'11 CA DE/OT Troy Niklas (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[#1rish]

The more I think about it, the more I think he'll be drafted in the 2nd-3rd than later. There's such a demand in today's NFL for tight ends with his massize size and athleticism.

That being said, it'll be a really nice 2014 draft for the Irish.

 

[NDohio]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>The Niklas camp also consulted with Bill Rees (father of Tommy Rees) and Tyler Eifert.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDatRivals/statuses/421487800785989632">January 10, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

SMH

This is interesting to me. These guys wouldn't necessarily be giving him this advice to profit from it. Unless it was Tyler's agent.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

I am feeling frisky. Contingent upon Troy getting a combine invite, I will bet someone $2 billion that he is at worst the 3rd TE taken. One bet only.

 

[dublinirish]

i think he will go second behind Seferian-Jenkins

 

[#1rish]

I think he'll go third behind Ebron and Amaro.

 

[Ironman8]

I think he'll go third behind Ebron and Amaro.

You think he goes before ASJ?

 

[johnnycando]

Amaro, Jenkins, Ebron, Niklas.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Ebron, Seferian-Jenkins, Amaro…

then maybe Niklas.

Guys like C. J. Fiedorowicz (sound familiar, guys?), Arthur Lynch and Marcel Jensen are all solid TE's too.

Also, keep an eye out for Joe Jon Duncan from Dixie State. This year's Julius Thomas.

 

[irishfanjho15]

dont forget they are related to the Matthews family so they would have a bunch of connections in NFL ranks. They know what they are doing. I think when the scouts break down the tape they are gonna see Troy is the true number 1 TE in the draft.

We are in a state of pretty solid agreement. I think Troy is the number one old school type tight end far and away. He would be a perfect fit for the Indianapolis Colts power run offense and his upside is totally worth the Colts second round pick, IMO. You must consider they will be one of the last six picks. The TE has and will continue to change the game for years to come. And let's be honest, if Niklas has two things on his side they are the following: he is freak of nature and his upside is huge.

 

[phork]

Someone could make a lot of dough just being an agent for ND TEs.

Excuse me while I go sign up for that Sports Management course. The matchbox says 30 days until diploma!

 

[CanadalovesND]

I'd love him on my crappy, crappy Bills.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

I just think he will show out in the combine, do great in interviews, and with how well our TEs have fared in the NFL he can at minimum jump one of the three currently projected above him.

 

[dublinirish]

I'd love him on my crappy, crappy Bills.

how dare you!

 

[johnnycando]

Damn sad day to see Herc rolling out.

I thought he'd be a bad ass this season.

 

[#1rish]

You think he goes before ASJ?

Whoops, forgot about him. Although I think it could be a toss up. Doesn't he have a few off-field issues (DUI)? If he does will at the combine and interviews, he'll probably go ahead of Troy.

 

[CanadalovesND]

how dare you!

Lol I'm sure he'd fit nicely with the packers too.

 

[RDU Irish]

That's almost exactly what I think happened, except with an agent. I think someone convinced him he was locked in to the second round and had nothing to gain by coming back. I think he got sold on coming out by someone who wanted to profit.

I think this happens all the time. Agents are paid to represent NFL players, not college kids.

Someone also mentioned a study on second contract value that supposedly showed more value to early entry that overcomes a lower initial contract due to lower draft value. I would love to see that report, I could see the value for someone to develop in the league rather than college. Obvious downside is bird in the hand vs two in the bush since chance of washing out or getting injured before that reset is pretty good.

Anyone know or have a good link to standard contract structure based on round drafted? Do length of contracts go down for lower rounds or is length pretty standard? I know upfront, guaranteed money is the big deal but how long does it take for draftees to be eligible for new contracts.

 

[IrishLax]

I think this happens all the time. Agents are paid to represent NFL players, not college kids.

Someone also mentioned a study on second contract value that supposedly showed more value to early entry that overcomes a lower initial contract due to lower draft value. I would love to see that report, I could see the value for someone to develop in the league rather than college. Obvious downside is bird in the hand vs two in the bush since chance of washing out or getting injured before that reset is pretty good.

Anyone know or have a good link to standard contract structure based on round drafted? Do length of contracts go down for lower rounds or is length pretty standard? I know upfront, guaranteed money is the big deal but how long does it take for draftees to be eligible for new contracts.

I gave some rough numbers early in the thread, but the bottom line is that IF you are a long time, very productive pro then "early entry" makes sense financially. If you're a pro bowl level player then you get an extra year making pro bowl level money which offsets the millions you lose up front.

If you turn down late first/top second money for late 4th/early 5th round money, then you end up millions in the hole assuming an 8 year career (so 7 if you stay in school another year). More importantly, being a mid draft pick you get very little guaranteed money and a small signing bonus compared to a late first/early 2nd... and also far less job security.

