Transfer Portal '23-'24 Offseason

fourthandshort

fourthandshort

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StLRedbird said:
Thanks for doing this! I recalled the defections being a gut punch, and the second wave after the season left me thinking, yeah, that might as well happen, too. But to slough off the events of '20 by saying that every team had to deal w the pandemic is facile.
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Glad you appreciated, been meaning to dig that info up. But I missed 1 more big one ... LB Dylan Draka had a breakout season as a JR in 2019, 2nd in tackles with 88, got an FCS and MVFC player of week, but oddly didnt even get HM All MVFC. He was a JR in 2019, and decided to walk away once 2020 was canceled. Plus he could have had a covid year added and played 2021. Dude came out of nowhere in 2019 .. no transfer but opted out.

Even Vandenburgh also entered the portal that fall, but decided to stay .. worked out ok for him !!

Here is old Redbird forum thread around Sep 2020: McKnight, Taylor Enter Transfer Portal

If you opened my other link to article, several players were turning on Spack .. he wears people thin as is, but I suspect with all the fall defections and pressure of getting ready for spring with no suitable indoor field, Spack was putting a whole lot of pressure on his guys to get ready knowing how much was already lost on defense moreso than offense ... other than Robinson being gone, plus stud backup Proctor had mvoed on too, and still no stability at QB.

It also makes me wonder how much the 2020-21 defections, especially after spring (i.e. not so much the fall FBS defections), forced him to change some of his old school ways. I don't recall Spack ever having 25 SRs on a roster .. most just didn't last that long.

Maybe the old "grinch" is having a change of heart since then ???
 
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StLRedbird

StLRedbird

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fourthandshort said:
Glad you appreciated, been meaning to dig that info up. But I missed 1 more big one ... LB Dylan Draka had a breakout season as a JR in 2019, 2nd in tackles with 88, got an FCS and MVFC player of week, but oddly didnt even get HM All MVFC. He was a JR in 2019, and decided to walk away once 2020 was canceled. Plus he could have had a covid year added and played 2021. Dude came out of nowhere in 2019 .. no transfer but opted out.

Even Vandenburgh also entered the portal that fall, but decided to stay .. worked out ok for him !!

Here is old Redbird forum thread around Sep 2020: McKnight, Taylor Enter Transfer Portal

If you opened my other link to article, several players were turning on Spack .. he wears people thin as is, but I suspect with all the fall defections and pressure of getting ready for spring with no suitable indoor field, Spack was putting a whole lot of pressure on his guys to get ready knowing how much was already lost on defense moreso than offense ... other than Robinson being gone, plus stud backup Proctor had mvoed on too, and still no stability at QB.

It also makes me wonder how much the 2020-21 defections, especially after spring (i.e. not so much the fall FBS defections), forced him to change some of his old school ways. I don't recall Spack ever having 25 SRs on a roster .. most just didn't last that long.

Maybe the old "grinch" is having a change of heart since then ???
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Spack didn't want to play the Spring season in '21. I think he was overruled by new AD Brennan, but that's just an opinion with no facts to back it up. The other ISU opted out of the season and the 'birds weren't the only ones to pull the plug early. But the whole series of events, from events in the fall, to and thru the spring season were all handled poorly, and I think Spack would admit that. Regardless, it's time to put all of this into the rearview mirror. I think Spacks still the right guy, but it's time to see on the field again.
 
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Redbird15

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fourthandshort said:
Glad you appreciated, been meaning to dig that info up. But I missed 1 more big one ... LB Dylan Draka had a breakout season as a JR in 2019, 2nd in tackles with 88, got an FCS and MVFC player of week, but oddly didnt even get HM All MVFC. He was a JR in 2019, and decided to walk away once 2020 was canceled. Plus he could have had a covid year added and played 2021. Dude came out of nowhere in 2019 .. no transfer but opted out.

Even Vandenburgh also entered the portal that fall, but decided to stay .. worked out ok for him !!

Here is old Redbird forum thread around Sep 2020: McKnight, Taylor Enter Transfer Portal

If you opened my other link to article, several players were turning on Spack .. he wears people thin as is, but I suspect with all the fall defections and pressure of getting ready for spring with no suitable indoor field, Spack was putting a whole lot of pressure on his guys to get ready knowing how much was already lost on defense moreso than offense ... other than Robinson being gone, plus stud backup Proctor had mvoed on too, and still no stability at QB.

It also makes me wonder how much the 2020-21 defections, especially after spring (i.e. not so much the fall FBS defections), forced him to change some of his old school ways. I don't recall Spack ever having 25 SRs on a roster .. most just didn't last that long.

Maybe the old "grinch" is having a change of heart since then ???
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glenn_ma

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fourthandshort

fourthandshort

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Redbird15 said:
View attachment 1356
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I don't know .. we threw the ball more than ever. Even played to score/win 1st and 2nd half. And he's hung onto 25 SRs so far this offseason.

