The Bobcat Nation

Some cryptic stuff, plus it says he is in Ft. Worth. I realize he is from Texas but it seems like an awkward time to be down there. I hate to speculate but it appears we could be losing another one.

Cat4LifeHouseDivided wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:31 am

Some cryptic stuff, plus it says he is in Ft. Worth. I realize he is from Texas but it seems like an awkward time to be down there. I hate to speculate but it appears we could be losing another one.

I knew there were concerns he was homesick last fall and was struggling being away from family. He's very close to his mother. It wouldn't be for a lack of playing time. James is projected to be a starter. If we do lose him, it sucks. But James needs to do what's right for James. His father passed away in the Fall of 2017 and then he came to Bozeman half a year later. It may just be the right thing for him to go closer to home.

Also, if we lose him to a FBS school, I would not be surprised. Yeah transfer portal!

VimSince03 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:40 am

Cat4LifeHouseDivided wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:31 am

Some cryptic stuff, plus it says he is in Ft. Worth. I realize he is from Texas but it seems like an awkward time to be down there. I hate to speculate but it appears we could be losing another one.

I knew there were concerns he was homesick last fall and was struggling being away from family. He's very close to his mother. It wouldn't be for a lack of playing time. James is projected to be a starter. If we do lose him, it sucks. But James needs to do what's right for James. His father passed away in the Fall of 2017 and then he came to Bozeman half a year later. It may just be the right thing for him to go closer to home.

Also, if we lose him to a FBS school, I would not be surprised. Yeah transfer portal!

Vim, as always, thanks for the insight. The transfer portal is turning into something I feared. The impact on FCS programs could be huge.

If James has decided to transfer, here is MSU's defensive line depth:

My projected starters -

DE - Derek Marks (Sr.)
DT - Chase Benson (Jr.)
NT - Seer Deines (Rfr.)
Buck - Bryce Sterk (Sr.)

Projected depth -

DE - Marcus Ferriter (Sr.)/Byron Rollins (So.)/Bryce Barker (Sr.)
DT - Kyle Rygg (So.)
NT - Travis Yates (So.)
Buck - Kyle Finch (Jr.) or Amandre Williams (Jr.)

Amandre may also play WLB. So yeah...this would definitely put a dent in our depth at the nose tackle position. Deines, Yates, and Rygg will have to step up big time next year.

Cat4LifeHouseDivided wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:45 am

VimSince03 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:40 am

Cat4LifeHouseDivided wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 9:31 am

Some cryptic stuff, plus it says he is in Ft. Worth. I realize he is from Texas but it seems like an awkward time to be down there. I hate to speculate but it appears we could be losing another one.

I knew there were concerns he was homesick last fall and was struggling being away from family. He's very close to his mother. It wouldn't be for a lack of playing time. James is projected to be a starter. If we do lose him, it sucks. But James needs to do what's right for James. His father passed away in the Fall of 2017 and then he came to Bozeman half a year later. It may just be the right thing for him to go closer to home.

Also, if we lose him to a FBS school, I would not be surprised. Yeah transfer portal!

Vim, as always, thanks for the insight. The transfer portal is turning into something I feared. The impact on FCS programs could be huge.

But again though, I was hearing stuff about Williams last fall during the season. I will continue to say this, it is the responsibility of the coaching staff recruiting these kids to understand their personalities and have a "read" on how they should develop. That last recruiting visit class of 2018 included Koby Duru, Mehki Metcalf, James Williams, Malik Putney, Donny Long, and Isaiah Ifanse. Ifanse was obviously the star of the class but the rest have turned into misses.

I know it's not funny, but if the TCU rumor finally does come true, I will chuckle a decent amount.

He is an impact player if he stays and impacts our depth if he leaves.

Man, I hope this is not true...

mslacatfan wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:03 am

Man, I hope this is not true...

Likely is.

