Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

For the past 15 years or so those have been one and the same.  I don't think he made any distinction because I don't think any was necessary.

this. 

it's pretty simple, kids went to go play for Saban- who happened to be at Bama. It's a lot easier to get kids to come to Bama than say Purdue due to things like demographics & geography, tradition, history, etc., etc., but bottom line - those kids were primarily coming to play for the GOAT. 

Per ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid, the number of early departures from the college ranks has substantially decreased in recent years and that total continues to dwindle. In the 2024 NFL Draft cycle, only 54 underclassmen players made declarations — less than half of the total (106) from 2018. Among the most notable early-entries, most came at the quarterback position, including USC's Caleb Williams, UNC's Drake Maye and Michigan's J.J. McCarthy. Ohio State wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. is another, despite reports of enhanced NIL opportunities with the Buckeyes.

Outside of the obvious first-round selections, most of the players on the fence this cycle are returning to school including Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, Texas signal caller Quinn Ewers and more than a half-dozen Ohio State starters, among others.


As documented by Reid, the raw number of early NFL Draft declarations is telling:

2018: 106
2019: 103
2020: 99
2021: 98
2022: 73
2023: 69
2024: 54
Recent Miami transfer commit Cameron Ward, who previously announced earlier this month he was entering the draft, chose another year in college with the Hurricanes

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/forum/college-sports/2024/01/145050/16-cfb-players-made-more-in-2023-than-49ers-qb-brock-purdy

16 CFB players made more than Brock Purdy this season.   Insanity.  

At least the false narrative of amateurism is no longer a thought.  

Yeah, maybe the first 3-4 years they were coming for the shiny red helmet and the promise that things would be better than before... But once Saban established himself, it was the perfect confluence of GOAT+helmet.

But again, that's why I posed the question of why everyone's acting like rats deserting the sinking ship once the GOAT left. It's still a REALLY shiny red helmet.

Yup, I really don't understand the exodus to the extent that it's happening.  And especially not the ones that are leaving Alabama either for places that have similar uncertainty, or are already known to be worse teams/situations than I'd expect at Alabama even with a 2-3 loss per season dropoff.  

I can only assume that NIL is playing a part in some of that. We all know that Alabama's NIL is well behind many other places.  One of the main reasons Saban left when he did, he knows Alabama can't compete at that level in the new paradigm.

I can only assume that NIL is playing a part in some of that. We all know that Alabama's NIL is well behind many other places.  One of the main reasons Saban left when he did, he knows Alabama can't compete at that level in the new paradigm.

Yup the old bagmen system worked much better below the Mason-Dixon,sans Tejas of course

Alabama can't compete at that level????
_______________________________

They don't have enough rabid fans?
they have no donors of substance?
They don't care about winning?
WTF???

Compared to the top NIL schools, no, they don't.  Not even really close.  They're also not situated in a major population center where local businesses can help take up the slack.

For example, the University of Texas isn't handing out Lambos to players, the local Lamborghini dealership in Austin is, because they believe there is value in that advertising.  Austin also has a Ferrari dealership, Aston Martin, Bentley, Rolls Royce, and every other major luxury brand.  

Tuscaloosa has none of those.

It does crack me up watching schools like Alabama (and really, SEC honks in general) clutch their pearls now that schools are on a more even footing when it comes to money.