How big of a loss is losing Maliek Collins?

[chicolby]

Maliek Collins was given a second round grade from the assessment for early prospects. I think that's about right. In terms of the size of the blow to the team, how big of a loss is losing Mr. Collins?

I imagine losing both Maliek and Valentine would hurt quite a bit, but in my opinion, this is a loss that won't shake the program. I think had Ameer decided to declare after his junior season, that would have been pretty drastic.

All in all, I would have loved to have Maliek back for another campaign, but I don't think the loss is that devastating.

On that topic, can anyone name some of the more shocking/devastating early losses Nebraska has had? Randy Gregory, of course, comes to mind, but from there, I can't think of others immediately that stung, though I'm sure they existed. The most memorable for me was Johnny Mitchell.

 

[chicolby]

Speaking of Johnny Mitchell - just read this Wikipedia on him... Who wrote this? Him? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Mitchell

 

[HUSKERBILL]

I don't think losing Collins is as big of a deal because

A. We expected him to leave

B. It's one player and we return everyone else.


The kick in the nuts to me is losing Valentine because

A. We didn't expect it after the season he had.

B. He shouldn't be leaving. 10 tackles in 8 games is horrendous output. I understand that NFL coaches draft on potential sometimes but he didn't have a single game he dominated this year. He doesn't have any highlight plays on the year. He would be smart to come back and register a 20+ tackle season with a few TFLs and play himself into the 1-3 round. The fact that the obvious early entry guy was Maliek and he got a 2nd round projection tells me that Valentine had to get a "stay in school" grade. Had to. What GM would spend millions on a 320lb guy with 10 tackles. I guarantee every team in CFB has one of those. He has the chance to come back and play himself into a better spot.

C. It takes a second starter off our D Line. That hurts. I have no doubt that Davis twins or Stoltenberg or McMullen could have taken over for Maliek and we would have had a stout line. But the odds of getting two guys to jump in and crush it is tough.

 

[headcard]

On that topic, can anyone name some of the more shocking/devastating early losses Nebraska has had? Randy Gregory, of course, comes to mind, but from there, I can't think of others immediately that stung, though I'm sure they existed. The most memorable for me was Johnny Mitchell.

Dominic Raiola and Ahman Green come to mind.

 

[TheBeav815]

Any time you lose an NFL-quality guy, you can't really spin that as a positive. IMO Valentine needs to come back. I really doubt he graded out that fantastically. He'd need an unreal combine to make it worth his while.

Fonoti was a tough early loss. Kid was a monster and a half.

 

[jay-cheese]

It'll likely ruffle feathers but I'll ask the question anyways. Do you think that either or both leave if their old coaches are still here?

 

[chicolby]

It'll likely ruffle feathers but I'll ask the question anyways. Do you think that either or both leave if their old coaches are still here?

I think Maliek was leaving no matter - he had a three year mindset and if he's good enough to get drafted, he was going no matter. We'll find out if the question is valid or not once Valentine let's us know what direction he's going. I predict he will be back another year, and frankly, I think he needs it. I think he needs to put up a monster year to move himself into serious first round consideration.

 

[cdriftt24]

Did I miss something? Did Valentine declare for the draft? Last I heard he still hadn't made a decision?

 

[GretnaShawn]

It'll likely ruffle feathers but I'll ask the question anyways. Do you think that either or both leave if their old coaches are still here?

I think Collins goes no matter the coach based on his family situation.

 

[NYC-Husker]

Dominic Raiola and Ahman Green come to mind.

Agreed on this, and as a poster above stated, Fonoti. That was a huge loss. Some of the other guys who left early (like Derek Brown and Calvin Jones) had established players behind them who would have pushed them for playing time anyways. We didn't have that for Mitchell, Green, Raiola or Fonoti.

I really hope Valentine stays, both for his sake, and for the sake of the team. The fact is that we don't have another 300-pounder on the DL (at least not that I'm aware of - I think Stoltenberg probably gets that big at some point, but not quite yet), so if he's gone, we're just smaller up front, and it could play a factor in 3rd and 4th and 1 situations.

 

[BornNBredRed]

It'll likely ruffle feathers but I'll ask the question anyways. Do you think that either or both leave if their old coaches are still here?

What would that matter at all? It is all about the money. It isn't like (Bo)ldemort never had anyone go pro early.

 

[BornNBredRed]

Maliek Collins was given a second round grade from the assessment for early prospects. I think that's about right. In terms of the size of the blow to the team, how big of a loss is losing Mr. Collins?

I imagine losing both Maliek and Valentine would hurt quite a bit, but in my opinion, this is a loss that won't shake the program. I think had Ameer decided to declare after his junior season, that would have been pretty drastic.

