BOL Round Table

I'm not sweating....Ole Siss may pull some athletes in, but that is only one part of the formula. Out coaches are better all around.

This guy is a professional athlete with serious skills and experience. He could very well grasp the defensive playbook and perform well. I'm looking forward to seeing how he performs. Nice post.

He hasn't played football in over 10 years. How can you possibly think that he will turn out better than Conner? If you are saying that he is a project, he is already 28. What is the average age of safeties in the NFL? 26 -28?

Plus, because of what I mentioned above, if he has 1 good year, he will go to the NFL. Correct me if I am wrong, but the NFL requires that athletes be 3 years removed from high school. Conner would be forced to stay for 3 years.

I knew him in elementary school, and I really hope this works out for the best (for Jai and Bama). My opinion is, however, that you are simply wrong in saying that Jai Miller may turn out better than Tony Conner.

Miller was already a pro athlete. He knows how to put in work. If we get one good starting season out of a walk on I consider that a win. Not saying he will be better than Conner, just saying majority of walk ons don't contribute as starters

I think it is irrational to think that a 28 year old walk on could potentially be better than an 18 year old highly rated prospect.

That's all I am saying. Please don't call me the d word.

^^^^^^^^^^ This.

Look, it is obviously hypothetical. I am just saying that I disagree with what he is saying.

Frankly, I think it comes off a bit of a case of sour grapes to assume or imply that a guy who hasn't played football in 10 years will be better than a 5 star prospect we just missed out on. You guys have your opinion, and I have mine.

Like I mentioned before, I hope I am wrong, and that he is an All American for as long as he will stay. I do agree that if he does contribute, even for a year, it is a net gain and we should be happy about that.

Most of us have been talking about Jai before Conner came into the picture. Go back and check out the threads about Jai that were posted in late December and Early January. If he learns the system, Conner, Sunseri, or any of the other DBs besides CD6 and LC will be behind him in the depth chart. PLUS, he's on campus right now... getting in his reps and working out. He has a 6 month head start on the newcomers.

Yes, because he walked on months before NSD. I get it, I am excited about him too. But I think it is a reach to say he could be better than an 18 year old that is a 5 star.

I don't think Jai is out of shape, regardless of his chip intake. But I do think he is already older than the average safety in the NFL, and has an uphill battle in front of him to even get on the field at Bama.

Again, if he does contribute, that is more than you get out of most walk ons. I just wish someone on here would admit that it is silly to think a 28 year old that has been out of football for 10 years may turn out better than a 5 star that played last year.

Pretty sure Weeden / Weinke turned out a tad bit better than the freshman qbs at their respective schools. Didn't they come straight off the baseball field?

Chris Weinke and Brandon Weeden both say hello.

While you have point that the OP does come across as a little homerish & sour about losing out to Conner, you are pretty much wrong w/ your notion that it is irrational to think players can come back to a sport they excelled at in high school after years away from the sport in MLB/minor leagues. Weinke and Weeden both did so pretty successfully at a much more difficult position than Safety (which is why it took 2+ years before they took over the starting jobs)

Now, it's obvious that Jai has a long road ahead of him to be an impact player on our team, w/ a bunch of talented players w/ experience in front of him. But to say it is irrational to think he can succeed, especially considering he is both mature physically and mentally, is, well, irrational.

edit - I guess I'll be third in bringing up the Weinke/Weeden comparisons, lol