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Hentges commits to Bama

Posted on 5/25/14 at 7:13 pm
Posted by MizzouBred
Kansas City, Mo
Member since Apr 2014
48 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 7:13 pm
It doesn't surprise me as our offense doesn't really prepare Tight Ends for the NFL. But it still hurts to lose an in-state talent like this. Does this affect Ofadile?
Posted by kilo
Member since Oct 2011
27427 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 7:19 pm to
Not surprised, the writing was on the wall.
Posted by kilo
Member since Oct 2011
27427 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 7:19 pm to
quote:

Does this affect Ofadile?


I think he is gone as well honestly.
Posted by Sleeping Tiger
Member since Sep 2013
8488 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 7:27 pm to
quote:

It doesn't surprise me as our offense doesn't really prepare Tight Ends for the NFL.


That's not as true as you think it is.

The offense is changing.

Had it not been for a ridiculous surplus of WRs last year we would have seen more traditional TE play.

Mizzou will never be elite because we can't keep our own.

Lock, Hentges, and Ofadile as a package would've been a game changer.

Instead Mizzou will do continue to try to get the best 2nd tier guys from talent rich states.
This post was edited on 5/25/14 at 7:31 pm
Posted by ZouDawg88
Wentzville
Member since Mar 2013
377 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 7:32 pm to
It is what is. Best of luck to him. But in saying Missouri doesn't prepare tight ends for the NFL, what has Alabama done with that position?

I cannot think of a tight end from Bama in the last 10-15 years.
Posted by semotruman
Member since Nov 2011
23179 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 7:35 pm to
Sometimes kids just want to get away from home. It is what it is. We move on. Hopefully we can lock down Ofodile.
Posted by kilo
Member since Oct 2011
27427 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 7:40 pm to
quote:

Lock, Hentges, and Ofadile as a package would've been a game changer.


Eh, dont know. Mizzou recruits quality into these positions every year. I like the focus on OL and DE/DT's as well as S.

I think Hentges didnt want to follow into the footsteps of previous Mizzou TE's recently, cant blame him. Until the offense transforms more you can expect big NFL TE prospects to avoid Mizzou regardless of what state they live in.

Ofadile just seems to want to get out of town. He lives in CoMo and some kids just want to get away for college.

If these were big time defensive prospects or OL prospects I would be much more worried about "losing in state talent"
This post was edited on 5/25/14 at 7:42 pm
Posted by reedus23
St. Louis
Member since Sep 2011
25485 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 8:19 pm to
quote:


Mizzou will never be elite because we can't keep our own.

Lock, Hentges, and Ofadile as a package would've been a game changer.

Instead Mizzou will do continue to try to get the best 2nd tier guys from talent rich states.



Pretty much this. It perpetuates the perception in state that Mizzou is a 2nd tier program. Until the top in state kids view Mizzou as a destination school, we won't quite get over the next hump. And no, I'm not saying we're going to suck. We'll continue to be competitive from time to time, but if actually winning that game in Atlanta means anything, we have got to lock down whoever it is we pursue from within our own state.
Posted by reedus23
St. Louis
Member since Sep 2011
25485 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 8:22 pm to
quote:

If these were big time defensive prospects or OL prospects I would be much more worried about "losing in state talent"


Like Brian Wallace and Roderick Johnson? Well, we did get Bauer to re-commit after de-committing.
Posted by kilo
Member since Oct 2011
27427 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 8:27 pm to
quote:

Pretty much this. It perpetuates the perception in state that Mizzou is a 2nd tier program.


It is compared to Alabama.

We are not in that tier yet. It took 3 decades to fall from where we were in the late 60's to where we were in the late 90's/early 2000's.

Its going to take time. It HAS gotten a lot better for those paying attention. You have to pick and choose your battles. I dont like losing these two either but it did happen in positions that we recruit well in and have been for 6-7 years now. Mizzou isnt going to live and die by keeping in state kids in the WR/TE position. I remember how much folks flipped out about Durron Neal.

I dont disagree that keeping in state targets is important but, we are still rebuilding from 30 years of self sabotage by the Mizzou administration.
Posted by surgicalvenom
Omaha
Member since Jan 2014
5368 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 8:29 pm to
And we got the best OL in KS and are in the lead for the best DL in Ill. We are doing just fine IMO.
Posted by kilo
Member since Oct 2011
27427 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 8:32 pm to
quote:

Like Brian Wallace and Roderick Johnson?


Those hurt.

Reedus, do you think every program keeps all the in state talent they want outside a few programs? Listing those few programs that do, do you realy thing Mizzou is in that tier of programs?

Realistic expectations are key, its ok to be disappointed, hell Im dissapointed, but we are making strides.
Posted by reedus23
St. Louis
Member since Sep 2011
25485 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 8:40 pm to
I don't think I disagree with anything you're saying. I'm just not accepting of being a 2nd tier program. Doesn't mean I'm calling for anyone's head. Far from it. But it's a vicious cycle. Mizzou won't be top tier without keeping all top tier in state recruits they pursue. Mizzou won't get the top tier recruits they're pursuing until Mizzou is a top tier program. So which comes first?

