LaTech as a ticket to "The League"

[boxerdog]

Not too long ago, it seemed like having a player with professional potential happened about once every 4 years. I can't believe how much that's changed! Off of last year's team alone:

Jeff Driskel
Vernon Butler
Kenneth Dixon
Paul Turner
Adarius Barnes
Kentrell Brice
Vontarrius Dora

That's alot of players from a relatively small program! Thing is, I don't believe half of those guys would have made it to the NFL had they not come to LaTech. Looking over this year's roster, I see a couple of DL, a couple of OL, a couple of DB's, a few WR's, quite possibly a QB, a RB, and a PK that might get a shot over the next few years. This change has been so abrupt and so pervasive it's incredible!

[T1]

I found a site that shows 14 active players on NFL rosters (Barnes just got cut). That ranks #5 among G5 teams:

1. Boise St (18)
2. Cincinnati (15)
2. UConn (15)
2. UCF (15)
5. La Tech (14)

http://www.espn.com/nfl/college/_/letter/l

[boxerdog]

I found a site that shows 14 active players on NFL rosters (Barnes just got cut). That ranks #5 among G5 teams:

1. Boise St (18)
2. Cincinnati (15)
2. UConn (15)
2. UCF (15)
5. La Tech (14)

http://www.espn.com/nfl/college/_/letter/l

I heard Barnes was relegated to the practice squad, not cut. If he was cut, he will definitely be picked up--he's been productive in limited action.

[96bulldog]

Thanks for the link -- it clearly shows a huge difference between Tech and the rest of the schools in the state. LSU leads all colleges with players in the NFL, so that's a large gap between us and them. But when you look at the rest of the state schools, Tulane only has 7 players in the NFL and nobody else has more than 4 -- including ULM and ULL who have only 2 players each.

If you look at this article, then you can see we are right outside the top 30 schools with active NFL players.

[dawg80]

This tells me we are under-achieving. Same argument made against Les Miles. LSU puts a boat-load of players into the NFL year after year, yet LSU struggles to reach 8 or 9 wins. Can't say you don't have the talent to be successful. Must be your own lousy coaching.

In Tech's case you can't even say, well, our problems are all on defense. Well, half of our NFLers are defense! Must have some talent there.

In Holtz's defense, one can point to UCONN and UCF and say, well, guess having NFL talent doesn't guarantee success. Obviously, that's true. Or, maybe it just means that UCONN and UCF have horrible coaches!

[T1]

You would have to say all those programs have been successful for the past 6 years or so though.

Wins from 2011-2016:

Boise St (62)
Cincinnati (48)
La Tech (47)
UCF (42... and an access bowl win over Baylor)
Uconn (24... but an access bowl loss to Oklahoma in 2010)

It's not like they are losing with the talent. (although UCF had an 0-12 season last year.... ouch)

[DJDAWG]

This tells me two things:

1) There is NO excuse for Tech not to have a dominant CUSA defense.
Tech has the athletes but the defensive coaches are not good.

2) Tech DOES have players that can play in the $EC. You can play in The League, you can play in the $EC.
I've heard too many idiots on here and trolls telling us that Tech can't recruit, doesn't have and will never have $EC quality players.
Major case in point were the comparisons between Dixon and that lsu running back.

[TrueBulldog1962]

You would have to say all those programs have been successful for the past 6 years or so though.

Wins from 2011-2016:

Boise St (62)
Cincinnati (48)
La Tech (47)
UCF (42... and an access bowl win over Baylor)
Uconn (24... but an access bowl loss to Oklahoma in 2010)

It's not like they are losing with the talent. (although UCF had an 0-12 season last year.... ouch)

We have the 3rd most G5 wins since 2011? That's incredible. Time to take the next step, win more conference championships, make it to an access bowl.

[Bearpaw]

We have the 3rd most G5 wins since 2011? That's incredible. Time to take the next step, win more conference championships, make it to an access bowl.

No, the 3rd most of the top 5 G5 programs with the most players on active rosters in the NFL. See post #2

[T1]

We are #10 among G5 wins:

1. Boise St (62)
2. Northern Illinois (59)
3. Houston (56)
4. SD State (54)
5. Western Kentucky (53)
5. Toledo (53)
7. Arkansas St (52)
8. Cincinnati (49)
9. Marshall (48)
10. La Tech (47)

[Bearpaw]

And how about since 2014? 2013 really hurt our trend...

We are #10 among G5 wins:

1. Boise St (62)
2. Northern Illinois (59)
3. Houston (56)
4. SD State (54)
5. Western Kentucky (53)
5. Toledo (53)
7. Arkansas St (52)
8. Cincinnati (49)
9. Marshall (48)
10. La Tech (47)

[T1]

Still #10, but some teams changed.

1. Boise St (31)
1. Western Kentucky (31)
3. Houston (30)
4. Toledo (28)
4. Navy (28)
4. App State (28)
7. Marshall (27)
7. Memphis (27)
7. Air Force (27)
10. La Tech (26)

[T1]

Nope, I missed SD State

1. Boise St (31)
1. Western Kentucky (31)
3. Houston (30)
4. SD State (29)
5. Toledo (28)
5. Navy (28)
5. App State (28)
8. Marshall (27)
8. Memphis (27)
8. Air Force (27)
11. La Tech (26)

[Bearpaw]

Nope, I missed SD State

1. Boise St (31)
1. Western Kentucky (31)
3. Houston (30)
4. SD State (29)
5. Toledo (28)
5. Navy (28)
5. App State (28)
8. Marshall (27)
8. Memphis (27)
8. Air Force (27)
11. La Tech (26)

Good news is we can match 8th place with a win on Friday , meaning we'll tie Marshall

[T1]

WKU would have been alone at #1 if we didn't beat them twice.