Whittingham just said on RedZone

[il Padrino Ute]

I apologize, I hope that I can one day again be counted as a honest recounter of events.

Well, not for at least the next 17 seconds.

Ok, it's all good now.

[myboynoah]

See JIC's post. There is a certain criteria they have to meet. I am not exactly sure what it is but Whittingham has gone on record many times saying that Matt meets the criteria and it will be his decision as to what he does next season.

Yeah, thank you JIC. He sounds injury prone. That wouldn't seem to place him that high on NFL scout lists.

[Hot Lunch]

The official word is that the NCAA doesn't decide on these things until after the Feb. signing period(weird when you think on how a decision like that could affect recruiting). But Asiata meets all of the criteria. He used his red shirt for an injury. His injury this year would have been beyond the criteria, but his injury in 2007 and the season ending injury he had at Snow were early enough in the season to count as years lost to injury.

My brother asked about Hook. Does anyone know if he would qualify for an extra year?

I don't believe Hooks will. I think part of the criteria is that the player only plays in 25% of the games the year that you were injured. Hooks played in more than 25% both last year and this year I believe.

[ewth8tr]

I don't believe Hooks will. I think part of the criteria is that the player only plays in 25% of the games the year that you were injured. Hooks played in more than 25% both last year and this year I believe.

Yep, he played in 5 games last year.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Yeah, thank you JIC. He sounds injury prone. That wouldn't seem to place him that high on NFL scout lists.

I think that you could take it in two directions from Matt's perspective.

One, he needs to come back to prove he can take the rigors all season long thus increasing his draft potential and possible payout

, and two, he needs to get into the draft as he is not getting any younger and another major injury could doom any chance of playing in the pros.

I think that Unga is going to mull similar decisions.

[Jarid in Cedar]

Yep, he played in 5 games last year.

Ok, I thought Hooks was injured in fall camp one year.

[Hot Lunch]

Ok, I thought Hooks was injured in fall camp one year.

Last year he was injured in spring ball but made it back just in time to get beat down by the Frogs last year in Ft. Worth and finish the season.

[Hallelujah]

I think that you could take it in two directions from Matt's perspective.

One, he needs to come back to prove he can take the rigors all season long thus increasing his draft potential and possible payout

, and two, he needs to get into the draft as he is not getting any younger and another major injury could doom any chance of playing in the pros.

I think that Unga is going to mull similar decisions.

Unga will be back.

[U-Ute]

A couple of things:

The NCAA is notoriously inconsistent on the extra year. The extra year would be due to medical hardship, which takes into account a player's entire career. I think the number of games Asiata lost due to the leg break coupled with the ACL are both considered.

Last night on The Red Zone, Whittingham said they should know this week.

I agree that the way both Rupe and Whittingham were acting, it seemed like they were pretty confident he'd get a year back. But, like I said, the NCAA has been very inconsistent in the way they apply the rule, so who knows.

Asiata is on track to get his degree this May, and he does have a couple (3?) of kids, so if he can get on an NFL team, he needs to take care of his family. If he needs another year to prove he can make an NFL team, he should stay. If his injuries are going to scare teams away no matter what he does next year, maybe he should just take that degree and become a Regular Joe.

That's about the extent of my knowledge/opinions.

U-Ute

[UtahDan]

A couple of things:

The NCAA is notoriously inconsistent on the extra year. The extra year would be due to medical hardship, which takes into account a player's entire career. I think the number of games Asiata lost due to the leg break coupled with the ACL are both considered.

Last night on The Red Zone, Whittingham said they should know this week.

I agree that the way both Rupe and Whittingham were acting, it seemed like they were pretty confident he'd get a year back. But, like I said, the NCAA has been very inconsistent in the way they apply the rule, so who knows.

Asiata is on track to get his degree this May, and he does have a couple (3?) of kids, so if he can get on an NFL team, he needs to take care of his family. If he needs another year to prove he can make an NFL team, he should stay. If his injuries are going to scare teams away no matter what he does next year, maybe he should just take that degree and become a Regular Joe.

That's about the extent of my knowledge/opinions.

U-Ute

It is so hard to generalize about what a guy should do. Hopefully he gets some good advice in light of his options. Lots of guys make a mistake by going to soon and others by staying when they should go. If there is money there and a chance to prove himself, he should go. If even making a team is a long shot, he could help himself by staying. Then again, Wide III has played so well that you have to think that if he does stay it will be running back by committee, much more than it when he was healthy this year.

BTW, we missed him enormously in that game. Several key moments when we needed a yard or two in the red zone and couldn't get it.