'17 GA LB Solon Page III (UT signee)

[Darth_Shiveman]

Not really. He played maybe 10-15 snaps per game last year as a sophomore. Definitely not what you'd expect from a 5* playing for a doormat.

He made a bad choice though. He's playing in the totally wrong scheme and should have gone somewhere where he could have redshirted. No clue what he was thinking there. He was much better suited to be a 3-4 NG.

I agree. If he'd gone to Bama (assuming they'd have taken him), he'd be a RS Sophomore this year and would be biding his time to be the next plug in the middle of their defense. At UK, he's been labeled a bust by year 3.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

Not really. He played maybe 10-15 snaps per game last year as a sophomore. Definitely not what you'd expect from a 5* playing for a doormat.

He made a bad choice though. He's playing in the totally wrong scheme and should have gone somewhere where he could have redshirted. No clue what he was thinking there. He was much better suited to be a 3-4 NG.

I thought Stoops implemented the 3-4 at UK before the 2015 season. All I remember from this last game is Thomas shoving him backwards a couple of times. Elam seems to consistently have trouble getting low enough to get any sort of leverage.

 

[Montrell Hardy]

I thought Stoops implemented the 3-4 at UK before the 2015 season. All I remember from this last game is Thomas shoving him backwards a couple of times. Elam seems to consistently have trouble getting low enough to get any sort of leverage.

They might have, they sure ran a 4-3 quite a bit though.. And I agree. He struggles with a lot of things. His conditioning looked really bad last year to me as well. I have not been at all impressed with that staff up to this point and I'm not sure all these Cincy coaches they hired are going to work out well. They actually inherited a better roster than Butch did 3 years ago IMO.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

They might have, they sure ran a 4-3 quite a bit though.. And I agree. He struggles with a lot of things. His conditioning looked really bad last year to me as well. I have not been at all impressed with that staff up to this point and I'm not sure all these Cincy coaches they hired are going to work out well. They actually inherited a better roster than Butch did 3 years ago IMO.

What's funny is UK's athletic department has plenty of money. Why not hire an proven coach instead of going with a DC whose never been an head coach? If they'd actually gave two sh*ts about football like they do basketball, they could become descent or at least competitive in the SEC.

 

[OrangeHammer]

What's funny is UK's athletic department has plenty of money. Why not hire an proven coach instead of going with a DC whose never been an head coach? If they'd actually gave two sh*ts about football like they do basketball, they could become descent or at least competitive in the SEC.

Everything considered I don't think Stoops has done a bad job, esp considering what he has to work with.

 

[Montrell Hardy]

What's funny is UK's athletic department has plenty of money. Why not hire an proven coach instead of going with a DC whose never been an head coach? If they'd actually gave two sh*ts about football like they do basketball, they could become descent or at least competitive in the SEC.

Stoops has a really odd recruiting philosophy too. It's target every 2nd tier Ohio prospect OSU doesn't offer. I don't know that they really do a lot of work when it comes to actual player evaluations. It's a really strange philosophy IMO.

 

[Montrell Hardy]

Everything considered I don't think Stoops has done a bad job, esp considering what he has to work with.

I haven't been impressed. I stand by my belief that he inherited a better roster than Butch did at Tennessee.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

They might have, they sure ran a 4-3 quite a bit though.. And I agree. He struggles with a lot of things. His conditioning looked really bad last year to me as well. I have not been at all impressed with that staff up to this point and I'm not sure all these Cincy coaches they hired are going to work out well. They actually inherited a better roster than Butch did 3 years ago IMO.

Yeah, I think the UK defense has struggled to find its identity; whether to be a 3-4 or 4-3. The problem they have is they really don't have enough quality DLs or LBs to be effective in either scheme.

I think Gran will be a better OC for them than Dawson, which is not really saying much. And I liked Hinshaw as the QB coach. But it remains to be seen how the UK offense will be operate them. I expect them to ditch the idea of an Air Raid offense, since it was completely ineffective with Towles at QB. Barker has the physical tools to be an SEC-caliber QB (but he may suffer the same lack of leadership abilities that Bray suffered from; running around campus with an air pistol causing a campus lockdown = tossing beer bottles off balconies at parked cars); and they have some nice skill people on offense. But UK's offense will live and die according to the OL, and that has been that offense's Achilles Heel under Stoops. Same as their defense. They have been pretty much inept on both lines under Stoop. And I thought it was very suspect the way Stoops, supposedly a defensive mastermind, misused his best passrusher last season, having him drop back into coverage rather than put a hand on the ground and pressure the QB. If UK doesn't make a bowl this season, then Stoops will quite likely have a very hot seat.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Everything considered I don't think Stoops has done a bad job, esp considering what he has to work with.

