chris975d
Ramblin' Wreck
- Messages
- 903
No way Gibbs redshirts. Zero, nada, zilch. Even if he should he won’t because of the signal that would send to other high end recruits. Collins knows this is just the beginning of high end recruits. He’s gotta keep them happy until we become a destination school. Collins plays the recruiting game very well. Year 1 was Griffin. Year 2 was Sims and Gibbs. By year 4 we’ll be rolling and redshirts may be an option.
I agree that with big of a deal as we made (rightfully so) over landing Gibbs, and as big of an impact player as he appears to have the ability to be, I definitely think he gets playing time this year. Especially with the relatively new threat of the transfer portal and it’s impact on players with star potential. Don’t start/get the playing time you want? Enter the transfer portal.
And I honestly think that’s one of the reasons for Coach Collins’ “Above the line” concept as opposed to the more traditional naming of “starters/first string” players. Saying “if you’re above the line, you’ll play in some way” just may very well be a way not segregate/alienate/put off players so much (that aren’t necessarily “starters”) that they still stay around and try to contribute/put forth effort, even situationally, as opposed to not being named a “starter”, and possibly entering the portal. It’s really kind of the same way it’s always been with situational players/specific skill sets, but you don’t have the stigma/knock to someone’s pride of not being named a “starter”.
But yes, I do think Gibbs will have plenty of opportunities to get time. I don’t think we land him like we did, not play him this year, and let all the blue bloods that expressed interest in him even enter his mind again with the transfer portal possibility.