(12-19-2017 10:39 AM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  

(12-19-2017 10:35 AM)DNEagle Wrote:  

(12-19-2017 10:08 AM)ThreeifbyLightning Wrote:  

(12-19-2017 07:15 AM)DNEagle Wrote:  There was no receiver in CUSA that came in with more fanfare for 2017 than Richie.

He has seen what injuries can do to a college career. He has plenty of film that reveals he is a high caliber receiver. If he's completely healthy, making the jump is a pretty good idea on his behalf. I think the reward of (just) making someone's 53-man roster is better than the risk of a potential debilitating college injury.

Had he played this year and produced another 1000 yard season no doubt. Would have been one of the most impressive career collegiate performances in NCAA history. And he probably goes in the 3rd or 4th round - maybe higher if he got lucky.

But he's got a deck stacked against him...

1. Most important were the injuries. He was hurt in the Hawaii Bowl and had to leave with what I believe was a fractured collarbone. In just his third game this year, he sustained an ankle injury and basically missed four games. He tried to return against UAB, but played that game at like 60% health. The following week he was injured again against Marshall and lost for the season. That's three severe injuries in less than half a season of games played.

2. He's only about 5'7" and 170 lbs. When is the last time an NFL drafted someone this size who left early from a non-power school?

3. He's already said he would not stand for the national anthem if he was in the NFL. Over this past year he has done absolutely nothing to impress NFL execs and scouts.

While he does have an excellent body of work as a freshman and sophomore, the fact that he's been injured so much of late is going to derail his draft status. I'm sure he will still land on somewhere as an UDFA, but he needed to show scouts he could recover from an injury and play again. He did not do that. Going to be a big red flag for the league.

My goodness, I am so blind or very ill-informed. He did not look 5'7'' in the MTSU games I viewed. Definitely plays bigger than his size.

Aside from the political stuff, his statue and the other points you made are definitely (negative) factors. But, even making it as an UDFA has got to be more enticing than another possible collegiate injury....that could potentially further damage future NFL aspirations.

He might be 5'8". Listed as 5'9" but I definitely not as big as he's listed.