🏈 The saga of Riley Cole ... (pruned from NSD thread.)

[rocknthefreeworld]

Just days before National Signing Day, longtime commit Riley Cole has withdrawn his verbal pledge to Alabama.

The reason? In a tweet, the 6-foot-3, 224-pound Cole from Oneonta explains that Alabama asked him to grayshirt recently (delay full-time enrollment until January 2017) but wouldn't give him a straight answer.

Cole took his official visit to Alabama two weekends ago and bonded with Jeremy Pruitt, Alabama's new defensive coordinator.

Cole committed to Alabama last June. At the time, he had offers from Wake Forest and South Alabama, but had done well on the camp circuit. At the Atlanta Opening Regional, he was named linebacker MVP.

Cole said he informed Alabama of his decommitment "to find a team that values me as a player."

He declined comment past his tweet.

Oneonta linebacker Riley Cole decommits from Alabama

 

[TerryP]

Rodney is reporting that's a result of a misunderstanding between the staff and Cole, some other schools got wind of it and called him, telling him he was going to "get left at the alter." By the time the staff got in touch with Riley there was so much misinformation and confusion out there it results in this ...

 

[ComeOnSon]

Hard to imagine it wouldn't be as simple as saying "Don't listen to that BS. You're not being asked to grayshirt at the 11th hour." If true, it's bad business. Especially to an in state kid.

 

[bamafan9201]

Oneonta linebacker Riley Cole decommits from Alabama

They are asking him to Greyshirt which means that they are expecting more to come trickling into this class this year. I'm guessing Saban sees one of the big LBs and another big guy at least joining us.

 

[bradenob]

Hard to imagine it wouldn't be as simple as saying "Don't listen to that BS. You're not being asked to grayshirt at the 11th hour." If true, it's bad business. Especially to an in state kid.

Yeah, Terry, not sure that's explainable..... I don't get it.

 

[TerryP]

I'll look it up to get the context of the conversation. It can be a pain in the ass just surfing TI on a phone at times ... lord knows what it's like running a search.

I started hearing about possible grey shirts about a week or so ago ... paid little attention to it other than mentally noting what was said. I have no clue if Cole was the guy.

Here's the snippet from the email I got ...

It's just a lack of understanding &... TI 2016-01-31 13:17:15

• 
  a couple of schools caught wind of it before it happened and called him and told him that Alabama was going to leave him at the altar. Some other schools created a lot of anxiety for him and his family. By the time Alabama tried to discuss it, there was already so much misinformation and alot of confusion. So I understand the Cole's feelings from that standpoint
  

 

[94 Grad]

Wonder if a few of our Juniors that decided to stay caught the staff a bit off guard and caused a few grey shirt offers? Would make sense...

 

[94 Grad]

Or they were not expected the juniors with a pro option to stay... when they did, it made the numbers "wonky"...

 

[UAgrad93]

I think it is a combination of the two theories. Recruiting guys have been saying BAMA would sign 27-28 in this class even after juniors let their intentions be known.

 

[UAgrad93]

Juniors had already announced their intentions before his OV right? If so, I imagine Saban and staff spoke with him about the "possibility " of a greyshirt. Other schools then pile on saying, "you know it isn't a possibility, it is a fact. You will be just like Darius Philon a few years ago. Look what they did to him." Just MHO

 

[planomateo]

I'm left wondering a few things.

How long has he known this was a possibility?
Is waiting until January that big of a deal? Enrolling in the summer indicates he was probably going to redshirt, especially at the LB position this year. Perhaps he'd see some special teams play.

 

[94 Grad]

I'm left wondering a few things.

How long has he known this was a possibility?
Is waiting until January that big of a deal? Enrolling in the summer indicates he was probably going to redshirt, especially at the LB position this year. Perhaps he'd see some special teams play.

Actually, it's a risk as a 3 star kid... I guess it depends on how much you believe the coaches. You don't sign a NLI, so you are not guaranteed anything... it's actually one of the things I'd like to see changed in the NLI program. Allow for a Greyshirt offer that binds the school...

 

[94 Grad]

Juniors had already announced their intentions before his OV right? If so, I imagine Saban and staff spoke with him about the "possibility " of a greyshirt. Other schools then pile on saying, "you know it isn't a possibility, it is a fact. You will be just like Darius Philon a few years ago. Look what they did to him." Just MHO

Maybe... but the reality is that if he doesn't have the mindset to want to wait until January, he probably doesn't have the correct mindset to be in Crimson anyway... He may be better off elsewhere and this is a way for me to save some face. I don't have any information to know exactly what is going on... just making an observation.

 

[UAgrad93]

^^^ I agree 100% about the mindset.

 

[Che Boludo]

^^^ I agree 100% about the mindset.

Agree.

It's hard to be honest with yourself sometimes and harder to have the mental flexibility to see the advantages of something that wasn't your "plan."

I have the power of hindsight from a different, but similar situation. But, given the opportunity to delay entry for 6 mos. has its advantages. Especially for a kid that may be lucky to see the field in two yrs outside of STs and garbage time.

Take 6 mos. away from school. Work out, travel, experience something new.

