'13 FL RB Greg Bryant (R.I.P.)

stlnd01

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I'm sure someone will pick up him based on talent alone, but what's he even going to show his "recruiters" at this point playing against high school kids at some low-grade juco?

Trying to think of a kid in the Kelly era - beside probably Gunner Kiel - who has transferred out of Notre Dame and wound up in a better situation, football-wise than what he left behind (to say nothing of the academic/life side of things). Anyone?
 

NDohio

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Wow - I didn't pay attention to all the bumps on this thread last week. I feel awful for Greg Sr.
 

IrishLion

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I'm sure someone will pick up him based on talent alone, but what's he even going to show his "recruiters" at this point playing against high school kids at some low-grade juco?

Trying to think of a kid in the Kelly era - beside probably Gunner Kiel - who has transferred out of Notre Dame and wound up in a better situation, football-wise than what he left behind (to say nothing of the academic/life side of things). Anyone?

An argument could be made for Davonte Neal at Arizona, but the emergence of Tre Griffey killed his late-season reps big time.

He made some big plays early last year, but definitely fell off late. I think he could still be a super-dangerous weapon in Rich Rod's offense, more than he ever would have been at ND. But this season will provide the definitive answer.

*Aaaaaand, it looks like that notion is already shot down. He's playing CB now. Maybe that will be the best thing for him though.
 

dublinirish

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Derek Roback went to Ohio and started a bunch of games at TE, probably would only have played special teams at ND
 

Veritate Duce Progredi

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An argument could be made for Davonte Neal at Arizona, but the emergence of Tre Griffey killed his late-season reps big time.

He made some big plays early last year, but definitely fell off late. I think he could still be a super-dangerous weapon in Rich Rod's offense, more than he ever would have been at ND. But this season will provide the definitive answer.

*Aaaaaand, it looks like that notion is already shot down. He's playing CB now. Maybe that will be the best thing for him though.

I don't know how he would've had more opportunities to play at Arizona over ND unless you mean because he's no longer surrounded by fierce competition? I wonder if he could've played CB for us? I don't think he could've cracked the WR rotation given our talent now but maybe I'm way off base.
 

IrishLion

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I don't know how he would've had more opportunities to play at Arizona over ND unless you mean because he's no longer surrounded by fierce competition? I wonder if he could've played CB for us? I don't think he could've cracked the WR rotation given our talent now but maybe I'm way off base.

Arizona was a better football situation for Neal based on both the depth chart and the style of offense, just like Cincy was a better football situation for Gunner Kiel for the same reasons.

Of course, he was a sure-fire slot prospect which we haven't really seen BK coach at ND (until Amir last year and now CJ Sanders, seemingly), and I will go to my grave believing that Neal would have been a star had he stuck around at ND. But I think 'Zona was also a better situation for him than ND was.
 

BobbyMac

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Trying to think of a kid in the Kelly era - beside probably Gunner Kiel - who has transferred out of Notre Dame and wound up in a better situation, football-wise than what he left behind (to say nothing of the academic/life side of things). Anyone?

If Aaron Lynch stays injury free this year I think you can safely say he wound up in a better situation, football wise than what he left behind at ND.
 

GBdomer

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He's been a bust and if he wasn't a 5* recruit on rivals I bet you 95% of you would say see ya. He just never seemed to fit ND from the jump. I give credit to Kelly for trying to bring in troubled elite talent and I think he still will but Greg Bryant would get in some sort of grove like against USC and then just dissapear. I'm perfectly happy with Adams, Williams and Tony Jones. Kids who wanna be here and not smoke it away.
 

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If Aaron Lynch stays injury free this year I think you can safely say he wound up in a better situation, football wise than what he left behind at ND.

I have to disagree with this slightly. Being in the NFL is of course better than college. However, he didn't progress as a player after going to USF. In fact, I think he didn't fully reach his potential until he got to the NFL which means his decision to leave ND wasn't a good one. Essentially, I think if he keeps his head down and works hard at ND, he would've been in a better spot entering the NFL.
 

BleedBlueGold

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Derek Roback went to Ohio and started a bunch of games at TE, probably would only have played special teams at ND

Didn't this kid transfer because he wanted to play QB somewhere, but BK wanted him at TE/HBack? lol

I would NEVER let my kid leave an educational opportunity on the table like that.

I had this discussion a while back with a woman who's son passed on a baseball scholarship at an academic institution (where he probably wouldn't have played), in order to pursue a better depth chart at a much lesser school. I was totally beside myself and had no words. I totally get wanting your kid to be happy, but sometimes in these instances, I think the parent needs to step up and put their foot down. I feel bad for Greg Sr. He clearly tried.
 

BobbyMac

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I have to disagree with this slightly. Being in the NFL is of course better than college. However, he didn't progress as a player after going to USF. In fact, I think he didn't fully reach his potential until he got to the NFL which means his decision to leave ND wasn't a good one. Essentially, I think if he keeps his head down and works hard at ND, he would've been in a better spot entering the NFL.

While I can't argue with that, I also can't rule out that his blossoming pro career isn't a result of something that the USF experience was crucial in developing. Basically, he is exactly where he is today because of the aggregate sum of his choices, the same as all of us.
 

Luckylucci

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While I can't argue with that, I also can't rule out that his blossoming pro career isn't a result of something that the USF experience was crucial in developing. Basically, he is exactly where he is today because of the aggregate sum of his choices, the same as all of us.

