You’re being naive now…Sabb flashed, and his opportunity here was limitless. Was guaranteed to start in the slot or at Safety. Waller looked like the best DB Saturday and now he’s in the portal. He’s been battling all Spring looked to be ahead and NOW all of a sudden he decides to leave? Yeah he was tampered with and someone made him an offer that he couldn’t refuse.
No one else has said Waller looked like the best DB Saturday. Hill received most of the hype.
Saab did flash—for good and bad. Saab wasn’t guaranteed to start.
You are exaggerating.
And let's not forget Keon Sabb as well.
Did you type that comment with your toes?
Keon wanted a starting spot. Him leaving had nothing to do with NIL. Keon actually wishes he had stuck around now since Rod got hurt. Definitely couldn’t have predicted it nor did he want it, but he would still be here if it happened sooner. So don’t post about stuff you don’t know about.
Well, he could still transfer back if he "actually wishes" he had stayed. So likely he doesn't wish anything of the sort.
Either he was beat out by Jyaire Hill and didn’t like it or he was offered $ backdoor to transfer. Nothing else makes sense.
April 24th, 2024 at 10:03 PM ^
Definitely tampered with and he didn’t feel a commitment to the new defensive staff. Tampering is obviously not allowed and Waller will quickly announce between two different schools so it’ll be obvious who it was, but they won’t do anything about it. I don’t blame him though, if someone is offering the world to someone to entice them it’s hard to say no.
Except that the ones offering the world are also not delivering on what they promised NIL would be any more than we are. Because NIL has become "NIL" for many schools and so much is still under the table or in the grey area of the rules, it is not like signing a contract for an endorsement deal, where would be legal recourse for breach of contract for not making the promised payments.
Bummer. Maybe he's just threatening to leave to get more NIL? Wouldn't be surprised if these kids are learning this valuable corporate world skillset.
This is one of the reasons for my severe distaste of the current state of the portal. No guardrails.
I mean the portal significantly contributed to our success the last three years as well no?
Thank the lord NCAA finally got off their asses, and adopted a rule to allow unlimited transfers to instill the much needed guardrails!
/s
Maybe testing NIL possibilities - maybe he decides to stay - maybe he was told he won’t be the starter - maybe he likes another school. Now remove the word “maybe” from all of those, and this is what the “insiders” will say tomorrow.
Guess it’s officially Jyaire Hill time.
I really hope the unique and really unrivaled culture that was built in today’s college football didn’t leave with Jim, Blake, JJ, Jenkins, Barrett, and Mikey leaving.
Yes we had a coaching change but losing two starter level players after winning a championship is extremely discouraging
Except we don’t know if Waller was going to be any good. He was a third stringer last year and did not sew up the second spot this year.
Saab left because Moore came back. He is probably still here if Moore went pro.
Yeah we do. He's good. Let's hope this is to get nil from Michigan.
Terrance Brooks from Texas is in portal. Four star kid. Make a run for him.
April 25th, 2024 at 12:00 AM ^
How much have you contributed to making this run at Brooks? Because that's what's separating Michigan from many other schools right now.
We win all the hospital fund raisers, but so far not the NIL fund raisers.
Which is actually nothing to be ashamed about...🤷♂️
Yeah, those actually seem like the right priorities to me. Making fans pony up to pay players still seems odd. Kids should be able to get paid, and I hope that the NIL collectives are well funded and the kids get lots of sponsorship deals, but I will keep contributing to the hospital fundraisers. Revenue sharing would go a long way to fixing this issue, but I am sure that is still a ways off. So we continue in the Wild West of NIL.
Stunner.
So a true sophomore slated to start....they probably got no NIL so far? And has to transfer or threaten it to get money? Is this correct?
Least we have McBurrows and Hill in the CB room with Johnson. We will need to hit the 2025 CB class out of the park, depth next year is slim to none outside of those two.
Edmonds, Lowe, and two four stars from ‘25. I expect that they will add someone to replace Waller. They need the depth.
NIL? I mean, if that were really the case, we would've lost lots more guys to the portal.
