TU getting a lot of love for this!

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I found the information interesting.
Didn't realize the numbers for younger players entering the draft are down.

Entering NFL Draft, Chiefs + other teams are learning it can pay to stay in school
Entering NFL Draft, Chiefs + other teams are learning it can pay to stay in school
BY BLAIR KERKHOFF
BKERKHOFF@KCSTAR.COM
10 hours ago
This week’s NFL Draft marks a shift in the age of prospects. There are 58 early entrants, the fewest the league has seen since 2011.

From 2016-2022, more than 100 early entrants — players three years removed from their high school graduating class — had entered the draft.

Brett Veach knows why.

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“This is just the NIL effect,” the Chiefs general manager said.

Colleges athletes can profit from their name, image and likeness. Those numbers aren’t public. The NFL minimum salary for a rookie in 2024 is $795,000. An NIL deal might not approach that figure, but it could be good enough for the player to remain in school and perhaps improve his draft stock.

This is making the 2024 draft “older” than previous editions over the past decade. To Veach, that will be especially evident in the middle to late rounds.

“Typically when you’re working through the fourth, fifth and six rounds,” he noted, “there’s always interesting prospects and small-school guys.”

But now the Chiefs and other NFL teams are seeing those candidates as older players.

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“They have the opportunity to stay in school,” Veach said. “So we have to work a little bit harder to find some young guys with upside that you really like.”

NIL became policy with a Supreme Court ruling in 2021. In the ensuing NFL Draft, held in April 2022, 100 underclassmen entered the draft, 28 fewer than the previous year. The number dropped to 82 in 2023.

Among the underclassmen in this year’s draft, which begins on Thursday, are Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw, Jr. and Kansas edge Austin Booker.

Also affecting the profile of this year’s draft is the extra year of eligibility granted to college players because of the COVID-shortened 2020 season. It’s paid, figuratively and literally, for athletes to stay in school.

The Chiefs have found great value in the later rounds of recent drafts, especially on defense. Cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, a standout who was assigned to the opponent’s top receiver, was taken in the fourth round of the 2019 draft out of Louisiana Tech. Sneed was traded to the Tennessee Titans last month for a third-round pick next season and a swap of seventh-round picks this year.

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Joshua Williams was a 2022 fourth-round selection from Fayetteville State. In the same draft, the Chiefs selected Jaylen Watson in the seventh round from Washington State. Both were part of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl-champion defensive rotation the past two years.

They weren’t early entrants. But they were part of a deeper draft pool .... which, according to Veach, improved the overall quality of the draft class in which they each was selected.

“When you have a ton of underclassmen putting their name in and decide to (leave college) that makes every draft deeper,” Veach said. “When guys are staying in (college), it’s going to make the draft a little tougher to work with on the back end.”

Kansas State...

In number of mass shootings in a year: 38 There is still time for more.
Students exposed to risks of school shootings: 389 since 1999.

What has US done to control access to firearms, esp AR-15s? About zip... with not change in sight.

Tulsa extended a scholarship offer to...

Sherman (TX) athlete Kane Bowen plays both...

Sherman (TX) athlete Kane Bowen plays both running back and linebacker, and he’s garnered recruiting interest from Tulsa and others. TU coaches offered the 6-foot-2 and 220-pounder back in December, and Bowen attended a Tulsa junior day in March.


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Starting a new thread about the upcoming Fall season. Schedule is on the web site as well as the roster. TU has added some interesting pieces to the mix for this season, a lot of international flair (German and Spanish). Biggest ? will be can Richnow and Bottenburg replace Fazio in the middle and who will be the 6 replacing Sach? I think the 6 role might come down to Luke Jeffus or Sergio Baena although I think Baena is better suited to the attacking MF roles in the favored 4-3-3 TU plays. I know last year Dalby played in that role a little but his game lacks some of the speed, vision, and physicality Sach brought to it.

TU will obviously be missing Mitchell Cashion and his ability to be a dynamic player from a fullback spot. I do think TU will be able to score plenty of goals this season. MHS is back along with Taka Wyett.

Season starts vs UMKC on August 11th in an exhibition match. Will be a good test for TU and a chance to get some players looks. 1st regular game is August 24th vs Louisville. Creighton comes in for a midweek match on Sept. 19th. We also play UNLV, Drake, & Missouri State in non-conference games.

TU will have its hands full in the AAC as I expect the conference to be even better than it was last season.

I couldn’t go and can’t find a score or video. Anyone there at TU who can update? Thanks

Tulsa extended a scholarship offer to Mansfield (TX) Summit defensive end Travis Buhake back in January, and he’s racked up several more offers since then. The 2025 prospect attended a junior day at TU last month and came away impressed.


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Friday night will be fun!

https://tulsahurricane.com/news/202...etic-hall-of-fame-weekend-set-for-april-26-27

Friday night will be fun!

https://tulsahurricane.com/news/202...etic-hall-of-fame-weekend-set-for-april-26-27

Friday night will be fun...

James Eaglin has entered the portal but looks like the only one so far…

Can someone tell me why we go to market as the Port of Catoosa and Port of Inola vs Port of Tulsa? This seems insane

Widely attributed to HL Mencken, clearly Trump has taken this concept to heart. Trump University (settled with 'students' fraud ckaims for $25M), Trump Hotels and Casino Resorts (bankrupt), Trump's Atlantic City Casinos (failed), and now Truth Media and Technology Group (symbol DJT). In each of the previous cases, Trump escaped with little if any damage, but the investors or customers all took big hits. That people ever valued a company (DJT) with $4M in revenues and $50M in losses as worth $8 Billion is a tribute to The Donald's hold over his followers. Like a second marriage, it's the triumph of hope over experience, except with Trump it's at least the 5th time around. Those who short DJT stock or bet on puts will do far better than those who invest in the company's future. Given all the Trump supporters in jail, losing their law licenses, or under indictment, it's a bit hard to understand why an so many people are betting there lives will be improved by supporting him.

Maybe Mencken was on to something.


Trump Media plunges more than 25% after company reports net loss of $58 million in 2023

Putnam City (OK) linebacker Brayden Knox picked up an offer from Tulsa last August, and he has been on the TU campus several times this spring, including a junior day and the TU Spring Game.


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Putnam City (OK) linebacker Brayden Knox...

Thoughts on this guy? I know the idea with Aresco is that he came from the broadcasting world and so would drive better deals but I was overall not impressed by him. This guy seems to be saying the right things. His focus seems to be mostly on talent, with maybe some distribution at Endeavor?

New American Athletic Conference Commissioner...

Anybody going ? Are they doing an actual game this year ?

The Royals sign Japanese Reliever Yasuhiko Yabuta who sported a 2.73 era last season. This frees up Greinke to start.

In other Marjor League Baseball news it is being reported that the Royals are close to a contract with Jose Guillen.

No news out of the inferior National League yet.