Boom will consder NFL after bowl...

[getcha pull]

Its Breaking on KSR....thats why i posted it...your welcome

thats funny - Ksr never has anything breaking - they are a political site now

 

[BlueRunner11]

Has Boom proven he can stay healthy and remain durable? No he hasn't. He has missed a lot of games in his career with concussions and arm injuries. He was dinged up for much of this season, wearing a brace, and scouts know it. Has Boom proven he can do the things that small NFL running backs have to do? No he hasn't. He isn't a pass receiver. He is a fair pass blocker, not a solid, consistent pass blocker. He didn't returned kickoffs this year because of his concussion history. So I disagree with what you are saying. If Boom leaves now, he is a late round draft choice with a very short NFL career. Actually, Boom has a whole lot to gain by coming back again and holding out for the 2018 NFL draft, as long as he is healthy in the meantime. That's the key for him.

If you were a coach or a parent is this honestly the advice you would give? I think your selfishness (which I understand to a degree) is clouding your reasoning here.

How does Boom have any control over his injuries? That's not something you come back to "prove." The most likely scenario is the only thing he proves is another year of wear and tear, injury bug, and at BEST similar stats to this year.

 

[Blue Decade]

If you were a coach or a parent is this honestly the advice you would give? I think your selfishness (which I understand to a degree) is clouding your reasoning here.

How does Boom have any control over his injuries? That's not something you come back to "prove." The most likely scenario is the only thing he proves is another year of wear and tear, injury bug, and at BEST similar stats to this year.

I don't have any idea why you mention selfishness. That's silly. I am saying what I see. And I am a parent of an athlete. Right now, Boom is at best a 6th or 7th round draft choice, maybe a FA. He has a concussion history and he played this year with his arm in a brace. If you think NFL scouts aren't looking for players to have a fully healthy year, you don't understand. Of course they would rather have a healthy player than a frequently injured player. A healthy senior season means a lot in this case, because would suggest that Boom got stronger and more durable. He hasn't shown he can catch passes out of the backfield, which is what NFL coaches want to see from a small, fast running back. He is a fair pass blocker, not a great blocker. He doesn't return kickoffs. So he doesn't fit the NFL profile. If Boom gets stronger during the offseason, then returns in 2017, he can improve his draft stock by a couple of rounds if he stays healthy. And that translates to a lot of money and better security. But if he can't stay healthy at Kentucky in 2017, then he would be ranked as a FA, which is basically what he is now. Boom has everything to gain and almost nothing to lose by coming back to Kentucky in 2017. The running burden will be shared by Bennie and Rose next year. But a year from now, Boom could be viewed as 1 of the best senior running backs in the country, on a ranked football team. I'm surprised you don't understand this.

 

[UKCatNnc]

I just hope that whatever he decides, it turns out best for him. I love to watch him run, so selfishly, I would love to see him back. Then on the other hand, if he decides to go in the draft, I have no concerns about a backfield of Snell, Rose and King. We are in good hands at running back and I will not be surprised if we have two thousand yard rushers again next year. Go Cats!!

 

[Deeeefense]

Blue Decade is right on this one IMO. Here is Sports Illustrated's projected running back picks. It's pretty much in line with other sites I've looked at. Williams doesn't appear anywhere. Once you get much past the #10 pick you're talking 5th round. The probability of a 5th round draft choice making an NFL roster is less than 5%:

1 Dalvin Cook Florida State 5' 11", 213 lbs.
2 Leonard Fournette LSU 6' 1", 235 lbs.
3 Christian McCaffrey Stanford 6' 0", 197 lbs.
4 D'Onta Foreman Texas 6' 1", 249 lbs.
5 Curtis Samuel Ohio State 5' 11", 197 lbs.
6 Royce Freeman Oregon 6' 0", 229 lbs.
7 Alvin Kamara Tennessee 5' 10", 215 lbs.
8 Joe Mixon Oklahoma 6' 1", 226 lbs.
9 Kareem Hunt Toledo 6' 0", 225 lbs.
10 Nick Chubb Georgia 5' 10", 228 lbs.

http://www.si.com/2017-nfl-draft-running-back-rankings-dalvin-cook
Next year's running back field looks much weaker

 

[TBCat]

Any RB who has a chance to make it in the NFL should get there as soon as they can, Boom isn't going to get any bigger and not noticeably stronger or faster with another year in college. RB's have notoriously short careers, there is no guarantee Boom will improve his stock with another year in college, he has to weight the advantages of coming back, likely less backs in the 18 draft, he could show his hands off against the disadvantages a year shorter professional career or a serious injury. If he is like most backs he thinks he will make it as a return guy or 3rd down back wether he gets drafted or not.

