re: Class of 2017 Recruiting MEGATHREAD: Say Your Goodbyes Edition

There seems to be some confusion over their participation beyond practice, I've seen 2 including a SB nation article say they can only practice.

Trying to find an example of a blueshirt playing...

ETA: I've seen more now that say they can play and not count against this year.

quote:

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There is one distinct difference, however. Unlike grayshirts, a blueshirt is able to enroll and participate in team events in the fall. This allows programs to get the best of both worlds: FBS schools can delay a scholarship for the following year, allowing them to over-sign beyond the 25-scholarship limit, and get the use of a prospect immediately rather than waiting until the following spring.

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A little misleading and why USA Today always seems clueless in reporting.

The rule actually states this for Blue Shirting per the NCAA:

quote:

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Bylaw 15.5.6.3.3 A student-athlete not recruited (per Bylaw 15.02.8) by the institution who receives institutional financial aid (based in any degree on athletics ability) after beginning football practice becomes a counter but need not be counted as an initial counter until the next academic year if the institution has reached its initial limit for the year in question. However, the student-athlete shall be considered in the total counter limit for the academic year in which the aid was first received.

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Initial counter applies to which class the recruit is assigned. So a blue shirt assigns them to the next year. If a player blue shirts in the fall he would technically count against the 2018 class. I say technically because based on room in the current class for EEs we could also backcount him as well.
But usually the way the blue shirts work is the player walks on and after the first practice starts he receives a full scholarship and will count against the 85. It is a way to cover late spring, summer, and fall camp transfers without affecting your incoming class. The can player receive a scholarship and most blue shirts expect they will in the fall and as so will count against the 85.

One thing though that has to happen he can not be recruited to be a blue shirt. Meaning was not:


provided an official visit to the campus;
Had arranged, in-person, off-campus contact with a coach; or Was sent an NLI or other written scholarship offer.

So hopefully Bone is referring to a verbal offer