 

[BobD]

The Notre Dame, Minnesota connection. They'll probably be looking for a QB in the first round, then a big tight end in round 2 or 3 ?

 

[#1rish]

The Notre Dame, Minnesota connection they'll probably be looking for a QB in the first round, then a big tight end in round 2 or 3 ?

But they have Carlson

 

[dublinirish]

Tommy Rees is getting drafted by the Bears

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

I'm super late to the party as I went to bed early last night and I wake up and find out this! Dammit! When are we going to catch a break. I understand that the offseason brings some changes we never like, but losing Troy all of the sudden just stings especially after it was almost certain that he would return. I think he's making a huge mistake. Just a shame, because he would be a huge part of our offense with EG coming back. I hate to think of what other bad news is to come in the coming days. I hate the offseason!

 

[Fbolt]

I suppose that I'm surprised on his decision to turn pro based on his past team first mentality (the switch from OLB to TE). This Niklas first mentality seems out of character. However, I hope he kicks azz in the combine and goes high in the draft.

 

[Cackalacky]

dont forget they are related to the Matthews family so they would have a bunch of connections in NFL ranks. They know what they are doing. I think when the scouts break down the tape they are gonna see Troy is the true number 1 TE in the draft.

i think highly of Troy but Ebron is the #1 TE NFL prospect. At this point anyway. He got a top 20 grade.

 

[IrishLax]

So, it's only OK for a guy to make (what they think is an informed) decision when we agree with it?

Yes? The whole point is that people think he should've come back? And that this decision isn't in anyone's best interest?

There are plenty of people lamenting about any player leaving early. That ND isn't about that. That every player that comes to ND should get their degree before venturing to the NFL. That is crazy, unless there truly is no desire to win a NCG.

How many Stanford players leave without their degree? Stanford is the most consistent winning football team over the past 4 seasons in college football. The other end of the spectrum is Alabama. Nobody expects EVERYONE to stay until the end of their eligibility, but small classes + player development is how ND is going to win. ND cannot do the Alabama model. It does not work for how ND is set up as a school.

Is the argument that Troy is a selfish, football first guy that ND shouldn't have brought in? Or is it that the very informed people of IE think that this is a career mistake?

He's not "selfish" (well, philosophically EVERYONE who has ever lived is "selfish" so I hate that term) but he is/was clearly football-first in the sense that he saw ND as an audition for the league and not much past that. There is no way you can justify this move unless you less weight on wanting to play another season + a degree + the upside of improving draft stock than on the hypothetical financial upside of another year as a pro (which is a risky proposition).

As to the bolded, that is part of my problem. People are reacting to this Troy news like this is a systematic issue at ND and something needs to be done about it. When Troy makes this decision, it's because BK turns purple and he doesn't recruit the RKG. When Tuitt made his decision it was good for him, ND was a great situation for him, he really grew as a man while here, etc.

Neither one of them leaves with a degree. Why the different reaction?

I'm not really sure which part of this I want to address... so I'll just say that yes, the two situations are quite different, and that's why you have different reactions.

 

[Fbolt]

He's not "selfish" (well, philosophically EVERYONE who has ever lived is "selfish" so I hate that term) but he is/was clearly football-first in the sense that he saw ND as an audition for the league and not much past that. There is no way you can justify this move unless you but zero weight on wanting to play another season, zero weight on a degree, zero weight on the upside of improving draft stock, and all of the weight on the hypothetical financial upside of another year as a pro (which is a risky proposition).

Zero weight? I disagree.

 

[Irish#1]

Welcome to the big time boys. Bama just had 3 players declare early, who will all be first rounders. They have dealt with this for a half decade.

Only here could we be in a full blown fucking meltdown after after losing a TE and high school recruit.

Buck up fellas. Isn't this what we wanted all along? NFL caliber recruits?

"Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it!"

Right on target IS. The better players we recruit, makes the probability of having them for four years go down. Hate to see Troy go, but we'll be fine. Wish him the best.

Concerning the "information", couldn't it be that he simply found out that he projects higher in the draft than when he expected? I'm not sure there is "something" going on behind the scenes we don't know about.

 

[IrishLax]

Zero weight? I disagree.

Maybe not "zero" but the weight he put on an extra potential pro year outweighed:
1) Playing another year at ND.
2) Improving draft stock for more upfront money/security.
3) Graduating.

That's the decision making equation.

 

[Luckylucci]

I'll just say this, we will not consistently be a winning program if we have our best players leaving early and we don't take Jucos. Even Kelly said in an interview after the season that one of the next steps in this programs future is getting more 4th and 5th year guys on the field. A more mature team. This is the opposite of that, obviously.

 

[ND NYC]

was there a mod cleanup of some of the midnight to 2am posts in this thread? or was it the deickerson thread?