Dedmon is a special talent with sometimes stunning athleticism and speed, and it is interesting to note that Coach October gave him a strong mention in his receivers review.

I know Devonte is just a freshman but his talent is so overwhelming at a school like William and Mary that they may have to find playing time for him.

The fine line to walk is not to blow his year of eligibility with just limited freshman appearances and save his full four years to begin next season when he is a cinch to start at wide receiver and return all punts and kickoffs (and possibly play some running quarterback).

(08-16-2014 06:23 AM)BigTribe Wrote:  The fine line to walk is not to blow his year of eligibility with just limited freshman appearances and save his full four years to begin next season when he is a cinch to start at wide receiver and return all punts and kickoffs (and possibly play some running quarterback).

IMHO, Talent is talent. If Dedmon is more talented than the other WRs he will play. I don't think they will "save" him for down the road unless he isn't ready. Similar to the track of Tre McBride who played as a true freshman.

(08-16-2014 06:23 AM)BigTribe Wrote:  Dedmon is a special talent with sometimes stunning athleticism and speed, and it is interesting to note that Coach October gave him a strong mention in his receivers review.

I know Devonte is just a freshman but his talent is so overwhelming at a school like William and Mary that they may have to find playing time for him.

The fine line to walk is not to blow his year of eligibility with just limited freshman appearances and save his full four years to begin next season when he is a cinch to start at wide receiver and return all punts and kickoffs (and possibly play some running quarterback).

I'm always confused about everyone redshirting. Not everyone will stick around for an advanced degree at the same institution, so we might be losing a year with a talented player. If they are a potential NFL prospect, you would think they would declare themselves eligible for the draft after getting their degree. So if you are good enough to play as a true freshman, what is the downside?

Anybody go to the scrimmage? Anything to report?

Was just wondering the same thing.


Posted from my mobile device using the CSNbbs App

Notes from the scrimmage..

Cluley took most of the first team snaps. Very athletic and moved well. He missed some throws but he did connect on two long ones to Tre. One for a Td..I came away impressed and confident that he can be a productive qb.


Kendall Anderson looked outstanding ...he had approximately 10 carries and all were positive runs. One for over 50 for a Td

Dedmon got a lot of reps with the first team as a slot receiver.. He did catch 3 passes that I remember and one was about 10 yards for a Td

Mosley didn't dress

Green had a few carries for positive yards

That's all I can remember off the top of my head. Fire away with any questions you guys may have.

(08-16-2014 04:54 PM)Touchdown Tribe Wrote:  Notes from the scrimmage..

Cluley took most of the first team snaps. Very athletic and moved well. He missed some throws but he did connect on two long ones to Tre. One for a Td..I came away impressed and confident that he can be a productive qb.


Kendall Anderson looked outstanding ...he had approximately 10 carries and all were positive runs. One for over 50 for a Td

Dedmon got a lot of reps with the first team as a slot receiver.. He did catch 3 passes that I remember and one was about 10 yards for a Td

Mosley didn't dress

Green had a few carries for positive yards

That's all I can remember off the top of my head. Fire away with any questions you guys may have.

Thanks for the update. I really liked Anderson last year, but after the fumbles in the JMU game I felt like the coaches backed off a bit with him. Good to see a report of solid QB play.

Defensive surprises?

[I'm always confused about everyone redshirting. Not everyone will stick around for an advanced degree at the same institution, so we might be losing a year with a talented player. If they are a potential NFL prospect, you would think they would declare themselves eligible for the draft after getting their degree. So if you are good enough to play as a true freshman, what is the downside?
[/quote]

There are many advantages to "redshirting" a Freshman athlete, which is why 95% of them are in D-1 football. The main reason is to give a player an extre year to grow, get stronger and more mature before he begins to play "officially" and begin to run the clock on his four calendar years of playing eligibility. Also, a redshirt year gives the player five calendar years to complete academic requirements for graduation and reduces the academic courseload required each year which is completely reasonable, given the amount of practice time required of a football [or basketball] player during the course of the academic year.

If a player is good enough to play as a "True Freshman" [which is rare] most coaches will play that player [like Jon Grimes a few years ago]. However, that player must be truly exceptional and have the ability to contribute to the team thru out the entire season not just for a few games or occasional playing opportunities.

If a player is good enough to play as a "True Freshman" [which is rare] most coaches will play that player [like Jon Grimes a few years ago]. However, that player must be truly exceptional and have the ability to contribute to the team thru out the entire season not just for a few games or occasional playing opportunities.
[/quote]

And remember that even Grimes was only used after a number of RBs went down before he got in.

