What the NFL really wants is players with four or five years of experience and conditioning behind them. It was the courts that forced them to take underclassmen. Late rounders and free agents rarely survive August cuts. Then, big strong athletes have to come back to school and try to finish the degree and find a job . . . without a full-ride scholarship.
Reading recent articles about the interest of Golson and Miller transferring to LSU it was suggested that their moves were driven by the opportunity to play on a team that gave them the exposure they needed to make the jump to the NFL. Neither of these players see their chances of gaining the attention needed for the next level being available in their current situations. Sure a lot of this has to do with their own performance or injuries which have allowed others to take over their position. But the bottom line is that LSU has allowed a lot of players to realize the chance of playing in the big leagues. If I was talented enough to start for a big time program like LSU my first objective would be to develop my skills and prepare for a lucrative career in the NFL. My heart would influence me to play for my beloved Tigers but make no bones about it if the opportunity to play at the next level resided somewhere else, I would go there. That's no different than the kid with a 4.0 GPA applying to MIT. You go to the University that provides you the best opportunity to advance your career. That's what you are supposed to do. It's no different if you go to school to develop your career as a doctor, a lawyer or a running back.
Better yet, it's easier to out-athlete your way to a championship in Men's basketball than it is in football. Calipari is a great coach but his schemes are dependent on having superior athletes/talents at every position. He can certainly be outcoached though.