There are other reasons here and speculation doesn't help anyone. I wish DJ the best and hope to get the real story soon.
Hill probably won the job
I doubt that that decision was made yet for all but a few players.
April 24th, 2024 at 10:58 PM ^
The players probably can read the tea leaves. We are talking about practice after all.
Well that sucks.
This just seems odd.
He was looking like a key piece to possibly the best defense in the country.
Probably fishing for cash maybe UM needs to up his salary , see who calls or folds
Don’t play that game.
Hey it’s the game nowadays, you will not be getting quality talent unless you acquiesce. Sucks but it’s the nature of the business. That’s why some of the older coaches are leaving.
Don't play what game? That is the game. Recruiting in the NIL era is just a contest of who pays players the most.
Don’t play the enter the portal now to only get more money game. Do it before or let them leave. They can easily find a better corner for this year in the portal.
"They can easily find a better corner for this year in the portal." I hope so!
You've never asked for a raise at work? This is how these guys ask for a raise.
Not before contributing something of significance.
Anyone can ask but you better have delivered.
Bummer--I thought he was looking pretty good. I guess a few options possible:
- Great opportunity elsewhere (NIL?).
- Preferred other coaches (Clink > Morgan?)
- Other players on-roster preferred (by new coaches, etc.).
- New portal acquisition likely?
Probably more complex than this. If the staff thinks Hill is a better utility piece to cover contingencies at slot/safety/boundary CB and Waller was only suitable at one position (but maybe better at it), I can understand them preferring to cover the bases and him not being happy with it. Or if it's very close right now but Hill happens to be younger than incoming freshmen (and he is younger then Jadyn Davis) while Waller is not, I can also see the staff placing a bet on the young guy. Obviously no idea how much Hill influenced things vs. other players/factors.
Still wouldn’t make sense that way…they rotated the corner opposite Will all season and he was a big beneficiary of that. Plus both corner spots would’ve been open next season so he still would’ve had ample playing time then.
Yeah, I think you're right about Waller still capable of playing a big role next year with Will gone (I was expecting him to and looking forward to it, and not sure who takes that spot--Edmunds?).
I dunno, I think Sherrone referring to Zeke and Jyaire on in the trenches maybe gives a hint. I think this is where they were leaning this season (those two with Will, Makari and some combo of QuJo and McBurrows). DJ might not want to wait for next season after getting more time initially than Jyaire?
[Edit]: just listened to in the trenches again, and I think my take above is wrong and am back to thinking of this as a straight bummer.
Imagine transferring away from the school about to have 15+ guys drafted this weekend so you can get a little more playing time in your sophomore season.
And more money. And maybe with coaches who he feels better with. Or perhaps he didn't want to play school and football? There are a ton of valid reasons that are still valid even though most of us can't understand them. Plus, if he has the chops to be a pro one day, then he'll still end up there no matter where he goes.
Only thing that makes sense is that maybe he got word they were bringing in another corner late light last season. Otherwise on the surface, this is baffling!!
speculation on my part, but suspect he was asked to switch positions after the spring
April 24th, 2024 at 10:08 PM ^
lol he has a great spring game at a position thin and in need and they decide hey let’s switch positions… not buying that
April 24th, 2024 at 10:46 PM ^
Did he have a great spring? Maybe they don’t think he’s fluid enough. Hes probably our 4th cb. It hurts not pretending it doesn’t. Especially if injuries happen. Just not sold that he’s a starting p5 corner.
April 24th, 2024 at 10:21 PM ^
To what...Left Cornerback from Right Cornerback?
lol that makes no sense whatsoever.
We're thin at CB and we're going to move our starting CB?
Is there a point to following recruiting anymore? Like 1/3 of recruiting classes actually stick for any meaningful period of time.
NIL has created a bunch of pseudo-pro mercenaries. It's hard to root for players when you have no idea if they are going to bolt for a rival team at any moment.
I'm for paying players, but this is essentially like MLB but without player contracts. Imagine Aaron Judge just deciding one day that he was bored of NYC and just left the Yankees before the season started because he felt like it. That's what we have in college sports right now.
Salary caps, direct pay, and contracts please.