Braylon Heard declares for NFL Draft

[Chuckinden]

Good luck Braylon.

It makes me wonder about the RB situation. With Jo Jo and Clemens's status being so hush hush and now Braylon doing this, I wonder if anything is going on.

 

[zcats]

I wish him the best. Evidently a great kid and an outstanding football player.

 

[jeffygray]

wonder how long U.K. knew he was leaving?

 

[TBCat]

Originally posted by Grumpyolddawg:
RBs want to get paid as quick as they can because their careers are so short. If he was going to be good enough to make it next year then he will be good enough to make it this year too. Everyone hates losing them early but all it takes is a look at Marcus Lattimore and realize why they do it.

Big difference. Lattimore was projected as a first rounder. At the moment Heard won't get drafted at all. This strikes me more of a I'm giving up football move than a early entrant move. Heard is graduating and already spent a forth year in college because of his red shirt. Maybe he's just moving on with his professional life outside of football.

 

[vhcat70]

Originally posted by Cal-El:

Originally posted by jnewc2:
I think Heard is actually a pretty solid back, but our offensive line was just horrible..when Heard had a hole to run through he was explosive

This.

Not this. Not a difference maker. Wish him well.

 

[*Bleedingblue*]

Wish lots of luck to Heard in getting a top pick. It will go a long way in our recruiting if he does get drafted if he performs well in the draft combines.

He def has potential.

 

[LordEgg]

This is the strangest thing I've heard in awhile.

 

[optimus-blue]

Got his degree, will not get the ball enough to change his draft status, 23 years old....... Actually it's not a bad choice IMO

 

[railroadkat_1]

Good luck Braylon. You will always be a Wildcat!

 

[Comebakatz3]

Wish him the best of luck. I think he can succeed at the next level. He won't ever be a star, but he can be a guy that can get you some yards and probably be a solid receiving option out of the backfield. I never thought Alphonso Smith would last in the league as long as he has, so I would imagine Heard has a pretty good shot of sticking around if he goes to the right team.

Now, however, it is imperative that we pick up another running back. I don't know if this has any effect on Damien Harris at all, but you have to imagine that it doesn't hurt to know that a guy who would have gotten top 2 or 3 carries and touches will be gone and those touches will definitely be yours in year one. Alabama likely can't give him that. If not, then Hall needs to be a top priority for us, and one of the Dowell twins might want to be on standby. Should be interesting.

 

[77PrincetonTiger]

Good Luck BH

 

[JHB4UK]

Originally posted by optimus-blue:
Got his degree, will not get the ball enough to change his draft status, 23 years old....... Actually it's not a bad choice IMO

It really is not. And not a surprise for me, a football guy I trust who gives out info told me all last year that he would only play 1 year at UK.

People who think he has no chance must not pay attention to how the NFL works. GMs and coaches don't construct their rosters based on who had the best all-star college stats. The question is how in shape are you now, how athletic are you now? Lots of guys shoot their wad working for a millionaire college coach and have no knees/brains left for the pros.

How is it that Raph Little and Derek Locke didnt play one damn snap in the NFL, yet former career 3rd stringer Alphonso Smith has had what is now about a 5 or 6 year NFL career? Because Smith showed up at camps in fantastic shape and still a fantastic athlete(to this day). Little & Locke were dun after all the carries for UK.

 

[Boyz_N_Blue]

Originally posted by JHB4UK:

Originally posted by optimus-blue:
Got his degree, will not get the ball enough to change his draft status, 23 years old....... Actually it's not a bad choice IMO

How is it that Raph Little and Derek Locke didnt play one damn snap in the NFL, yet former career 3rd stringer Alphonso Smith has had what is now about a 5 or 6 year NFL career? Because Smith showed up at camps in fantastic shape and still a fantastic athlete(to this day). Little & Locke were dun after all the carries for UK.

Because Alfonso is the best combo of those 2 backs you mention - he has size and speed. That and his special teams ability kept him in the league. I don't think Locke or Little played much special teams.

 

[mrschwump]

JHB's on the mark. Have no idea where or even if Heard's drafted but I'll lay you a dollar to a donut Heard's on a NFL roster come fall.

This is a huge loss for UK, much bigger than people realize. If UK goes into the year with 3 and a half RBs the results could be a disaster. Will be hard keeping the others healthy. I suppose Stoops is scrambling trying to find another RB or 2.

Do we know if Hall even has a UK visit scheduled?

 

[MS59]

Originally posted by Boyz_N_Blue:

This. Only 53 players on an NFL team roster. Only 46 can be active on game day. With those limited numbers the difference between a lot of backup players making rosters or not is if they can contribute on special teams in addition to their primary position. If they excel at special teams it can really improve their chances.






This post was edited on 1/15 9:10 AM by MS59

 

[JasonS.]

My big Nebraska fan college roommate gave me some crap about this. I reminded him they just hired Mike Riley.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Originally posted by JHB4UK:

Originally posted by optimus-blue:
Got his degree, will not get the ball enough to change his draft status, 23 years old....... Actually it's not a bad choice IMO

It really is not. And not a surprise for me, a football guy I trust who gives out info told me all last year that he would only play 1 year at UK.

