https://syracusefan.com/threads/olb-jaqu...se.117322/

what leads you to believe that he is headed to Cincinnati. Would be a great pick-up in a position of need.

How can a player not qualify for one school, but qualify for another? Neither Syracuse nor Cincinnati accept non-qualifiers. Considering we only have 2 spots left, it would seem questionable to risk losing a scholarship on a non-qualifier, when our roster is still so depleted from the program's worst football coach in more than a generation.

Perhaps Ja'qurius Smith is reconsidering his commitment for perfectly legitimate reasons?

(01-05-2018 12:26 PM)TubaCat Wrote:  How can a player not qualify for one school, but qualify for another? Neither Syracuse nor Cincinnati accept non-qualifiers. Considering we only have 2 spots left, it would seem questionable to risk losing a scholarship on a non-qualifier, when our roster is still so depleted from the program's worst football coach in more than a generation.

Perhaps Ja'qurius Smith is reconsidering his commitment for perfectly legitimate reasons?

Cuse never sent him forms to sign in December...

Maybe he doesn't meet Syracuse admission standards?

I visited that Syracuse forum and had a good chuckle at this one:

Quote:IthacaBarrel
Shaky Potatoes
we aren't going to get where we need to be by recruiting kids who wind up at Cinci. That much I know

I think Mr. Bigshot there forgot that lil ol' Cincy was 7-1 against Syracuse in the Big East, with the 1 loss coming after a coaching turnover.

Regardless, thank you for the well wishes, but I'm not sure that Fickell would take the risk if academics are truly an issue.

(01-05-2018 12:37 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(01-05-2018 12:26 PM)TubaCat Wrote:  How can a player not qualify for one school, but qualify for another? Neither Syracuse nor Cincinnati accept non-qualifiers. Considering we only have 2 spots left, it would seem questionable to risk losing a scholarship on a non-qualifier, when our roster is still so depleted from the program's worst football coach in more than a generation.

Perhaps Ja'qurius Smith is reconsidering his commitment for perfectly legitimate reasons?

Cuse never sent him forms to sign in December...

That's definitely interesting. It could certainly be grades, but couldn't it also be that Ja'qurius told Babers right before signing day that he wanted to reexamine his options? I don't mean to criticize your sources, I just see the grades excuse far too often when any school loses a commit (so I'm skeptical).

(01-05-2018 12:45 PM)TubaCat Wrote:  I visited that Syracuse forum and had a good chuckle at this one:

Quote:IthacaBarrel
Shaky Potatoes
we aren't going to get where we need to be by recruiting kids who wind up at Cinci. That much I know

I think Mr. Bigshot there forgot that lil ol' Cincy was 7-1 against Syracuse in the Big East, with the 1 loss coming after a coaching turnover.

Regardless, thank you for the well wishes, but I'm not sure that Fickell would take the risk if academics are truly an issue.

To my knowledge there is no difference in qualifications that UC accepts for student athletes vs. Syracuse.

Smith is quoted as saying he is visiting Cincinnati soon.

EDIT: nevermind I didnt read the thread in the OP

(01-05-2018 01:16 PM)Racinejake Wrote:  

(01-05-2018 12:45 PM)TubaCat Wrote:  I visited that Syracuse forum and had a good chuckle at this one:

Quote:IthacaBarrel
Shaky Potatoes
we aren't going to get where we need to be by recruiting kids who wind up at Cinci. That much I know

I think Mr. Bigshot there forgot that lil ol' Cincy was 7-1 against Syracuse in the Big East, with the 1 loss coming after a coaching turnover.

Regardless, thank you for the well wishes, but I'm not sure that Fickell would take the risk if academics are truly an issue.

To my knowledge there is no difference in qualifications that UC accepts for student athletes vs. Syracuse.

Not true...yes there are absolute NCAA minimum standards for all schools. In many cases schools exceed the absolute minimums. Not all of it are purely GPA and standardized testing too. The folks in the Cuse thread bringing up the issues are well connected. Cuse actually has three commits being held from signing.

As far as I can tell we have 2 spots left. One for an OL and apparently the other for a OLB if they can find the right one. No way they are signing someone who has qualifying issues though with the new rules. I would assume his grades are fine if they are bringing him in on an Official Visit. Personally, I'd like to see them prioritize Lewis and Sampson with the final 2 scholarships and look for an extra OLB in next year's class. IMO UC is just so far behind on the OL it's scary.

(01-05-2018 01:16 PM)Racinejake Wrote:  

(01-05-2018 12:45 PM)TubaCat Wrote:  I visited that Syracuse forum and had a good chuckle at this one:

Quote:IthacaBarrel
Shaky Potatoes
we aren't going to get where we need to be by recruiting kids who wind up at Cinci. That much I know

I think Mr. Bigshot there forgot that lil ol' Cincy was 7-1 against Syracuse in the Big East, with the 1 loss coming after a coaching turnover.