Agreed. The only possible argument for Boom to come back is if he works it out with Stoops that he takes a lesser role as a RB and becomes the team's #1 kick and punt returner. He can't improve his stock as a RB anymore but he might be able to as a returner.

 

[Tskware]

I don't have any idea why you mention selfishness. That's silly. I am saying what I see. And I am a parent of an athlete. Right now, Boom is at best a 6th or 7th round draft choice, maybe a FA. He has a concussion history and he played this year with his arm in a brace. If you think NFL scouts aren't looking for players to have a fully healthy year, you don't understand. Of course they would rather have a healthy player than a frequently injured player. A healthy senior season means a lot in this case, because would suggest that Boom got stronger and more durable. He hasn't shown he can catch passes out of the backfield, which is what NFL coaches want to see from a small, fast running back. He is a fair pass blocker, not a great blocker. He doesn't return kickoffs. So he doesn't fit the NFL profile. If Boom gets stronger during the offseason, then returns in 2017, he can improve his draft stock by a couple of rounds if he stays healthy. And that translates to a lot of money and better security. But if he can't stay healthy at Kentucky in 2017, then he would be ranked as a FA, which is basically what he is now. Boom has everything to gain and almost nothing to lose by coming back to Kentucky in 2017. The running burden will be shared by Bennie and Rose next year. But a year from now, Boom could be viewed as 1 of the best senior running backs in the country, on a ranked football team. I'm surprised you don't understand this.

Personally, I agree with you 100%. But I have seen ball players make a lot of bad decisions when it comes to NBA/NFL so who knows. Not saying this is the case at all with Boom, but sometimes a kid is just not doing well at school and figures, hell, I am not going to get a degree anyway, may as well try my hand in the pros.

I am pulling for him to come back, think UK's backfield will be stacked if he does, and would really set up a potentially special year.

 

[TBCat]

I don't have any idea why you mention selfishness. That's silly. I am saying what I see. And I am a parent of an athlete. Right now, Boom is at best a 6th or 7th round draft choice, maybe a FA. He has a concussion history and he played this year with his arm in a brace. If you think NFL scouts aren't looking for players to have a fully healthy year, you don't understand. Of course they would rather have a healthy player than a frequently injured player. A healthy senior season means a lot in this case, because would suggest that Boom got stronger and more durable. He hasn't shown he can catch passes out of the backfield, which is what NFL coaches want to see from a small, fast running back. He is a fair pass blocker, not a great blocker. He doesn't return kickoffs. So he doesn't fit the NFL profile. If Boom gets stronger during the offseason, then returns in 2017, he can improve his draft stock by a couple of rounds if he stays healthy. And that translates to a lot of money and better security. But if he can't stay healthy at Kentucky in 2017, then he would be ranked as a FA, which is basically what he is now. Boom has everything to gain and almost nothing to lose by coming back to Kentucky in 2017. The running burden will be shared by Bennie and Rose next year. But a year from now, Boom could be viewed as 1 of the best senior running backs in the country, on a ranked football team. I'm surprised you don't understand this.

Again the problem with his history of injuries is that this won't get better with another year. He'll still be viewed as injury prone. Besides injury prone isn't a deterrent for a 5th to 7th round pick. It is for a 1st rounder but not after round 5.

Also the "prove he can catch the ball out of the backfield" part. What does that even mean. Are you asking if he can run with the ball in open field after the catch? I think he's already proven that he is out standing at that. Essentially what you are asking is if he can catch the pass or not. That will get proven during the combine and predraft workouts. They will know that by then. It's also something that is not a big gotcha for a 5th rounder anyway. He can be coached after he's drafted to catch the ball. If not then another year under Gran won't change that either. Keep in mind the reason he hasn't proven that is not because he's been dropping passes but because it isn't a big part of our system. He really has very little chance of proving himself there either.

 

[BlueRaider22]

Has Boom proven he can stay healthy and remain durable? No he hasn't. He has missed a lot of games in his career with concussions and arm injuries. He was dinged up for much of this season, wearing a brace, and scouts know it. Has Boom proven he can do the things that small NFL running backs have to do? No he hasn't. He isn't a pass receiver. He is a fair pass blocker, not a solid, consistent pass blocker. He didn't returned kickoffs this year because of his concussion history. So I disagree with what you are saying. If Boom leaves now, he is a late round draft choice with a very short NFL career. Actually, Boom has a whole lot to gain by coming back again and holding out for the 2018 NFL draft, as long as he is healthy in the meantime. That's the key for him.