Come in to UA in January maybe bigger, stronger, more resilient, and with a new life experience. Arguably, 18-21 offers the largest combined growth mentally physically, and emotionally. More time isn't a bad thing for a guy in his situation that will fight for recognition to even get playing time consideration . Then, you get all Spring to adjust to CFB life + a Spring training period and full set of summer workouts under your belt. Now, your odds as a 900s ranked player have improved dramatically.

Also, if he enrolls in a JUCO/community college to knock out some basic core classes, he is ahead of the curve academically. Depending on his major and aptitude, Saban has a program that graduates guys early who apply themselves. Then, he may pull a yr of grad school out under scholarship.

Hell, I'd grayshirt, hope for a redshirt, and have 5 full years on scholarship. 1.5 years in the program before playing is only going to increase your odds of playing time later if you have a good work ethic and the right attitude. Plus, it pretty much sets a course to leave college student loan free with a master's.

But hey, it's easier to say CNS screwed the guy.

Grayshirts have advantage. Especially for guys that may need a bit more time to be college ready. He wasn't kicked to the curb, simply informed that he may have to delay entry.

That said, the rest of CFB should take notice. If the staff is telling committed top 1000 players they may need to GS with only 17 players comitted, they must be expecting a big day on Wed

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Agree.

It's hard to be honest with yourself sometimes and harder to have the mental flexibility to see the advantages of something that wasn't your "plan."

I have the power of hindsight from a different, but similar situation. But, given the opportunity to delay entry for 6 mos. has its advantages. Especially for a kid that may be lucky to see the field in two yrs outside of STs and garbage time.

Take 6 mos. away from school. Work out, travel, experience something new.

Come in to UA in January maybe bigger, stronger, more resilient, and with a new life experience. Arguably, 18-21 offers the largest combined growth mentally physically, and emotionally. More time isn't a bad thing for a guy in his situation that will fight for recognition to even get playing time consideration . Then, you get all Spring to adjust to CFB life + a Spring training period and full set of summer workouts under your belt. Now, your odds as a 900s ranked player have improved dramatically.

Also, if he enrolls in a JUCO/community college to knock out some basic core classes, he is ahead of the curve academically. Depending on his major and aptitude, Saban has a program that graduates guys early who apply themselves. Then, he may pull a yr of grad school out under scholarship.

Hell, I'd grayshirt, hope for a redshirt, and have 5 full years on scholarship. 1.5 years in the program before playing is only going to increase your odds of playing time later if you have a good work ethic and the right attitude. Plus, it pretty much sets a course to leave college student loan free with a master's.

But hey, it's easier to say CNS screwed the guy.

Grayshirts have advantage. Especially for guys that may need a bit more time to be college ready. He wasn't kicked to the curb, simply informed that he may have to delay entry.

That said, the rest of CFB should take notice. If the staff is telling committed top 1000 players they may need to GS with only 17 players comitted, they must be expecting a big day on Wed

Well spoke.

Sent from my ASUS ZenFone 2E using Tapatalk

 

[TerryP]

Allow for a Greyshirt offer that binds the school...

Perhaps I'm misreading your post here. A greyshirt offer is still an offer of a scholly. The University didn't rescind his offer.

In fact, here's a list of the greyshirt offers UA didn't honor...









:shock:

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[TerryP]

You're as bad as a politician man... lol

If politicians were careful with they said ...

Terry - Are you willing to say the grey shirt was discussed when he first committed?

And one more time - Do you believe it to fair to offer the kid a spot in THIS CLASS (because they're really asking him to come in the next class), then go back on your word AFTER he commits to THIS CLASS? His spot in this class is absolutely being taken back... Quit with the bull sh*t

Why would I be willing to say the shirt was discussed when I wasn't there? Only a handful know but that's beside the point, in my opinion. It's assumable if a red shirt was discussed, a grey shirt was as well. But I won't assume here.

This I do know. This kid isn't living in a vacuum. He's knows the 25/85, the red and gray shirt procedures. He knows it happens.

When I asked about this, I was told that it was brought up on his official visit. Earlier in this thread I went that.

You're making a big deal about "this class." He's making a decision to be on "this team." His scholarship is for playing football at "this school." Nothing has changed about that at all except one thing; when he starts.

Students on academic scholarship are put on wait list. Where's the difference?

All I'm saying is that if you're not completely sold on him early in the process, don't accept his commitment. If you want to get better players at the position despite his commitment, don't take it. Or take it... And live with it... So that this type of stuff doesn't happen.

What you're saying here is a gross misinterpretation. He still has a scholarship offer and that fact completely contradicts the notion the staff isn't sold on him.
Some kids are must takes. That's recruiting.
If you have to juggle, you have to juggle. That's college football.

As far as the kid de-committing and going elsewhere, I don't think that's right either. 2 wrong's doesn't make a right... Especially if you're an adult who does this for a living, and you aren't capable of keeping your word. I do think that's a little worse.

I can fault a kid if he gets a better opportunity and takes advantage—even if it's leaving the Tide. His decision, his life, his choice, ya know?

I tend to fall on the tempered side with the "commitment" as it is ... it's an industry created "position" meaning little. Geez, now they've taken it to hard and soft commits.

You'll find me standing pretty firm on a kids scholly being pulled completely. There are a few situations where I think that's acceptable, but there's circumstances, timing, and tact involved.