Regardless, thank you for the well wishes, but I'm not sure that Fickell would take the risk if academics are truly an issue.

To my knowledge there is no difference in qualifications that UC accepts for student athletes vs. Syracuse.

I think that's true which makes these situations into a balancing equation where different programs will reach different conclusions based upon their current needs, other options and their own interpretation of the likelihood of a particular kid qualifying. The bottom line is under this new system, it's unlikely that Smith or anyone will be signing anywhere unless they are already qualified or at the very least the staff at that school believes there is a sufficient likelihood that he will qualify, thereby justifying the risk.

From the highlights I've seen Smith looks like a real force and fits the mold UC is looking for in an OLB. Plus he's from a powerhouse program which also seems to carry some weight with our staff. I'd be happy if he's qualified and we add him.

Is this a big deal? I just started follow recruiting last year, and I admittedly know very little. On 247, He's rated at .85ish which would slightly above average based on the class. Is it hard to get these types of players this late, or is he underrated on 247?

(01-05-2018 01:44 PM)Z-Fly Wrote:  Is this a big deal? I just started follow recruiting last year, and I admittedly know very little. On 247, He's rated at .85ish which would slightly above average based on the class. Is it hard to get these types of players this late, or is he underrated on 247?

People have there different ways of interpreting numbers. I have watched recruiting for about 10 years and an 85 typically translates to a solid to above average player. The prior 4 years our average recruit was between 80 to 83. Many of our current starting defenders hovered around 80. All things notwithstanding, an 85 would be better, but much of this is very subjective.

(01-05-2018 01:28 PM)TexanMark Wrote:  

(01-05-2018 01:16 PM)Racinejake Wrote:  

(01-05-2018 12:45 PM)TubaCat Wrote:  I visited that Syracuse forum and had a good chuckle at this one:

Quote:IthacaBarrel
Shaky Potatoes
we aren't going to get where we need to be by recruiting kids who wind up at Cinci. That much I know

I think Mr. Bigshot there forgot that lil ol' Cincy was 7-1 against Syracuse in the Big East, with the 1 loss coming after a coaching turnover.

Regardless, thank you for the well wishes, but I'm not sure that Fickell would take the risk if academics are truly an issue.

To my knowledge there is no difference in qualifications that UC accepts for student athletes vs. Syracuse.

Not true...yes there are absolute NCAA minimum standards for all schools. In many cases schools exceed the absolute minimums. Not all of it are purely GPA and standardized testing too. The folks in the Cuse thread bringing up the issues are well connected. Cuse actually has three commits being held from signing.

I can't say i know the circumstances in this kid's case, but i can say that it's indeed the case that some schools have elevated standards. UF often can't accept kids that other SEC schools can/ will.

As long as he meets our standards, I'm more than happy to welcome him to the family. Hopefully his joining - assuming it really happens - will influence T. Sampson.




mc

The AAC conference requirements were the same as the Big East. UC is under the heightened requirements adopted under the BE.

Cuse May have higher individual standards but I doubt it when they were previously bringing in guys like Fab Melo.

Smith is rated an 86 overall on 247 and #46 OLB in the nation and he has a handful of P5 offers. IMO he'd be a good solid pickup at a position of need. His film is impressive and I really like his frame. He has plenty of room to fill out and add some good weight.

We need an impact OLB in this class.

(01-05-2018 02:24 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  The AAC conference requirements were the same as the Big East. UC is under the heightened requirements adopted under the BE.

Cuse May have higher individual standards but I doubt it when they were previously bringing in guys like Fab Melo.

Right. My sense is that schools are being more selective in terms of guys that have grade issues or they weren't all cleared by signing day. As opposed to absolute academic requirements it's more of a hedge on whether to risk signing a guy that may not get the grades/test scores to qualify in the end and missing out on other prospects in the end.

(01-05-2018 02:28 PM)Racinejake Wrote:  

(01-05-2018 02:24 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  The AAC conference requirements were the same as the Big East. UC is under the heightened requirements adopted under the BE.

Cuse May have higher individual standards but I doubt it when they were previously bringing in guys like Fab Melo.

Right. My sense is that schools are being more selective in terms of guys that have grade issues or they weren't all cleared by signing day. As opposed to absolute academic requirements it's more of a hedge on whether to risk signing a guy that may not get the grades/test scores to qualify in the end and missing out on other prospects in the end.

Yep. I saw a write up by one of the national guys on 247 how the new rules change everything and schools can no longer afford to sign anyone who has academic questions. It's just way too risky because you lose that spot if they don't qualify.

That is why you have guys like Leonard Taylor and Xavier Peters who basically have not been recruited by anyone outside of maybe 1-2 schools.