(04-25-2016 04:24 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/Kurt-...20801.html

Kurt Benkert Decides To Transfer From ECU...2 years remaining. He was set to be the started prior to blowing his knee out last summer.

Well he is already used to wearing purple...

(04-25-2016 08:31 PM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  

(04-25-2016 04:24 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/Kurt-...20801.html

Kurt Benkert Decides To Transfer From ECU...2 years remaining. He was set to be the started prior to blowing his knee out last summer.

Well he is already used to wearing purple...

Only problem is that he's a grad transfer so the advantage that JMU may have as FCS over a lower level FBS program in terms of immediate eligibility is negated in this case.

The article says he would have to sit out a year if he stays FBS.

From the article:
“I am saddened to announce that I am transferring from East Carolina University,” Benkert said. “I am very blessed for the opportunity that ECU has given me in obtaining my degree, and am forever thankful for the support from such great coaches, teammates, faculty and fans. This was a very tough decision that came from a lot of sleepless nights and conversations from those close to me. With that being said, I feel it is in my best interest to explore other options for graduate school. Thank you again Pirate Nation for the support throughout the last three years, it was never unnoticed and I will forever be grateful for it.”

Benkert, who has two years of football eligibility remaining, is on track to earn a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in finance during ECU's Spring Commencement on May 6.

Looks like he graduated in three years, and would be eligible right away as a graduate transfer, as NJDuke said.

(04-25-2016 08:56 PM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  From the article:
“I am saddened to announce that I am transferring from East Carolina University,” Benkert said. “I am very blessed for the opportunity that ECU has given me in obtaining my degree, and am forever thankful for the support from such great coaches, teammates, faculty and fans. This was a very tough decision that came from a lot of sleepless nights and conversations from those close to me. With that being said, I feel it is in my best interest to explore other options for graduate school. Thank you again Pirate Nation for the support throughout the last three years, it was never unnoticed and I will forever be grateful for it.”

Benkert, who has two years of football eligibility remaining, is on track to earn a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in finance during ECU's Spring Commencement on May 6.

Looks like he graduated in three years, and would be eligible right away as a graduate transfer, as NJDuke said.

Yep. But we do have an O-coordinator from ECU, and this kid is a business major and a good student. If he wants a good shot to start, an FCS program with a good MBA program makes sense.

(04-25-2016 08:58 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-25-2016 08:56 PM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  From the article:
“I am saddened to announce that I am transferring from East Carolina University,” Benkert said. “I am very blessed for the opportunity that ECU has given me in obtaining my degree, and am forever thankful for the support from such great coaches, teammates, faculty and fans. This was a very tough decision that came from a lot of sleepless nights and conversations from those close to me. With that being said, I feel it is in my best interest to explore other options for graduate school. Thank you again Pirate Nation for the support throughout the last three years, it was never unnoticed and I will forever be grateful for it.”

Benkert, who has two years of football eligibility remaining, is on track to earn a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in finance during ECU's Spring Commencement on May 6.

Looks like he graduated in three years, and would be eligible right away as a graduate transfer, as NJDuke said.

Yep. But we do have an O-coordinator from ECU, and this kid is a business major and a good student. If he wants a good shot to start, an FCS program with a good MBA program makes sense.

Good points

(04-25-2016 09:03 PM)NJDuke97 Wrote:  

(04-25-2016 08:58 PM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(04-25-2016 08:56 PM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  From the article:
“I am saddened to announce that I am transferring from East Carolina University,” Benkert said. “I am very blessed for the opportunity that ECU has given me in obtaining my degree, and am forever thankful for the support from such great coaches, teammates, faculty and fans. This was a very tough decision that came from a lot of sleepless nights and conversations from those close to me. With that being said, I feel it is in my best interest to explore other options for graduate school. Thank you again Pirate Nation for the support throughout the last three years, it was never unnoticed and I will forever be grateful for it.”

Benkert, who has two years of football eligibility remaining, is on track to earn a bachelor's degree in business administration with a concentration in finance during ECU's Spring Commencement on May 6.

Looks like he graduated in three years, and would be eligible right away as a graduate transfer, as NJDuke said.

Yep. But we do have an O-coordinator from ECU, and this kid is a business major and a good student. If he wants a good shot to start, an FCS program with a good MBA program makes sense.

Good points

Looks like he is following JMU coaches Tripp Weaver & Donnie Kilpatrick. May have been already following them when they were all at ECU. There are connections.

How would he fit in with the other QBs that we have coming in as well? We currently have seven QBs on our roster, and while I am sure that a couple of them were for depth purposes, we have Mack Waldman coming in with talk of him competing for playing time with Schor. I suppose a FBS transfer is better than a JUCO transfer (in theory anyway), but some on here have complained about Withers burning bridges with high school coaches and recruits around the state, and I don't want the program to continue down that path.

