Recruiting pitch as a two-way player

#1
Shades

Shades

30 minutes of ball and we are smokin at the end
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#1
With the recent news of Boo Carter going on an unofficial visit to Colorado, and Deion's potential pitch to him as a two-way player, along with Travis Hunter already a two-way player on the Colorado roster, it begs the question about some coaches starting to use the two-way pitch as a recruiting hook for elite athletes.

Pre-1941, virtually all football teams consisted of two-way players, and mostly without substitutions during the course of the game.

The lack of skilled players due to WWII started the path toward player substitutions and one-way players, or two-platoon football, from 1941 to 1964, and by 1964 most teams were starting to adopt the two-platoon system.

There have been only a handful of true two-way players (offense and defense) in recent past years. More common among two-way players have been quasi-two-way players, such as offense + kick returner or defense + special teams.

And I am not sure how many of those recent true-two-way players actually played significant minutes on BOTH sides of the ball like Travis Hunter.

With the increased size and strength of players now compared to pre-1950, and with the increased speed and intensity of the game, is it wise for a player to be a true-two-way-player?

What is the cost to a player's body? Is there someone on Volnation that is knowledgeable in athletic training that can address this question?

And will NFL teams look at the increased mileage on a player as a liability? I mean, even a COVID-era player entering the draft in their mid-twenties (versus early twenties) can be considered a liability, as well as a running back that was used too heavily in college over the course of his college career.

Therefore, other than the potential increase in number of wins for a college team and feeding the desires and "ego" of the two-way player, is there really any advantage for a player to go two-way in today's football environment?

And do those advantages outweigh the increased potential for career-ending or career-limiting injury and/or liability going into the NFL?
 
#2
#2
Shades said:
With the recent news of Boo Carter going on an unofficial visit to Colorado, and Deion's potential pitch to him as a two-way player, along with Travis Hunter already a two-way player on the Colorado roster, it begs the question about some coaches starting to use the two-way pitch as a recruiting hook for elite athletes.

Pre-1941, virtually all football teams consisted of two-way players, and mostly without substitutions during the course of the game.

The lack of skilled players due to WWII started the path toward player substitutions and one-way players, or two-platoon football, from 1941 to 1964, and by 1964 most teams were starting to adopt the two-platoon system.

There have been only a handful of true two-way players (offense and defense) in recent past years. More common among two-way players have been quasi-two-way players, such as offense + kick returner or defense + special teams.

And I am not sure how many of those recent true-two-way players actually played significant minutes on BOTH sides of the ball like Travis Hunter.

With the increased size and strength of players now compared to pre-1950, and with the increased speed and intensity of the game, is it wise for a player to be a true-two-way-player?

What is the cost to a player's body? Is there someone on Volnation that is knowledgeable in athletic training that can address this question?

And will NFL teams look at the increased mileage on a player as a liability? I mean, even a COVID-era player entering the draft in their mid-twenties (versus early twenties) can be considered a liability, as well as a running back that was used too heavily in college over the course of his college career.

Therefore, other than the potential increase in number of wins for a college team and feeding the desires and "ego" of the two-way player, is there really any advantage for a player to go two-way in today's football environment?

And do those advantages outweigh the increased potential for career-ending or career-limiting injury and/or liability going into the NFL?
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I would tend to think that the differences in size/strength coming from modern training and nutrition are offset by that same training, ie greater understanding of how to prevent and treat injuries.

Also, those early college and NFL teams were sometimes playing upwards of three games per week. Mathematically, you’re increasing your risk of injury just by playing more snaps as a two way player, but it still wouldn’t be anything like what the players of Red Grange’s era faced.
 
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#3
#3
I have no doubt Heupel indicated he would use him on offense in various packages........ However, Neon Dieon will promise him the world to get him to be a Buffalo. Hope he doesn't buy into it but nothing you can do to prevent it right now. Pro Teams may "occasionally" use a player two ways on a few gimmick plays, but nothing like Dieon is doing.
 
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#4
#4
Shades said:
With the recent news of Boo Carter going on an unofficial visit to Colorado, and Deion's potential pitch to him as a two-way player, along with Travis Hunter already a two-way player on the Colorado roster, it begs the question about some coaches starting to use the two-way pitch as a recruiting hook for elite athletes.

