http://utrockets.com/news/2018/4/28/foot...teams.aspx

Record number of draftees/ FAs for a season.

It was a down year for the MAC last year as it lacked high profile wins, never had a team in the top 25 or in the running for an access bowl, stunk up the bowl season, and didn't offer much in terms of coaching prospects after Fleck moved on. Fortunately that championship can never be taken away from us. But, many of the paths toward bringing extra attention upon our players were just not there despite all of the highlight reel plays all year long from the now-undraftable Kareem Hunt. The guys will just have to work with that chip on their shoulder and prove them wrong, like they probably have every step of their division I collegiate careers.

Adeniyi make a big mistake coming out early. Just like Page did, he listened to friends who really did not know what they were talking about. A big senior year out of him, making first team All MAC and he could have gotten drafted. Now he will likely be cut a few times before he ever gets a chance (if that ever does happen).

Hunt was of course the smart one. He could have gone pro after his junior year but he came back. Now he is a real star and will make big bucks in the future. Roberts was on no one's radar until after his senior year and then he had a year for the record books.

(04-29-2018 12:49 PM)Rocket75 Wrote:  Adeniyi make a big mistake coming out early. Just like Page did, he listened to friends who really did not know what they were talking about. A big senior year out of him, making first team All MAC and he could have gotten drafted. Now he will likely be cut a few times before he ever gets a chance (if that ever does happen).

Hunt was of course the smart one. He could have gone pro after his junior year but he came back. Now he is a real star and will make big bucks in the future. Roberts was on no one's radar until after his senior year and then he had a year for the record books.

Agreed. I understand Ola was graduating and wanted to move forward with his career but he had to of known he wasn’t going to be a Day 1 or early Day 2 pick, if at all. Hopefully he makes the Steelers and has a great career but the next Rocket that wants to leave early, the examples of Ola and Page should serve as a warning...

(04-29-2018 01:31 PM)Rocket_Fanatic Wrote:  

(04-29-2018 12:49 PM)Rocket75 Wrote:  Adeniyi make a big mistake coming out early. Just like Page did, he listened to friends who really did not know what they were talking about. A big senior year out of him, making first team All MAC and he could have gotten drafted. Now he will likely be cut a few times before he ever gets a chance (if that ever does happen).

Hunt was of course the smart one. He could have gone pro after his junior year but he came back. Now he is a real star and will make big bucks in the future. Roberts was on no one's radar until after his senior year and then he had a year for the record books.

Agreed. I understand Ola was graduating and wanted to move forward with his career but he had to of known he wasn’t going to be a Day 1 or early Day 2 pick, if at all. Hopefully he makes the Steelers and has a great career but the next Rocket that wants to leave early, the examples of Ola and Page should serve as a warning...

Agree with you guys. He was improving, but his stock was not that high I didn't think. I don't see the point in coming out early unless getting drafted is a lock, and even then I don't like it (but that's the selfish Rocket fan speaking).

I disagree on Ola. Take a look at the steeler web site, and watch his video highlights. He is really talented and athletic. He made his mark well before Elliot, who was good but not great until his senior year. Ola was the next DE to get drafted. I think mentally he is better prepared. He has a great chance to succeed in the NFL. I wish all the guys the best. Go Rockets!

(04-29-2018 04:47 PM)PTLROCK Wrote:  I disagree on Ola. Take a look at the steeler web site, and watch his video highlights. He is really talented and athletic. He made his mark well before Elliot, who was good but not great until his senior year. Ola was the next DE to get drafted. I think mentally he is better prepared. He has a great chance to succeed in the NFL. I wish all the guys the best. Go Rockets!

Not sure I understand these comments about Ola. I can't say that he made his "mark" before Elliott. Jayrone was blessed with one of those NFL bodies when he got to UT. I don't think he even played that much football in HS. He was a late developer and with his somewhat lean body - there was always the upside that he would eventually fill out. He was what - 6'3" or 6'4" and right around 240 (likely lower than that). Also, Ola did not get drafted so I don't understand the comment that "Ola was the next DE to get drafted". There has been at least 1 other DE from Toledo to sign a UFA contract since Elliott left. Adeniya has a decent shot to make a roster, but it is definitely going to be tough to land something this coming season in the NFL. Will need to end up somewhere that is light on defensive line/DE's.

