(11-29-2023 08:44 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 08:37 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 08:26 AM)fishingduke12 Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 07:59 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 07:41 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  Ukwu last year opened A LOT of eyes at JMU. He'll have P5 NIL offers.

And there’s the answer! $$$

Not sure he'd get the looks Ukwu had just because he got hurt in the first game so he doesnt have the stats or film. Everything will be based on last seasons stats

Will be interesting to see where he ends up

I assume he’ll get some P5 and NIL deals offered, but then again, he could also decide to stay at JMU should the P5 deals not measure up. Coming off a season ending injury many top programs may shy aware because he’s damaged goods without the stats. The grass isn’t always greener.

Seems kind of silly to transfer after this year as there won't be anything holding JMU back next season. Everything is up for grabs.
I would understand backups leaving as they probably want to start somewhere. But for starters that are crushing it, they will get attention and potential for awards and NFL opportunities.

We have no idea who is coming in through the portal, either. Sometimes the decision is mutual.

If i were offered 6 figures as a grad transfer, that might be tough to turn down if I know that this season is likely the end of the road. It gives you a heck of a head start in the real world.

(11-29-2023 07:37 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 07:30 AM)Deacon Danny Wrote:  Abi Nwabuoku-Okonji into the portal as a grad transfer.

I didn’t realize he still had another season. A position we're thin at and needed to target anyway. Curious why he’d bolt a good team that he would be a major part of next season? He could have the breakout season Jalen Green just had.

I still can't keep all the COVID impacts straight but I'm guessing it is coming down to Abi Nwabuoku-Okonji getting (already got?) a medical redshirt for 2023.
2018 - RS at Minnesota
2019 - "No action" at Minnesota (1st year eligibility?)
2020 (Spring 2021) - JMU (doesn't count towards eligibility?)
2021 (Fall 2021) - JMU
2022 - JMU (3th year eligibility)
2023 - Medical redshirt
2024 - ? (4th year eligibility?)

Interesting that the youtube highlight tape that his twitter announcement links to was uploaded on 11/13/23.

(11-29-2023 08:26 AM)fishingduke12 Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 07:59 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  And there’s the answer! $$$

Not sure he'd get the looks Ukwu had just because he got hurt in the first game so he doesnt have the stats or film. Everything will be based on last seasons stats

Will be interesting to see where he ends up

And while stats aren't everything, Ukwu had 40+ tackles incl. 10+ sacks in both 2021 and 2022. Abi Nwabuoku-Okonji had 38 tackles incl. 10.5 sacks total for those two years.

(11-29-2023 08:37 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 08:26 AM)fishingduke12 Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 07:59 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 07:41 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 07:37 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  I didn’t realize he still had another season. A position we're thin at and needed to target anyway. Curious why he’d bolt a good team that he would be a major part of next season? He could have the breakout season Jalen Green just had.

Ukwu last year opened A LOT of eyes at JMU. He'll have P5 NIL offers.

And there’s the answer! $$$

Not sure he'd get the looks Ukwu had just because he got hurt in the first game so he doesnt have the stats or film. Everything will be based on last seasons stats

Will be interesting to see where he ends up

I assume he’ll get some P5 and NIL deals offered, but then again, he could also decide to stay at JMU should the P5 deals not measure up. Coming off a season ending injury many top programs may shy aware because he’s damaged goods without the stats. The grass isn’t always greener.

Especially at this point of the process. He'll be down the list of guys they target for those reasons, but if he waits until later on the teams will panic because of the players they lost to portal or injury in spring ball, but he'll have to wait until the end of April for that window. I think they guys that left earlier for the greener pa$ture$ went in the spring.

(11-29-2023 07:37 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 07:30 AM)Deacon Danny Wrote:  Abi Nwabuoku-Okonji into the portal as a grad transfer.

I didn’t realize he still had another season. A position we're thin at and needed to target anyway. Curious why he’d bolt a good team that he would be a major part of next season? He could have the breakout season Jalen Green just had.

Kind of surprised he entered the portal as well. I thought he had a really good shot to start in 2024 since Green is leaving and we have not really found someone in his place.

