🏈 Chargers' Darius Philon sets record straight on Alabama, Arkansas and National Signing Day

[TerryP]

It has been more than five years since the 2012 version of National Signing Day has come and gone.

That year will be remembered for one of Alabama's own.

Mobile's Darius Philon of Vigor High School was committed to the Crimson Tide. He had the hat. He was on the stage.

In a twist, he told the crowd that attended his press conference he was "undecided."

Truth is, the decision was made for him.

Philon tore his meniscus during the playoffs of his senior year with the Wolves. He was committed to the Tide. However, he was told by Alabama he would have to grayshirt.

Philon joined me on The Opening Kickoff on WNSP-FM 105.5 to talk about the events that played out leading up to his National Signing Day in 2012.

The narrative at the time was that after Philon donned an Alabama cap during an emotional and confusing signing day ceremony, he signed with Arkansas later in the day.

That wasn't the case, according to Philon.

"I had sent my papers in to Arkansas way before I was on the stage," Philon said of the day.

So, you may be wondering: Why did he put on the Alabama hat, knowing he was headed to Arkansas?

You aren't the only one.

"I wanted everyone there to think I was going to Alabama," he said later in the day Tuesday. "I wanted everyone at Alabama to think I was still coming."

Chargers' Darius Philon sets record straight on Alabama, Arkansas and National Signing Day

 

[alagator]

I think we all knew there was more to the story.

 

[Tidestalker]

I hope Bama fan's don't think it's OK to screw over a long time committed kid a week before NSD.... Think it's funny that he put on the show anyway to throw some dirt on Saban. Whether it was a week or a day, asking the kid to pay his own way for a semester after taking his commitment is trash. JMO

 

[JoshB]

I hope Bama fan's don't think it's OK to screw over a long time committed kid a week before NSD.... Think it's funny that he put on the show anyway to throw some dirt on Saban. Whether it was a week or a day, asking the kid to pay his own way for a semester after taking his commitment is trash. JMO

There's a pretty big difference between "paying your own way" and a grayshirt... #1 you cant attend school with a full load of classes. #2 with grants and other financial aid opportunities (whether the player enrolls at Alabama or a close by JUCO) he wouldnt have to pay anything and technically he wouldnt have to enroll in school at all... until the second semester which his scholarship would then start. Its my impression that most grayshirts spend the first semester in the weight room (and probably jumping into the playbook) before joining the team in the second semester.

While I do agree, going from full ride to grey shirt offer just a week before sucks and is not what I would support at all. It at least gives the kid at least SOME time, but didnt Saban say he ALWAYS tells a kid that is a possible grayshirt that its a possibility long before NSD?

 

[alagator]

While I do agree, going from full ride to grey shirt offer just a week before sucks and is not what I would support at all. It at least gives the kid at least SOME time, but didnt Saban say he ALWAYS tells a kid that is a possible grayshirt that its a possibility long before NSD?

That depends on who you chose to listen to. A lot were listening to the stories being told about Darius and dismissing the story behind him.

 

[Tidestalker]

There's a pretty big difference between "paying your own way" and a grayshirt... #1 you cant attend school with a full load of classes. #2 with grants and other financial aid opportunities (whether the player enrolls at Alabama or a close by JUCO) he wouldnt have to pay anything and technically he wouldnt have to enroll in school at all... until the second semester which his scholarship would then start. Its my impression that most grayshirts spend the first semester in the weight room (and probably jumping into the playbook) before joining the team in the second semester.

While I do agree, going from full ride to grey shirt offer just a week before sucks and is not what I would support at all. It at least gives the kid at least SOME time, but didnt Saban say he ALWAYS tells a kid that is a possible grayshirt that its a possibility long before NSD?

Maybe? But I doubt it.

Knowing how the recruiting process works, I can't see a 4 star kid with 10-15-20 offers committing if he genuinely believes grey shirting could happen. There are exceptions, obviously... Like the kid from the last class who we all think is the sh*t for coming anyways.

Regardless it's classless and CNS deserves every bit of bad PR every time this comes up. He does so many things right, just crazy to me he can't "take the hit" and let the kid stay in the class. I mean, it's one spot... And it's not like Philon was a scrub. I just don't get it

 

[alagator]

Maybe? But I doubt it.

Doubt what? A grayshirt can't apply for a Pell Grant, or other forms of student aid? They don't normally take a full class load? They work out with the players while they're on campus?

I've had my disagreements with @Birdman37 but he's dead right here.

Fact is what happened with Philon at Arkansas was exactly what would have happened at Bama. He didn't play his first year. The only difference is that first semester.

When all of this was going down I recall, very specifically, word here about things Philon was doing and things he wasn't doing. One of those was the scope on his knee. Another was warning us of the story he was pushing wasn't the truth in its entirety.

But, that's like a lot of what we as fans are told by people across the 'net. People choose whom to believe and what word to doubt. I don't recall a single instance of being mislead here on this site and that's dating back to the CT days.

 

[TUSKtimes]

We've seen some crazy stuff on hat day. like the kid out west who picked a team that had not even offered. What causes kids to do that stuff? I think the pressure got to Philon and maybe trying to explain the Arkansas commitment to his classmates was more than he could handle. But his explanation still begs the question, why?

"I wanted everyone there to think I was going to Alabama," he said later in the day Tuesday. "I wanted everyone at Alabama to think I was still coming."

 

[Tidestalker]

Doubt what? A grayshirt can't apply for a Pell Grant, or other forms of student aid? They don't normally take a full class load? They work out with the players while they're on campus?

I've had my disagreements with @Birdman37 but he's dead right here.

Fact is what happened with Philon at Arkansas was exactly what would have happened at Bama. He didn't play his first year. The only difference is that first semester.

When all of this was going down I recall, very specifically, word here about things Philon was doing and things he wasn't doing. One of those was the scope on his knee. Another was warning us of the story he was pushing wasn't the truth in its entirety.

But, that's like a lot of what we as fans are told by people across the 'net. People choose whom to believe and what word to doubt. I don't recall a single instance of being mislead here on this site and that's dating back to the CT days.

No... I doubt that Saban tells the commitments when they commit, that they may grey shirt. I do believe that convo may happen after the fact though... Which is another issue.

If he was doing so many things he wasn't "supposed to be doing", why save him a grey shirt spot? Why not cut loose? That's bogus, I'm sorry.

If that was your kid who'd committed himself to a school, and made arrangements to attend in a week, you'd be singing a different tune. This is far from the first time either including OJ Smith basically on NSD. It's a bull sh*t way to treat kids and their families.

 

[alagator]

If he was doing so many things he wasn't "supposed to be doing", why save him a grey shirt spot? Why not cut loose? That's bogus, I'm sorry.

The specific thing I was referring to was the Bama staff continually asking him to get his knee looked at his senior season in high school. He was asked to do that, never did.

 

[TerryP]

This is far from the first time either including OJ Smith basically on NSD.

That's an entirely different situation.

Yes, it was close to signing day when he was asked to grayshirt but that's because he didn't meet the academic requirements.