🏈 Should OJ stay or should he go?

[rammerjammer]

I saw a lot of twitter banter as to whether or not OJ should declare or not?

I have no idea what is draft grade is, but from my seat in the stands......I think he should go.

We have not used the tight end a whole lot from a receiver POV since McElwain left. OJ has 2 years under Kiffen and it wasn't until the past 2 games that he has had all the hoopla we thought he should get since he signed.

I'm going from a pure fan/spectator view, but I look at like a coach striking while the iron is hot. Have a great season at a smaller school to move on to a better job.

While NFL scouts have 3 years of film and will not be basing everything off the last 2 games only.......I don't think he has much more to prove.

 

[PhillyGirl]

I would go, if I were him. I do not think his draft stock could get much higher, and like you said, there is not much more for him to prove.

He is in a good place now and if he has a good combine .. who knows!

CBS has him projected as 51st overall, 3rd for TEs, projected in the 2nd round.

Walter Football has him projected as the 2nd TE, projected 2-3 rounder.

 

[Tidestalker]

He should go IMO. And I really don't think it hurts Bama all that much... Clemson just kind of forgot to cover him except the one great play down the sideline.

Hentges played a lot more than expected this year and would likely be an upgrade in run blocking... Although OJ has improved at it.

 

[Crimson&WhiteGecko]

If he stays he can be rest assured he will be used a whole lot more in the game. CNS called himself out several times for not using OJ for more offensive play calling. If CNS does that, you can bet he will be inserted into the game plan much more.

If OJ isn't graded as high first round, he should stay & let Kiffin use him more so he can come in at a high first round. He would be a good last read, if not first read for Barnett during the season next year. Thus opening up more options for the WR classes. OJ is good enough to be that high. And everybody is saying that a TE shouldn't be that fast.

 

[bamachine]

The mocks I have seen usually have him as the first TE taken but usually in second round.

 

[JoshB]

He should go IMO. And I really don't think it hurts Bama all that much... Clemson just kind of forgot to cover him except the one great play down the sideline.

Hentges played a lot more than expected this year and would likely be an upgrade in run blocking... Although OJ has improved at it.

They didn't forget to, they just couldnt. First TD both safety and corner bit on the screen so OJ just ran past them. 2nd TD OJ just flat out burned the safety. They had a corner covering him on at last two of his other catches and was still burning them.

I think if OJ came back and we used him to his capability it would def. benefit him and I truly hope he comes back because I think there is so much untapped potential there. I dont understand the ppl saying that OJ "wasnt consistent" or "wasnt doing what he did Saturday" consistently. He never got a chance. You can count how many of those go routes he ran during the season on one finger (and Im being generous).

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

The issue for OJ is how much he can trust that he would get more touches. I am sure Saban wants to use him more next year, but he also has to do what is best for the team. While I do think OJ could improve his draft stock some, I also think that it won't be enough to risk injury. As much as I hate it, I am about 95% sure now that he should go.

 

[rueben]

This will relate...somehow... did anyone notice the "issue" between Howard and Coker at the endzone near our final possession of the game? When (lining up) OJ wanted to be 0n one end of the line but Coker wanted him on the other end? Forced Coker to call ( and burn) a time out. I am not saying who was wrong here, but IF it were OJ it would explain why he has only been seen on the back of milk cartons for so much of this season. And if I noticed this, so did NFL scouts too.

 

[BamaFan334]

He needs to stay. One game isn't going to sustain a career in the NFL. Sure, might get him drafted, but it is no promise of a career. Get another year of production and work harder to better your other areas and then go pro for a career, not a flash in the pan existance.

 

[rick4bama]

He the only one that can answer this question.

 

[JoshB]

This will relate...somehow... did anyone notice the "issue" between Howard and Coker at the endzone near our final possession of the game? When (lining up) OJ wanted to be 0n one end of the line but Coker wanted him on the other end? Forced Coker to call ( and burn) a time out. I am not saying who was wrong here, but IF it were OJ it would explain why he has only been seen on the back of milk cartons for so much of this season. And if I noticed this, so did NFL scouts too.

Yeah he lined up wrong, but I think any scout in the world will exchange one alignment mistake for 5 catches for 200+ yards and 2 TDs.... Not to mention he has progressed immensely as a blocker from when he first started. I dont know what you mean by being on a milk carton, I would say hes probably been on nearly 90% of the offenses snaps this year. They weren't taking him out on obvious run downs this year like in previous years.

 

[jdpas29]

Hentges won't disappoint

 

[PhillyGirl]

He the only one that can answer this question.

He is chatting with Saban about it first .. Man I wish I could talk to Saban before I made any big life decisions lol.

 

[bama alum]

The mocks I have seen usually have him as the first TE taken but usually in second round.

I haven't seen any of the mocks, but that does seem surprising. I thought the TE from piggieville would be the first TE taken.

 

[It Takes Eleven]

NFL TEs that excel have good speed, but those truly special can catch the ball in traffic and under duress. That was not on display during the NC game. He had a heck of a catch, I think, in traffic against LSU this year or next that was certainly next level. Few and far between.

RTR,

Tim

 

[bamachine]

I haven't seen any of the mocks, but that does seem surprising. I thought the TE from piggieville would be the first TE taken.

I think they were going off of measurables mostly. Seems like that means so much more to the NFL hacks than actual production. Hunter Henry is the one you are talking about. He was the one I saw taken above OJ in a couple of mocks but even he was 2nd rounder in those. I think I saw one where one of the tow was a a late 1st rounder.

 

[PhillyGirl]

I haven't seen any of the mocks, but that does seem surprising. I thought the TE from piggieville would be the first TE taken.

CBS has him projected as 51st overall, 3rd for TEs, projected in the 2nd round.

Walter Football has him projected as the 2nd TE, projected 2-3 rounder.

 

[Bamaholic#1]

OJ+ Tequila+ grenadine = Tequila sunrise

 

[ColAngus]

I don't think he's ready for blocking assignments in the NFL.

 

[colbyjacks]

I believe he should go. He made a lasting impression with that championship performance. He should cash in on it. I don't think he will develop into a 1st round TE so if he is getting 2nd round grades now, then he needs to make the jump. Plenty of offensive weapons are returning next year ,but we will be breaking in another new qb. That would be too much uncertainty for me.