Question for Rembrandt

[ColoradoBleedBlue]

Don't get me wrong, I am ALL about this year and with taking one game at a time! But I still find myself looking ahead at potential depth charts for next year. With taking the COVID year still an option for this year's seniors, how should I factor the possibility of E. Cox, Hayes, Ox, Geiger, and Jackson potentially coming back for one more year? Do you get a sense that it is more likely for some and less likely than others? While I am at it, do you have a guess on whether Wallace will go to the draft after this year or come back for his senior year? I understand there is no way to know any of this right now - I just have UK Football on my brain pretty regularly and just wondering if you have a feel for these players' future next season?

 

[SosaUK1987]

Your gonna get it. Fans can’t look ahead. Nobody can. ONE GAME AT A TIME DAMN IT.

 

[ColoradoBleedBlue]

I'm not going to get anything! My focus is on this season (which I think is going to be special) and I AM taking it one game at a time, but were all allowed to take a healthy peek ahead at the future of our program - we do that every day with recruiting. I wrote this question thinking of Rem, but sans snark, would love to hear anyone's thoughts. Next year could be substantially improved if E. Cox and Jackson return.

 

[Rembrandt90]

Your gonna get it. Fans can’t look ahead. Nobody can. ONE GAME AT A TIME DAMN IT.

True colors showing.

 

[Rembrandt90]

With taking the COVID year still an option for this year's seniors, how should I factor the possibility of E. Cox, Hayes, Ox, Geiger, and Jackson potentially coming back for one more year?

Thanks for the questions. Eli Cox and Jalen Geiger signed in our 2019 recruiting class. Josaih Hayes, D'Eryk Jackson, and Octavious Oxendine signed in our 2020 class. I don't know what they are thinking privately, but here are some considerations. Geiger took his RS in 2019. Then, in 2022, he suffered a season-ending leg injury at FL, missing almost the whole season. So if Geiger wants to file an application for a 2022 medical RS, he might pick up a 6th year (2024) without even invoking COVID.

Cox took his RS in 2019, so 2023 is his 4th year of play. If he has a COVID option, that would be his ticket for 2024.

Jackson played in 9 games as a true freshman in 2020. But in 2021, he injured an Achilles tendon and played in only 4 games, one of which was the Citrus Bowl. So Jackson can file to declare 2021 as a medical RS year, giving him an opportunity to be eligible in 2024 even without invoking COVID, if he wants to.

Oxendine played in three games and took his RS in 2020, so he can use his legitimate 4th year of eligibility in 2024 if he so chooses, even if he gets his degree this year.

Hayes played in 5 games as a true freshman in 2020. So 2023 will be his 4th full season of play. If he wants to play in 2024, he would have to accomplish that by using a COVID option.

You and I don't know what these players are thinking, or what their future plans are. I don't know what their majors are, or their job prospects. Right now, the economy and the job market aren't terrible, but some economists are predicting a recession in 2024. I am not an economist, so it is difficult to know if that will happen. But a recession in 2024 would be bad timing for all these guys. I am pretty sure Geiger, Cox, Jackson, Oxendine, and Hayes will probably not get drafted by the NFL (although their performances during the 2023 season could change that assessment). If they are not projected to get drafted, and if they stay healthy and competitive, they would probably want another season of college football eligibility under these circumstances. So I can't see why they wouldn't attempt to come back, if they can. But, again, I don't know what they are thinking.

While I am at it, do you have a guess on whether Wallace will go to the draft after this year or come back for his senior year?

If I have to guess today, I will guess Wallace will come back for his senior season. He is a fine player, and I expect him to have an excellent 2023 season. But 2023 will be his first full season as a starter. He is a heck of a LB, but he isn't unusually large or unusually accomplished. There are lots of good college LBs. Short of an injury, I can't imagine any scenario where Wallace's draft status wouldn't improve by playing his 4th season of college ball here. Furthermore, the Stoops brothers will be anxious for Wallace to return FWIW.

 

[UKfirst]

Very enlightening and thoughtful analysis. Keep up the good work.

 

[SosaUK1987]

True colors showing.

Just stay focused one game at a time bud.

 

[ColoradoBleedBlue]

Thanks, Rem! This has been on my mind lately and I really appreciate the time you took to work through the issue with each player. I am so grateful Horsey used his option this year - OL, with all of the understandable angst, would be substantially worse off without him and I can see some position groups that could be critically impacted next year with the same type of situations/decisions. With that itch now scratched, I can pivot to full attention to the Gilmore commitment and Ball St prep!