All in all, I would have loved to have Maliek back for another campaign, but I don't think the loss is that devastating.

On that topic, can anyone name some of the more shocking/devastating early losses Nebraska has had? Randy Gregory, of course, comes to mind, but from there, I can't think of others immediately that stung, though I'm sure they existed. The most memorable for me was Johnny Mitchell.

Collins was the ONLY impact player that we had on defense. There was not even a second player who showed potential to be a top of the line playmaker. It is a huge loss. Luckily, it is the only position on defense that had depth and has freshmen in the pipeline as well.

 

[jay-cheese]

I saw some other impact players making strides this year: Gerry, Rose (when healthy...which wasn't much), Kalu are three..

Collins has great guardians. He does have a child but he has support from others. I know that his guardians have always wanted him to finish college and get his degree (and I'm sure they still do). I'll say it again, we were darn lucky to get Maliek here at NU. If Stoops hadn't of told him he was too short for OU, he would've likely played elsewhere. I'll answer my own question, I do think he'd left this season even if BP were still here. VV on the other hand wouldn't even be considering it IMO. Good luck to them both (staying or leaving)

GBR

 

[huskerssalts]

I know for a fact Randy Gregory would of helped us out a lot if he came back, dude was kinda lazy and wasn't great against the run but dude was a beast against the pass, he would of gave us the one thing we missed this year, a elite pass rusher.

 

[BornNBredRed]

I saw some other impact players making strides this year: Gerry, Rose (when healthy...which wasn't much), Kalu are three..

Collins has great guardians. He does have a child but he has support from others. I know that his guardians have always wanted him to finish college and get his degree (and I'm sure they still do). I'll say it again, we were darn lucky to get Maliek here at NU. If Stoops hadn't of told him he was too short for OU, he would've likely played elsewhere. I'll answer my own question, I do think he'd left this season even if BP were still here. VV on the other hand wouldn't even be considering it IMO. Good luck to them both (staying or leaving)

GBR

Ask Damon Benning, Gerry is a terrible fit for the defensive scheme, which is why he struggles. Rose is slow, but tries hard. Kalu is a much better tackler than a cover guy. He should add 15 lbs and play safety.

 

[TheNewNU]

I know for a fact Randy Gregory would of helped us out a lot if he came back, dude was kinda lazy and wasn't great against the run but dude was a beast against the pass, he would of gave us the one thing we missed this year, a elite pass rusher.

Randy was not lazy on the field. Everyone says he didn't get off the ball well and he wasn't good against the run, but that was not the case, look at the tape. Had he not had his marijuana issues and not shown up to the combine 20 lbs underweight he would have been a top 3 pick last year.

 

[Tuco Ramirez]

I'll go with Ahman Green, not only for the immediate effect, but also the effect it had on the program. If Solich had him his first year, maybe the 98 team goes better than 9-4, and keeps more momentum in the transition from Osborne. With Green leaving, it left sophomores Buckhalter, Alexander, and DeAngelo Evans. Evans publicly criticizing Solich and quitting the team was a huge wtf moment that I think damaged Solich's reputation. I couldn't imagine an IB doing something similar under Osborne. It really showed this was not the same Huskers.
Playing "what if"...
..if Green sticks around, maybe the Huskers win a couple more games to go 11-2 in 1998. The largest margin of defeat was 10 points to KSU. I could see Green worth an extra touchdown per game.
...with Evans not being in the spot light, maybe he buys into the system more under Solich and sticks around for 1999, and is worth an extra victory against Texas. That would put them in the title game in Solich's second year. (Those or big "what ifs". Evans seems like a nutcase, regardless of an extra year and Buck and DA weren't bad backs.)
...with a smoother, more promising transition, maybe Nebraska has an easier time recruiting and the talent level doesn't slide.

 

[huskerssalts]

maybe saying lazy was a bit of a stretch but he definitely relaxed a bit on some plays. Myself I was a R. Gregory fan, dude was a beast against the pass, could cover as good as any linebacker, was as strong as a DT and I loved his attitude he had on the field (take no shit from anyone type). Call me what you want but I never have been against weed, sooner or later it will be legal in ever state and won't ever be an issue again....with that said, by all means let the boys enjoy it during there free time, just as long as there not going to classes, practices or games high, People can booze there lifes away but heaven for bid someone tokes it up a bit.

 

[huskerssalts]

wasn't that the knock on Frank Solich
he sucked at recruiting or did he just fail to hold the team together long enough to bring in more talent. The time he took over, I'd have to guess all the top players in the country was looking the Huskers, like Bama of these days. Some where a long the line Frank lost it recruiting wise, my GUESS is he wasn't putting in enough effort recruiting wise or we would of never slipped into the era we are in now....BIG chain of events there.