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The First College Football Holdout?

i liked his ceiling... too bad his dad ****** that up for him.

he coulda beena contenda
Scam Newton had issues like this;
If the kid straightens up his act (including those around him) and performs well, this can look like an overzealous Dad in a few months.
 
rumors are that he wanted 4M to play next season. That is ludicrous for a kid who wasn't all that good.
Some of these families, especially quarterbacks, are all about the money. We'll see what the market will bear in Nico's case. Those in power in college football really need to get some rules in place, or this is just going to be the beginning of a free-for-all for so many players whose only allegiance is to the almighty dollar.
 
If Colleges were smart, they wouldn't sign him and send a clear message about trying to hold out, or undermine the system that was brought in to give these athletes a piece of the pie. I think the fact that the Oregon coach is the one that tipped Tenn off that he was shopping himself to other schools is a big deal.

The NIL has already killed the Cinderella stories for March Madness, it's just gonna top 10 teams in the final four from here on out...deepest pockets wins. They need to do something to keep this kind of stuff from becoming the norm.
It won't work that way. Colleges will take advantage of the current rules and do what they believe is best for them...just like some players will.

Something does indeed need to be done, because it's like the Wild West right now.
 
And Arch is not likely coming out. That “put all your QB eggs in the 2026 draft basket” strategy many Steeler fans are latching onto doesn’t look too good right now.
Even with Arch, a lot are counting on him being a stud (which would put him out of the Steelers reach). The 2026 class, as of today, seems very overhyped to me.
 
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Even with Arch, a lot are counting on him being a stud (which would put him out of the Steeler reach). The 2026 class, as of today, seems very overhyped to me.
Yeah I do not get the hype. With Arch he is either going to shine or fall apart neither of which are good for the steelers. If he shines based on his pedigree he will probably get drafted #1. A team drafting #1 more than likely needs a QB so not likely they will pass on a Manning. Even if the Steelers are picking around #5 they dont have a realistic shot at Manning if he lives up to the hype. If he looks bad he will either stay in school or not be worth the high draft pick. Im sure there will be a QB or 2 that pops up on the radar but I dont see 2026 being that much different than this year.
 
Yeah I do not get the hype. With Arch he is either going to shine or fall apart neither of which are good for the steelers. If he shines based on his pedigree he will probably get drafted #1. A team drafting #1 more than likely needs a QB so not likely they will pass on a Manning. Even if the Steelers are picking around #5 they dont have a realistic shot at Manning if he lives up to the hype. If he looks bad he will either stay in school or not be worth the high draft pick. Im sure there will be a QB or 2 that pops up on the radar but I dont see 2026 being that much different than this year.
There are 4-5 in discussion for the first round (Manning, Allar, Iamaleava, Sellers, and Nussmeier) and the reason it gets more hype than this year is these guys have the size and tools. In that sense, I get wanting to wait to have a chance, I just think these guys have a lot to prove this fall.
 
Burrow was seen as a 3rd rounder heading into his last year. QBs will emerge. Klubnik of Clemson has a lot of talent but that Clemson scheme is limiting. He might surprise. Same with

Sam Leavitt at Arizona State
Carson Beck Miami
Kevin Jennings SMU
Diego Pavia Vanderbilt

Allar, Manning, Nussmeier, Beck, Iamleava, Klubnik all have 1st round arm talent. Taylen Green at Arkansas could be a Anthony Richardson like upside prospect.

Ward and Milroe are the only high ceiling guys i see in this draft. Milroe could be a bust if he doesn't get the right scheme. If they drafted Milroe, i'd be mad because why not just keep Fields? Any other QB looks like a system guy to me. Dart is a 1 read guy and Kiffin may send in that read with the play.
 
Burrow was seen as a 3rd rounder heading into his last year. QBs will emerge. Klubnik of Clemson has a lot of talent but that Clemson scheme is limiting. He might surprise. Same with

Sam Leavitt at Arizona State
Carson Beck Miami
Kevin Jennings SMU
Diego Pavia Vanderbilt

Allar, Manning, Nussmeier, Beck, Iamleava, Klubnik all have 1st round arm talent. Taylen Green at Arkansas could be a Anthony Richardson like upside prospect.

Ward and Milroe are the only high ceiling guys i see in this draft. Milroe could be a bust if he doesn't get the right scheme. If they drafted Milroe, i'd be mad because why not just keep Fields? Any other QB looks like a system guy to me. Dart is a 1 read guy and Kiffin may send in that read with the play.
Carson Beck wont amount to a hill of beans. But I agree with the others you listed.
 
Burrow was seen as a 3rd rounder heading into his last year. QBs will emerge. Klubnik of Clemson has a lot of talent but that Clemson scheme is limiting. He might surprise. Same with

Sam Leavitt at Arizona State
Carson Beck Miami
Kevin Jennings SMU
Diego Pavia Vanderbilt

Allar, Manning, Nussmeier, Beck, Iamleava, Klubnik all have 1st round arm talent. Taylen Green at Arkansas could be a Anthony Richardson like upside prospect.

Ward and Milroe are the only high ceiling guys i see in this draft. Milroe could be a bust if he doesn't get the right scheme. If they drafted Milroe, i'd be mad because why not just keep Fields? Any other QB looks like a system guy to me. Dart is a 1 read guy and Kiffin may send in that read with the play.

