Singleton to Portal

[g0lftime]

Singleton was featured in today's The Athletic article about players in the portal. Notable quote: “He’s a seven-figure receiver,” an SEC personnel director said.
If that's really what he is being offered, I can understand him looking around. I can also understand Tech's position if we don't want to match it.

We need contracts to stop this outrageous stuff IMO. Could you imagine the mess the NFL would be in with the college model we now have. I have no problem with kids making money but asking fans to pony up enormous amounts of money year after year has gotten out of hand. Is it sustainable? How much would he make in the NFL now?

 

[78pike]

I expect we will replace him ok, may be something slightly different that can be just as effective in its own way. He had his faults, raw speed certainly was not one of them. I have confidence in CBK and company knowing what they are looking at and doing, where we are going etc. We'll be good with or without him IMO.

I think we already have his replacement in the recent commitment of Jordan Allen from Buford. If you haven't seen him play, do yourself a favor and look up his highlights. He is also a track star and is close to the same speed as Singleton with a bit bigger body but certainly in the same type of body frame as Singleton and Rutherford. He also appears to have very good hands. Unlike other positions, wide receiver is one that allows freshmen to have immediate impact.

 

[slugboy]

That last statement is just not accurate at all. There are like 5 of them that’s either starting running backs now or major contributors like Gibbs. For every Trent Richardson from Bama there’s a Shaun Alexander or even TJ Yeldon or Eddie Lacy to a lesser extent. Bama has put some really good backs in the league.

And it looks like Boise State is about to. I don’t think any scouts are concerned about Ashton Jeanty’s strength of schedule.

(And our strength of schedule was higher than Alabama’s in 2022)

Gibbs went to Alabama for a number of reasons. Is there really any evidence he got picked higher in the draft there than he would have here?

Keep in mind, 5* players tend to get drafted. Despite his high school ranking, he was a 5*

 

[thebull35]

And it looks like Boise State is about to. I don’t think any scouts are concerned about Ashton Jeanty’s strength of schedule.

(And our strength of schedule was higher than Alabama’s in 2022)

Gibbs went to Alabama for a number of reasons. Is there really any evidence he got picked higher in the draft there than he would have here?

Keep in mind, 5* players tend to get drafted. Despite his high school ranking, he was a 5*

No disputing any of this. But to say that Bama running backs don’t perform well in the NFL is still factually incorrect.

 

[gtee91]

I think we already have his replacement in the recent commitment of Jordan Allen from Buford. If you haven't seen him play, do yourself a favor and look up his highlights. He is also a track star and is close to the same speed as Singleton with a bit bigger body but certainly in the same type of body frame as Singleton and Rutherford. He also appears to have very good hands. Unlike other positions, wide receiver is one that allows freshmen to have immediate impact.

I think we are moving to a model where talented signees play day 1, redshirt is thing of past...they practice with us and get a year or so then punch out for elite payday if possible

 

[stinger78]

I think we already have his replacement in the recent commitment of Jordan Allen from Buford. If you haven't seen him play, do yourself a favor and look up his highlights. He is also a track star and is close to the same speed as Singleton with a bit bigger body but certainly in the same type of body frame as Singleton and Rutherford. He also appears to have very good hands. Unlike other positions, wide receiver is one that allows freshmen to have immediate impact.

Love the way he works to get open. Nice looking slot and runs the bubble screen well already.

 

[7979]

He went to Bama to be in the Heisman conversation, and he wasn’t the featured athlete there—Bryce Young was.

Look at NFL drafts—Alabama running backs have a reputation of not performing well in the pros.

...........except Derrick Henry

 

[AugustaSwarm]

Between ole miss and auburn, singleton will absolutely have major cash thrown at him. Good for him if that's the route he wants to go. I don't begrudge these players going after the money. It's football and there are no guarantees - and if the seven figure price tag is real, that's life changing money. Honestly, he'd be doing himself a massive disservice NOT to go get the money.

It'd be awesome if we were able to match or beat it to keep him here, but that's a lot of money to spend on a WR...how many stud LB's and DLmen could we grab for that kind of money?