I understand what you're getting at, this may be an agree to disagree scenario. I just think that Day 1 in the NFL he would've been in a better spot if he stayed at ND. He probably gets drafted higher, he has more game tape and is also probably in better shape. Consider that he was a full time starter junior when he played in 2013 and his stats are similar to his freshman numbers in 2011 I don't think thats getting better. Include that he played weaker competition, I just have a hard time seeing how he got better from his Freshman to Junior seasons.
 

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While I can't argue with that, I also can't rule out that his blossoming pro career isn't a result of something that the USF experience was crucial in developing. Basically, he is exactly where he is today because of the aggregate sum of his choices, the same as all of us.

I understand what you're getting at, this may be an agree to disagree scenario. I just think that Day 1 in the NFL he would've been in a better spot if he stayed at ND. He probably gets drafted higher, he has more game tape and is also probably in better shape. Consider that he was a full time starter junior when he played in 2013 and his stats are similar to his freshman numbers in 2011 I don't think thats getting better. Include that he played weaker competition, I just have a hard time seeing how he got better from his Freshman to Junior seasons.

I'm with Lucky. If Aaron Lynch doesn't transfer, he: still continues to develop on a bigger stage and would've been drafted higher, thus a bigger paycheck from day one. With a career in the pros averaging 4 years?, you want to maximize every year you play in the league.. He would've grown in character since he would've stuck with a difficult decision and not taken the easy way out.

Aaron is succeeding and we're happy for him but he's succeeding despite some poor decisions. He's just that athletically gifted. Few are able to do what Aaron does and I hope he continues to develop and mature as a young man, a man now making money and who'll start receiving more notoriety as long as he's healthy. ND isn't the only way to become a respectable man and let's hope he has great mentors around him to keep his head in the right direction.
 

BobbyMac

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I understand what you're getting at, this may be an agree to disagree scenario. I just think that Day 1 in the NFL he would've been in a better spot if he stayed at ND. He probably gets drafted higher, he has more game tape and is also probably in better shape. Consider that he was a full time starter junior when he played in 2013 and his stats are similar to his freshman numbers in 2011 I don't think thats getting better. Include that he played weaker competition, I just have a hard time seeing how he got better from his Freshman to Junior seasons.

Once again, I totally agree that is probably what would have happened and definitely what would have happened had he applied himself 100% at ND in all phases of being a student athlete.

Most players would be better prepared staying at ND over going to USF as long as they were getting playing time at ND which Lynch was. The odds are he would be better but I can't rule out negative things that could've happened to him... poor choices he would have made, a lull in his development at ND (like USF) because he was going through personal issues at that time. A catastrophic injury he could have sustained having to play 2 more games against Navy (or any team but Navy's fun to pick on) Maybe something happens in South Bend that ends his career That can't be determined. Not everyone can buckle down and get through what they are going through away from home.

On the positive side, he got through college only playing 25 games and avoided a career altering injury.

I don't think this is an agree to disagree situation. I don't disagree with you, I just recognize that if one variable changes it sets off a completely different change of events...maybe. The fact is, he's not sitting on a street corner with a cup in his hand. The decisions he's made didn't stop him from getting to the NFL and he's already made $620,000 in the last year with a chance to make millions more.
 

stlnd01

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Once again, I totally agree that is probably what would have happened and definitely what would have happened had he applied himself 100% at ND in all phases of being a student athlete.

Most players would be better prepared staying at ND over going to USF as long as they were getting playing time at ND which Lynch was. The odds are he would be better but I can't rule out negative things that could've happened to him... poor choices he would have made, a lull in his development at ND (like USF) because he was going through personal issues at that time. A catastrophic injury he could have sustained having to play 2 more games against Navy (or any team but Navy's fun to pick on) Maybe something happens in South Bend that ends his career That can't be determined. Not everyone can buckle down and get through what they are going through away from home.

On the positive side, he got through college only playing 25 games and avoided a career altering injury.

I don't think this is an agree to disagree situation. I don't disagree with you, I just recognize that if one variable changes it sets off a completely different change of events...maybe. The fact is, he's not sitting on a street corner with a cup in his hand. The decisions he's made didn't stop him from getting to the NFL and he's already made $620,000 in the last year with a chance to make millions more.

We're all a product of our journey (blech, can't believe I just typed that), and we can't measure an event that didn't happen. But it's hard to see any positive evidence that Lynch is really better off having transferred. Just conceivable negatives (a Navy game knee injury?) that never came to pass.
Neal's probably a toss up. He could well be our starting slot receiver at this point.
Good call on Roback. I'd forgotten about him. Though maybe b/c he didn't exactly light the world on fire at Ohio. At least he played though. Wouldn't have at ND.

Anyway, rooting for Bryant here. But not holding my breath on an outcome better than him being our #2 RB next year.
 

dublinirish

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Didn't this kid transfer because he wanted to play QB somewhere, but BK wanted him at TE/HBack? lol

I would NEVER let my kid leave an educational opportunity on the table like that.

I had this discussion a while back with a woman who's son passed on a baseball scholarship at an academic institution (where he probably wouldn't have played), in order to pursue a better depth chart at a much lesser school. I was totally beside myself and had no words. I totally get wanting your kid to be happy, but sometimes in these instances, I think the parent needs to step up and put their foot down. I feel bad for Greg Sr. He clearly tried.

haha yeah and then when he went to Ohio they immediately moved him to TE. Kid put on a serious amount of weight in college i think he was like 215 as a freshmen and 260+ as a senior
 

Irish#1

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Stopped in at the Greg Bryant thread for a cup of coffee, but apparently I took a wrong turn.
 

Irish Insanity

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Stopped in at the Greg Bryant thread for a cup of coffee, but apparently I took a wrong turn.
We have a hard time keeping it on topic in almost any thread. All bets are off when a player becomes irrelevant to the program.
 

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