bdneely4

January 12th, 2024 at 6:28 PM ^

A lot of people have been comparing this to what Michigan did last year. The difference is the guys that came back for us had already won The Game twice. The guys coming back for OSU have never won The Game. From a leadership standpoint, I don’t think it compares to who Michigan brought back. This will however be enough for the OSU fan base to think they are going to dominate everybody which is fine with me. That is what has gotten them in trouble in the past years. Make excuses and take everything for granted. 

GLORY

January 12th, 2024 at 5:26 PM ^

Rival hatred aside, some of these kids are being lured by immediate gratification and given poor advice by Cryin Ryan.  The recent events of potential 1st/2nd rounders returning to OSU further proves what a self-serving piece-of-shit this guy is as he's doing whatever he can to save his own ass as oppose to offering right advice to these young men.  Absolutely disgusting.

What will happen in the event of terrible injuries that plummets their draft stock?  Will NIL have been worth it to stay another season then?  How will student athletes and their families feel about Day's advice that jeopardized their future?

Harbaugh would never put his interest first over student athletes' under any circumstance.

Vasav

January 12th, 2024 at 5:31 PM ^

We got Zinter and Keegan back last year and were all pretty hyped about it. I'm sure they upped their draft status some, I'm sure we took care of them financially - but a good RB is getting drafted in the 2nd round - not that different than a good guard. If we could get the money for those 2, OSU is capable of doing the same.

GLORY

January 12th, 2024 at 5:50 PM ^

Not talking about just Henderson here.  It's their recent trend of being able to keep all of their potential 1st and 2nd rounders (sans MHJ).  All of them.  There is no reason 1st round mocks like Burke and JT should be returning.  It's obvious they are all being induced by sizable NIL and bad advice by Day to save his own ass.  His job is on the line next season.  It's a selfish move.

Ezeh-E

January 12th, 2024 at 6:05 PM ^

It may be, but their players aren't stupid. Many players don't make it to the second contract. Getting, say $1M guaranteed next year and then getting a contract in the NFL isn't bad at all. Throw in that they want to not be the players who got the turntables by Michigan, and I get it.

I think they've been inspired by UM and Day has learned how to use NIL from us, too.

It can be both selfish of him and what is good for the players/what the players want at the same time.

I say good on em, it makes college football better and more fun. I also think it takes more than this to build a good culture, but keeping guys who have other options and who should be motivated is a start.

GLORY

January 12th, 2024 at 6:21 PM ^

When you are being mocked as a 1st rounder and can't improve draft stock (ie Burke and JT), you go to the league and fast track to that lucrative second contract.  It's the right advice and an easy decision.

Now, do some prefer to come back and achieve other goals?  Sure.  But all of them? No

It only points to Day finessing and inducing with NIL to save his own career.

bdneely4

January 12th, 2024 at 6:41 PM ^

I don’t think it is a culture issue at all at OSU. I think Ryan Day is a good guy and I think the players genuinely like him as their coach. I do think Ryan Day is in desperation mode right now though. After losing to his biggest rival 3 years in a row and then watching them take the podium as the National Champions even puts more pressure on him. I do wonder what will happen if there are some struggles early in the season next year. Will these players who have come back double down or will they start questioning their decision? Michigan faced adversity this year but it wasn’t until late in the season and to be quite honest the whole signgate was probably the best catalyst that could have happened. I am not positive if Michigan would have won a National Championship without having this ridiculous media storm which united the team and the fan base. National Championships are extremely hard to come by as both of our fan bases well know. They are especially hard to win when you have a new QB and an unsettled O-Line. Time will tell but I guess I would rather have players come back then have to break in new ones. Unless you haven’t won your division in 3 years. In that case, I would rather have new players. Just messin with you Chuck!

GLORY

January 12th, 2024 at 6:49 PM ^

Chuck, respect your sentiment.

But, don't you find it odd that ALL of your players (including potential 1st and 2nd rounders) are returning?  Couple that with Day's flaming hot seat and apparent make-or-break season looming with his job on the line, my take is not out of line.

 

 

Blueisgood

January 12th, 2024 at 7:47 PM ^

I don't disagree with Chuck here. I may be wrong, but Henderson seems like he's always banged up, so the the transfer will take some of the carries off of him. Egbuka hasn't been the guy, depending if Howard can get him the ball, he could improve his draft stock. If I was Burke, I'd probably go to the league. But with Burke,  JT, Sawyer and Ransom coming back, they will need to be not only leaders of the defense, but the team.

