Should They Stay or Should They Go - QBs |
Jimmy The C is going pro (photo, IconSMI)
It’s that time of year that many juniors will be asking themselves the same question that The Clash asked the punk rock world decades ago - “Should I stay or should I go?”
Stay or Go? - QBs
Stay or Go? - RBs
Stay or Go? - WRs
There won’t be much pondering in the Clausen household. The man who committed to Notre Dame by a limo caravan at the College Football Hall of Fame is sure to leave. His coach and mentor has been fired, and after the season he had, he will most likely be the first QB taken. As a proud fantasy owner of the kid my only complaint is that he finished the UConn 19 yards short of leading my team to a victory over my partner-in-crime Greg.
But let’s be real everyone, what this decision comes down to, like all other decisions for leaders of Clausen’s caliber is this: Where’s the love? Where’s the respect? When that guy pulled a Carmelo Anthony by sucker punching Clausen outside of a local Indiana pub, he effectively signed the death wish to the Notre Dame offense next year if it already wasn’t inevitable. With no Charlie Weiss, Clausen’s decision was already pretty solid. If the fans are so stupid in Indiana to believe that the 6-6 record of Notre Dame was Clausen’s fault, I think his 3,700 yards, 28 TD’s and 4 INT’s will do the talking. I happen to think that Clausen is one of the biggest D-Bags in all of college football, but I respect his ability, and now, Notre Dame will turn over the reins to Dayne Crist, a highly competent replacement, but not Jimmy Clausen.
Prediction: He’s gone. Top 10 pick. First QB taken. Get ready to be a Ram.
UPDATE 12/07/09 - Clausen declared he will enter the NFL draft.
This guy could be worth 60 million and leading the Lions right now but instead he chose to come back for 6 quarters of football. Doh! The good news for the Lions is that they have a stud QB named Matt Stafford who not only has a better shoulder than young Sam, he also slays much hotter women (Google him in Talladega if you don’t follow).
Bradford could come back for another year, try to build back his arm strength and credibility, maybe even go after another Heisman or national title, but lets real: fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Bradford can’t be this stupid. But hey, at least we wont have to hear Billy Simms chanting “Boomer! Boomer! Boomer!” at a Heisman presentation again for awhile.
Prediction: He’s gone, and with it, Norman, Oklahoma is left with the grossest mustache in college sports running the show since Adam Morrison. First round pick.
The man who probably tops Bill Simmons’s Reggie Cleveland All Star’s list (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Simmons#Reggie_Cleveland_All-Stars) does not top the draft board list this year, plain and simple. A hot and cold talent that came into the season ranked as the second best pro prospect at QB, no one has seen their stock slip this season like the man who couldn’t beat out Colt McCoy. He was poised to have a huge year thanks to Dexter McCluster. Things just don’t go according to plan sometimes, and in order to remedy the problem, he’ll have to come back for another year.
Prediction: the Rebels will welcome you back with open arms, Jevan.
Always tease tease tease .... the uber-talent has a tough decision to make. Sometimes he looks like he has all the tools to be an all pro, and then he throws a pick into triple coverage. The kid certainly would benefit from another year of working with the coach responsible for grooming the likes of Booty, Sanchez and Leinart.
One thing to seriously keep in mind though: he’s already been drafted to play baseball for the Angels. That’s tough gig for a lot of people to turn down, but I’ll give you one quick rebuttal that will change your mind, Jake: DREW HENSON. Enough said.
Prediction: one more year to fulfill the hopes that the Husky faithful had when the anointed him the savior of the program.
No one is a better fit for a story based on a punk band then this kid - he may be the biggest one in college football. At Michigan he had a fake ID that said his name was Tom Brady, but he will likely get picked a lot higher then his fellow Wolverine. The man may be a bad seed, but the arm has pro prospects drooling. Still, with only one year of experience look for him to come back - if there is one thing this kid loves its sorority girls and Philly blunts - both of which are plentiful in Arkansas.
Prediction: He’s going nowhere. Another year of experience will suit him nicely under Petrino. First QB taken in 2011.
An unlikely fit here but think about it – E.J. Manuel is the prize of Jimbo Fisher’s first recruiting class. He is itching to get him in there right away. Why would the MBA come back to ride the bench?
Chances are that Ponder is back as Fisher wants experience and success behind the helm. Manuel was not all that impressive in taking over for Ponder, a guy many people claimed deserved Heisman recognition for the numbers he put up, and I agree. Especially after sustaining a season ending injury, Ponder is not likely to have a high draft stock this year.
Prediction: come back, live it up at Trailorhassee one more year, and garner some serious Heisman attention with the departure of McCoy, Tebow, Clausen and Bradford.
