As you know I've spent a lot of time traveling the college football world and will do more this fall. I've spent countless hours with recruits and players and have also been a member here for quite some time.
When it comes to recruiting and guys like Micah Parsons and Justin Fields, whom everyone wants, the X factor isn't playing time, chance to win a national championship, the relationship with the head coach or to get a degree. They'll get that at all the school's recruiting them.
It's the platform the school offers to be drafted into the NFL.
Their primary goal is to make it to the NFL, make money and change the lives of their family and friends.
Right now what school's are putting the most kids into the NFL each year? Ohio State and Alabama.
They also happen to land top 5 recruiting classes every year and they also happen to compete for a Nat championship every year. It's the same mindset at Kentucky for basketball. Luckily for football the kids have to stay 3 years. The kids that go to Kentucky don't go their for a degree or for a national championship. They go there to get to the NBA. Calipari sells them on coming there and letting them prepare them for the NBA.
With talent comes success, sure.
Unfortunately for Penn State we had one draft pick this year. Yes we are young and that number will increase each year we move further from our sanctions era. A couple first round picks could be in our future even.
Until PSU is getting 7-10 players into the draft each year like Alabama or Ohio State we will continue to lose battles for guys like Micah Parsons.
Think about this. Facilities? We have them. Huge stadium? Yep. Crazy fans? Hell yes. Winning tradition? Of course. Success on the field? B1G champs baby! Solid coaching staff? I think so.
Ohio State, Clemson and Alabama have that too.
So what's the X factor.
2017 NFL DRAFT
Ohio State: 9
Alabama: 10
Clemson: 10
Penn State: 1
2016 NFL DRAFT
Ohio State: 12
Clemson: 9
Alabama: 7
Penn State: 5
2015
PSU: 3
In fact you'd have to do some homework to find the last time PSU had 10 players drafted which was 1996.
In 2003 we had 6 guys drafted with 4 going in the first round. We have not had more than 6 guys drafted since the 1996 draft and in the 2003 draft. That means we can't say that because of the sanctions/Sandusky our numbers are down. Joe recruited good smart players, The type of player that doesn't get a five star rating that usually doesn't break into the NFL. They were the kids you want to have on your team but you can't expect to compete for a national championship every single year with them. Franklin is actively recruiting four and five star players much more aggressively than we have historically.
With our talent in our youth these numbers will increase for us and when they do it will get us on a more even playing field with the schools we consider to be football peers. More importantly a few 1st and 2nd round picks will really help.
I believe this is a major area of advantage that these schools have over us right now and until that changes we will win some recruiting battles and lose some. I expect that after a strong year this year on the football field and a potential strong draft with Saquan, Marcus Allen and Mike Gesicki we will see less losses on the recruiting front and a much happier Lions Den.
Note: I see many of your responses and the main thing I want you to take away from this is that the current perception of players is that because Ohio state and Bama are putting 7+ kids into the draft each year they are doing something different than us. Really there is nothing different except youth and talent. We are catching up quickly and once we are a senior lead team and our talent is up and down our roster we will be putting out 7+ kids each year too. That time is coming but for now this is a piece that separates Ohio state and Bama from us. Once that gap closes our recruiting success should go to an even higher level.
When it comes to recruiting and guys like Micah Parsons and Justin Fields, whom everyone wants, the X factor isn't playing time, chance to win a national championship, the relationship with the head coach or to get a degree. They'll get that at all the school's recruiting them.
It's the platform the school offers to be drafted into the NFL.
Their primary goal is to make it to the NFL, make money and change the lives of their family and friends.
Right now what school's are putting the most kids into the NFL each year? Ohio State and Alabama.
They also happen to land top 5 recruiting classes every year and they also happen to compete for a Nat championship every year. It's the same mindset at Kentucky for basketball. Luckily for football the kids have to stay 3 years. The kids that go to Kentucky don't go their for a degree or for a national championship. They go there to get to the NBA. Calipari sells them on coming there and letting them prepare them for the NBA.
With talent comes success, sure.
Unfortunately for Penn State we had one draft pick this year. Yes we are young and that number will increase each year we move further from our sanctions era. A couple first round picks could be in our future even.
Until PSU is getting 7-10 players into the draft each year like Alabama or Ohio State we will continue to lose battles for guys like Micah Parsons.
Think about this. Facilities? We have them. Huge stadium? Yep. Crazy fans? Hell yes. Winning tradition? Of course. Success on the field? B1G champs baby! Solid coaching staff? I think so.
Ohio State, Clemson and Alabama have that too.
So what's the X factor.
2017 NFL DRAFT
Ohio State: 9
Alabama: 10
Clemson: 10
Penn State: 1
2016 NFL DRAFT
Ohio State: 12
Clemson: 9
Alabama: 7
Penn State: 5
2015
PSU: 3
In fact you'd have to do some homework to find the last time PSU had 10 players drafted which was 1996.
In 2003 we had 6 guys drafted with 4 going in the first round. We have not had more than 6 guys drafted since the 1996 draft and in the 2003 draft. That means we can't say that because of the sanctions/Sandusky our numbers are down. Joe recruited good smart players, The type of player that doesn't get a five star rating that usually doesn't break into the NFL. They were the kids you want to have on your team but you can't expect to compete for a national championship every single year with them. Franklin is actively recruiting four and five star players much more aggressively than we have historically.
With our talent in our youth these numbers will increase for us and when they do it will get us on a more even playing field with the schools we consider to be football peers. More importantly a few 1st and 2nd round picks will really help.
I believe this is a major area of advantage that these schools have over us right now and until that changes we will win some recruiting battles and lose some. I expect that after a strong year this year on the football field and a potential strong draft with Saquan, Marcus Allen and Mike Gesicki we will see less losses on the recruiting front and a much happier Lions Den.
Note: I see many of your responses and the main thing I want you to take away from this is that the current perception of players is that because Ohio state and Bama are putting 7+ kids into the draft each year they are doing something different than us. Really there is nothing different except youth and talent. We are catching up quickly and once we are a senior lead team and our talent is up and down our roster we will be putting out 7+ kids each year too. That time is coming but for now this is a piece that separates Ohio state and Bama from us. Once that gap closes our recruiting success should go to an even higher level.
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