I'm finding that ineligibles are diamonds no one is looking at in plain view, anyone else getting this same look at them? When I have a good starting class coming back and have some room to bring on some 3rd stringers that will never touch the floor that you could redshirt, I find myself signing ineligibles because they so far are very uncontested. They sit for a year, (like a redshirt) then come back and still have 4 yrs eligibility (in D2) and play right away as sophomores.

Anyone else have this same feeling about them? I also try to go after the guys with higher WE so they improve faster and really dont need that RS year.

So Far I've been easily able to pull 500+ rated ineligibles in D2 with solid core stats with potential and watch them blossom their sophomore season

They can be good if you are not running a press. However, with a press you need 11-12 players and having an ineligible takes away the chance to redshirt a player without having stamina problems. The problem I have with them is that they often go JUCO. It is risky recruiting a player that you may not get. I think I would be more willing to go after them if they had a much higher chance of signing.

Do they potentially go JUCO after their ineligible year as a freshman (after you've signed them in recruiting) or are you talking just straight recruiting period?

I also strictly run motion/man and like to run only 10 deep (a sub at each spot) which works out well against mostly any team

When all of the incoming freshman show up on you team, you will get a walk-on instead of the ineligible. You will be able to recruit them the next season, but they usually end up 1000 miles away.

Let me make sure i'm understanding this, I recruited a guy Kevin Stephens ineligible. He is currently a freshman doing study hall minutes on my campus/roster. Next season when he goes Sophomore, he won't take the scholarship and potentially go JUCO? Although he reserves a scholarship position... He may not take it next season? Do i have control of this?

Since he is already on you roster then he will stay on your roster. If he had gone JUCO then he would not be on your roster, and you would have a walk-on instead this season. 

I love ineligibles. I recruit them regularly.

Posted by Trentonjoe on 7/16/2014 4:18:00 PM (view original):
I love ineligibles. I recruit them regularly.

TJ, in your experience what percentage of ineligibles show up?  Does it vary by division at all, or is a D1 ineligible just as likely to show up as D2?

Posted by Trentonjoe on 7/16/2014 4:18:00 PM (view original):
I love ineligibles. I recruit them regularly.

Me too, all the time.

Okay I was worried that the guy on my roster was going to potentially bolt after this season, "THANKS FOR THE YEAR PEACE OUT COACH." now I am at ease. Anyways I love these ineligible kids, its like taking on a redshirt without dealing with the hassle of WILL he or will he not accept?

Posted by clouseb on 7/16/2014 4:36:00 PM (view original):

Posted by Trentonjoe on 7/16/2014 4:18:00 PM (view original):
I love ineligibles. I recruit them regularly.

TJ, in your experience what percentage of ineligibles show up?  Does it vary by division at all, or is a D1 ineligible just as likely to show up as D2?

Not to puss out but it depends.

It depends on how good the player is, how much effort you put in, your prestige, if the guy is a drop down, and your prestige. I had players with like 6 CVs not show up and guys with far less actually show up. I think if you pull the guy down he will show up though.

Posted by bagger288 on 7/16/2014 5:01:00 PM (view original):
Okay I was worried that the guy on my roster was going to potentially bolt after this season, "THANKS FOR THE YEAR PEACE OUT COACH." now I am at ease. Anyways I love these ineligible kids, its like taking on a redshirt without dealing with the hassle of WILL he or will he not accept?

its not like a redshirt, a redshirt player can improve that first year, the ineligible is basically a 4 year player who you can't redshirt, who you have to wait a season to play. its equivalent to taking a walkon this season, and signing a player next year who is equally good and can start - except you don't get the scholarship of extra money, and the guy might not show up at all. because of those two things, its clearly better to sign an equally good non-ineligible player, compared to an ineligible player. you can also look at it like you could sign a freshman who was equally good, and get the same production in 4 seasons as the ineligible gets in 5, giving you 25% more production per season. that's pretty substantial.

because of all this, a lot of coaches try to avoid ineligibles. that said, if you can get a superior player, its often worth it, especially if its the kind of guy you could not otherwise get. also, they can be a lot cheaper, so that can make it worth it, too. i've definitely enjoyed many of the ineligibles i've signed, but they certainly have their downsides, especially for press teams. so i agree they are useful, but its not to get so in love with them that its where you look first :)

Don't forget that there is also a remote possibility that the ineligible qualifies and becomes eligible before recruiting ends.  It rarely happens, but when it does it's like Manna from heaven.

Posted by gillispie1 on 7/16/2014 6:15:00 PM (view original):

Posted by bagger288 on 7/16/2014 5:01:00 PM (view original):
Okay I was worried that the guy on my roster was going to potentially bolt after this season, "THANKS FOR THE YEAR PEACE OUT COACH." now I am at ease. Anyways I love these ineligible kids, its like taking on a redshirt without dealing with the hassle of WILL he or will he not accept?

its not like a redshirt, a redshirt player can improve that first year, the ineligible is basically a 4 year player who you can't redshirt, who you have to wait a season to play. its equivalent to taking a walkon this season, and signing a player next year who is equally good and can start - except you don't get the scholarship of extra money, and the guy might not show up at all. because of those two things, its clearly better to sign an equally good non-ineligible player, compared to an ineligible player. you can also look at it like you could sign a freshman who was equally good, and get the same production in 4 seasons as the ineligible gets in 5, giving you 25% more production per season. that's pretty substantial.

because of all this, a lot of coaches try to avoid ineligibles. that said, if you can get a superior player, its often worth it, especially if its the kind of guy you could not otherwise get. also, they can be a lot cheaper, so that can make it worth it, too. i've definitely enjoyed many of the ineligibles i've signed, but they certainly have their downsides, especially for press teams. so i agree they are useful, but its not to get so in love with them that its where you look first :)

You do get an extra year of offseason improvements which can be nice if they have high WE.