3:21 PM - 6 Jan 2016 · Details
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Jeremy Fowler @JFowlerESPN 46m46 minutes ago
West Virginia RB Wendell Smallwood told ESPN he's declaring for the NFL draft. Smallwood led the Big 12 in... http://espn.go.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0476530229720914235-4…
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Smallwood to the pros.*
- Thread starter AZeer
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good luck..an average NFL team has four RB's on the roster..that's 32 teams..counting FCS schools you have a pool of over 150 schools..plus you have to take a pro running backs job..
3:21 PM - 6 Jan 2016 · Details
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West Virginia RB Wendell Smallwood told ESPN he's declaring for the NFL draft. Smallwood led the Big 12 in... http://espn.go.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0476530229720914235-4…
52 retweets 28 likes
Does it seem to others that, for several decades, WVU has had numerous athletes who have a very good year and ride that flash o=of success off into the sunset of pro sports? we have seen numerous kids skip their final year (s) of eligibility because of the success in a given year and the 'encouragement' of family and associates to 'grab the money'. when have we ever had a star return for another year after having a year of decent success? Is this, possibly, the outcome of coaching up kids who arrive as less than absolute guarantees of success (the 5 star 'can't miss' kid and, to a degree, the lower 4 star)? Makes me wonder if these kids lack deep seated confidence and wonder if they can continue at the high level. Maybe better to grab the money while it is being offered or have all discover that he really is a more middle of the road talent than elite. Could it be the opposite--a kid who ego runs amuck and he feels he is among the World Beaters and is has nothing further to prove or gain from continuing with college. In all cases we have a kid who leaves without a guarantee for the future--no degree. How often have we seen the bubble burst either immediately (not drafted or not making a team) or after a couple years of less than stellar performance at the next level and no future planned? I know Smallwood had a very good year. Is he a back the pros will consider elite? Will he really achieve his NFL goals or be something considerably less? I hope it is the former. I hope the advice and 'guidance' received from family, friends, associates, etc. was in HIS best interests.
he is talented, but who knows if he will even sign with a team..the best out of this draft are McCaffrey and D Henry..IMO McCaffrey will be the best pro player..
He's a good college running back. I'm
thinking 3rd round. Hope I'm wrong.
If Shell decides to stay he'll have a great opportunity to improve his stock. If Shell goes, we are screwed.
thinking 3rd round. Hope I'm wrong.
If Shell decides to stay he'll have a great opportunity to improve his stock. If Shell goes, we are screwed.
This seems to be the correct decision looking at next year's potential RB class. Best of luck to Wendell in the NFL.
Guys, don't criticize a young man's decision to go pro. Football is a very rough sport and the human body can only take so much punishment. I can understand a young man not risking injury while still in college and seeking the good income provided by the NFL. The average length of a career in the NFL is only 3.3 years (yes, shocking and only 2.57 years for running backs) and it goes up to 6 years for the average of those that make a team's opening day roster as a rookie.
and you have to be 5 yrs to make the NFL retirement..which Oliver Luck has..at five yrs it's around 50k for life..which isn't bad for five yrs of work
Dude is better than Charles Simms and Simms was a high draft pick and is a very good NFL running back.
He will have the most success of any Mountaineer running back in the NFL. And I actually respect the fact he played in the bowl game and gave
it his all knowing he was leaving instead of remembering to forget to turn in his homework.
it his all knowing he was leaving instead of remembering to forget to turn in his homework.
Don't worry Shell will be back. He has nomwhere else to go. He wouldn't get drafted. There are only three evaluation grades. 1, 2 and neither. I would bet anything he got a neither from the random GMs and staff that evaluated him. He's no pro.
The manner in which some people.....like this individual.....attempt to hyper-analyze decisions like that of Smallwood (and Worley, and probably about 95% of other early Draft entrants) never fails to astonish me. I can't figure out why it's so difficult to reconcile that the overwhelming majority.....of course, I can't prove how many that actually represents.....of kids who play elite college ball have had their sights focused solely on the NFL since they were youngsters; and college ball was never intended as anything more than a means to that end.
For that reason, its critical to recognize that most of these kinds of kids didn't sign with their given schools because of any deep-seated love for the institution, or more importantly, any perceived need for a degree. In fact, I honestly think most fans fail to realize perhaps the most valuable short-term "benefit" a decision to turn pro offers a kid; that is, he's no longer "burdened" with going to class.....something which never had anything to do with their professional goals to begin with.