2013: 2-10 (0-8)
2014: 5-7 (2-6)
2015: 5-7 (2-6)

I wouldn't consider that doing an "good job". If Stoops misses out on another bowl game this year, I don't expect him to be the coach at UK any longer.

 

[Montrell Hardy]

Yeah, I think the UK defense has struggled to find its identity; whether to be a 3-4 or 4-3. The problem they have is they really don't have enough quality DLs or LBs to be effective in either scheme.

I think Gran will be a better OC for them than Dawson, which is not really saying much. And I liked Hinshaw as the QB coach. But it remains to be seen how the UK offense will be operate them. I expect them to ditch the idea of an Air Raid offense, since it was completely ineffective with Towles at QB. Barker has the physical tools to be an SEC-caliber QB (but he may suffer the same lack of leadership abilities that Bray suffered from; running around campus with an air pistol causing a campus lockdown = tossing beer bottles off balconies at parked cars); and they have some nice skill people on offense. But UK's offense will live and die according to the OL, and that has been that offense's Achilles Heel under Stoops. Same as their defense. They have been pretty much inept on both lines under Stoop. And I thought it was very suspect the way Stoops, supposedly a defensive mastermind, misused his best passrusher last season, having him drop back into coverage rather than put a hand on the ground and pressure the QB. If UK doesn't make a bowl this season, then Stoops will quite likely have a very hot seat.

I agree. A 3-4 is almost always going to be a disaster on the college level unless you recruit at a truly elite level like Alabama does.

We'll see about Gran. His offenses put up big numbers at Cincy ( A lot of that was simply talent. He inherited a loaded offensive roster left behind by the previous staff, especially compared to level of talent of the teams they faced in the AAC) but they were just horrendous from a fundamental standpoint. So many busts, mental breakdowns and turnovers, and penalties. They were not a well coached unit IMO.

 

[Crazy Ivan]

Everything considered I don't think Stoops has done a bad job, esp considering what he has to work with.

His game day coaching has been atrocious. I never thought I would see an SEC coach whose in-game management could be worse than Dooley's until I watched a few UK games the past couple of seasons. Granted Stoops is learning as he goes since he had no previous HC experience, while DD had 3 seasons at la Tech. But I have yet to see Stoops get better at managing a game as his HC experience has progressed.

 

[kamoshika]

Page measured 6-1.5, 192 at The Opening Atlanta on 3/20/16. Recorded a 4.59 40, 4.36 shuttle, 39.5' powerball toss & a 34.3" vertical.

 

[85SugarVol]

Paged measured 6-1.5, 192 at The Opening Atlanta on 3/20/16. Recorded a 4.59 40, 4.36 shuttle, 39.5' powerball toss & a 34.3" vertical.

What does that equate to in SPARQ score? Those sound like pretty decent combined numbers.

 

[kamoshika]

What does that equate to in SPARQ score? Those sound like pretty decent combined numbers.

I think what used to be called the SPARQ score is now known as the Nike Football Rating. Page's rating of 105.0 was 17th highest out of about 260 participants who qualified for ratings.

 

[85SugarVol]

I think what used to be called the SPARQ score is now known as the Nike Football Rating. Page's rating of 105.0 was 17th highest out of about 260 participants who qualified for ratings.

Thanks :hi:

 

[BigOrange15]

I think what used to be called the SPARQ score is now known as the Nike Football Rating. Page's rating of 105.0 was 17th highest out of about 260 participants who qualified for ratings.

It's weird, it's almost like Butch and the staff know what they are doing.

 

[thunder5]

I think what used to be called the SPARQ score is now known as the Nike Football Rating. Page's rating of 105.0 was 17th highest out of about 260 participants who qualified for ratings.