 

[bobongo]

Between ole miss and auburn, singleton will absolutely have major cash thrown at him. Good for him if that's the route he wants to go. I don't begrudge these players going after the money. It's football and there are no guarantees - and if the seven figure price tag is real, that's life changing money. Honestly, he'd be doing himself a massive disservice NOT to go get the money.

It'd be awesome if we were able to match or beat it to keep him here, but that's a lot of money to spend on a WR...how many stud LB's and DLmen could we grab for that kind of money?

Not to disparage Singleton at all and I hope he stays (though he probably won't), but if trading players were allowed in college football, Singleton would be candidate #1 for the trading block - a valued commodity, but one who can be replaced by a comparable talent with a much lower price tag. Receivers are generally in that category more than most other positions. He'll go someplace where they have money to burn.

 

[TooTall]

It's easy to say how much someone is worth when you don't have to pay them....

 

[stinger78]

Not to disparage Singleton at all and I hope he stays (though he probably won't), but if trading players were allowed in college football, Singleton would be candidate #1 for the trading block - a valued commodity, but one who can be replaced by a comparable talent with a much lower price tag. Receivers are generally in that category more than most other positions. He'll go someplace where they have money to burn.

A slower possession receiver who can get open and has hands is worth his weight in gold (DeAndre Smelter). Super-fast guys who can't get open and have suspect hands are not (nave any of 100 guys that you know of). Fast guys who get open and have hands are valuable, too (Malik Rutherford).

 

[Jacket0323]

I don't know if the number is accurate, but I have no reason to doubt the quote. The Athletic is not some yokel's Twitter account.

As I said in my response to @iceeater1969, I suspect we have a maximum amount we are willing to pay to keep a guy on the roster, depending on position and player's contribution. Perhaps Singleton and/or his agent wanted more than our ceiling.

These bidding wars are what was feared when NIL first hit the scene.

Water will find its level...eventually even big money schools will

not continue to pay this. Once the Super League happens, that’s when things get

interesting. Who watches semipro ball and who watches college athletes...

I believe in 15 years it all implodes and reverts to some form of past

conference norms. The money itself is here to stay.

 

[DecaturJacket]

If true, this is wild AF:

 

[Jacket0323]

If true, this is wild AF:

Can’t see

 

[UgaBlows]

Holy moly, go get it it kid!

 

[UgaBlows]

I think we are moving to a model where talented signees play day 1, redshirt is thing of past...they practice with us and get a year or so then punch out for elite payday if possible

That’s it, enjoy them stars while they are here and move on. We just have to make the most of their time here, and then use NIL and the portal wisely ourselves

 

[BleedGoldNWhite21]

If true, this is wild AF:

Man, it’s really hard to express this opinion without it coming off like I’m trying to bash the kid and I genuinely am not, but I genuinely don’t get why his value is considered so high. I’ve watched him play for two seasons and my first thought when I think of him is “drops the ball” and my second thought is “fast”. Again, I genuinely don’t mean it as a bash, but he has not put up superstar numbers for us. That’s superstar pay.

 

[MWBATL]

Singleton isn’t a top 15 pick no matter where he goes

To be fgair, that very much depends upon whether he can improve on his weaknesses in his first two years oif college play.

You can coach guys on how to hold into the ball better.

You can’t really coach speed.

 

[MWBATL]

I think we are moving to a model where talented signees play day 1, redshirt is thing of past...they practice with us and get a year or so then punch out for elite payday if possible

Like basketball? I’m not so sure of that just because of the physical differences between NFL players and college players has always been so enormous.

 

[CEB]

I think we are moving to a model where talented signees play day 1, redshirt is thing of past...they practice with us and get a year or so then punch out for elite payday if possible

I’m not so sure.
If it is actually our destiny to lose our guys (and I’m not yet conceding that), then we should try to get dudes and sell them on the redshirt. Develop them, teach them, work them for a year in annonymity and let them hit the field in year two as bigger, stronger, more experienced guys. That would be the biggest bang for our buck if we really believe they will gain suitors and be gone. If we can afford to do it injury wise, I’d like to keep them a secret as along as we can… not to mention, it’s gotta be harder to walk away after 2 years as opposed to about 6 months.