2014 Scholarship Picture

[Emcee77]

It is way, way too early to even go here, but someone asked a question about it on 247 and I got curious so I took a look at the roster. I'll post here my super-rough, very premature Dan Murphy-style look at the scholarship picture for the next cycle.

Let's assume 4 fifth-years return in 2013.

I counted 7 seniors who will use up all their eligibility if they play in the 2013 season. (TJ, Shembo, Spond, D. Smith, Kona, Rees and Bennett Jackson) (Lo Wood and Collinsworth would have been on this list, but they are hurt and apparently redshirting this year).

So that makes 11 spots for sure.

But of course it depends on how many 5th years we keep in 2014. As I look at the roster, the only guy I see who I am pretty confident will not be offered a 5th year is Heggie. There are others who I think will probably be gone -- like Massa and Utupo -- but how can you know 1.7 seasons in advance. If you want to pick it over though, the list of 2013 grads who will have eligibility remaining in 2014 is:
Massa
Utupo
Lo Wood
Heggie
Moore
Nichols
Welch
Lombard
Hendrix
Collinsworth
Nix

The number will also depend on guys going pro. Nix and Tuitt are two guys who very well may leave with eligibility remaining after the 2013 season. Not sure about any others.

So 11 is the baseline number, unless I'm forgetting someone or making a mistake somewhere. Let me know if I did.

Of course the actual number will be higher, probably at least 14, perhaps higher than that. It will be interesting to see how things go for some of the above-listed guys in 2013 and the rest of 2012.

 

[yankeeND]

Yeah the 14' class will be pretty small. Could be as low as 14 or as high as 17-18 just depends on who is wanting in IMO. A lot of people seem to be on the 5th years side per earlier discussions today. I am for it if the kid is improving but I am also more for the big-time prospects as I like shiny new things. Sometimes those star ratings blind me.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

Thanks for the post. Transfers can always come up, but as it looks now (by your numbers) that would be a tiny class. Not to mention possible EE.

 

[Dizzyphil]

so, with all this being said about the numbers.....does this mean we can't take extras and find a way around it like all the other teams doing it??? Seems everyone else finds a way around it and nothing happens.

Diz

 

[Riddickulous]

If we get a class of 24, we could land up to 22 next year, not including fifth years. Taking fifth years gives us a smaller class, as stated above.