Are the height and weight measurements taken similar to the nfl combine (barefoot and gym shorts)?

A player is typically an inch taller and 5-7lbs heavier in football gear....

Just curious

 

[Outofmyvolcanmind]

Not to take this OT but ever since 247 rated Matt Elam a 5* their ratings have been completely meaningless to me. How you can be that off on a prospect is just baffling, especially when the other services rate the guy a mid to low 3* and say it is painfully obvious when you see him he is nowhere near an elite talent and in terrible shape. He could barely get out of his stance last year in the Tennessee game during the 10 or so plays he was in there.

People always confuse the actual analyst work by 247 (sloppy) and their composite (lazy). Even 247 pushes the composite which basically says they rely less on their own diligence.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

People always confuse the actual analyst work by 247 (sloppy) and their composite (lazy). Even 247 pushes the composite which basically says they rely less on their own diligence.

People around here hate on ESPN, but I think one of the things their recruiting service does really well that none of the others do is give a written analysis of each prospect and their rationale for their ranking. Granted, it's hidden behind a paywall.

I think they got too much flak around here for not having KMac ranked in the top 10 last year (which, if every one is being completely honest, he probably didn't deserve anyway since he was his ability to be an instant game changer was limited for a number of reasons).

 

[Outofmyvolcanmind]

People around here hate on ESPN, but I think one of the things their recruiting service does really well that none of the others do is give a written analysis of each prospect and their rationale for their ranking. Granted, it's hidden behind a paywall.

I think they got too much flak around here for not having KMac ranked in the top 10 last year (which, if every one is being completely honest, he probably didn't deserve anyway since he was his ability to be an instant game changer was limited for a number of reasons).

I agree. He didn't play his senior season so I don't have a problem with ranking.

 

[Dobbs 4 Heisman]

People around here hate on ESPN, but I think one of the things their recruiting service does really well that none of the others do is give a written analysis of each prospect and their rationale for their ranking. Granted, it's hidden behind a paywall.

I think they got too much flak around here for not having KMac ranked in the top 10 last year (which, if every one is being completely honest, he probably didn't deserve anyway since he was his ability to be an instant game changer was limited for a number of reasons).

I also like the fact they don't have a hundred 5 stars every year. They're stingy about who they consider elite.

Last year they had only 9 five stars. Which I thought was appropriate since I didn't see many elite talents.

 

[SeanJean]

People around here hate on ESPN, but I think one of the things their recruiting service does really well that none of the others do is give a written analysis of each prospect and their rationale for their ranking. Granted, it's hidden behind a paywall.

I think they got too much flak around here for not having KMac ranked in the top 10 last year (which, if every one is being completely honest, he probably didn't deserve anyway since he was his ability to be an instant game changer was limited for a number of reasons).

Not having Kahlil ranked in the top 10 was pretty much indefensible in every way one could possibly conceive. A sure fire stud and future NFL player if healthy. ESPN deserves every bit of criticism for that.

 

[Montrell Hardy]

I also like the fact they don't have a hundred 5 stars every year. They're stingy about who they consider elite.

Last year they had only 9 five stars. Which I thought was appropriate since I didn't see many elite talents.

ESPN also has like 700 4-stars which completely waters down their individual player ratings. You have a guy in the 600''s nationally that would be a mid 3-star on Rivals, Scout and 247, and he gets 4-stars on ESPN.

I'm not a fan of ESPN at all, for the simple fact that they rarely update their rankings on prospects as time goes along. They do almost nothing when it comes to combines and camps and moving guys around based on how they perform there. All their rankings are basically based on one camp (The Opening) and soph / junior film on a player.

 

[Darth_Shiveman]

Not having Kahlil ranked in the top 10 was pretty much indefensible in every way one could possibly conceive. A sure fire stud and future NFL player if healthy. ESPN deserves every bit of criticism for that.

I disagree. KMac didn't have the kind of freshman year a top ten player has. Top ten players are supposed to make an instant impact.

 

[Ethan Hooper]

I disagree. KMac didn't have the kind of freshman year a top ten player has. Top ten players are supposed to make an instant impact.

Not many DT's do though. I think when everyone has moved on to the league, we'll look back at him as a too ten player from his class. I agree that he didn't have a top ten freshman year though.