I guess I don't blame him for leaving. There is always the fear of getting an injury in college that could end his chances of having any shot at the NFL, although I would think that is a fairly low risk for a DE. Getting more playing time at Toledo and working on technique and gaining more strength is better than not playing - unless you can get $400K to be on a roster as a back-up that does not play much. Have to hope for the best for him, and since he is going to graduate this year, he does not lose out on getting his degree either.

My comment on the “next DE to get drafted” was drawn from the ESPN Best Player left list. I should have mentioned that. Woodside was chosen after a few guys ranked behind him, but he was on the top of the list and got drafted. Ola was in the same situation as a DE. In other words without getting too literal, he was right there. Page had a major injury right before his first shot in the NFL. It is not the same. I have been watching UT football for years, and few DE’s were more impressive than Ola. Dan Williams was, and he was chosen 11th overall. Ola was noticably more disruptive than Jayrone and TJ Fatinikin, and both of those guys were really good DE’s.

I wish he would have stayed, because he is great. I respect his decision, and do not feel it was arrived at prematurely. He could be really good in the NFL, as a full time player. Again, take a look at the video on the Steeler website. It is pretty impressive.

(04-29-2018 12:49 PM)Rocket75 Wrote:  Adeniyi make a big mistake coming out early. Just like Page did, he listened to friends who really did not know what they were talking about. A big senior year out of him, making first team All MAC and he could have gotten drafted. Now he will likely be cut a few times before he ever gets a chance (if that ever does happen).

Hunt was of course the smart one. He could have gone pro after his junior year but he came back. Now he is a real star and will make big bucks in the future. Roberts was on no one's radar until after his senior year and then he had a year for the record books.

It seems to me that UT players (and G5 players in general) tend to get higher pre-draft evaluations than are typically realized on the actual draft days. This year some analyst was saying after the first round that Woodside was the second best QB left, yet he was only about a half dozen picks from being a free agent. Of course Barry Church was not drafted and he's been successful. Of course there are exceptions---Hunt for example went in the 3rd round about where he was projected (which surprised me----I thought that he deserved it but I was still surprised that he went about where he was projected)

(04-29-2018 06:40 PM)T-Town Wrote:  

(04-29-2018 12:49 PM)Rocket75 Wrote:  Adeniyi make a big mistake coming out early. Just like Page did, he listened to friends who really did not know what they were talking about. A big senior year out of him, making first team All MAC and he could have gotten drafted. Now he will likely be cut a few times before he ever gets a chance (if that ever does happen).

Hunt was of course the smart one. He could have gone pro after his junior year but he came back. Now he is a real star and will make big bucks in the future. Roberts was on no one's radar until after his senior year and then he had a year for the record books.

It seems to me that UT players (and G5 players in general) tend to get higher pre-draft evaluations than are typically realized on the actual draft days. This year some analyst was saying after the first round that Woodside was the second best QB left, yet he was only about a half dozen picks from being a free agent. Of course Barry Church was not drafted and he's been successful. Of course there are exceptions---Hunt for example went in the 3rd round about where he was projected (which surprised me----I thought that he deserved it but I was still surprised that he went about where he was projected)

Mancz was MAC POY, 2nd Team All American and went undrafted.

(04-29-2018 07:50 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(04-29-2018 06:40 PM)T-Town Wrote:  

(04-29-2018 12:49 PM)Rocket75 Wrote:  Adeniyi make a big mistake coming out early. Just like Page did, he listened to friends who really did not know what they were talking about. A big senior year out of him, making first team All MAC and he could have gotten drafted. Now he will likely be cut a few times before he ever gets a chance (if that ever does happen).

Hunt was of course the smart one. He could have gone pro after his junior year but he came back. Now he is a real star and will make big bucks in the future. Roberts was on no one's radar until after his senior year and then he had a year for the record books.

It seems to me that UT players (and G5 players in general) tend to get higher pre-draft evaluations than are typically realized on the actual draft days. This year some analyst was saying after the first round that Woodside was the second best QB left, yet he was only about a half dozen picks from being a free agent. Of course Barry Church was not drafted and he's been successful. Of course there are exceptions---Hunt for example went in the 3rd round about where he was projected (which surprised me----I thought that he deserved it but I was still surprised that he went about where he was projected)

Mancz was MAC POY, 2nd Team All American and went undrafted.

That was a head scratcher, but I believe he had a shoulder issue, Didn’t he? It was awesome to see him start as a rookie. He has done a nice job ever since.