People who think he has no chance must not pay attention to how the NFL works. GMs and coaches don't construct their rosters based on who had the best all-star college stats. The question is how in shape are you now, how athletic are you now? Lots of guys shoot their wad working for a millionaire college coach and have no knees/brains left for the pros.

How is it that Raph Little and Derek Locke didnt play one damn snap in the NFL, yet former career 3rd stringer Alphonso Smith has had what is now about a 5 or 6 year NFL career? Because Smith showed up at camps in fantastic shape and still a fantastic athlete(to this day). Little & Locke were dun after all the carries for UK.

Exactly. Heard will make a roster imo. Or at least a practice roster. UK'S pro day will be huge for him. If he pouts the 40 people say he can, he'll open some eyes.

 

[K_TIME]

Originally posted by mrschwump:

JHB's on the mark. Have no idea where or even if Heard's drafted but I'll lay you a dollar to a donut Heard's on a NFL roster come fall.

This is a huge loss for UK, much bigger than people realize. If UK goes into the year with 3 and a half RBs the results could be a disaster. Will be hard keeping the others healthy. I suppose Stoops is scrambling trying to find another RB or 2.

Do we know if Hall even has a UK visit scheduled?

Come on...huge loss?
- I'll concede RBs that make it vs. not make is not so easy to call....but Heard looked like our least effective back in SEC play. Not even close to what Boom brought to the table.
- Horton is a solid pounder from the RB spot
- JoJo has a solid burst, runs thru tackles at times. I've never seen him have to block all that much which is supposedly why he didn't see the field as much in 2014. But he's a better back than anythingn we saw in the Joker Philllips era gonig into his Jr year.
- Clemons is a hard call with all his injuries...but has a 4th option in case of disasterous amount of injuries...I'm not sweating it too much.

Rarely has UK dipped into 3rd/4th string backs for many carries in a season. The Little/Rapheal Dixon/Alphonso Smith/Locke season was about the only year I remember seeing guys that deep on depth chart see the field much. Most years, we play 3 RBs and hardly ever see a 4th RB. I think it would be an aid to see our best backs more often vs. rotating kids with less than 10 carries a piece.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

You're making the mistake of looking at production vs ability. As the schedule wore on, the OL and the offensive game plan all but removed RBs from the offensive equation.

Boom was the best. But Heard was also a really good option when he had something to work with.

 

[mrschwump]

Heard was the most experienced RB UK had, the best blocker, started the most games. He struggled vs the SEC....so did Boom and Kemp minus SC and Horton. I'm saying I'd liked to have seen a healthy Heard and if the thought of going thru a SEC schedule with only 3 RBs doesn't have you concerned it should.

I hope like hell everybody's right about Boom. Yes, he has great talent but I'm afraid people are judging him on the UL game only. Do you recall Boom vs UT 2 weeks prior? 5 carries for 5 yds. Which Boom will we get?

 

[zcats]

You need 4 or even better 5 guys to get through the season. Heard was playing injured much of the year which happens in big boy football.

 

[sluggercatfan]

Originally posted by mrschwump:

Heard was the most experienced RB UK had, the best blocker, started the most games. He struggled vs the SEC....so did Boom and Kemp minus SC and Horton. I'm saying I'd liked to have seen a healthy Heard and if the thought of going thru a SEC schedule with only 3 RBs doesn't have you concerned it should.

I hope like hell everybody's right about Boom. Yes, he has great talent but I'm afraid people are judging him on the UL game only. Do you recall Boom vs UT 2 weeks prior? 5 carries for 5 yds. Which Boom will we get?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6V5iKiTqk4.....Only against ul...OK

 

[Baldcat1]

He will get a chance to prove himself at the combine workout if he goes. But took me off guard.

 

[Glenn's take]

Originally posted by KumarCat:
He's graduating so it's not that odd. I don't see what another year would do. Give it a shot and if it doesn't work, he's got his degree. Best of luck to him.

Kind of thought the same thing. It's all kind of in how you report it. It would be like saying that Michael Porter declared for the NBA draft after Cal got here. He didn't. He just had his degree and had to go to work and that's how it was reported. Heard has a thousand times better chance than Porter did to make it to the pros. If he doesn't he just goes to work.

 

[Buddy Cat]

Has Heard hired an agent? Is it like BB, can he withdraw and return to UKFB if he's not hearing what he wants to hear from scouts regarding his draft stock? Just curious.

 

[Jon(-24)]

Originally posted by Buddy Cat:
Has Heard hired an agent? Is it like BB, can he withdraw and return to UKFB if he's not hearing what he wants to hear from scouts regarding his draft stock? Just curious.

No, he's gone. NFL does a better job than the NBA as far as letting guys know where they're likely going to be drafted, as opposed to agents and runners in the NBA guaranteeing any and everyone they're a top 10 pick. Kids can get their grades and projections from the NFL without declaring, but to declare they have to submit a written intention to enter the draft and by doing that they also have to give up collegiate eligibility. If he's actually entered the draft by submitting his paperwork, his eligibility is gone.

This post was edited on 1/18 8:54 PM by Jon(-24)

 

[.S&C.]

I'm find with of. Heard is a strong back and should do well in the league. During the summer I figured he was our best back. If it doesn't work out, he can just finish up his degree. Sucks for us but it's smart for him.

Boom is our main back now. He and Kemp will have to manage a big load.