Jake Rudock granted unconditional release by Iowa

Submitted by Spontaneous Co… on

SIAP but ESPN is reporting that Iowa will grant Rudock an unconditional release which allows him to transfer anywhere - even to another B1G school.  Let's hope this removes the major hurdle that would prevent him from choosing Michigan.

True Blue Grit

March 25th, 2015 at 4:36 PM ^

what's taking the Big Ten so long to issue a decision here?  Are they waiting for Rudock to officially tell them he wants to go to Michigan (or another B10 school theoretically)?  Or is it more a matter of trying to figure out whether they want to make an exception to their own rule, so they have to get a couple dozen lawyers involved?  Just wondering.

mgob-rad

March 25th, 2015 at 4:48 PM ^

Maybe I'm alone here, but I truly hope that Rudock transfers here and Morris still wins the job outright. Would show that he may be the real deal and not just beating out two freshman by default.

Magnus

March 25th, 2015 at 8:54 PM ^

But there's a logical disconnect there.

If what we TRULY want is one of the current Michigan quarterbacks to beat out a decent option in Rudock (because that would mean our QB is pretty good), then the most logical guys to root for would be Gentry or Malzone. Why? Because that would mean our best QB is a freshman who has four years of eligibility.

If you're rooting for Morris to be good so he can be a two-year starter, then why not root for someone who can be a four-year starter?

So no, I'm not trying to be difficult. I seriously don't see the logic. It seems to me to be the logic of someone who is simply rooting for Morris because a) they like Morris himself, b) they want a highly rated guy to pan out, c) they feel bad for him because of Shanegate, d) they went to Warren De La Salle, etc.

Mr Miggle

March 25th, 2015 at 10:01 PM ^

Although any of QBs would have be pretty good to beat out Rudock, Shane might have the highest ceiling for this season.

Shane starting means Malzone can redshirt.

A freshman starting might be a negaive factor in recruiting QBs for the next couple of classes.

 

TrueBlue2003

March 25th, 2015 at 11:35 PM ^

doesn't seem to make much sense.

The player who wins the job is the guy that has the highest ceiling for this season, right? What Magnus is saying is it doesn't really matter who wins the job, the winner by definition has the highest ceiling and gives the team the best chance to win this season.

Why does Shane need to start for Malzone to redshirt? Shane just needs to beat out Malzone on the depth chart for Malzone to redshirt, right?

Hm, this might be a factor but my guess is it's nearly negligible. Even if Morris beats out the freshmen, there's no reason for an incoming recruit to think he won't still have to beat out Malzone and/or Gentry if he wants to start before 2019. And redshirting either or both of them could push that back a year and more than offset this effect (if it exists as you theorize).

Magnus

March 26th, 2015 at 6:39 AM ^

1. Presumably, the guy with the highest ceiling for this season would be the starter. That could be Rudock, Morris, Malzone, Gentry, Brian Cleary, etc. Shane *might* have the highest ceiling for this year, but so *might* Malzone, Speight, etc.

2. Why does it matter if Malzone redshirts? If Malzone is the best QB, he should play. Redshirting doesn't give him five years to play football. It gives him four. It's just a matter of whether he would be the best QB from 2015-2018 or from 2016-2019. In fact, if he's the best QB on the team, you mathematically WANT HIM TO START as a true freshman, because that guarantees at least three years of having him on the field. If he redshirts and then plays two great seasons, then he could be off to the NFL after his redshirt sophomore year. (Not saying I expect that quality of play from Malzone, but it's a mathematical possibility.)

3. Sure, a true freshman starter might scare off other quarterbacks, but when has that really been an issue? Teams that have good quarterback play generally attract other good quarterbacks. You might have to wait two years to get another absolute stud, but that doesn't matter a great deal. Look at USC's run in the early 2000's. When they see a QB playing well, they want to go play for that program/coach because they can see themselves doing the same thing once they get in the system.

LSAClassOf2000

March 25th, 2015 at 4:50 PM ^

...from whence the story comes, if anyone is interested - LINK

"We signed a release, basically, with no strings attached," Ferentz said on the first day of Hawkeyes spring practice. "... Bottom line is I want him to be happy about the opportunities in front of him."

Ferentz also added that Rudock was in the "exploratory process" of this, but hopefully the Big Ten doesn't bungle this one.