Attrition

Ewooc

All-Conference
Nov 29, 2010
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We have seen a few guys leave and Im assuming we will see a few more before fall. It sucks to lose guys especially when it seems they didn't even get a chance. Attrition has always happened to an extent. I believe with the "me" mentality of some of the younger generation we are seeing more of it. If they don't get to play right away odds are they will probably transfer to a place they can. It is just something coaches now days have to deal with. Im sure it is much tougher now for coaches today than what TO had to deal with.
Another reason I think we might see more of it under Frost is he isn't going to sugar coat things. If he and the staff feel like a kid is not going to make it he is going to tell them. It serves no purpose to baby a kid. Might as well be honest, free of up scholarship and let them find a place they fit. I think some of the previous coaches had a mentality of once you have a scholarship you are set for good no matter how you perform at practice, on the field or in the classroom.
 

huskerssalts

All-Conference
Oct 6, 2014
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We have seen a few guys leave and Im assuming we will see a few more before fall. It sucks to lose guys especially when it seems they didn't even get a chance. Attrition has always happened to an extent. I believe with the "me" mentality of some of the younger generation we are seeing more of it. If they don't get to play right away odds are they will probably transfer to a place they can. It is just something coaches now days have to deal with. Im sure it is much tougher now for coaches today than what TO had to deal with.
Another reason I think we might see more of it under Frost is he isn't going to sugar coat things. If he and the staff feel like a kid is not going to make it he is going to tell them. It serves no purpose to baby a kid. Might as well be honest, free of up scholarship and let them find a place they fit. I think some of the previous coaches had a mentality of once you have a scholarship you are set for good no matter how you perform at practice, on the field or in the classroom.

I’m assuming your meaning this more towards Cam Jones...like you I had high hopes for this young man. A 4 star out of Texas and had/has a ton of talent. But we have to read between the lines there. It SEEMS like he was having academic issues and maybe he was struggling hard to keep it at par. My guess, him and Frost both agree he wasn’t going to make it here academically wise and if I had to guess...we will see him transferring to a Juco school somewhere.

Now the other guys, like Quayson Alexander, he hasn’t played a down, snap or kick off (that I can remember). He was another high 3 star (5.7 on rivals) and a 4 star on ESPN and 24/7. Some reason things just never clicked for him. That tends to happen and you feel for the young man.

Now Breon Dixon, that one actually surprised me. It seemed like he was actually CLOSE at least at one point to the two deep. And he just transferred from a different school from the SEC. You'd figure he’d kept fighting and battling until he got that starting spot. I’m guessing Caleb Tannor locked his spot down.

A lot of the turn over in roster we are seeing is because of this reason. To be honest, if they aren’t good enough to play and probably won’t ever be, we may as well bring in another 4 star player instead. ;)
 
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WoodRiverJennings

All-American
Mar 4, 2013
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I’m assuming your meaning this more towards Cam Jones...like you I had high hopes for this young man. A 4 star out of Texas and had/has a ton of talent. But we have to read between the lines there. It SEEMS like he was having academic issues and maybe he was struggling hard to keep it at par. My guess, him and Frost both agree he wasn’t going to make it here academically wise and if I had to guess...we will see him transferring to a Juco school somewhere.

Now the other guys, like Quayson Alexander, he hasn’t played a down, snap or kick off (that I can remember). He was another high 3 star (5.7 on rivals) and a 4 star on ESPN and 24/7. Some reason things just never clicked for him. That tends to happen and you feel for the young man.

Now Breon Dixon, that one actually surprised me. It seemed like he was actually CLOSE at least at one point to the two deep. And he just transferred from a different school from the SEC. You'd figure he’d kept fighting and battling until he got that starting spot. I’m guessing Caleb Tannor locked his spot down.

A lot of the turn over in roster we are seeing is because of this reason. To be honest, if they aren’t good enough to play and probably won’t ever be, we may as well bring in another 4 star player instead. ;)

Don't think the Dixon thing had anything to do with Tannor. More to do with not following team rules and off the field stuff. Pretty sure it was a case of him being told to leave as opposed to him wanting to transfer.
 

huskerssalts

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Oct 6, 2014
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Don't think the Dixon thing had anything to do with Tannor. More to do with not following team rules and off the field stuff. Pretty sure it was a case of him being told to leave as opposed to him wanting to transfer.