VimSince03 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:04 am

mslacatfan wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:03 am

Man, I hope this is not true...

Likely is.

Maybe we need to focus on the PNW for recruits and not go so far away.

luckyirishguy25 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:08 am

VimSince03 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:04 am

mslacatfan wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:03 am

Man, I hope this is not true...

Likely is.

Maybe we need to focus on the PNW for recruits and not go so far away.

Well...I think it depends on a variety of factors: family structure, climate, college culture, team culture, team scheme. Tyrell Burgess and James Campbell are from Florida and love it up here. We will add Hosey and Smith from Texas to the team next fall as freshman but James would be the final kid from Texas remaining on the roster going into Spring ball. Personally, I would continue to find speed in places like Texas, Florida, California (different climates).

Wouldn’t that be around ten recruits from last year that would be gone? That can’t be good for a program if this continues into future classes. I hope it’s an aberration.

Ughhhhh, this is kind of alarming now.

This would be a huge blow to the second hardest hit group from graduation on the team (TE being 1st).

CelticCat wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 11:03 am

This would be a huge blow to the second hardest hit group from graduation on the team (TE being 1st).

Currently bringing in two freshman defensive tackle recruits: Tua Areta and Blake Schmidt. As stated above, here is the current depth:

If James has decided to transfer, here is MSU's defensive line depth:

My projected starters -

DE - Derek Marks (Sr.)
DT - Chase Benson (Jr.)
NT - Seer Deines (Rfr.)
Buck - Bryce Sterk (Sr.)

Projected depth -

DE - Marcus Ferriter (Sr.)/Byron Rollins (So.)/Bryce Barker (Sr.)
DT - Kyle Rygg (So.)
NT - Travis Yates (So.)
Buck - Kyle Finch (Jr.) or Amandre Williams (Jr.)

Depth is a MAJOR concern right now in my opinion. Choate will obviously have to go after a few transfers.

Like it or not, welcome to the Transfer Portal Era. Best of luck to James if he is moving on!

CARDIAC_CATS wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:31 am

Ughhhhh, this is kind of alarming now.

agreed.... WTF is going on?

two 3 star recruits and a 2 star recruit (if memory serves me correctly), all leaving within a couple days of each other...…… granted the star ranking thing is over-rated... but there is no denying that these were 3 highly regarded recruits....

mslacatfan wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 12:05 pm

CARDIAC_CATS wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 05, 2019 10:31 am

Ughhhhh, this is kind of alarming now.

agreed.... WTF is going on?

two 3 star recruits and a 2 star recruit (if memory serves me correctly), all leaving within a couple days of each other...…… granted the star ranking thing is over-rated... but there is no denying that these were 3 highly regarded recruits....

And all three are leaving/possibly leaving for different reasons.

2018 Recruits:

Blake Allred, FB - Transferred out
Ryan Barkley, OL
Seer Deines, DL
Koby Duru, WR - Transferred out
Greg Filer III, CB
Isaiah Ifanse, RB
Donny Long, OL - Gone (never made it?)
Mekhi Metcalf, WR - Transferred out
Treyton Pickering, TE
Malik Putney, S - Never made it
Sherod White, TB - Gone (never made it?)
James Williams, NT - Rumored to be transferring out
Nolan Askelson, LB
*Jory Choate, LB
Mark Estes, WR
Logan Kleinhans, WR
Joe McElroy, OL
Lane Sumner, RB
Kaleb Winterburn, DB
Casey Bauman, QB
Justin Cauley, RB
Ty'Rese Gibson, DB
Ty'Rhae Gibson, DB
Derryk Snell, TE
Ruben Beltran, QB

Transfers:
Tristan Bailey, K
Travis Jonsen, QB
Tyler Natee, RB - Retired for medical reasons
Bryce Sterk, DL
Dante Sparaco - Transferred out
Maleek Barkley - Gone

EDITED - to add Sparaco, Beltran and Barkley