My daughter was a classmate of JJ Birden at Lakeridge and knows he was respected for his wisdom even then….and certainly respected as a heck of great athlete!!
I admit, I was dismayed when Verone declared early. The others as well, but I always thought that Verone had what it took to stick (even at his height). I was surprised when I started doing (tons) of mock drafts though. He was going in the fourth or higher in almost all of those drafts. I figured I sure didn't know what I was talking about (to myself). But when the third day rolled around, I was truly bummed that all of the Ducks except Kayvon were passed over.
I think that part of the issue for this season and for the next one also, has to do with the plague lengthening a lot of players time in college so that a lot more players who had stayed in school for four, five or even six years came out at the same time. (Nb, there is a diminishing return in that as teams weigh experience (good) vs age/prime years to play (not so good).
Hopefully, Lanning will contact Birden (nice to hear his name again!) to be available to these kids who are thinking about it. Lanning seems to be doing things the right way (love that he has a dedicated speed coach, for example). Most especially, I am watching how the UDFAs are doing leading up to September.
Great article John. I thought KT left to early from Oregon too. I wished he would of played a year under Lanning. I think he would of been a lot better football player. He would of been picked higher too.
John, as a former counselor for student athletes at a PAC 12 (Pac 10 when I was there), your column made very apt points regarding decision making by college athletes and the influences that can sometimes affect those decisions, sometimes to the detriment of those athletes.
Another Canzano-esque masterpiece. I remember Hanford Dixon… a poor man’s Ronnie Lott. I am really glad JJ remembered not just him, but the lesson he provided. Good stuff, John.
Golden advice from a guy who knows. Jumping too early at a pro career can be just as foolish as jumping into the transfer portal asking for programs to tell you lies. Stay in school, stay with the program that recruited you, always take one more step than you think you need. Every day is game day.
You could say the same exact thing about CB and all's you need to do is look no further than that year when Bol Bol and some of the other really good players that were also having pretty decent seasons only to get bad advice big time. Every one of those players including Bol should have came back just for the next season. These young men for the most part are getting terrible information.
I think this might begin to change as the NIL landscape provides a financial upside for key players to remain. If an NIL collective approached one of these players and said "we'll pay you NFL 2nd round salary scale to remain for a year or you can risk being an UFA" I think there might be some takers.
Sure seems that these collectives are giving programs an opportunity for roster management that did not exist in the past. Recruiting a proven college player to remain (or transfer in) has more on-field return on investment than enticing a high school 5* player to sign with you.
Very fun and informative read John, thanks. Next, "Do this" for local college basketball players who declare early and don't get drafted. At the end of the day, this is on the players. Dave
John, thank you for sharing my thoughts. I hope it brings some value to future Oregon Ducks football players! 👍🏽
My daughter was a classmate of JJ Birden at Lakeridge and knows he was respected for his wisdom even then….and certainly respected as a heck of great athlete!!
Hopefully, many will HEAR this! He has walked the walk since I first saw him put on camps for kids! 😎
I admit, I was dismayed when Verone declared early. The others as well, but I always thought that Verone had what it took to stick (even at his height). I was surprised when I started doing (tons) of mock drafts though. He was going in the fourth or higher in almost all of those drafts. I figured I sure didn't know what I was talking about (to myself). But when the third day rolled around, I was truly bummed that all of the Ducks except Kayvon were passed over.
I think that part of the issue for this season and for the next one also, has to do with the plague lengthening a lot of players time in college so that a lot more players who had stayed in school for four, five or even six years came out at the same time. (Nb, there is a diminishing return in that as teams weigh experience (good) vs age/prime years to play (not so good).
Hopefully, Lanning will contact Birden (nice to hear his name again!) to be available to these kids who are thinking about it. Lanning seems to be doing things the right way (love that he has a dedicated speed coach, for example). Most especially, I am watching how the UDFAs are doing leading up to September.
Go Dux!
Great article John. I thought KT left to early from Oregon too. I wished he would of played a year under Lanning. I think he would of been a lot better football player. He would of been picked higher too.
John, as a former counselor for student athletes at a PAC 12 (Pac 10 when I was there), your column made very apt points regarding decision making by college athletes and the influences that can sometimes affect those decisions, sometimes to the detriment of those athletes.
Another Canzano-esque masterpiece. I remember Hanford Dixon… a poor man’s Ronnie Lott. I am really glad JJ remembered not just him, but the lesson he provided. Good stuff, John.
I hope the players are reading this. Wisdom is priceless.
You are on to something really important. Run with it.
JJ Borden is bright and intuitive. A deep spiritual honest human. Listen to him
Golden advice from a guy who knows. Jumping too early at a pro career can be just as foolish as jumping into the transfer portal asking for programs to tell you lies. Stay in school, stay with the program that recruited you, always take one more step than you think you need. Every day is game day.
You could say the same exact thing about CB and all's you need to do is look no further than that year when Bol Bol and some of the other really good players that were also having pretty decent seasons only to get bad advice big time. Every one of those players including Bol should have came back just for the next season. These young men for the most part are getting terrible information.
Don’t you think this is something Coach Lanning will want to put in place?
You always give good advice, John.
I think this might begin to change as the NIL landscape provides a financial upside for key players to remain. If an NIL collective approached one of these players and said "we'll pay you NFL 2nd round salary scale to remain for a year or you can risk being an UFA" I think there might be some takers.
Sure seems that these collectives are giving programs an opportunity for roster management that did not exist in the past. Recruiting a proven college player to remain (or transfer in) has more on-field return on investment than enticing a high school 5* player to sign with you.
Very fun and informative read John, thanks. Next, "Do this" for local college basketball players who declare early and don't get drafted. At the end of the day, this is on the players. Dave