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Juniors who could leave early
IMO Tyler Clark is the biggest contender to enter the draft as a junior. I thought he showed flashes last year where I thought nobody could block this dude on obvious passing situations. He is so quick off the ball but if he can improve his game on 1st and 2nd downs against the run, he will probably bolt for the NFL. I believe Holyfield will emerge as the workhorse who earns the tough yards and with the history of the RB position, after a solid Junior yr he will move on. I think Mecole has the talent to leave after 3 but only has 1 solid season of film. Unless he absolutely catches fire and puts up some serious numbers, I see him coming back. Nauta probably also has the talent to leave after the season but doesn't have the production to match (no fault of his own). I was curious what everyone thinks will shake out?
Comments
I said this yesterday on another post yesterday. I think that Clark is the only lock to leave. I said Mecole has a chance with a solid year, but because he's really only in his second year at the position I think he stays. Nauta hasn't done anything to prove he is worthy of leaving. Holyfield might, but I think he stays.
It'll be interesting to see what happens with the 2016 kids since they are a hybrid of Richt and Smart recruits. It would be worth watching to see if any of them jump at the chance if they have a good year or if they want to come back and win the title. I also think if we win the title this year that'll make it easier for borderline guys to leave.
I personally don't think winning the title will sway a kid to leave. It will all be about projected draft position. If you're a projected 4th rounder that started on a title defense, it's dumb to leave with a year of eligibility left. 1st round locks leave regardless of titles. Michel and Chubb were 3rd to 4th round at best last year which is why they came back. If either had a 1st round grade they would've left and I wouldn't have blamed them.
I don't consider being a projected 4th round pick to be "borderline".
Holyfield is clearly not a Kirby favorite, whether it's personal or about blocking is hard to say.
For that reason I doubt EH gets a lot of totes.
As for who leaves, as of now it looks like both 2019 and 2020 will be thin drafts for us, Kirby's guys will start hitting the market in 2021.
What would be borderline then for the draft?
like the guys who were projected to go 6th-7th round but didn't make it? Also, I might have mis-read Kasey's post. I took it to mean guys who were borderline for playing time at UGA, not borderline for the draft. Sorry for that.
who do you think gets the Chubb "bruiser, big back" totes?
All good. I think borderline for declaring for the draft as a junior is a 3rd-4th round grade. Anyone that has that grade as a junior usually considers the jump.
I mostly meant borderline today. Like a Julian Rochester. But if he has a good postseason maybe he jumps since he’s one of those hybrid Richt/Smart guys
@corai3 Sorry for the repeat post and @Kasey I personally don't think Rochester has had the type of career so far to warrant leaving early. Guys that leave early are usually physically freakish or have huge stats to prop them up. I'm curious with Herrien though, with the talent coming in I just can't see him ever being the consensus #2 back, what would be the point in coming back for a senior season and would he even get enough carries this year to get real NFL looks? I'm curious to see how that situation unfolds.
@Acrum21 -- I agree with you, Rochester hasn’t shown the play that makes me think he’ll declare early. Also, I doubt Rochester will leave early after Thompson – his teammate at the same position – declared early for this draft and did not get selected.
The point for him to come back for his senior year would be his degree. I think that's fairly valuable, as that's a nice fall back if he doesn't get any looks at the NFL.
Nauta can't do anything because Chaney won't throw the TE's the ball. Chaney is wasting away TE talent every year and it will come to a point where no good TE's will come to UGA to be underused.
@Teddy I agree 100%, I guess I was thinking more on the lines of a possible transfer but didn't want to project that on the guy. I like him and hope to see him prosper but on the football field that may not happen at UGA.