I wonder if all the fall out from 2020-21 may have gotten to him .. some his doing, some not his doing. But we basically started all over in fall of 2021 to go 4-7. And while two straight 6-5 seasons doesn't look like much progress, there was a huge uptick in 2023, at least offensively and with our roster as it stands today. He even uttered the words and acknowledged the potential benefits of a "modern offense" early in season.

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Dmills

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This is disappointing but we will be okay at running back. I wanted so badly for him to return to 2021 form. I believe he is looking to transfer laterally/down in search of more playing time. I also think we have a lot of RBs with a higher ceiling than Mueller at this point which would've made it very difficult for him to stay #2.
 
fourthandshort

fourthandshort

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Dmills said:

This is disappointing but we will be okay at running back. I wanted so badly for him to return to 2021 form. I believe he is looking to transfer laterally/down in search of more playing time. I also think we have a lot of RBs with a higher ceiling than Mueller at this point which would've made it very difficult for him to stay #2.
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Such a tough break getting injured week 1 in 2022 .. this guy could have been up there at ISU ... not quite JR or Marshaun, but he would have been a #1 who got consistent yards every year if not for that injury. He was a grinder with good talent. Nice to see his big 58 yard run against Murray St in week 10 ... must have felt good for him

Best wishes to Cole Mueller ... hope you find a place to prove yourself again !!

Here's a reminder of how good he was as a RS FR in fall 2021:

2021 (fall): All-MVFC Honorable Mention team selection and MVFC All-Newcomer Team pick ... finished second in the MVFC Freshman of the Year vote ... saw action in all 11 games at running back … ranked third in the MVFC in rushing yards (977) and was fourth in rushing yards per game (88.8) … finished the season ranked in the Top 20 of the FCS in rush yards (No. 15) and yards per game (No. 20) … averaged 5.2 yards per carry on the season and rushed for a team-best six touchdowns … posted six games with over 90 yards rushing and had four 100-plus yard efforts … named MVFC Offensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week, after rushing for a career-best 178 yards with 69-yad touchdown run in the win over South Dakota … followed that up with 159 yards and three touchdown at Western Illinois … added nine receptions for 72 yards.

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DaveBird10

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Best of luck to Cole, was a big fan of him but injuries kind of took a toll on him. Was rooting for him to recover and return to form in 2021 but just wasn't there. With Mason King, Wenkers Wright and Josh Robinson we are in good shape in a competitive running back room. Best of luck to Cole, some team is lucky to get him.
 
fourthandshort

fourthandshort

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Manchester Matt said:
Lindenwood probably makes more sense. Sad to see him go, but like others have said, the running back room is deep.
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I wish he were staying .. love Wenkers Wrights, but he's also had trouble staying healthy. Getting Mason Blakemore/King was such a huge get for us ... loved both Mueller and Wright, but not been 100% too often. Mueller was injured for spring 2021 before his breakout fall 2021 season. And it seems like Wright has been banged up at times and limited .. hope I'm wrong about Wright in 2024 ... he can run the ball and will make a great tandem with Mason King. And it seems like coaches are high on Josh Robinson developing further.
 
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Dmills

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fourthandshort said:
I wish he were staying .. love Wenkers Wrights, but he's also had trouble staying healthy. Getting Mason Blakemore/King was such a huge get for us ... loved both Mueller and Wright, but not been 100% too often. Mueller was injured for spring 2021 before his breakout fall 2021 season. And it seems like Wright has been banged up at times and limited .. hope I'm wrong about Wright in 2024 ... he can run the ball and will make a great tandem with Mason King. And it seems like coaches are high on Josh Robinson developing further.
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Agreed that King, Wright, Robinson are the top 3 as it stands. I do expect Ficklin and Glatz to compete as well, probably will both get opportunities over the course of the season. Lawson is a good prospect but will redshirt. I don't expect to see any meaningful carries from Trazhon Tims. I think he transferred from Saint Xavier last year. Presson and Martine are good ball carrying options too. Both listed as FB but Martine had several impressive carries during garbage time last year effectively playing RB.
 
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Dmills

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Here is the updated transfer portal list:

Transfer out -
DB Jeff Bowens -> Gardner-Webb
K/P Josh Jasek
DB Frank Schmitt -> Saint Anselm College
WR Tyreke Fortney -> Iowa Western CC
DL D'Marco Cross
RB Cole Mueller
LB Jacob Bellizzi

Other Departures -
LB Darrell Talley III - graduation?
WR Brad Vierneisel - appears to have quit football
OL Justin Bromagen - graduation?
OL Daniel Forystek - graduation?

Transfer in -
TE Mitch Bartol (Western Michigan)
OL Brandon Smith (Western Michigan)
LS Dylan Calabrese (Western Michigan)
OL JJ Guedet (Minnesota)
WR Xavier Lloyd (Kansas State)
QB Jake Rubley (Kansas State)
DE Garret Steffen (Western Illinois)
RB Seth Glatz (Western Illinois)
DL Emmet Wolf (North Dakota)
 
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