That definitely could be it too. I just assumed Caleb Tannor as a possible issue because he’s our future at OLB and he was already playing last season and looks to be in great shape to possibly start or at least In the rotation.
 

inWV

All-Conference
Sep 22, 2007
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That definitely could be it too. I just assumed Caleb Tannor as a possible issue because he’s our future at OLB and he was already playing last season and looks to be in great shape to possibly start or at least In the rotation.
Looks like it’s shaping up to be Caleb and Jojo on one side with Ferguson and Alex on the other. Gifford will be missed, but now we at least have four guys who know what they’re doing.
 

steventrelain

Redshirt
Aug 14, 2011
66
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We have seen a few guys leave and Im assuming we will see a few more before fall. It sucks to lose guys especially when it seems they didn't even get a chance. Attrition has always happened to an extent. I believe with the "me" mentality of some of the younger generation we are seeing more of it. If they don't get to play right away odds are they will probably transfer to a place they can. It is just something coaches now days have to deal with. Im sure it is much tougher now for coaches today than what TO had to deal with.
Another reason I think we might see more of it under Frost is he isn't going to sugar coat things. If he and the staff feel like a kid is not going to make it he is going to tell them. It serves no purpose to baby a kid. Might as well be honest, free of up scholarship and let them find a place they fit. I think some of the previous coaches had a mentality of once you have a scholarship you are set for good no matter how you perform at practice, on the field or in the classroom.

It's a tricky subject. I agree kids used to be more willing to stick with the program. When do you cast him off? Do you make the call when he is a freshman? Soph.? Jr.?
I can think of many examples of athletes who didn't impress early in their careers and then came out of nowhere to be something special as juniors or seniors.
Kurt Warner played at the D1AA level and only became a starter for one year as a senior. The NFL wrote him off but he kept pushing until he got his shot. Now he's in the Hall-of-Fame. I'm not saying that is common, but deciding a kid can't cut it is sometimes admitting reality, and sometimes a reflection of a coach being impatient or not believing in his own ability to improve his players.
 
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Ewooc

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What do you mean by "it seems they didn't even get a chance"?
Not saying I don't trust Frost. I trust they have good reason for letting guys go, if that is the case in some of these players. Just saying only 1 year with Dixon and Cam. Imagine if we had cast off Ziggy year 1 or 2 or 3.
 

Headcard

Heisman
Feb 2, 2005
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Not saying I don't trust Frost. I trust they have good reason for letting guys go, if that is the case in some of these players. Just saying only 1 year with Dixon and Cam. Imagine if we had cast off Ziggy year 1 or 2 or 3.
I guess I’m not so sure they were cast off, as much as they didn’t like where they were on the depth chart, so they took their ball and went home. Some stay like Ziggy, some go like Greg Bell.
 

NikkiSixx_rivals269993

All-Conference
Sep 14, 2013
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Here is our updated chart of players by position.

ILB is REALLY bleak. Everything else other than RB looks pretty ok, and even then, RB is probably fine.

https://nebraska.rivals.com/news/2016-huskeronline-com-scholarship-distribution-chart
initially I was shocked by only the 10 in what I thought was the sophomore column, but it is redshirts, so combined with the actual sophomore column, that is 25 in last years class, and 25 in this years class. seems like a youth movement to me, but in time, that is going to bear some fruit.. we might see this kind of thing going forward to keep getting 25 a class and if you aren't making progress, then attrition happens.. I'm alright with that.
 
Aug 18, 2016
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I guess I’m not so sure they were cast off, as much as they didn’t like where they were on the depth chart, so they took their ball and went home. Some stay like Ziggy, some go like Greg Bell.

From the people I know up there, I don't think it was a I'm taking my ball and going home situation for Alexander, Dixon and Jones. From what I understand, all had off the field issues, all were told that it would be best that they go elsewhere.