(04-29-2018 08:42 PM)PTLROCK Wrote:  

(04-29-2018 07:50 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  

(04-29-2018 06:40 PM)T-Town Wrote:  

(04-29-2018 12:49 PM)Rocket75 Wrote:  Adeniyi make a big mistake coming out early. Just like Page did, he listened to friends who really did not know what they were talking about. A big senior year out of him, making first team All MAC and he could have gotten drafted. Now he will likely be cut a few times before he ever gets a chance (if that ever does happen).

Hunt was of course the smart one. He could have gone pro after his junior year but he came back. Now he is a real star and will make big bucks in the future. Roberts was on no one's radar until after his senior year and then he had a year for the record books.

It seems to me that UT players (and G5 players in general) tend to get higher pre-draft evaluations than are typically realized on the actual draft days. This year some analyst was saying after the first round that Woodside was the second best QB left, yet he was only about a half dozen picks from being a free agent. Of course Barry Church was not drafted and he's been successful. Of course there are exceptions---Hunt for example went in the 3rd round about where he was projected (which surprised me----I thought that he deserved it but I was still surprised that he went about where he was projected)

Mancz was MAC POY, 2nd Team All American and went undrafted.

That was a head scratcher, but I believe he had a shoulder issue, Didn’t he? It was awesome to see him start as a rookie. He has done a nice job ever since.

I remember meeting his father at a tailgate when Gregg was redshirting as a freshman. His dad said he would be starting the following year and I kind of brushed it off as being biased because it was his son - although I do remember him having some fanfare when he signed with Toledo. Guess he was right. I didn't know who he was at the time and was commenting on the OL and that the center was the most important position on the OL and we would be losing Kowalski who was a 4-year starter. I had to ask who his son was when he made the claim that he would be starting the next year.

Happy that Logan gets closest to home that will probably help him in his effort to make the Bungles along with being drafted. Too bad OLA went to Pisstspuke hope he has 14 great games next year.

Good to see all the former Rockets getting their shot at the NFL, especially Woodside to CIN. As I posted previously, the draft is a very unpredictable affair, especially later in the draft so his late pick and the other UDFA were not a great surprise as I attempted earlier to temper some of the excitement and predictions here about higher draft spots for the players. Wish them all the best!

(04-29-2018 12:11 AM)pono Wrote:  Really for all these Rockets it comes down to persistence. They, Woodside and the UFAs are all marginal prospects who have enough talent and skill to be considered for a roster, but no great abilities that would make a team invest a bunch of money in them up front. Each will need to work extremely hard, probably deal with getting cut once or twice, maybe bouncing on and off a practice squad and then, hopefully, finding a good fit. Some guys just miss making the opening day roster (Adonis Thomas) and give up. Other guys (Lance Moore, David Fluellen) just miss but keep at it and have a career. Overall, UT has a ton of UFAs and late draft picks succeed in the league to a degree because they aren't spoiled, come from a solid program that does things the right way and haven't been given a lot through their careers. At one point there were like 14 rockets on some type on regular season roster or practice squad and only like 3 had been drafted.

MAC had a ton of high picks last year, this year the first Mac guy was a 3rd rounder and I think 1 each in every round after, so, things go in cycles.

And its a numbers game, this year 336 players were invited to the Combine (reflecting interest and likelihood of being drafted) and there were 256 draft slots, so even some Combine invitees are not getting drafted-more if non-invitees get drafted, and that is out of the 1000s(??) of NCAA players eligible for the draft. To be drafted or among the other 300 or so UDFA invited to camps is pretty exclusive company.

(04-29-2018 10:46 AM)therockets046 Wrote:  It was a down year for the MAC last year as it lacked high profile wins, never had a team in the top 25 or in the running for an access bowl, stunk up the bowl season, and didn't offer much in terms of coaching prospects after Fleck moved on. Fortunately that championship can never be taken away from us. But, many of the paths toward bringing extra attention upon our players were just not there despite all of the highlight reel plays all year long from the now-undraftable Kareem Hunt. The guys will just have to work with that chip on their shoulder and prove them wrong, like they probably have every step of their division I collegiate careers.

NFL pro scouts can find players everywhere in the NCAA regardless of how a team and conference performs in a season, MAC profile is high enough to give them plenty of film and games to evaluate players. For them its about the players skill set and potential, if it is there scouts will see it. Look at Hunt, I doubt the 2016 MAC and UT season really created more buzz around him resulting in a mid round draft selection, his numbers and skills were well known and easily assessed regardless of the team and conference he played for.

