Jefferson played a couple of plays early in the season, had a minor injury and was headed for a medical redshirt until Lee got hurt. Heading into GT, JJ had already burned any chance at a redshirt against Ole Miss, I think, and then started against Arkansas. So he was a full up freshman letterman heading into the Peach Bowl.
They were going to apply for a medical red shirt after his play in the Miss. State game last year until he was forced into action in the Ole Miss game. Once he played in the Ole Miss game it was over, he couldn't get a redshirt for last year. I think it was Travis Daniels who gave up his redshirt in 2001 for playing something like 3 plays in the SEC Championship game. We had some DBs get hurt in the game and it was a crucial point in the game and he was willing to burn it so Saban sent him in.
all the more reason to try and get him snaps this season. If Ridley has an ACL issue, Murphy we dont know if he is going to be the same player next season, we lose Keiland, and Charles Scott. That is 99.9% of the experience we have at tailback gone. Ridley saw time last year against Tulane, but do we know this guy is going to be something special? I just think experience whenever he can get it would be worth more to LSU than a redshirt would. Randle is seeing playing time and we aren't even trying to get him the ball at all, so thats not a waste, but trying to get Ford experience is?
This, and the possible awesomeness at RB following Ford in the next few years, is why I'm switching my position on this one. I think the staff very well may hedge towards getting Ford some touches against ULL, Tulane and LA Tech, maybe even Miss St.
Its obvious we won't agree but think about this. A lot of analysts say RB is the easist position to step right into and play in college and the NFL. All they really have to do is adjust to the speed of the game. Experience isn't as big of a deal at the RB position except when it comes picking up blitzes in protection which is mainly mental. Look at KW and CS. Neither had experience when they came in and ran great during their True Freshman year. If CS had not been injured during the middle of the season, KW probably didn't play at all in 06. Same goes for Justin Vincent in '03, he was a true freshman having to play because of injury, but otherwise he was going to redshirt.
Yeah with lache this year hopefully and hilliard next year, I think they might go ahead and burn ford's redshirt. And don't forget ware
With the ACL it is torn or not. He has healed ahead of schedule but may still have the mental aspect of the injury affecting him. Throw him in on ST with less cuts to get him mentally ready to tote the rock. Ridley did look good last year when he got his touches at RB and FB and the staff is really high on him. I am not saying Ford will not get time but we will use the wait and see approach. I think the staff would rather keep a redshirt on him for the time being given that noting is certain when it comes to future RB recruiting classes.
Nothing is for certain in future recruiting, and should Ware come here, from what I have heard, they are looking at him as LB than as a RB.
Correct about Travis Daniels, and he had a critical pass break-up in the endzone. To add to the redshirt discussion, there is no such term as "medical redshirt." The NCAA may or may not grant a medical hardship waiver to any player that applies. It isn't guaranteed. The redshirt rule and medical hardship rule are independent and very different. Medical Hardship Waiver If a student-athlete suffers a season-ending injury or illness after competing in a limited amount of competition during a particular academic year, he/she may qualify for a medical hardship waiver which would allow him/her an additional season of competition during the five-year period of eligibility. To qualify for a medical hardship: (a) the student-athlete’s injury or illness must occur in one of the four seasons of intercollegiate competition or subsequent to the first day of classes in the student-athlete’s senior year in high school; (b) the injury or illness must occur prior to the completion of the first half of the playing season that concludes with the NCAA championship in that sport and must result in incapacity to compete for the remainder of that playing season; and (c) the injury or illness must occur when the student-athlete has not participated in more than two contests/dates of competition or 20% of the institution’s scheduled contests/dates of competition in his/her sport (whichever number is greater).
