The Portal and Will Howard, is he looking for the best opportunity to gain 'NFL status'?

[KSUbetcha]

It's been said in this forum and on other sites Will Howard was told that this would be Avery's team this season. That's the real reason that WH left. Maybe he did leave to get experience in another program. And he may do very well at OSU, but Avery is our QB now & I won't be concentrating on Ohio State games or players. KSU all the way, ride or die!!

[Tbonespop]

*Very fair points Wild. I know many have moved on and I think that is great. Please forgive me for saying this, but my #1 concern going into this season is Avery Johnson. We all know he has incredible talent. But he has 1 start under his belt and that was with a month of practice and prep. How will he do week to week as the starter? Will he make it a whole season uninjured (when was the last time we had any QB go a full season uninjured - Josh Freeman??)? Can Avery beat elite teams with his arm? Lots of questions. This may be the wrong thread, but my mind swirls around the what ifs that had Will stayed and Avery been here. That's just all in my mind because no way they both stay together for this season. Both deserve to be on the field. I'm just saying in my mind, the two are related (Will and Avery), but not in the way many might think - meaning who would have been better. I'm just hoping and praying that Avery stays healthy.

[wild@nite]

*Very fair points Wild. I know many have moved on and I think that is great. Please forgive me for saying this, but my #1 concern going into this season is Avery Johnson. We all know he has incredible talent. But he has 1 start under his belt and that was with a month of practice and prep. How will he do week to week as the starter? Will he make it a whole season uninjured (when was the last time we had any QB go a full season uninjured - Josh Freeman??)? Can Avery beat elite teams with his arm? Lots of questions. This may be the wrong thread, but my mind swirls around the what ifs that had Will stayed and Avery been here. That's just all in my mind because no way they both stay together for this season. Both deserve to be on the field. I'm just saying in my mind, the two are related (Will and Avery), but not in the way many might think - meaning who would have been better. I'm just hoping and praying that Avery stays healthy.

I agree with everything you just said, but I'm looking forward. Hanging onto Will isn't going to do this program any good. I guess I just feel that some people are waiting to say "what if", if Avery goes down or has a hiccup. To me, that isn't productive. I get that people want Will to succeed, and I do too, but to defend the poster above, it does seem that a lot of people are more consumed with him when we have much to be excited about here. I'd love to see more excitement about AJ, DJ, Dylan, and what I think is going to be a great defense. I'm not trying to tell people what to post, but I do wish our fanbase was more focused on us. JMHO.

[wazucat]

I will root for Will to be successful and I think he will be but I doubt what I consider to be successful will satisfy Buckeye nation. I won't be in the least surprised if he is not the starter at the end of the season.

[privyet]

Will spent +4 years at KSU and will have 1 at OSU. To me he will always be a cat. We're all somewhat complicit for pushing him out to a certain degree, like it or not. I wish him all the personal success in the world, except if he has to play us in the CFP. Him having success is a slight way of giving the middle finger to the blue bloods that think little ole KSU doesn't get the talent that the blue bloods think they deserve and in their eyes we are relegated to. Him beating out all their 5* kids is confirmation that KSU has dudes that not only would play at other elite programs, but are in fact starter quality. Will doing well at OSU is good for KSU, except if we have to play them at some point.

Yes, those are my sentiments exactly. Yes, he has received incredible attention from the national press, but it is Ohio State, a media darling. If anything it shows how well we develope, and he did develope well here, through good or bad.

[katlander]

I find it amazing that we have the level of talent to attract interest from OSU. Does any program have more players in the pros than OSU? So much talent there. Yet they want our quarterback. This says a lot for our program, our coaches, Will and Avery.

[Tbonespop]

I find it amazing that we have the level of talent to attract interest from OSU. Does any program have more players in the pros than OSU? So much talent there. Yet they want our quarterback. This says a lot for our program, our coaches, Will and Avery.

The primary difference between 3* recruits and 5* recruits are the 5* recruits are projected to immediately be ready to start and be a star right away, while the 3* kids need development and have the "potential" (no guarantee) to turn into 4* and 5* players. The recruiting services are not ran by elite level former coaches who made millions coaching at a high level. They do their best, but they are what they are. If they were really exceptional at evaluating talent, they would be getting paid a high salary at a university working in the recruiting department. Its not hard to spot talent at skill positions, specifically speed, size and athleticism. Cooper Beebe was recruited to KSU as a low star defensive lineman. In his first year on campus, HCCK said they thought Cooper had the potential to become an elite OLineman. Now after being a high draft pick, he's a rookie starting OLman for the Dallas Cowboys. Just one example of proof positive that our coaching staff has an excellent eye for talent, regardless of * ranking, and the recruiting services are just for fan banter and smack talk.

[tmcats]

my observation is that kansas youngsters do not get the exposure nor develop at rates like high school kids in the south who tend to specialize and play their sport year-round. thus guys like bj finney, jordy nelson, jon mcgraw, dj giddons, cooper beebe come in with 5* aptitude that gets developed inside rather than out. sam hecht will be starting at center this season, walk on. austin moore, the consummate k-state recruit, walked on five years ago. ksu's strategy of making this a kansas led program - dominating in-state recruiting - is deeper than it seems at first glance.

[privyet]

I find it amazing that we have the level of talent to attract interest from OSU. Does any program have more players in the pros than OSU? So much talent there. Yet they want our quarterback. This says a lot for our program, our coaches, Will and Avery.

The primary difference between 3* recruits and 5* recruits are the 5* recruits are projected to immediately be ready to start and be a star right away, while the 3* kids need development and have the "potential" (no guarantee) to turn into 4* and 5* players. The recruiting services are not ran by elite level former coaches who made millions coaching at a high level. They do their best, but they are what they are. If they were really exceptional at evaluating talent, they would be getting paid a high salary at a university working in the recruiting department. Its not hard to spot talent at skill positions, specifically speed, size and athleticism. Cooper Beebe was recruited to KSU as a low star defensive lineman. In his first year on campus, HCCK said they thought Cooper had the potential to become an elite OLineman. Now after being a high draft pick, he's a rookie starting OLman for the Dallas Cowboys. Just one example of proof positive that our coaching staff has an excellent eye for talent, regardless of * ranking, and the recruiting services are just for fan banter and smack talk.

Cooper Beebe is an excellent example...... Ben Sinnott was as good a TE as there was in CFB last year and he was a lowly 2* in hs. That is a great eye for talent and development. Ryan Day and Lincoln Riley, 2 of the best offensive minds in the game wanted WH, more than Cam Ward and Dillon Gabriel, a low 3* in hs, whose only offers at the time were Ivy league offers. That also is a testament to our development.

[privyet]

Saw a 16 minute clip on utube yesterday at an Ohio State press conference and WH said he loved his time at KSU and said the best thing there are "the people". I'll take that as the ultimate compliment.