 

I'm sure NIL helped make their decision to come back a little easier, but I'd have to think motivation to  come back for a chance to beat Michigan, to probably make a playoff no matter the result of The Game, and possibly win the ship helped as well

 

I don't know off hand if any of them are 5th year seniors or not, but I'm pretty most of them are juniors returning for their senior seasons. Running back usually is the position that there is concern with wear and tear on the body. But again, I'm not really surprised Henderson is coming back. Can't fault them for returning if thats what they truly want. 

 

YoOoBoMoLloRoHo

January 12th, 2024 at 8:32 PM ^

Henderson and Sawyer make sense for very different reasons.  JT and Burke are very questionable - they are mocked above Colson.  Then toss in two high-profile transfers like Howard and Judkins who surely required top NIL.  

OSU has made no qualms about spending heavily with NIL (Day: “we need $13m”) so this outcome shouldn’t be a surprise.

Wolverine15

January 12th, 2024 at 6:25 PM ^

Mock drafts are pretty bad, especially early ones... Not seeing how JTT is a first round player, unless you just look at who the top rated players were coming out of high school and project them to be top picks. Not a bad player, but he's what, Chris Wormley (3rd round pick) in the NFL? Not a game breaker at pass rusher. Sawyer improved his stock too in the back half of the season but still probably day 2. Henderson is a weird one because he's so injury prone. You'd think he'd want to minimize risk. 

The Oracle 2

January 12th, 2024 at 5:53 PM ^

Or maybe it shows that no matter what you think of Day and OSU, they have a pretty good culture as well. Players who could leave are staying and others who are headed to the NFL and could’ve skipped their bowl game played. Like Michigan’s guys, their school obviously means something to them. 

Ezeh-E

January 12th, 2024 at 6:08 PM ^

I'd phrase it a bit differently, but I agree.

Yes, they'll get paid well. Yes, their culture isn't as strong as our is currently. But to say they have none and they're just mercenaries isn't accurate either. Day may not be able to build a strong culture (I doubt it), but he's learned by emulating us.

Respect to their players coming back. It'll be interesting to see how they improve their culture, and how much. It's one thing to want a better culture, it's another thing to put in the work. Took UM some time, for sure. Either way, makes next season better for college football and more entertaining. I mean, not as entertaining as if they were a dumpster fire, but better nonetheless.

PTOAD

January 12th, 2024 at 6:13 PM ^

A collection of talented individuals coming together for a paycheck is not a Team. Sometimes when there is enough talent it will overcome other obstacles, but you can't make them play for each other and I don't think that Day is capable of bringing them together. I totally agree with Glory that he is a petty man that is all about himself. 

I do think they are probably going to beat us in 2024. We had a run and are losing a lot of talent. Three years ago I would be panicking and talking about what Michigan has to do to keep up. Now I look at it as desperation to save his own ass and not looking out what is best for his players. Good will triumph over evil in the long run and even if we lose in 2024 we will be back in 2025 because you cannot sustain what he is doing.

The Oracle 2

January 12th, 2024 at 6:20 PM ^

The OSU players who are going to be drafted but still played in a so-called meaningless bowl game weren't mercenaries. Maybe Michigan has won the last three not because of a better culture, but because while OSU had the flashy skill position players, Michigan was the better overall team and clearly better on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

Buy Bushwood

January 12th, 2024 at 6:39 PM ^

Why do you think they're going to beat us?   Have you not noticed that football games are won up front.   We are going to have the best DT's in the conference next year, good DE's, and really, a stacked defense front to back.  If JJ comes back and we get an OL gelling (good chance by game 12), we stack up to them very well, even if they lose no one but Maserati Marv (who was their best player by a country mile).  

Buy Bushwood

January 12th, 2024 at 6:29 PM ^

What?  You're being a bit of a hypocrite.  If that were the case Harbaugh would have been telling Corum, half our OL, Michael Barrett, to enter the NFL draft.  And what's wrong with a star RB getting a healthy million in NIL for staying another year.  More than most people make in a decade.  

notTHATbrian

January 12th, 2024 at 7:24 PM ^

I think we would be excited if it were us to get that level talent to commit one more year. Folks are talking about JJ as 2nd round at worst and we're begging him to come back. If you felt you had unfinished business and watched your rivals win it all wouldn't you consider one more chance to get them?

 

That being said: Bring it on.