If Jones were planning to flip, wouldn't he declare himself uncommitted?

[Hump4Hoops]

That just seems to be the normal trend for someone that plans to flip. By stating he's still committed to us in every interview, it seems like something that can only help our recruiting, whereas if he declared himself uncommitted, ole miss could sell that by the ton, and get their #1 signing class or whatever.

But I could be crazy.

 

[Bulldog from Birth]

My guess it Ole Miss wants him to stay committed to us

It's much more damaging to our class for him to stay committed and flip on Signing Day. It keeps us from having time to get a quality DE prospect to replace him. We're pretty much forced into holding a spot for a 5-star DE that's not coming. They certainly know how to play the game.

BFB

 

[maroonmania]

Actually, out of respect for a coaching staff that's been with him from the...

That just seems to be the normal trend for someone that plans to flip. By stating he's still committed to us in every interview, it seems like something that can only help our recruiting, whereas if he declared himself uncommitted, ole miss could sell that by the ton, and get their #1 signing class or whatever.But I could be crazy.

beginning you would think IF he was going to flip he would go ahead and do it so we would have an opportunity to plan out other options at his spot. Not just Jones but all these guys that want to make a NSD decision make it a nearly impossible job for the coaching staffs that have to wait around and see if that spot is taken or not. Hopefully most of these recruits have told the coaches their real intentions well before then.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

Ole Miss Spin Machine. Win the Signing Day Press Conference. Not that hard to figure out, honestly. Looks better for them to flip an MSU commitment, rather than just signing an uncommitted player.

 

[fishwater99]

He is not going to Flip......

 

[ckDOG]

I agree. Jones comes across as level-headed and respectful...

...based on the interviews I've read over the last 6 months. I just don't see him being the type of kid that does the Tobias Manning hat fake. It would be pretty low to be committed to a staff for such a long time, remain committed, and break the bad news with a broadcast hat ceremony or his fax simply never coming in.

I wouldn't be shocked to see him signing with Ole Miss at the last minute (people change their minds), but I would find it surprising if they not only could convince him of that, but could also convince him to publicly dis us in that same short period of time. If that ends up being the case, he was theirs long ago we've been played for months...

 

[maroonmania]

Well we haven't been played for months...

...based on the interviews I've read over the last 6 months. I just don't see him being the type of kid that does the Tobias Manning hat fake. It would be pretty low to be committed to a staff for such a long time, remain committed, and break the bad news with a broadcast hat ceremony or his fax simply never coming in. I wouldn't be shocked to see him signing with Ole Miss at the last minute (people change their minds), but I would find it surprising if they not only could convince him of that, but could also convince him to publicly dis us in that same short period of time. If that ends up being the case, he was theirs long ago we've been played for months...

because OM didn't even start recruiting him in any serious way until December. Actually didn't get really serious about it until what they observed in the AL/MS all-star game. I will say though that if we start seeing our staff offer addtional defensive linemen over the coming week that's a really bad sign that we know what's about to happen. I too believe Chris to be of high character and I don't believe even if he were to decide to go to Colonel Reb's plantation that he would try and do our staff that way by withholding his real intentions.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

Now, I would agree there for sure. That's the only thing that gives me a little hope of him signing. All other logic definitely points toward Oxford.

However it turns out, he's either going to be absolutely loved or absolutely hated by MSU fans come signing day.

 

[TSUNBearHunter]

So in your mind its about winning the press conference, not securing a signature for one of the best players in the nation?

Everybody wants to win their signing day press conference, including MSU.

The battle for Jones is happening because of his talent.

 

[SkullCandy.sixpack]

He's not going anywhere but MSU. He likes attention like any normal HS kid would, but he doesn't seem to thrive on publicity like some of the other 5 star "rock star" types. I don't have any insider info, and everything I know about him comes from published interviews, but I've seen nothing that makes me think he's going anywhere but here. I'm ignoring any "opinions" published on rival boards, because they always seem more like wishful thinking than fact or logic. Not worried.

 

[engie]

Another way to look at this... and it is STRICTLY speculation on my part based on nothing but circumstantial evidence...

The Jones recruitment at OM (along with the alleged continued pursuit of Jason Carr, Carl Lawson, and Frank Herron) appears to have pissed off Elijah Daniel. He scheduled a late OV to Auburn this weekend and has previously been to MSU and others. Jones letting people think he's going to OM also can have a very detrimental effect on their class if he doesn't end up signing there if Daniel ends up going elsewhere over not wanting the be DE #3 in his own signing class. This could potentially leave them holding the bag at the 9th hour -- and completely flip the situation back in our favor with a different 5* prospect...

Do I think Mullen is this smart/conniving? He hasn't shown to be that in the past. Do I think Brewster is? Absolutely. Maybe Mullen is starting to feel a little desperate -- he should be anyway -- and is starting to play these little games back with them instead of idly taking it every year.