Funny you mention Beck and Milroe, both were guys everyone told people to wait for a year ago, along with Ewers and Allar. A lot can happen in a year. A year from now, people will be saying the same things about guys like Manning (again), Sayin at Ohio St, and likely others.

If you don’t have a QB and don’t draft one or acquire a young one with upside, you’re treading water at best.
 
Carson Beck wont amount to a hill of beans. But I agree with the others you listed.

I don't like Beck either but he has 1st round ability. He's a better physical prospect with a better resume than nearly all in this draft.

Arch Manning is still an unknown. Everyone assumes he'll be great. Shedeur shows that NFL teams are not immune to ranking guys due to their name or hype.

I think Allar would be QB2 if he came out this year. I don't think he would have gotten past the Giants. Allar's film is impressive. He has elite arm talent, reads defenses, makes good decisions, has good pocket awareness and enough mobility to escape and move the chains. His only negative is he struggles with accuracy at times but that's because he gets sloppy with his footwork. In other words, his negative is easily fixable. I just hope it gets fixed this year for Penn State.
 
It won't work that way. Colleges will take advantage of the current rules and do what they believe is best for them...just like some players will.

Something does indeed need to be done, because it's like the Wild West right now.
rumblings are that many teams are turned off/away from Nico due to how he went fishing. Which, below the surface, is awfully hypocritical considering how coaches can jump ship season to season. Although that is just it - coaches at least wait until after the season. Nico was rumored to want more money to play in the bowl game.

Odd coincidence - Tennessee is now willing to pay up to $4 mil for their QB.

Which would mean their QB would be making more than Calvin Anderson.
 
I don't like Beck either but he has 1st round ability. He's a better physical prospect with a better resume than nearly all in this draft.

Arch Manning is still an unknown. Everyone assumes he'll be great. Shedeur shows that NFL teams are not immune to ranking guys due to their name or hype.

I think Allar would be QB2 if he came out this year. I don't think he would have gotten past the Giants. Allar's film is impressive. He has elite arm talent, reads defenses, makes good decisions, has good pocket awareness and enough mobility to escape and move the chains. His only negative is he struggles with accuracy at times but that's because he gets sloppy with his footwork. In other words, his negative is easily fixable. I just hope it gets fixed this year for Penn State.

Allar threw for < 200 yards more times (7) than he did > 300 (2). Bad in his two biggest games vs. ND and OSU, even vs. Oregon he had two picks and completed 51%.

Has the tools, but play doesn’t match them. And now he’s losing 40% of his completions and 33% of his TD passes with Warren leaving.
 
no, the irony is that Nico is now considering transferring to ... Oregon.

your assessment of Nico is incorrect. He's good. Sometimes really good. he was developing and was on a huge upswing. He's getting bashed on social media, and rightfully so. He, like @Badcat said, was asking for $4 mil per. An increase from the $1.8 mil he was already paid. And, like you said, for essentially doing what is asked in Heupel's QB friendly offense. He's been bandied about as one of the top 4-5 QBs in the next draft. With this move, he's probably finding himself at the bottom of that 4-5, well behind Arch Manning. I'd be hesitant to select him in the 2026 draft just for the belief that once that rookie contract is up, he may bolt for more money.

Every QB in the league currently is money motivated and would bolt for money imo.

It is what it is, money is the motivator. Guys are more loyal to the almighty dollar than they ever will be to a team (college included nowadays).

His play on the field will affect his draft stock far more than this cash grab.

Remember just a couple months back people were lambasting Ward for departing the bowl game early saying stupid stuff like “he quit in his team” and he looks like consensus QB1 off the board in the draft.

It’s a different world in athletics these days.
 
There are 4-5 in discussion for the first round (Manning, Allar, Iamaleava, Sellers, and Nussmeier) and the reason it gets more hype than this year is these guys have the size and tools. In that sense, I get wanting to wait to have a chance, I just think these guys have a lot to prove this fall.

There’s 4 in the discussion for first round this year.

Heck probably 3 better than Allar this year, maybe 4
Manning who knows, could care less about the half breed

The other 3 are of very close caliber to the primary
4 in the discussion this year
 
Iamaleava is apparently going to UCLA per yahoo sports.
 
I doubt it. Why pass up the opportunity to be a top-5 pick and all that money to go back to school?

He's likely making millions at PSU like Nico was. Beck is staying too and i'd bet he'd go QB2 in this draft as well. Lots of guys are staying for the guaranteed college paycheck. Several Ohio State guys stayed last year when they could have been high picks. Allar wants another year in this offense and a shot to go for a title.

Or maybe he just saw Cleveland lurking at #2
 
rumblings are that many teams are turned off/away from Nico due to how he went fishing. Which, below the surface, is awfully hypocritical considering how coaches can jump ship season to season. Although that is just it - coaches at least wait until after the season. Nico was rumored to want more money to play in the bowl game.

Odd coincidence - Tennessee is now willing to pay up to $4 mil for their QB.

Which would mean their QB would be making more than Calvin Anderson.
I was pleasantly surprised by that, but let's see where Nico ends up, and for how much. It also looks like his "handlers" are the ones who screwed the pooch here. Feel kind of bad for the kid himself -- it's really important for these guys to have competent representatives. Most of the time, that doesn't include parents.
 
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