(04-26-2016 09:14 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  How would he fit in with the other QBs that we have coming in as well? We currently have seven QBs on our roster, and while I am sure that a couple of them were for depth purposes, we have Mack Waldman coming in with talk of him competing for playing time with Schor. I suppose a FBS transfer is better than a JUCO transfer (in theory anyway), but some on here have complained about Withers burning bridges with high school coaches and recruits around the state, and I don't want the program to continue down that path.

He only burned bridges via pulling scholarships from players. Bringing in FBS transfers is something that happens with FCS programs.

(04-26-2016 09:35 AM)RootinFerDukes Wrote:  

(04-26-2016 09:14 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  How would he fit in with the other QBs that we have coming in as well? We currently have seven QBs on our roster, and while I am sure that a couple of them were for depth purposes, we have Mack Waldman coming in with talk of him competing for playing time with Schor. I suppose a FBS transfer is better than a JUCO transfer (in theory anyway), but some on here have complained about Withers burning bridges with high school coaches and recruits around the state, and I don't want the program to continue down that path.

He only burned bridges via pulling scholarships from players. Bringing in FBS transfers is something that happens with FCS programs.

Agree, don't think it can be termed burning bridges to bring in possible better players to compete for a starting spot or playing time. This is just a fact of life, you always want to improve your talent pool. Starting/playing time is NOT guaranteed it is earned.

(04-26-2016 09:41 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-26-2016 09:35 AM)RootinFerDukes Wrote:  

(04-26-2016 09:14 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  How would he fit in with the other QBs that we have coming in as well? We currently have seven QBs on our roster, and while I am sure that a couple of them were for depth purposes, we have Mack Waldman coming in with talk of him competing for playing time with Schor. I suppose a FBS transfer is better than a JUCO transfer (in theory anyway), but some on here have complained about Withers burning bridges with high school coaches and recruits around the state, and I don't want the program to continue down that path.

He only burned bridges via pulling scholarships from players. Bringing in FBS transfers is something that happens with FCS programs.

Agree, don't think it can be termed burning bridges to bring in possible better players to compete for a starting spot or playing time. This is just a fact of life, you always want to improve your talent pool. Starting/playing time is NOT guaranteed it is earned.

That's what I thought initially, but I guess my sensitivity has been heightened after reading some of those "HS Coaches Aren't Happy with Withers" articles.

(04-26-2016 09:50 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  

(04-26-2016 09:41 AM)ShadyP Wrote:  

(04-26-2016 09:35 AM)RootinFerDukes Wrote:  

(04-26-2016 09:14 AM)AssyrianDuke Wrote:  How would he fit in with the other QBs that we have coming in as well? We currently have seven QBs on our roster, and while I am sure that a couple of them were for depth purposes, we have Mack Waldman coming in with talk of him competing for playing time with Schor. I suppose a FBS transfer is better than a JUCO transfer (in theory anyway), but some on here have complained about Withers burning bridges with high school coaches and recruits around the state, and I don't want the program to continue down that path.

He only burned bridges via pulling scholarships from players. Bringing in FBS transfers is something that happens with FCS programs.

Agree, don't think it can be termed burning bridges to bring in possible better players to compete for a starting spot or playing time. This is just a fact of life, you always want to improve your talent pool. Starting/playing time is NOT guaranteed it is earned.

That's what I thought initially, but I guess my sensitivity has been heightened after reading some of those "HS Coaches Aren't Happy with Withers" articles.

It's one thing when you're improving your team via a transfer as those happen. It's another to just flat out pull a scholly from a guy last minute. That's what caused the burned bridges, but do understand you're thoughts.

PK Kier, our 3 star RB commit, picked up an offer from UVA. Hopefully we can hold on to him.

(06-07-2016 08:22 AM)#YEEHAWDUKES Wrote:  PK Kier, our 3 star RB commit, picked up an offer from UVA. Hopefully we can hold on to him.

Tweet from yesterday: "It seems like blessings keep falling in my lap".
Doesn't sound like someone who is not excited about the offer. Oh well.

He also has one from Syracuse, and VT is close to offering

well, he's as good as gone.

If you're still shopping around and talking to other schools' coaches, why even bother verbally committing somewhere so early?

(06-07-2016 11:26 AM)Potomac Wrote:  If you're still shopping around and talking to other schools' coaches, why even bother verbally committing somewhere so early?

You can't stop a school from offering you a scholarship.

(06-07-2016 11:26 AM)Potomac Wrote:  If you're still shopping around and talking to other schools' coaches, why even bother verbally committing somewhere so early?

It's called recruiting. There's no way in hell a player should shut down their recruiting after committing somewhere unless it's close to signing day. Especially if a bigger school comes along, or a something happens with the school (Baylor). I would love to see him in purple next year but I wouldn't be upset with the kid at all if he ended up playing in the ACC.

What if the reverse happens and JMU recruits over this same kid and does not honor their verbal offer?