'12 FL WR Justin Ferguson (Western Michigan Transfer)

[koonja]

Ok, so the logic is that these transfers are part of the game. No big deal. If that's the case, is anyone coming NDs way from another school?

Jordan Prestwood but he left as soon as he could too, lol.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Jordan Prestwood but he left as soon as he could too, lol.

Prestwood's was academic.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Put a tampon in. Wake me when a serious contributor transfers.

Some of these players need to put a tampon in. Seriously. Man up and win the starting job. Every one of them has the talent to do so.

 

[dublinirish]

Some of these players need to put a tampon in. Seriously. Man up and win the starting job. Every one of them has the talent to do so.

Its hard when you have been "The Guy" all your life to have to settle in and become a role player.

 

[koonja]

Its hard when you have been "The Guy" all your life to have to settle in and become a role player.

I understand that, although Devonte wasn't necessarily going to be a role player, it's just that he was going to have to wait another year. Not to mention, this might be completely influenced by parenthood more than depth chart, but who knows.

What puzzles me is how does Alabama manage to keep all of these 5-star guys and convince them to sit the bench one or two years? That's why they're so good. It's great to have a few 5-star starters, but to have 5 star guys play limited minutes? That's when you know you're going to be a powerhouse.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Its hard when you have been "The Guy" all your life to have to settle in and become a role player.

True. I mean I'm aware this stuff happens. But for real. To leave based on playing time at WR? Meh.

 

[Sgtshultz]

I have no idea but some of this could be a result of after seeing Alabama up close, the coaches have raised the bar on expectations, training and practice. Your either all or or out type of thing.

 

[koonja]

I have no idea but some of this could be a result of after seeing Alabama up close, the coaches have raised the bar on expectations, training and practice. Your either all or or out type of thing.

I hope that's the case. I'd love that attitude.

 

[anarin]

I have to seriously, seriously disagree with your thought process. He wasn't a serious contributor because he was a freshman, as was Neal and Kiel. Going by your line of thinking, it wouldn't have been a big deal if Eifert, Golson, Wood, Riddick, Davaris, Nix, Shembo, and KLM would have all transferred after their freshman years. Not everyone will be a serious contributor their freshman year. Many of them will be serious contributors later though.

You're using the should've, could've, would've thought process. I'm in the now. He wasn't getting reps as a solid contributor obviously. So that means its open for someone more talented and hungrier.

And back to your list if guys; if they transfer, someone else steps in. That's the game of football, it is a factory that needs a worker to get the job done.

 

[ohara831]

I hate it, but I wish him well. As for ND, we will be just fine. I trust BK and this staff totally to make any adjustments necessary. We will be fine.

 

[arrowryan]

Kelly could have done great things with Neal. I don't know about ferg, but Neal could have been that last piece of the offense that could make a small gain into a huge gain. we don't have anyone like that currently on the roster to fill that spot.

How do you know that? You are 100% assuming right now. Neal was calling fair catches last year for crying out loud. Watch the Spring game and you won't be worried anymore

 

[NewBrunswickIrish]

This sucks but got to wish Ferguson well where ever he goes.

Seems like what was thought to be a small class coming in has now become around 22ish players now with the transfers and medicals or potential medicals

 

[Cackalacky]

You're using the should've, could've, would've thought process. I'm in the now. He wasn't getting reps as a solid contributor obviously. So that means its open for someone more talented and hungrier.

And back to your list if guys; if they transfer, someone else steps in. That's the game of football, it is a factory that needs a worker to get the job done.

As a corollary, he saw action in the Navy game (1 reception for 9 yards), after that.... nothing....... no stats. I wonder why?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Wow. I think I cursed him.

 

[Emcee77]

Kelly could have done great things with Neal. I don't know about ferg, but Neal could have been that last piece of the offense that could make a small gain into a huge gain. we don't have anyone like that currently on the roster to fill that spot.

How do you know that? You are 100% assuming right now. Neal was calling fair catches last year for crying out loud. Watch the Spring game and you won't be worried anymore

I'm with arrow here. We haven't seen enough to say that there is no one else on the roster who can make make people miss and turn small gains into large ones like Davonte. We haven't even seen Davonte do it on the college level. Onwualu and Prosise (especially the way Kelly has been talking about him) immediately come to mind, and there are probably others, such as Carlisle (assuming he can stay healthy this fall) and Folston, once he gets here.

I'll be honest though, this really makes me wish we had snagged Sebastian LaRue last cycle. He was a Davonte clone.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Last year we lost Lynch and Prestwood. Prestwood hurt more because of our o-line depth or lack thereof.

This year we didn't lose anyone at a position of need yet. No one discussed grades, so I assume that is not an issue. So Robinson, Onwaulu (I am sure) and Zaire are. The other thing that may be going on here is that some offensive changes may be in store. Think about it. Kelly has been talking two backs for a while, and he is getting really stacked with Tight Ends producing, (Huerman, Welch, etc.) and big Wide Receivers (Smith, Robinson, PROSISE, CBreezy, etc.) all looking good. This O is taking two steps forward at once!