All this should be taken as a grain of salt -- but see how easily the perspective can be changed from doom and gloom if you look at it from ANY perspective outside of pure pessimism?

I refuse to join the "poor ole miss state" mindset. This site talked for the past FOUR years about being over all that, a new day in MSU athletics, blah blah blah, and at the crossroads when the chips are on the table, FAR too many here revert to being bitches that are cowering at the though of past Ole Miss glory that 95% of us here have never lived to see.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

MSU wants the signature. Ole Miss wants the signature and to throw a parade. Been pretty common for Ole Miss to also sign high star grade risks to inflate that rating as well.

Sorry, but Ole Miss cares more about the glitz and glamour. It's who you are. No sense is running from that. It's one of the differences in the two schools. That's just what ya'll do. Also have to cater to the crootin fanbase.

 

[shotgunDawg]

I don't think Jones flips. I am not sure why his actions have been what they have been over the last week, but if you out together the puzzle pieces, I think if signing day were today he would sign with State.

1. He doesn't have a CJ Johnson personality. Jones is a good humble kid.

2. He is currently TELLING our coaches not to worry and he will sign with State.

3. Mom wants him at MSU and mom has custody

4. He is still committed to State.

5. He has only been on OM's campus one time since he was a sophomore in HS.

4. Doesn't seem like the kind of personality or has a long enough relationship with the bear coaches to conjure up some signing day flip. Seems to be a kid of character that has enough loyalty to our staff to call them on his on to tell them not to worry. Doesn't seem like a kid looking to screw us.

5. Brewster and David Turner have been sending out positives tweets for the past week about signing day. I wouldn't expect them to send out negative tweets, but, if things were negative, I wouldn't expect them to be tweeting like they have. Almost like they are saying, "don't worry, we got this"

6. Kemdechee and Especially Treadwell are twitter attention hoes. Treadwell, especially, has little twitter social awareness. If Jones was going to flip, then I assume that they would be tweeting about it and we would already know.

7. The depth chart is set up for Chris to come in and play immediately for us. Guys that have the ability to go pro after 3 years usually don't like to have to compete for a position against CJ Johnson, Kemdechee, Ward, and Daniel. And also remember, that while Chris has an enormously high ceiling, many experts have stated that he is still raw. So the idea of some of those guys beating him out, especially early on, would be a possibility


It think OM got to his dad, somehow, and to appease him, he took a visit. On that visit, he realized that OM isn't all bad, he had a great time, met some hot chicks, learned about their tradition, and generally had a great time. However, all the puzzle peices, when put together, just don't add up to him flipping. That's what I am thinking.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

I would love to agree with that, but until it actually happens at MSU, you can't really blame the fans for seeing anything other than doom and gloom. History is not on our side. That's not poor lil msu. Just seems that history is repeating itself.

I have a little hope because I finally saw a recruit hat-fake a team out (Auburn of all people) and pick MSU last year. Alabama kid at that.

 

[RockstarFromMars]

He said that he will decide between the two. Whether a site lists him as committed is up to the site. Gene has moved him to soft verbal twice and moved him back both times. He doesn't sound committed though.

ETA: Plus he visited somewhere. Commitments don't do that according to Mullen, right?

 

[J-Dawg]

Solid effort. Well done. Thanks so much.

 

[maroonmania]

I think a lot of the mindset is still...

Another way to look at this... and it is STRICTLY speculation on my part based on nothing but circumstantial evidence...The Jones recruitment at OM (along with the alleged continued pursuit of Jason Carr, Carl Lawson, and Frank Herron) appears to have pissed off Elijah Daniel. He scheduled a late OV to Auburn this weekend and has previously been to MSU and others. Jones letting people think he's going to OM also can have a very detrimental effect on their class if he doesn't end up signing there if Daniel ends up going elsewhere over not wanting the be DE #3 in his own signing class. This could potentially leave them holding the bag at the 9th hour -- and completely flip the situation back in our favor with a different 5* prospect...Do I think Mullen is this smart/conniving? He hasn't shown to be that in the past. Do I think Brewster is? Absolutely. Maybe Mullen is starting to feel a little desperate -- he should be anyway -- and is starting to play these little games back with them instead of idly taking it every year.All this should be taken as a grain of salt -- but see how easily the perspective can be changed from doom and gloom if you look at it from ANY perspective outside of pure pessimism? I refuse to join the "poor ole miss state" mindset. This site talked for the past FOUR years about being over all that, a new day in MSU athletics, blah blah blah, and at the crossroads when the chips are on the table, FAR too many here revert to being bitches that are cowering at the though of past Ole Miss glory that 95% of us here have never lived to see.

colored by what happened just 2 years ago when Rev. Nutt was able to flip our top recruit on the heels of a glorious 4-8 campaign while we were off humiliating Michigan in the Gator Bowl. How much did MSU and Mullen learn from that? We don't really know for sure but its hard not to think that if it happened then it certainly could potentially happen now. That's just being realistic and not the "poor ole miss state" mindset. I think most all MSU fans would say that as far as potential for the program overall we are in better shape now than we have been in our entire history.

