Ozzy Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 Hearing D'Eriq King is thinking about returning to Miami for 2021. Apparently all current academic seniors can return to school next year because of the Pandemic. " ...any and all players can compete this football season and return in 2021 in the same class they entered the 2020 season." So if they are a RS SR in 2020 they can return as a RS SR football wise in 2021. Is that correct? If so basically all players that are on the fringe of being drafted can just not declare and come back to school to develop more? And all these senior days are really not one because the guy can just return to school next year. That could be pretty nuts if many decide to do that, not to mention the guys who are not even pro prospects just returning because they can and they want to keep playing the game. Then there are the better ones who can for one to get more free education and two extend their chance of improving themselves to have a better shot at being a pro. Sure might not happen, but with the economy how it is, absolutely could. If so that 2021 draft could be absolutely stacked with lower tear players but say 50-70 guys who would be drafted this year return to school, that would be massive and really mud up the draft in a good way. But also could really decrease the depth of the current 2020 draft. Will be interesting what players will do, of course a ton have already "opted" out to prep for the draft but there is a massive amount of lower tear guys who one just assumes are in the draft because they are seniors or redshirt seniors but maybe that does not happen. Each position has about 10-30 guys who do not have a great chance of being drafted but are pro prospects, if they all return that could really add up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CWood21 Posted December 13, 2020 Share Posted December 13, 2020 I mean, the guys who are returning for a second 5th year probably aren't NFL prospects to begin with. Another year in a college program, but more importantly another year older probably don't move the needle for evaluators since they're an extra year older. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted December 13, 2020 Author Share Posted December 13, 2020 Just now, CWood21 said: I mean, the guys who are returning for a second 5th year probably aren't NFL prospects to begin with. Another year in a college program, but more importantly another year older probably don't move the needle for evaluators since they're an extra year older. Sure some are obsessed with age of a player and will not draft anyone that is older. But just look at Joe Burrow, guy was a UDFA to a what 6th or 7th round pick coming into his RS SR season. Then is the #1 pick with some development and put in the right situation. What says all those 20-30 per position who are really on the fringe do not just return. Sure maybe they do not develop anymore or maybe some do and they will. Sure to some it is not a huge deal but UDFA pickups are huge for organizations, and if guys return to school that UDFA group could be very small. And again in this economy, who would not want to stay in college for free one more year, get a chance to actually have regular college life assuming the vaccine slows and ends the pandemic hopefully. I could see a ton of guys doing that, not to mention all of them doing it who are not even pro prospects just because, they especially would lean on doing that unless they already have lined up a sweet career which few probably do. What happens to the rosters, what happens to the scholarship limit, what happens to the incoming freshman. It could be an absolute mess if players actually decide to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzy Posted December 13, 2020 Author Share Posted December 13, 2020 Take Zach VanValkenburg on Iowa, DE transferred in from a D2 school and has been at Iowa two years. Has played great this year but could be even greater next year with another season as a D1 player and greatly improve his stock. Could be a mid to late round pick right now arguably but could increase his stock to 2nd round or higher with another season, is an obvious late bloomer but has big time potential. There are many guys in college like that, made a little splash this year but not much else and could use another season if given one and have ability. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.