Some other examples may be McBride & Webb (I think). I am sure we have a number of examples but as you said they are more the exception than the rule.

(08-17-2014 09:09 AM)wanm65 Wrote:  If a player is good enough to play as a "True Freshman" [which is rare] most coaches will play that player [like Jon Grimes a few years ago]. However, that player must be truly exceptional and have the ability to contribute to the team thru out the entire season not just for a few games or occasional playing opportunities.

And remember that even Grimes was only used after a number of RBs went down before he got in.

Some other examples may be McBride & Webb (I think). I am sure we have a number of examples but as you said they are more the exception than the rule.
[/quote]

I forgot about BW and his debut game at C-ville

(08-17-2014 09:42 AM)62Indian Wrote:  

(08-17-2014 09:09 AM)wanm65 Wrote:  If a player is good enough to play as a "True Freshman" [which is rare] most coaches will play that player [like Jon Grimes a few years ago]. However, that player must be truly exceptional and have the ability to contribute to the team thru out the entire season not just for a few games or occasional playing opportunities.

And remember that even Grimes was only used after a number of RBs went down before he got in.

Some other examples may be McBride & Webb (I think). I am sure we have a number of examples but as you said they are more the exception than the rule.

I forgot about BW and his debut game at C-ville
[/quote]

Webb was redshirted

So with that logic, most players will either take 5 years to graduate or start a grad program at the same school. At a school with few NFL prospects, you would think that most would prefer to graduate on time.

(08-17-2014 12:44 PM)nogretheogre Wrote:  So with that logic, most players will either take 5 years to graduate or start a grad program at the same school. At a school with few NFL prospects, you would think that most would prefer to graduate on time.

Actually I think most want the best opportunity to play & contribute. That means red shirting for most.

In other news, even after their scrimmage yesterday, VT has not yet named a starting QB. See, we're as big-league as ACC programs.

(08-17-2014 02:10 PM)wanm65 Wrote:  

(08-17-2014 12:44 PM)nogretheogre Wrote:  So with that logic, most players will either take 5 years to graduate or start a grad program at the same school. At a school with few NFL prospects, you would think that most would prefer to graduate on time.

Actually I think most want the best opportunity to play & contribute. That means red shirting for most.

___________________________________________________
AT W&M most players are redshirted Freshman year, and most players do take five years to graduate. Why not, if you have a scholarship that pays for five academic years? In that circumstance, graduating in five years is graduating "on time". The player has an option of taking extra courses, or taking a lighter academic load by completing the course requirements over five years

Many regular students take five years, even six, to graduate....they spread out their academic load so they can work at a job to earn money to pay towards their education or take a semester
off to work full-time.

Tribe football players, who have a remarkable 90% graduation rate, do the same thing to lower the academic load during football season. Nobody, by the way, stops them from taking full academic loads and graduating in four years. Jon Grimes graduated in four years.

We had three players last season who graduated in four years and played their fifth year while in graduate school.

(08-17-2014 04:57 PM)BigTribe Wrote:  Many regular students take five years, even six, to graduate....they spread out their academic load so they can work at a job to earn money to pay towards their education or take a semester
off to work full-time.

Tribe football players, who have a remarkable 90% graduation rate, do the same thing to lower the academic load during football season. Nobody, by the way, stops them from taking full academic loads and graduating in four years. Jon Grimes graduated in four years.

We had three players last season who graduated in four years and played their fifth year while in graduate school.

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Perfect on-point examples BT!

(08-05-2014 01:49 PM)Tribe4SF Wrote:  #6 is Tommy McKee, a walk-on from Va. Beach.

McKee may be a sleeper.. As QB at Cox last year was 6th leading rusher in South Hampton Rhodes (loaded with running talent) with over 1000 yds. Set school records in scoring. Was selected to compete in Nike Elite 11 regionals in Ashburn. Very quick, serious triple option. Very savy QB.

Jon Grimes completed his degree in 3 1/2 years which is unusual but he is a remarkable young man as we know.
Coach would rather have freshmen red shirt so they can become accustom to College life especially with what is required at W&M, plus to grow physically to the College level and to learn the system . He just belives this benifits the player and program in the log run. Sure there have been exceptions...Sharper and Luke Rhodes but all in all it has been rare for JL to play true freshmen unless they were truly outstanding or there injuries that forced him to burn a year.