Best I can tell, there is the "hard cap" and then there is the "soft cap." The SEC is at the latter. So still subscribing to a 25/85 rule with a little more flexibility. Now take the Taylor situation with a grayshirt offer. Last year he would sign and be committed, thus ending the recruitment process. Now, he can sign in 2013, but remains unsigned. So Taylor can continue to be recruited and sign with whatever team he chooses. The recruits now have all their options. A level playing field.
Bama is taking one more (Tomlinson) and are possibly trying to flip another LB. and if Kwon wants in it will be a greyshirt but FWIW he isnt too happy about the greyshirt offer right now and LSU looks to be in the driver's seat
Why? Kwon Alexander is from ALABAMA. There is always family and cultural pressure to stay close to home.
Give me a break. Kwon isn't some lowly prospect that barely has any D1 offers. If you did this to practically any recruit, especially one highly recruited like him, they wouldn't look twice at you program. They'd think of it as a insult... If the guy had very limited choices on full rides...then yes. Kwon has plenty of elite schools giving him full rides...
I'm pretty sure LSU (and just about every other tier 1 program) has and will redshirt top recruits due to depth at a position. A couple of examples for the Tigers: Ego Ferguson was an ESPNU 150, SuperPrep Elite 50, and was the 6th ranked DE in the country when he signed his LOI with us yet he redshirted as true Freshman in 2010. Travis Dickson was one of the top recruits in Mississippi, a member of the ESPNU 150, Mobile Press Register Super Southeast 120 and TAKKLE Top 200. Redshirted as a freshman and will be kicking ass next year as one of Mettenberger's top targets. I can probably find a few more. Top recruits get redshirted all of the time. They know this is a possibility going into any top programs.
There's a wee bit of a difference between a greyshirt and a redshirt. I'd be scratching my head if Kwon chose a grayshirt at Bama over a full ride at LSU. That said, I don't think that's what happens...
Doh! Sorry...it's getting late and I have been working on a tedious project at work. You guy's are right...paying for a year's worth of tuition is a big deal.
I disagree on the greyshirt being a huge deterrent. Most of the time guys accept these especially in-state guys and prospects who are recovering from injury. It is only paying tuition for one semester. I am not saying Kwon will be one of them. Only time I really don't see a place for greyshirting is when it is sprung on a prospect when they are already enrolled. Sometimes it has to happen that way due to NCAA rules. They could make additional rules to prevent this from happening but choose not to.