I myself also never assume these kinds of decisions are made with any kind of real "guidance"; in fact, I suspect a fair percentage of the time those folks who claim to be "advising" are at least as obsessed as the kid himself......if not more so.....with the prospects of seeing a monthly NFL check with "their" kid's name on it. Try and convince me that Tyler Boyd's grandstanding mother hasn't already decided what color her new Escalade is going to be.
In a vacuum, that 95% to which I referred above likely are better advised to remain in school and finish their eligibility. And in a parallel vacuum, most of them would probably be far better advised to spend more time focusing on earning their degree (during their 4 years) than than how many yards for which they rush (or how many INT's they make). But that just ain't the way the world works for the overwhelmingly-greatest percentage of grant-in-aid athletes playing in revenue sports in the 21st century (or late 20th century, for that matter).
I wish the best for him, but in all his games I never really saw break away speed. He was a hard runner, but his lack of speed will hurt his draft position.
Good luck to the young man.
Good luck to the young man.
From his perspective, would he be any more likely to get taken higher next year? Probably not, and he would have one less year "in the tank" left. The NFL has also trended toward cutting veteran RBs in favor of younger players who get paid less unless the veterans are much better.
Starting a year early could very well mean he gets to play one more year.
Starting a year early could very well mean he gets to play one more year.
as a mountaineer fan, I hate that he is leaving. However, I don't blame him either. His stock is probably at its highest. It's a smart move by him. I wish the young man all the best and thank him for his contributions at WVU.
3:21 PM - 6 Jan 2016 · Details
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West Virginia RB Wendell Smallwood told ESPN he's declaring for the NFL draft. Smallwood led the Big 12 in... http://espn.go.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0476530229720914235-4…
52 retweets 28 likes
i agree. It's not worth the risk of injury coming back if he's likely not gonna improve his draft position.
I've enjoyed watching him play and hope he has a long and productive NFL career.
that's true..he is undersized but he runs hard..Sproles does well for a small back..you never know..David Johnson is by far the best rookie RB in the NFL and he came out of N Iowa..the big names don't always pan out.
Wendell will be fine in the pros. I plan to meet with him real soon and give him the 'juke' move. Without the 'juke' move Wendell will be a very pedestrian type NFL running back. With the move he will be a feature back.
With the 3rd round selection, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Wendell Smallwood!
Steelers have many other pressing needs like a CB that needs addressed first but they will be taking a running back in this year's draft at some point. DeAngelo may have 1 more year left in him and Bell's knee may rob him of a stellar NFL career.
Smallwood is very shifty, has great acceleration, and has excellent hands. I would love to see him running slot or out of the back-field in a Steelers uniform, would give Big Ben another offense weapon. He could be what Dri Archer was not or that guy from Florida, I think his name was Chris Raines or something.
Steelers have many other pressing needs like a CB that needs addressed first but they will be taking a running back in this year's draft at some point. DeAngelo may have 1 more year left in him and Bell's knee may rob him of a stellar NFL career.
Smallwood is very shifty, has great acceleration, and has excellent hands. I would love to see him running slot or out of the back-field in a Steelers uniform, would give Big Ben another offense weapon. He could be what Dri Archer was not or that guy from Florida, I think his name was Chris Raines or something.
I wish him nothing but the best...was it the correct move? I'm not certain...He was fun to watch as a Mountaineer...hoping Shell and DTW can step up next year and keep that run attack going!
In my opinion, Smallwood entering the Draft was the right move while Worley declaring for the Draft was the wrong move.
1) His stock is not going to get any higher. I think one of the most underappreciated aspect of Smallwood's game this year was only 2 fumbles. That's crazy good and a big improvement from his first 2 years. 2) Risk of injury 3) 2017 NFL Draft is going to be loaded at the RB position 4) NFL pays for you to go back to school and finish your degree.Cam Newton is a recent example, he has taken courses in the spring.
I imagine this would make your and many others on here's day bEER! And there would be far worse places for Mr. Smallwood to land...hopefully he has a long and healthy career...
I agree on the most part bEER...his grasp of the ball improved especially...I will miss him in Gold and Blue...
