Over at 247, JTT is now officially down to 5 schools. This was Not the case earlier this week. This is quite the 'Public' development. Oregon was a 'Cold' before and has emerged as a strong consideration. Hmmm, what has changed in this last week that has made the CFB world notice that JTT is, all of a sudden, 'Warm' on Oregon? I think we know. 

Well, on two of the subscription sites the belief is that it comes down to Ohio State and Oregon with the Buckeyes having the edge at the moment.  But you are right in that this last hire might be a "deal-maker" for a defensive tackle like JTT.

I heard a while ago that JTT was interested in Bama and Oregon... Either way Oregon seems to be sticking on the list. 

If it comes down to proximity from home Oregon gets the advantage. 

40 minutes ago, David Marsh said:

If it comes down to proximity from home Oregon gets the advantage. 

The new DC obviously helps, playing with KT is another perk. Oregon is the BIGGEST brand without a Natty in the country. Some players like KT favored the potential Oregon offers over the Blue blood of Alabama or Ohio State. We'll see with JTT

We need an anchor. 

 

2 hours ago, 30Duck said:

The new DC obviously helps, playing with KT is another perk.

The fact that KT is only here for one more year is another perk. Learn from one of the best, then take his spot.

7 minutes ago, Jon Sousa said:

The fact that KT is only here for one more year is another perk. Learn from one of the best, then take his spot.

So, KT could truly be the gift that keeps on giving!

If Oregon can 'Land' JTT then that would most likely bump Oregon to the #3 spot in recruiting.....just Wow!

I have three conflicting beliefs on JTT. 

1. Hat-on-the-table syndrome. JTT is going to one of the two teams that just played for the championship. They get the best players regardless of distance and have the track record of team and individual success that every recruit wants. 

2. JTT is going to Oregon because at the end of each cycle Mario and company have closed the big fish semi-surprise fish every year: Penei, KT, Flowe. 
 

3. JTT truly has no idea. 

59 minutes ago, RatherBe said:

JTT truly has no idea. 

This seems rather likely right now. 

I thought JHop on ScoopDuck reported that Alabama is full; they have 25 signed right now, and have another verbal to sign in February?  I do not know how they do that as the limit is 25....

4 hours ago, Charles Fischer said:

I thought JHop on ScoopDuck reported that Alabama is full; they have 25 signed right now, and have another verbal to sign in February?  I do not know how they do that as the limit is 25....

I was curious about the exact rules of the 25 signee limit, there was a hullabaloo two or three years ago about the NCAA making changes to tighten the loopholes. I read the NCAA manual, which is a bit ambiguous, but I think I have a pretty good interpretation of it. While searching around I also came across LSU fans wondering the same thing about Alabama and how they manage to go over the limit. 

First off, it helps to think of the year as the academic year. Right now we’re in the 2020-21 academic year. So the current class with the likes of Ty Thompson and Keith Brown are intended for the 2021-22 academic year. 

This is where it gets a bit complicated. You can sign more than 25 in one year, up to 28 in most conferences, if you undersigned in the previous year. So if Oregon had 23 new signees in 2020-21 they can have 27 the following year as long as two of those enroll early like Ty Thompson did. High school recruits, JuCos, and transfers all count towards the limit. A signee who winds up not qualifying academically or not showing up still counts. 

Looking at Alabama’s roster additions I don’t understand how they have been able to do it unless they’re winning some kind of appeal or having transfers/recruits be walk-ons. Alabama knows they have at least one more spot, or they wouldn’t be recruiting. They must have some damn good compliance specialists. Maybe the rules don’t apply to Alabama? A definite possibility.

For Oregon this 25 rule has not been kind. Chris Steele signing paperwork but going to USC? Still counts for Oregon as well. Luke Hill? Unless Oregon appeals on the grounds he’s incarcerated and wins that still counts. Jalen Hall showing up for a few days still counts. Before they used to not be an initial counter until they received their financial aid.

Right now Oregon is at 21 signees, and it’s difficult to tell if they could have backdated one or maybe more scholarships to the previous cycle. There are four slots left at least, and with Cardwell there would be three for any more possible recruits or transfers. 

13 minutes ago, RatherBe said:

Maybe the rules don’t apply to Alabama? A definite possibility.

We know it is impossible that Alabama would have to back off of signing JTT because they didn't have room.

If an Alabama player leaves/enters the portal (willingly or with, um, encouragement) there would be a scholarship available...

I know there are also some rules around "grey shirts" where students go to community college to move around what academic year they belong to. 

I'm not 100% sure how it works but I know grey shirts are out there though rarely talked about. 

Oregon had multiple players opt-out and multiple enter the transfer portal, doesn't that free up spots?

5 minutes ago, Trevor said:

Oregon had multiple players opt-out and multiple enter the transfer portal, doesn't that free up spots?

Players leaving the program frees up scholarships towards the limit of 85, but it doesn’t effect the maximum number of 25 new scholarship players per year. 
 

The limit of 85 isn’t too much of a problem, although if there were no more players leaving Oregon would be over at 88-89 as it stands, assuming 4-star RB Byron Cardwell commits and signs. Natural attrition from transfers after spring practice and medical retirements usually take care of that. Expect to see a minimum of four players leave the program between now and the fall. Fifth year seniors like Johnny Johnson do not count toward the limit because of the pandemic.
 

The 25 new scholarships per year is what hurts. It’s a rule made to prevent the type of massive over signings the SEC used to engage in and to prevent the Alabamas of the world from hoarding all of the talent. But if you sign too many kids who leave early like Jamal Elliot or Jalen Hall you just wasted a spot you won’t get back. 
 

In the 2019-20 cycle Oregon maxed out at 25. Chris Steele was number 25 because he signed a Financial Aid Agreement that is binding for the school but not the player. It meant that when Devon Williams transferred from USC he had to do so without a scholarship for fall quarter, and then became a counter towards 2020-21 along with those recruits. 
 

It’s nearly impossible to tell how many spots Oregon has beyond the 21 current signees. The minimum is either 3 or 4 and the maximum is 7 - it depends on things like whether Jordan Happle was given a scholarship, if there was an appeal for Luke Hill‘s spot, where does Logan Sagapolu get accounted for since he did a religious mission which is a different set of rules, and so forth. 

Players still counting towards scholarship numbers for the year after signing elsewhere is definitely a ridiculous rule.

And JTT would be an outstanding addition to Coach DeRuyter’s defense!

Edited January 24, 20214 yr by Coach Eric Boles

7 hours ago, Coach Eric Boles said:

Players still counting towards scholarship numbers for the year after signing elsewhere is definitely a ridiculous rule.

And JTT would be an outstanding addition to Coach DeRuyter’s defense!

Agreed on both points. 
Due to Chris Steele’s indecisiveness both Oregon and Florida lost a spot, and two kids didn’t get scholarships. Academic non qualifiers and injury retirements also still count, making top schools less likely to take a shot on those. 

And people wonder why there is so much cynicism towards the NCAA and their insistence this is all amateur athletics. 🙄

 

2 hours ago, FishIceCream said:

And people wonder why there is so much cynicism towards the NCAA and their insistence this is all amateur athletics. 🙄

With the money the NCAA makes off of college sports, I think they know it's not "amateur athletics" as you and I would understand it. However it's amateur athletics as they would like to understand it.