UGA LB- Kentucky reaches out
- Thread starter Dontworryboutit23
- Start date
Really happy to hear we are trying to get him. This guy started every game for Georgia's 15-0 national championship 2022 season. So I think he could get all the playing time he could possibly want here. We're getting pretty darn thin at the LB spots anyway. This is definitely an area we need to plus up before next season. I hope we can get him. Getting a visit is a big first step in that process.
He posted he was there today, red carpet, all the coaches and staffers according to him. Sounds like he is wanting to wrap things up in a hurry.
BTW, I Think Grumpy is talking about Auburn rolling out the red carpet for him. He is down there visiting now.
Kentucky reaches out, meanwhile Auburn reaches deep ---- into their pockets. Unless this is an exceptionally high character kid, I can already see how this one is going to play out.
Kentucky reaches out, meanwhile Auburn reaches deep ---- into their pockets. Unless this is an exceptionally high character kid, I can already see how this one is going to play out.
One thing is for sure, none of the “poor state” excuses are gonna hold a lick of water with me as it seems like Auburn and Mississippi are two of the schools leading the way as far as NIL dollars.
There is no bad character revealed by taking the highest $$$. All us adults do it all the time.
I'd hope he would consider UK and receiving excellent coaching to prep for the next stage in football
I'd hope he would consider UK and receiving excellent coaching to prep for the next stage in football
And to play for Mark Stoops instead of Hugh Freeze.
It’s more about how rabid the fan base is and how they choose to sides heir money. We will never compare to Auburn when it comes to NIL money. Ole Miss is most likely a decent ways above us too, but not nearly the gap as Auburn.
FWIW, the writers on our board said UK's Justin felt really good about UK's chances. I don't know who Justin is but I am sure you guys do.
I guess they mean Justin Rowland. He's the chief cook and bottle washer of this site.
AU's money is coming from a billionaire in the lumber business. He just raises the cost of lumber to the consumer, he has all but a monopoly in the deep south. I got to think OM is somehow tied to the gambling industry but that is a guess, just not much there.
Defense and Grumpy, thanks for the info.
If this is a situation where NIL money is just one of many factors that will be looked at in making his decision, I like our chances. If it becomes a situation where NIL money is the main or only criteria, I don't like our chances.
Of course that probably applies to pretty much all of the higher regarded prospects we recruit out of high school or the portal, so for many, it isn't the primary consideration.
If this is a situation where NIL money is just one of many factors that will be looked at in making his decision, I like our chances. If it becomes a situation where NIL money is the main or only criteria, I don't like our chances.
Of course that probably applies to pretty much all of the higher regarded prospects we recruit out of high school or the portal, so for many, it isn't the primary consideration.
It’s BS. We just have an athletic department that is ultra squeaky clean. The rule that they cannot divert any of the coaching salary money towards NIL, isn’t be followed by any of these other schools. Our school is unwilling to drop Nike and go with a shoe sponsor that would help with would actually help support football and basketball. Louisville getting support from Adidas was a creative way to combat the “poor state” issue. These are a couple of examples of the many ways our athletic department could be getting creative to combat this issue rather than sitting on their hands. He will choose rule following over winning everytime. If you think other SEC programs are following every NCAA rule when it is clear there is no enforcement anymore than that is crazy and naive. Just Win Baby!
Sadly that's how almost EVERYTHING works when it comes to money. We normal people are the ones that have to pay for it in the end. Even if UK starts matching some of the schools beating us out on players ONLY because of money, the price of everything UK will just go up and unless we start actually being in contention for Conference Championships and the Playoffs then it's unfortunaty not even worth it.
Auburn has some deep pocketed donors. My dad is close friends with an Auburn booster and would go to the Derby every year in his box and they'd usually have the Yellawood guy in there with them. The Yellawood guy is a billionaire. UK doesn't have any of those types.
That’s just one of many excuses I hear all the time. Frankly I put the blame on Mitch Barnhart and his refusal to find a solution that would be best to move UK athletics forward in navigating this new era. Think of the way Louisville figured out a way to get adidas to help them out as an example of one of many things that could’ve been done. It’s why I’ve called for his removal repeatedly as it’s clear he’s not gonna adapt ever.
I’ll agree that Mitch has been a serious problem when it comes to NIL, and I do think it’s best for both parties if he walks, or he takes a parachute job at a NAIA.
I think we are talking about 2 different things here:
1. I agree that UK is not as creative on the NIL front. Our AD is conservative by nature and will never be the leader in anything that’s new and innovative.
2. It’s also true that Auburn (and most of the SEC) have more/richer boosters that are willing to throw more resources at NIL.
Those are two separate issues imo. When NIL was first introduced, some people were saying that schools in the biggest markets (LA as an example) were going to rule NIL. It’s the schools with the most passionate/craziest fanbases willing to throw resources at college athletes that will produce the most NIL. Partner that with a couple rush alumni like Auburn and those type of schools will always lead in NIL.
We probably don’t rank number 1 if there was a list of football passion or richest alumni so I get your point all around. To me this is all about maximizing what we are capable of here at UK. Barnhart has failed to do that for all the reasons I’ve discussed and that’s the real conversation here.
There's nothing like feeling you're due a shower after every meeting or handshake with your HC...
Joe Craft is about as close as we get to that.
He flew CMS in by helicopter.
Did the same for Cal. Got caught behind their "motorcade" coming out his airfield when Cal was introduced.
Imma win the Powerball and fix this ish
Riola is 1 of those guys who will play for 3 schools in 5 yrs. Already did that in HS basically.
I know he is no longer with us but he was an AU grad, Steve Jobs. If he or any members of his family donated to AU rest assured some of it was dedicated to recruiting by AU administration.
Yep, all but gone, Nebraska coach told him he was firing his uncle if he didn't come, not a 100% raise out of it.
So they guaranteed him to start, keep his uncle on as coach and gave him a big NIL. It is what it is, he wasn't going to start for us, and we weren't matching NIL.
Too me that’s the huge difference, Auburn is going to make sure football gets what it wants when it wants it. That’s how most of these 16 semi-pro franchises are going to operate. Zero reason Kentucky couldn’t do the same other than stubbornness and Barnhart.
I'm surmising that Raiola didn't think he was ever going to start at UGA. Otherwise, why transfer to a mid-tier at best NE vs playing for SECC/NC nearly every year (or at least be included in the conversation)? If he did actually sign with GA, as another poster said, likely he'd be in the portal within a year or two. No big loss, imo, for the Dawgs.
The reason is huge NIL UGA wouldn't match, quaranteed to start which Kirby doesn't do and he didn't want to see his uncle get fired, who is the OL coach at Nebraska. Kid has committment issues for sure, went to 4 different HS and committed to 3 different colleges
But this thread is about JDJ, haven't heard anything on our end but sounding like he is UK bound. He is very good, elite at stopping the run, with his leadership and character. The one area he doesn't Excell in is playing in space. He is an ALL SEC or better runstopper.
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