As far as how Alabama keeps guys from transferring out? Their program is at the top. Probably the best ever, in modern times. You would have to go back to the ND team post-WWII to get close. So as we ascend, we outgrow some players vision. The answer is to keep winning. I believe Mike said it. I am shouting it so it is plain. Kelly will keep winning and pretty soon the guys that won't be part of it will shake out during the recruiting process.

 

[phork]

I don't care too much, but if you think rosters losses are no big deal, you are fooling yourself. The earliest that can be filled is this time next year. Bodies are bodies.

 

[arrowryan]

Can we see how TJ/Prosise?Onwualu do at slot before we officially say the sky is falling? We have WAY too many talneted receivers to panic over something like this

 

[RuntheBall]

What the hell is going on in the locker room?

 

[Irishman77]

Our team has an identity that is sound. It is one that will compete every year for the national championship. Not everyone can take that on. We will have a VERY young team in 14. The 13 class better sac up day one!

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Fuller and Hunter could also fit into that slot position eventually.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Our team has an identity that is sound. It is one that will compete every year for the national championship. Not everyone can take that on. We will have a VERY young team in 14. The 13 class better sac up day one!

I believe that what is going on is due in large part to the strong identity that is forming early. It is selfless; so the me first guys are out. It is work first; so that leaves some out of any group. And it is evolving rapidly from last year; so that leaves out guys that cannot move forward easily.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Another train of thought for those who worry about numbers:

We're a football team. That's twenty-two playing positions. Let's say that you wanted to be three deep everywhere. That's sixty-six playing positions. We have, currently 80+.

But wait, you say: there will be injuries! Yes. If you need to go four deep, you're in big trouble.

But wait, you say: we MUST NEED 85 or there wouldn't be such a worry in depleted-scholarship programs about that number. OK. But why do they worry? It's because they didn't recruit well nor in balance to the roster management. Kelly has. With one more cycle he'll even have the OLine numbers straightened. Kelly unlike almost all other coaches has GOOD/GREAT players occupying essentially every slot he has.

But what about special teams, one says? I thought the whole last year's discussion/opinion was that we should put more starters on special teams, not fourth stringers.

In short, this numbers game depends upon each team's situation and prognosis. We are STILL loaded and our success prognosis is so high, and our name brand still so powerful, that the "hits will still keep on coming".

If this affects us over the next three years I'll be stunned.

 

[irishff1014]

Another train of thought for those who worry about numbers:

We're a football team. That's twenty-two playing positions. Let's say that you wanted to be three deep everywhere. That's sixty-six playing positions. We have, currently 80+.

But wait, you say: there will be injuries! Yes. If you need to go four deep, you're in big trouble.

But wait, you say: we MUST NEED 85 or there wouldn't be such a worry in depleted-scholarship programs about that number. OK. But why do they worry? It's because they didn't recruit well nor in balance to the roster management. Kelly has. With one more cycle he'll even have the OLine numbers straightened. Kelly unlike almost all other coaches has GOOD/GREAT players occupying essentially every slot he has.

But what about special teams, one says? I thought the whole last year's discussion/opinion was that we should put more starters on special teams, not fourth stringers.

In short, this numbers game depends upon each team's situation and prognosis. We are STILL loaded and our success prognosis is so high, and our name brand still so powerful, that the "hits will still keep on coming".

If this affects us over the next three years I'll be stunned.

But there is some players on this team that will not play.

 

[irishpat183]

Unbelieveable....

All of you claiming how many 'talented" players we have left were likely the same guys saying that Fegie and Neal were studs and can't miss guys when they were brought in.


These are both big losses (especially Neal). We're assuming that some kid will step up and be ready to go. You haven't even considered that some of thsoe guys you're naming as fill-ins, might be busts

 

[arrowryan]

Unbelieveable....

All of you claiming how many 'talented" players we have left were likely the same guys saying that Fegie and Neal were studs and can't miss guys when they were brought in.


These are both big losses (especially Neal). We're assuming that some kid will step up and be ready to go. You haven't even considered that some of thsoe guys you're naming as fill-ins, might be busts

Neal and Fegie could be busts as well

 

[PANDFAN]

Unbelieveable....

All of you claiming how many 'talented" players we have left were likely the same guys saying that Fegie and Neal were studs and can't miss guys when they were brought in.


These are both big losses (especially Neal). We're assuming that some kid will step up and be ready to go. You haven't even considered that some of thsoe guys you're naming as fill-ins, might be busts

But so far so have ferg and neal..they showed nothing last year...so they could be busts to

 

[irishpat183]

Losing guys of this kind of talent is never a good thing.

But I agree that it's "next man in" and there is nothing we can do about it but move on.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Unbelieveable....

All of you claiming how many 'talented" players we have left were likely the same guys saying that Fegie and Neal were studs and can't miss guys when they were brought in.


These are both big losses (especially Neal). We're assuming that some kid will step up and be ready to go. You haven't even considered that some of thsoe guys you're naming as fill-ins, might be busts

It's that delusion every player on the team will/could be successful. No program is void of guys who simply don't have the chops to play big time football.

"Nix may leave? No problem, beef up Springmann!!!!"

 

[irishpat183]

Neal and Fegie could be busts as well

But so far so have ferg and neal..they showed nothing last year...so they could be busts to

Very true. But I think Neal wasn't used properly and Ferg didn't even get a chance.