Right now he's probably will grade out to rd 5-7 in the draft. Sure, if he came back there are a few things that he could improve on but even if he does those things his projection would probably only go up to a 4-6 rd grade. And like you said, he does have an injury history. So, is coming back.....not getting paid for a yr.....risking another injury.....just on the "chance" that he could go 1 rd higher.....is that worth it? Not really.

That's the thing. I haven't read where someone has said that he's completely maxed out and couldn't improve in some aspects. It's that the benefits may not outweigh the risk.

There isn't a fan that wouldn't welcome him back with open arms. And it certainly would be better for the team if he came back but in his case leaving "may" be the best option.

However, you have to weigh how this draft class is set up. This RB draft class has elite talent and is deep. So, even with a 5-7 rd draft projection he could be pushed down to go undrafted. This is probably the largest factor should he decide to come back.

 

[sefleming]

I have no clue but I read somewhere
that the average life span of a NFL
running back is 2.57 years.
I would think that would play into the decision.

 

[bigblueinsanity_rivals250340]

Agreed. The only possible argument for Boom to come back is if he works it out with Stoops that he takes a lesser role as a RB and becomes the team's #1 kick and punt returner. He can't improve his stock as a RB anymore but he might be able to as a returner.

That's a great point. For him to make in the NFL, he's gonna need to be a specialist. Showing kr/pr potential just increases his value and potential to make a team.

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

He should IMO. Boom is a player that score from anywhere on the field from multiple positions. I hope he gets to fulfill the NFL dream.
I can see him a punt'kick returner and as 3rd down back. Him in open space is special.

 

[BlueRunner11]

Blue Decade is right on this one IMO. Here is Sports Illustrated's projected running back picks. It's pretty much in line with other sites I've looked at. Williams doesn't appear anywhere. Once you get much past the #10 pick you're talking 5th round. The probability of a 5th round draft choice making an NFL roster is less than 5%:

1 Dalvin Cook Florida State 5' 11", 213 lbs.
2 Leonard Fournette LSU 6' 1", 235 lbs.
3 Christian McCaffrey Stanford 6' 0", 197 lbs.
4 D'Onta Foreman Texas 6' 1", 249 lbs.
5 Curtis Samuel Ohio State 5' 11", 197 lbs.
6 Royce Freeman Oregon 6' 0", 229 lbs.
7 Alvin Kamara Tennessee 5' 10", 215 lbs.
8 Joe Mixon Oklahoma 6' 1", 226 lbs.
9 Kareem Hunt Toledo 6' 0", 225 lbs.
10 Nick Chubb Georgia 5' 10", 228 lbs.

http://www.si.com/2017-nfl-draft-running-back-rankings-dalvin-cook
Next year's running back field looks much weaker

But will he crack that top 10 in 2018? Doubtful even with the weaker class and other backs will emerge over the course of the season. Booms improvement if any would be minimal between this year and next at best imo and his probability for injury would be high if taking his history into account.

So while I agree there is a possibility of better draft results by waiting, theres an even higher possibility of the same results or even worse by staying.

 

[The_Oak]

I think he should test the waters and see where he stands. Who knows, he could crush it at the combine and boost his draft stock. It happens all the time where someone puts up great numbers and they move up a few rounds. One thing he really needs to take into consideration is the chance of injury next year. He's been injured every season, if he comes back I would take out a big insurance policy if I were in his shoes. Best of luck to him with whatever he decides.

 

[John Henry]

I am not sure what type of student Boom is but I imagine he is not that far from a degree. Apparently he is not in the Top 10 of eligible running backs and a running back is a running back. Heck Nick Chubb is 10th. The life expectancy is low and those that last a few years not only have the talent but they also have some support from their O Line. Plus it does not hurt to be durable. People are projecting him to go 5-7 and maybe undrafted because of the deep class this year.

I want what is best for Boom and I am sure he is consulting with his family and coaches. So what he decides is OK with me because I think we can replace Boom and keep our running back position strong. He has been a whole lot of fun to watch and it would be nice to see him next year on what I think will be a much improved UK team. However,, we are talking about a young man's future and that is a decision best left to him and his family. Good luck Boom and beat the hell out of Georgia Tech.

 

[The-Hack]

God Speed to Boom, whatever he decides. I fully expect our FB coaching staff to help him with the evaluation, and obtain the best advice from their many contacts in the football world, so he can make an informed decision.

Selfishly, I hope he does return, but he must take care of Boom and family first!