Pre-1941, virtually all football teams consisted of two-way players, and mostly without substitutions during the course of the game.

The lack of skilled players due to WWII started the path toward player substitutions and one-way players, or two-platoon football, from 1941 to 1964, and by 1964 most teams were starting to adopt the two-platoon system.

There have been only a handful of true two-way players (offense and defense) in recent past years. More common among two-way players have been quasi-two-way players, such as offense + kick returner or defense + special teams.

And I am not sure how many of those recent true-two-way players actually played significant minutes on BOTH sides of the ball like Travis Hunter.

With the increased size and strength of players now compared to pre-1950, and with the increased speed and intensity of the game, is it wise for a player to be a true-two-way-player?

What is the cost to a player's body? Is there someone on Volnation that is knowledgeable in athletic training that can address this question?

And will NFL teams look at the increased mileage on a player as a liability? I mean, even a COVID-era player entering the draft in their mid-twenties (versus early twenties) can be considered a liability, as well as a running back that was used too heavily in college over the course of his college career.

Therefore, other than the potential increase in number of wins for a college team and feeding the desires and "ego" of the two-way player, is there really any advantage for a player to go two-way in today's football environment?

And do those advantages outweigh the increased potential for career-ending or career-limiting injury and/or liability going into the NFL?
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Back in the OLD days, they had some weird rules about substituting. You had an offensive team and a defensive team and if you left the game during the quarter, you could not come back into the game until the next quarter. Many teams at least three different groups, teams, during the game Some played both ways,O&D and were beaten to a pulp by the end of the game. Back then you usually had over 110 players on scholarship so numbers were not a problem. Linemen were a lot smaller, but quicker than they are today. This period was about when John Majors played.
 
#5
#5
77' Vol said:
I have no doubt Heupel indicated he would use him on offense in various packages........ However, Neon Dieon will promise him the world to get him to be a Buffalo. Hope he doesn't buy into it but nothing you can do to prevent it right now. Pro Teams may "occasionally" use a player two ways on a few gimmick plays, but nothing like Dieon is doing.
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I’d hate to lose the kid but I get the feeling that Dieon is a straight shooter when it comes to what he’s telling these kids on the recruiting trail.
 
#9
#9
laroc99a said:
I’d hate to lose the kid but I get the feeling that Dieon is a straight shooter when it comes to what he’s telling these kids on the recruiting trail.
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You can't be serious. Come to Colorado for Spring practice. If I don't think you can cut it, I'll tell you to hit the portal again in about 2 weeks. Of course, I won't authorize the release of any practice film (or game film for those players that have actually played games at Colorado), so you'll have loads of fun trying to get another school to allow you to transfer in.
 
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#10
#10
Let’s wait and see if Travis Hunter makes it a full season of 120+ snaps a game before we worry about Prime’s two-way player pitch poaching recruits. I have no doubt Heupel has pitched Boo on the idea of using him in some offensive sets, but I’m not convinced that what Hunter is doing is sustainable or even smart in this era of football. If he is still playing 120+ snaps in November or hasn’t been injured, I’ll be impressed.
 
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#11
#11
Im fine with offering the top recruit in the country a chance of playing offense and defense every year. Most people won't be good enough to do both.
 
#12
#12
VolInDayton said:
Im fine with offering the top recruit in the country a chance of playing offense and defense every year. Most people won't be good enough to do both.
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The top recruit in the country is a QB. Doubt he wants to play defense
 
#13
#13
TheMookieMonster said:
Let’s wait and see if Travis Hunter makes it a full season of 120+ snaps a game before we worry about Prime’s two-way player pitch poaching recruits. I have no doubt Heupel has pitched Boo on the idea of using him in some offensive sets, but I’m not convinced that what Hunter is doing is sustainable or even smart in this era of football. If he is still playing 120+ snaps in November or hasn’t been injured, I’ll be impressed.
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In addition to the injury risk for the player, the team also risks losing a starting WR because he got booted from the game for targeting on defense.
 
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#14
#14
MarcoVol said:
The top recruit in the country is a QB. Doubt he wants to play defense
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MLB is the QB of the defense.

Travis Hunter was scouted as a top WR and a top DB in the class. Deion didn't come up with some crazy idea by letting him do both. My point is not many people have the natural ability as Travis Hunter.
 
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