If you sign an ineligible player what does the player do doing the first year? Obviously, he doesn't play, but I have heard that he does not improve at all in skills. Is that true? Do you still put practice numbers toward the player and he just doesn't improve? After the first year what will his GPA look like? Is it normally just a little above the passing mark or do they improve drastically? Finally, will the player improve as normal starting in the beginning of the offseason of the second year? Oh, he does have a chance to come back for a 5th year correct? What are the possibilities? Thanks!

At DII, the player doesn't play or practice. He does get a 5th year, however. I believe he'll improve as normal his second year.

The risk with ineligibles at DII is that, sometimes they sign but change their mind and go JUCO. You're with a walk-on.

Also, remember that in his 1st year eligible, he will expect regular SO minutes, around 9+ per game.

Is it possible to red-shirt him and avoid the ineligible status. Meaning he could still improve. I am sure that isn't possible, way to easy, but thought I would ask anyways.

The year he sits is like his rs year. You cannot red shirt an inel. Put all his minutes into study hall, and as long as his gpa stays above 2.5(?) he will be back for a 5th year. He will not improve any skills or iq his first year.

He will however, improve in the offseason between his freshman and sophomore year.

Def can't redshirt the player during his ineligable year or any other year after than. He won't improve in OFF/DEF IQ or in individual skills. However if you put all his time into study hall as suggested above he will (at least in all my experiences) end up with a good enough GPA that first year to keep his head above water the next 4 years.

I've recruited a few ineligables and the only major advantages you get are that you may be getting a great player who others passed on since they don't want to risk him going JUCO or the fact that they are down a man as he hits the books for a year. The other major advantage, to toys point is that sometimes you can see great off-season improvement betten his FR inel year and his second FR year. I have only had one player though that improved significantly between seasons - about 30 points or so and that was likely due to a high WE.

The biggest advantage to signing ineligables is for teams that have good depth on a certain year but need a guy the following. You tend to get them cheaper than their ranking and are a great use of a scholly for a high rated recruit that wouldn't take a redshirt anyway. He shows up the next year (barring the very rare JUCO departure in which case you at least have priority if you want to sign him) as an improved frosh ready to play without the headache of the redshirt process.