Overall, though, I hear ya. It takes time. But this is 2 years in a row with some really top talent that, well, they weren't positions of need, they weren't really that good, Mizzou really backed off of because we liked the guys we offered at the 12th hour better, we were just slow playing those offers. At some point we have to crack that nut and Missouri kids have to fall in love with thought of playing for their state school. Some do at this point (Lock). Some don't (Hentges).
Posted by reedus23
St. Louis
Member since Sep 2011
25485 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 8:46 pm to
quote:


Reedus, do you think every program keeps all the in state talent they want outside a few programs? Listing those few programs that do, do you realy thing Mizzou is in that tier of programs?

Realistic expectations are key, its ok to be disappointed, hell Im dissapointed, but we are making strides.


Kilo, I think we're on the same page. To answer the question though, no, they don't. The biggest difference is if UGA doesn't get the #1 player in the state of Georgia, they'll get the #15, and both will probably be top ranked players. We don't have that luxury in Missouri is all. Now we can go down to Florida/Georgia/Texas or wherever and get their #150 player to play TE and he'll be just fine. And we'll compete. And we'll win more than we lose. And we still won't win a national championship and yes, a national championship before I die is what my ultimate expectations are.

And yes, I agree we are making strides. We are being mentioned as the bridesmaid in a lot of races that we weren't even mentioned in before. I just want to see Mizzou be the bride before I die. It takes time. I get it. Some day, just not this day.
Posted by semotruman
Member since Nov 2011
23179 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 8:47 pm to
There will always be some kids who want to go away from home for college. That's just the way it is. Look at it this way. Is LSU a 2nd tier school because they don't keep every top recruit from their state? Is Georgia? Is Florida? This is going to happen. Also, a lot can happen between now and NSD. I haven't given up on Ofodile just yet.
Posted by Tackle74
Columbia, MO
Member since Mar 2012
5260 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 8:48 pm to
quote:

Best of luck to him


From me, not really I do not wish him ill will but will not pull one bit for him. He turned his back on his hometown to go to the enemy, screw him and I will pull for kids that WANT to play for my team.
Posted by reedus23
St. Louis
Member since Sep 2011
25485 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 8:51 pm to
quote:

And we got the best OL in KS and are in the lead for the best DL in Ill. We are doing just fine IMO.


2nd best, at least per 247, but I'll take it.

If and when we get Beckner, I'll celebrate that one. I'd be lying if I didn't say the Hentges decision doesn't make me worry about Beckner now. I know if I were Beckner, I would be wondering if Mizzou really is the right place when a local kid doesn't even think so. Why should I go to Mizzou when a local kid doesn't even think it's the right place to go. But that's why GP and staff get the big bucks. They can now explain the answers to him and put the sales job on. Hope they do and do it well.
Posted by MizzouBred
Kansas City, Mo
Member since Apr 2014
48 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 8:53 pm to
I feel like we've begun getting the top tier recruits. It doesn't get any higher than DGB. Sheldon Richardson was top tier. It's just not frequent enough to lose the stigma. The next step for Mizzou is to increase the frequency.
Posted by kilo
Member since Oct 2011
27427 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 8:54 pm to
quote:

I'm just not accepting of being a 2nd tier program. Doesn't mean I'm calling for anyone's head. Far from it. But it's a vicious cycle. Mizzou won't be top tier without keeping all top tier in state recruits they pursue. Mizzou won't get the top tier recruits they're pursuing until Mizzou is a top tier program. So which comes first?


I agree. i guess my previous post made it sound like I accept being a "2nd tier" program. I just kind of accept the process if that makes sense. Things are changing and it takes time. My original point was that IF we are going to lose guys in state this year that these two would have as little an impact as possible given how Mizzou recruits these two positions nationally.

quote:


Overall, though, I hear ya. It takes time. But this is 2 years in a row with some really top talent that, well, they weren't positions of need, they weren't really that good, Mizzou really backed off of because we liked the guys we offered at the 12th hour better, we were just slow playing those offers. At some point we have to crack that nut and Missouri kids have to fall in love with thought of playing for their state school. Some do at this point (Lock). Some don't (Hentges).


Yea, I hear you. I have thought about this plenty my friend, believe me, plenty. I think it come down to a culture that was planted in the early 70's by the administration that de-emphasized athletics on the whole. I mean, think about that, its two whole generations that gave zero fricks about Mizzou athletics outside of basketball. Thats an incredibly difficult hole to climb from. Im 40 reedus so I can remember the height of the bleak years and maybe its just that perspective of seeing the climb back, and believe me there is a substantial climb back. It also may speak to my loyalty to Pinkel. We are still in a precarious position, we do not have the prestige to make a bad hire after Gary and expect to rebound 2-3 years later. Im nervous, its been rough going as a Mizzou fan. I want things to change for the better as much as the next guy.

This post was edited on 5/25/14 at 8:59 pm
Posted by reedus23
St. Louis
Member since Sep 2011
25485 posts
Posted on 5/25/14 at 8:59 pm to
We just don't have the same margin for error as those schools do because Missouri as a state doesn't pump out as much talent. Again, doesn't mean Mizzou is going to fall off the face of the earth. We'll be fine. We just won't get over the next hump until the day comes where GP identifies 3 kids or 5 kids or whatever from the state of Missouri and can go out and get each and every one of them. Players that we simply offer and would like are different. Guys like the Davis brothers. But there are 3-6 kids each year that the staff can identify in state and push hard for and when they do, they should get them. When that happens, we will have cleared that next hump. That hurdle may be more about the perception of the program than actual wins, but in my book that is the next hurdle.
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