When Al Groh came in, he buried Julian Burnett on the depth chart because he didn't "look" like a 3-4 linebacker. Al Groh wanted a bunch of 6'2+ MLBs playing for him, and JB was 5'10 with his shoes on.
Anyone who watched Spring Practice the year Groh came in knew something was just off. Burnett dominated scrimmages with the 3rd team. The kid at least deserved to move up to 2nd team. Make no mistake, that's a coach's "soft" way of telling an SA that "It's probably best if you move on so I can use your scholly on someone else..."
Credit to JB he just kept working hard and making so many plays that the coaches had no other choice but to keep moving him up the depth chart. JB was one of the best players on our team during his time, and even CPJ made a public comment that JB had to have a place on the field he was making too many plays. Kids can't control what how new coaches may perceive them, but they can control their work ethic and effort they put into the team. Credit to JB for perservering and giving coaches no other choice but to put him on the field. It's unfortunate that he injured his neck and could never play again, but that guy deserved to be part of the team and not "processed" out because he didn't fit what a coach thought a LB should look like.
You can't tell CGC who he should play or not play, but the kids deserve a chance to prove themselves on the field.