 

[Railin Jemmye]

Yeah, at this point, I think listing him as anything firmer than a soft commit is stupid.

 

[Palos verdes]

It's much more damaging to our class for him to stay committed and flip on Signing Day. It keeps us from having time to get a quality DE prospect to replace him. We're pretty much forced into holding a spot for a 5-star DE that's not coming. They certainly know how to play the game.

BFB

This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[Hump4Hoops]

And the reason the recruiting sites still have him as a State commit

is that he keeps mentioning that he's still committed (even though, when you're making visits and saying things like "between those two," I agree, I wouldn't call him committed).

Usually when a kid is going to flip, he personally says he is no longer committed. I'm not talking about recruiting site status, what his actions say, or even what of the ole miss fellationados in the recruiting game say. I'm just talking about the fact that, according to him, he is still committed to State.

And that's unusual for someone who plans to flip - if he were to move status to "uncommitted," he generates more hype for the school that he's planning to flip to (which is still in the process of trying to land a few more 4* and 5* guys) and robs his future rival school of him as a recruiting tool.

Could he still sign with the bad guys on Feb 6? Sure. But if he currently plans to, I have no idea why he would keep mentioning he's still committed to MSU.

 

[patdog]

Which is why I think they need to just do away with signing day completely. Let a player sign with a school any time he wants to. There wouldn't be any such thing as "committed." A player would either be signed or unsigned. An early signing period would help, but I'm talking about literally no signing day at all. If a school wants to offer a player in the 10th grade and the player wants to sign, let them.

 

[RockstarFromMars]

and then when coaches leave or get fired, the 10th grade is just **** out of luck and has to go anyway?

 

[Hump4Hoops]

Obviously include a clause that allows

the signed papers to be void under that circumstance.

 

[RockstarFromMars]

I guess I'm in the minority then. NSD seems pretty harmless to me and the kids seem to have a fun time with it, which is probably the most important part.

Plus it's not like Jones HAS to sign on Wednesday. He can take an extra week for visits (on his own dime) if he wants too.

 

[patdog]

Or as someone suggested the other day, give the option of having a LOC that is binding on both school and player or one that gives both the player and the school the option of voiding the LOC if there is a coaching change.

 

[engie]

colored by what happened just 2 years ago when Rev. Nutt was able to flip our top recruit on the heels of a glorious 4-8 campaign while we were off humiliating Michigan in the Gator Bowl. How much did MSU and Mullen learn from that? We don't really know for sure but its hard not to think that if it happened then it certainly could potentially happen now. That's just being realistic and not the "poor ole miss state" mindset. I think most all MSU fans would say that as far as potential for the program overall we are in better shape now than we have been in our entire history.

Do people not see all the differences between the two situations? They are numerous. There have been changes made organizationally to combat that and prevent it from happening again. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it is pretty unlikely...

 

[Hump4Hoops]

The other reason State fans want NSD gone

Is that our recruiting style does not blend well with high-pressure, and even higher peer-pressure situations, and ole miss's thrives on it.

When you take a bunch of 4* and 5* recruits, and throw them in a big party pot with *****, liquor, and cash, one week before NSD, you're going to have great results. MSU is terrible at that.

 

[J-Dawg]

and then when coaches leave or get fired, the 10th grade is just **** out of luck and has to go anyway?

The athlete assumes possibility that coach will leave. The coaches assume possibility that athlete will suffer a career-altering injury during his senior year after he signs. Trade-off, of sorts.

 

[RockstarFromMars]

At one point Treadwell made a few semi-cryptic tweets about Jones but has since removed them. CJ Johnson (Chris's host) was a little less cryptic when he tweeted "We flipped him!" but has since removed that also.

 

[Hump4Hoops]

Treadwell's had a lot of stuff to remove from twitter lately.

 

[RockstarFromMars]

He definitely likes to splash the pot.

 

[maroonmania]

If it was to be changed to something like that...

Which is why I think they need to just do away with signing day completely. Let a player sign with a school any time he wants to. There wouldn't be any such thing as "committed." A player would either be signed or unsigned. An early signing period would help, but I'm talking about literally no signing day at all. If a school wants to offer a player in the 10th grade and the player wants to sign, let them.

and on the surface I would be good with it, I do think it should be restricted until a player has COMPLETED his junior year. I'm not for an immature 10th grader being allowed to bind himself to a specific school.

 

[lasher8]

He definitely likes to splash the pot.

Yancyism??

 

[RockstarFromMars]

Haha. Pokerism.