LB Adrian Bennett leaving team...

**RustShack** · 05-21-2011, 11:45 AM

It is a loss, but I am very comfortable with any combination of Knott, Klien, Miller, and George playing. Mattison could be very nice also if hes as fast as advertised and can bulk up a little more.

**Frak** · 05-21-2011, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by sdcyfan

agree. very thin at LB, but I think Jevohn Miller just gained alot of PT this fall. Not that he wasn't going to get alot of PT anyway but his role will be more involved now. Still very excited about J George, CJ Morgan, and Mattison.....But I would like to see us sign 3-4 LB in this class and maybe a JUCO.

I think that you may be right about the JUCO. They might need to start looking at some JUCOs and find one to fill in some depth. I don't know that Knott is very likely to go pro just because his brother will be on the team the next year, but you still have to prepare for it. IMO Bennett had a really good shot at starting in 2012. If they could find a 3 year JUCO to be a backup one year and start the next two, that would be a great get.

Prior to this, I thought that LB was one of the more important positions for the 2012 class. Now it's more important. They've lost two commits the past two years in Hubert and Boyd to conference opponents. They have to start filling the pipeline for Klein and Knott's departure.

This may force Morgan to move to LB full time. And any thoughts of Jevohn Miller redshirting just went out the window...if there were any thoughts about that lingering.

**heitclone** · 05-21-2011, 01:57 PM

Losing depth always hurts but even if Bennett stayed this team would be in a world of hurt if either Klein or Knott go down.

**Frak** · 05-21-2011, 02:10 PM

Originally Posted by heitclone

Losing depth always hurts but even if Bennett stayed this team would be in a world of hurt if either Klein or Knott go down.

Nowhere near the world of hurt that they would have been in had it happened last year. At least George and Miller are going to be worthy backups. And as limited as Morton is, he has some experience and will have some added size from a year ago.

**Rhoadhoused** · 05-21-2011, 02:48 PM

To be honest linebacker seems to be a position where ISU doesn't have much trouble finding good talent to start. Depth is an issue, but I'm still more worried about Dline in the future.

**Aclone** · 05-21-2011, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by Rhoadhoused

To be honest linebacker seems to be a position where ISU doesn't have much trouble finding good talent to start. Depth is an issue, but I'm still more worried about Dline in the future.

When has ISU ever had great talent at linebacker?

Dennis Gibson? I believe Matt Blair played defensive end, didn't he?

**Rhoadhoused** · 05-21-2011, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Aclone

When has ISU ever had great talent at linebacker?

Dennis Gibson? I believe Matt Blair played defensive end, didn't he?

The past few cycles we have had plenty of talent.... Bowen, Garrin, Smith, Knott, Klein are all standouts in my opinion as far as talent and other LBs that played weren't TERRIBLE. Our Dline has been terrible since Curvey left.

**heitclone** · 05-21-2011, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by Frak

Nowhere near the world of hurt that they would have been in had it happened last year. At least George and Miller are going to be worthy backups. And as limited as Morton is, he has some experience and will have some added size from a year ago.

I agree, you get much thinner than we were last year at that spot. Hopefully our young guys can get experience by choice this year.

**bigsag** · 05-21-2011, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by Aclone

When has ISU ever had great talent at linebacker?

Dennis Gibson? I believe Matt Blair played defensive end, didn't he?

Matt Blair played "Monster". (Which means he lined up pretty much where ever he wanted to.)

**Cyforce** · 05-21-2011, 06:20 PM

Braswell was a Beast.

**cyingreen** · 05-22-2011, 08:24 AM

The "Next Man In" mentality if fine, but that doesn't work if there are no more men to go in. Losing a player on the two deeps at any position hurts. The young man obviously had some talent or he wouldn't be on the depth chart at all.

I do always wonder about a player who takes a red shirt year, then transfers for whatever reason. What guidelines do the coaches follow in redshirting players? I would assume the coaching staff gives the player the option of sitting out a year, no doubt extolling the benefits of the extra year of weight training and preparation.

So, if the player redshirts voluntarily, seeing his future enhanced by it, why would he burn that year, then transfer? I think the man who said there were other factors involved may be on to something.

Anyway, I wish him well in his endeavors.

**ISU2010** · 05-24-2011, 12:05 PM

The timing of Adrian Bennett leaving is really unusual. Quit the team right after spring practice when he was second on the depth chart? The unusual timing is what fuels speculation that it may have been related to something from spring practice, whether it's PT or depth chart issues or some other conflict with the staff.

As CPR has said many times, it's not the players that you don't get in recruiting that hurt you. It's the players that you get who don't contribute that do. Adrian Bennett has hurt the program. I wish him success in life going forward, but I will not forget that he quit my favorite team when it needs depth at linebacker going into the fall.

**Tre4ISU** · 05-24-2011, 12:08 PM

Originally Posted by ISU2010

The timing of Adrian Bennett leaving is really unusual. Quit the team right after spring practice when he was second on the depth chart? The unusual timing is what fuels speculation that it may have been related to something from spring practice, whether it's PT or depth chart issues or some other conflict with the staff.

As CPR has said many times, it's not the players that you don't get in recruiting that hurt you. It's the players that you get who don't contribute that do. Adrian Bennett has hurt the program. I wish him success in life going forward, but I will not forget that he quit my favorite team when it needs depth at linebacker going into the fall.

Not really. I don't think we were passing on other guys to get him. He also took up one year of a scholarship which isn't much of a deal. Had he hung around in limbo for four years then yes, but him transferring after a year isn't what CPR was talking about.

**Rhoadhoused** · 05-24-2011, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by yaman3

Not really. I don't think we were passing on other guys to get him. He also took up one year of a scholarship which isn't much of a deal. Had he hung around in limbo for four years then yes, but him transferring after a year isn't what CPR was talking about.

I am going to disagree here. It absolutely hurts the program from that perspective because that spot could've been filled with a guy that might make a contribution next year or the year after. It doesn't even have to be a DB. Maybe the scholly could've gone to a WR or LB or another position of need. Hell, maybe we get extremely lucky and the guy could've started eventually. Nothing could be worse than wasting a scholly for two years and doing absolutely nothing except move up the depth chart and then immediately leaving except if he waited longer to do it.

**Tre4ISU** · 05-24-2011, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Rhoadhoused

I am going to disagree here. It absolutely hurts the program from that perspective because that spot could've been filled with a guy that might make a contribution next year or the year after. It doesn't even have to be a DB. Maybe the scholly could've gone to a WR or LB or another position of need. Hell, maybe we get extremely lucky and the guy could've started eventually. Nothing could be worse than wasting a scholly for two years and doing absolutely nothing except move up the depth chart and then immediately leaving except if he waited longer to do it.

Did we run into the scholarship limit when he was here? I'm not sure but I don't think we did. Having a guy take a scholarship for one redshirt year isn't a huge blow. Does it hurt? Yeah, but it's a very small blow. It's a big loss to the position group, but nothing like having a guy there in limbo for four years not contributing.