Here we go again with recruits not signing NLIs. From Demetris Robertson’s brother:
Now when it comes to signing a letter of intent, that is something we will be sitting down and discussing as a group. That has been weighing on our minds. Coaches change and move, and I saw how the UCLA coach left Roquan Smith. He got a raw deal and at the end of the day, the kid had to protect himself. Seeing how that situation unfolded is definitely cause for concern. Now that I understand that, we are seriously looking at going the same route with Demetris. We cannot dismiss it as an option now.
So much for committing to a school and not a coach. At least they know Georgia doesn’t have a problem with it.
Get The Picture 
Seems like a smart kid. Hope goes where he wants and works hard and achieves his dreams. Seems like he is in position to not sign an LOI, which is probably in his best interest.
I almost always think that any kid smart enough to get into Stanford is also smart enough to not turn it down.
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Except Stanford has lied to the prospect’s face in this incident.
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great… if the kid gets injured then it’ just a one year scholarship. Pretty soon the kids will be suing the ncaa and conferences on transfer rules and how they violate the anti trust laws. Then we will have national trading day in addition to national signing day.
It’s the only fair thing to do in addition to the living wage.
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One more time: once the kid enrolls, he’s on the same footing as every player on the team who signed the NLI.
The only – repeat, only – advantage a kid gets is in the period between signing day and the first day of school, he can choose to go elsewhere.
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until someone challenges it.
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I see. Your hypotheticals are just as concerning as reality.
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Yep… who could have seen two or three years ago that ut and auburn could legally pay their players twice as much as uga today.
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Um… they’re not.
And what does that have to do with your mythical lawsuit, anyway?
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OK so we are going to raise ours… so now maybe it’s 75% more.. until ut raises theirs. All lawsuits are mythical until they are filed. And most are mythical even after that. You should know that.
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Sorry… unnecessary.
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That is true Senator, but unless there is a stampede by large numbers of recruits to employ this option (which I don’t see happening) this strategy can only be utilized by a select few HS superstars. Three stars, and most 4 stars, will not risk watching their 2-3 preferred schools fill up and force them somewhere that isn’t a top opportunity for them. Demetrius seems to be playing this right given the leverage he has as an elite talent but how many nationally will hold cards this strong? 35? 50? I don’t think many more than that.
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No, I agree with that, Mac.
I think this will turn into a trend, but only on a small scale for the truly elite kids.
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I think it will start with more kids than we think. A lot of 3 and 4 stars will think they are more coveted than they are initially. Once enough of the 3 and 4 stars get left at the altar when the school fills their spot with another 3 or 4 star that will sing the LOI, the number will drop drastically. The top 5 stars hold enough of the cards that the programs will hold their spot for them, but only if they verbally commit and sign the financial aid forms.
The challenge for the programs will be to figure out when to stop recruiting a kid. Will they recruit them until they enroll?
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Only if they attempt this strong arm play in mass. Otherwise it will be like multiple suspects in a police interrogation situation, no one will trust that another hasn’t caved and taken the offer. First come, first served, and only the elite will get exceptions for signing after the class is full. Saban can always squeeze another in for the truly gifted, only takes one call to an Alabama doctor to move some deadwood along.
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Don’t kid yourself, Richt will never tell a 5 star he really wants the class is full and he’s sorry but there’s no room. Richt will sign them and find a way to make room come August and he’ll do it in a way that the fans can blame the admin.
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Oh, I have no doubt that ANY coach would never turn a 5 star away, they will know they are in serious contention for that player and have a plan for it. As stated earlier, the elite can successfully use this ploy anywhere, and quite a few will.
My Saban remark was very poorly stated, he will not only have room for elites, he will squeeze anyone in that is better than his 2 year players that haven’t developed enough to earn a spot by then. That requires no change in Tusky, they sign an entire extra class every four years that we don’t…Little Nicky’s way of having his own pro system
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You can always tell who has actually thought the issue and who just has an opinion.
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It almost feels like at times there is a knee jerk reaction against an elite player for exercising his rights. It is about time these kids and their parents became fully aware of their options. We all know the programs are going to do what is in their best interest. Nobody should judge a young man for being cautious and judicious.
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It’s hard for the NCAA to stop a smart and loving brother who is the player’s guardian from diligently representing the prospective NLI signer.
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