(11-29-2023 08:37 AM)Longhorn Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 08:26 AM)fishingduke12 Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 07:59 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 07:41 AM)JMU2004 Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 07:37 AM)Polish Hammer Wrote:  I didn’t realize he still had another season. A position we're thin at and needed to target anyway. Curious why he’d bolt a good team that he would be a major part of next season? He could have the breakout season Jalen Green just had.

Ukwu last year opened A LOT of eyes at JMU. He'll have P5 NIL offers.

And there’s the answer! $$$

Not sure he'd get the looks Ukwu had just because he got hurt in the first game so he doesnt have the stats or film. Everything will be based on last seasons stats

Will be interesting to see where he ends up

I assume he’ll get some P5 and NIL deals offered, but then again, he could also decide to stay at JMU should the P5 deals not measure up. Coming off a season ending injury many top programs may shy aware because he’s damaged goods without the stats. The grass isn’t always greener.

Agreed, his not going to get Ukwu level offers. Ukwu started all games in 2021 and 2022 and was all conference both years. Abi was a rotational/situational guy, who is certainly talented, but still lacks tape and is coming off an injury. Also, most guys aren't getting that big of NIL offers. I saw something somewhere that said 98% of FBS guys are making less than 1,000 from NIL and that average NIL deal was around 500-1000. It's really just a few major stars (mainly QBs), who are first round prospects at big schools making tons of money, most athletes aren't making much.

you guys are overreacting to this.

i'm not surprised.

he's been at JMU four years. He's graduated.

he DOES still have to go to school while playing football.

Maybe there's just nothing left to take as far as classes. Or he just wants a change of scenery after 4 years.

sometimes these decisions are not 100% about football.

sucks we cant' have him back. but i understand it more for a graduate than an up and coming sophomore who may have a big role to play next year (ie - Tucker)

Also Cignetti is following Transfer WR Chris Tyree. Tyree was Notre Dame's leading receiver last year and is originally from the RVA area and was also used in the rung game during his time with the Fighting Irish. Would be a huge pickup for the Dukes.

I am sure we will have some guys transfer out - that is today's world.

the guys transferring out were recruited, 2,3 or 4 years ago. was the caliber of recruit interested in JMU better or worse - 2-3 years ago.

we will be fine.

DE is the most coveted position in the portal after QB. It sucks that Okonji wants to leave when JMU is super thin at that position.

On the bright side, JMU’s recruiting pull has never been greater. Cig won’t get DE’s plural over P5 NIL money offers, but should get them over every G5 out there. The next best studs after P5 offers should be lining up at the Duke Dog statue in front of the APC. Cig will vet them, interrogate them, then take the best team guys that can propel JMU to a dreamy bid into the first ever 12 team College Football Playoff.
No prima Donnas or big heads need to apply. Only hard working, intelligent, team-first guys.

At the end of December we’ll see how heavy he leans into the portal for obvious needs. There isn’t a single position on the roster that doesn’t need to be considered for transfers especially if the quality of guys interested is at an all-time high.

Let’s face it. Cig has done a masterful job winning in the FBS with mostly FCS recruits. How much better is he going to be with mostly FBS recruits in the fold? The potential is scintillating.

(11-29-2023 10:01 AM)Hart Foundation Wrote:  DE is the most coveted position in the portal after QB. It sucks that Okonji wants to leave when JMU is super thin at that position.

On the bright side, JMU’s recruiting pull has never been greater. Cig won’t get DE’s plural over P5 NIL money offers, but should get them over every G5 out there. The next best studs after P5 offers should be lining up at the Duke Dog statue in front of the APC. Cig will vet them, interrogate them, then take the best team guys that can propel JMU to a dreamy bid into the first ever 12 team College Football Playoff.
No prima Donnas or big heads need to apply. Only hard working, intelligent, team-first guys.

At the end of December we’ll see how heavy he leans into the portal for obvious needs. There isn’t a single position on the roster that doesn’t need to be considered for transfers especially if the quality of guys interested is at an all-time high.

Let’s face it. Cig has done a masterful job winning in the FBS with mostly FCS recruits. How much better is he going to be with mostly FBS recruits in the fold? The potential is scintillating.