(04-29-2018 06:38 PM)PTLROCK Wrote:  My comment on the “next DE to get drafted” was drawn from the ESPN Best Player left list. I should have mentioned that. Woodside was chosen after a few guys ranked behind him, but he was on the top of the list and got drafted. Ola was in the same situation as a DE. In other words without getting too literal, he was right there. Page had a major injury right before his first shot in the NFL. It is not the same. I have been watching UT football for years, and few DE’s were more impressive than Ola. Dan Williams was, and he was chosen 11th overall. Ola was noticably more disruptive than Jayrone and TJ Fatinikin, and both of those guys were really good DE’s.

I wish he would have stayed, because he is great. I respect his decision, and do not feel it was arrived at prematurely. He could be really good in the NFL, as a full time player. Again, take a look at the video on the Steeler website. It is pretty impressive.

Once you get into the late rounds of the draft, not sure the ESPN Best Player lists are really that helpful because at that point the differences between #1 and #3 etc... are really meaningless, it is a true crapshoot, hence Woodside being taken after a few QBs below him on that list. The quantitative and analytics nature of player evaluation is not that great (hence 50% fail rate even in the 1st rd-so later rounds even worse). The draft can separate out the top 15-20, and then the next 50 or so, after that the imperfect "science" gets even worse. Those ratings are full of opinions and bias, plus projections on pro performances, and become meaningless when trying to determine between the 15th and 16th best QB (or any other position). Fans like to treat player evaluations as exact, when in reality they are far from it, worse the deeper you get into the draft and player pool.

(04-29-2018 06:40 PM)T-Town Wrote:  

(04-29-2018 12:49 PM)Rocket75 Wrote:  Adeniyi make a big mistake coming out early. Just like Page did, he listened to friends who really did not know what they were talking about. A big senior year out of him, making first team All MAC and he could have gotten drafted. Now he will likely be cut a few times before he ever gets a chance (if that ever does happen).

Hunt was of course the smart one. He could have gone pro after his junior year but he came back. Now he is a real star and will make big bucks in the future. Roberts was on no one's radar until after his senior year and then he had a year for the record books.

It seems to me that UT players (and G5 players in general) tend to get higher pre-draft evaluations than are typically realized on the actual draft days. This year some analyst was saying after the first round that Woodside was the second best QB left, yet he was only about a half dozen picks from being a free agent. Of course Barry Church was not drafted and he's been successful. Of course there are exceptions---Hunt for example went in the 3rd round about where he was projected (which surprised me----I thought that he deserved it but I was still surprised that he went about where he was projected)

"It seems to me that UT players (and G5 players in general) tend to get higher pre-draft evaluations than are typically realized on the actual draft days. This year some analyst was saying after the first round that Woodside was the second best QB left, yet he was only about a half dozen picks from being a free agent. "

Problem is that social media has led to a huge growth in draft "experts" and opinions including pro prospect rankings and mock draft the more "professional" and "experienced" draft "experts" had Woodside as a likely 6/7rd pick-which is where he went-and in reality not much different then UDFA in terms of player rankings. Anyone can post any "opinion" leading to audience accepting that as valid, when in majority of cases they are not. But did not stop others from giving him other ratings and suggested or predicted much higher draft slot.

(04-28-2018 06:44 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Ola to Pittsburgh
Swanson to Houston

both according to reports on twitter.

Even though he wasn't drafted, Adeniyi said leaving early was not a mistake.
http://www.toledoblade.com/DavidBriggs/2...ake-1.html

(04-30-2018 01:01 PM)SylvaniaRocket Wrote:  

(04-28-2018 06:44 PM)northcoastRocket Wrote:  Ola to Pittsburgh
Swanson to Houston

both according to reports on twitter.

Even though he wasn't drafted, Adeniyi said leaving early was not a mistake.
http://www.toledoblade.com/DavidBriggs/2...ake-1.html

Strange article. It’s actually Briggs saying it wasn’t a mistake but his reasoning is faulty. The fact that it’s not other folks’ call as to whether it was a mistake doesn’t mean it wasn’t in Ola’s mind. Briggs could have asked. The argument that he wasn’t likely to fare any better next year doesn’t really address whether it was a mistake either. One can only speculate. Again, if the question is “Should he have stayed”, why not ask?