We are currently thin there. However, Our DLine is historically a strength. I believe Cignetti will probably go strong in the transfer portal to strengthen that position.
It should be a highly coveted position as our DLine has thrived with this coaching staff. We had one of the best in the country (with FCS recruits like you said).
An incoming player can not just be good, but a national sack leader. Not many schools can stake that claim.

Cig following both NC state RB’s that entered the portal.

He’s only following one DE, the guy from Gannon who is getting a ton of attention.

And he’s following a couple OL.

Seems like the early priorities are:

Qb
Rb
OL
Wr

Best wishes to Abi, but we'll be fine. We've done a solid job recruiting DL and it's part of the reason a bowl is so important, those extra practices for young guys like Amar Thomas, Dengohe, Roberts, etc.

I'm sure we can find a gem or two in the portal as well.

It always seemed they worked very quickly to scrub outbound players off the roster they have online. I still see Okonji there, guess I'm going to have to scroll through for any noticeable absences.

Pretty sure if he entered he has had some back channel conversations in regards to NIL. I would be surprised if he just entered the portal with no possible landing places.

Ukwu transferred to Ole Miss and was heavily platooned. And he was a star.
Abi, while a fine player when healthy, has not established himself yet as a starter-let alone a star.
It's gotta be NIL $$$ at a low end P5 school. From a playing time standpoint, it sure seems like he would get a ton more playing time here.
2017: Senior year of HS
2018: Redshirt at Minn
2019: Didn't play at Minn
20/21: Played during the spring Covid season at JMU- free year per the NCAA
2021: Played at JMU as DE depth
2022: Played at JMU as DE depth
2023: Injured during season opener. Was not listed as a starter prior to the game.

So I guess he's petitioning the NCAA for a hardship waiver for his 7th season. He's already used his redshirt and the free covid year.

(11-29-2023 11:38 AM)olddawg Wrote:  Ukwu transferred to Ole Miss and was heavily platooned. And he was a star.
Abi, while a fine player when healthy, has not established himself yet as a starter-let alone a star.
It's gotta be NIL $$$ at a low end P5 school. From a playing time standpoint, it sure seems like he would get a ton more playing time here.
2017: Senior year of HS
2018: Redshirt at Minn
2019: Didn't play at Minn
20/21: Played during the spring Covid season at JMU- free year per the NCAA
2021: Played at JMU as DE depth
2022: Played at JMU as DE depth
2023: Injured during season opener. Was not listed as a starter prior to the game.

So I guess he's petitioning the NCAA for a hardship waiver for his 7th season. He's already used his redshirt and the free covid year.

He could probably get a medical redshirt/waiver for the 2023 season since how early he was injured

(11-29-2023 10:27 AM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  Cig following both NC state RB’s that entered the portal.

He’s only following one DE, the guy from Gannon who is getting a ton of attention.

And he’s following a couple OL.

Seems like the early priorities are:

Qb
Rb
OL
Wr

Cignetti looks to be focusing on offense recruiting, which makes sense since he was a QB/WR/TE coach most of his career. DC Haines and DL Coach Kuntz are following a lot of defensive guys in the portal

(11-29-2023 11:51 AM)JMUFANJACK26 Wrote:  

(11-29-2023 10:27 AM)Duke Dawg Wrote:  Cig following both NC state RB’s that entered the portal.

He’s only following one DE, the guy from Gannon who is getting a ton of attention.

And he’s following a couple OL.

Seems like the early priorities are:

Qb
Rb
OL
Wr

Cignetti looks to be focusing on offense recruiting, which makes since he was a QB/WR/TE coach most of his career. DC Haines and DL Coach Kuntz are following a lot of defensive guys in the portal

nice. feels like we need to bring in two Rush ends to add to the mix.

Kamara
Carpenter
Bush
Tucker
??
??

that's a good six man group, 3 outside, 3 inside. And then give another year for the next generation to rotate in as season goes on (McMullen, Thomas, Dengohe, Robell)

Coastal running back CJ Beasley is in the portal. Shan immediately follows him.

I hope we get to the point in the SBC where we are taking their starters from the portal. Kind of like when got Swann and Bryce Carter towards the end of our FCS days. Sort of already did it with Jamare Edwards from Marshall for last year.