Geno Stone Heading to NFL

[hawkdrummer1]

Hate to break it to you guys, but Stone, Wirfs, and AJ leaving early in a year when Kittle is the most popular player in the NFL and TE recruits see LaPorta breaking out is a ridiculously good thing for this program.

This is an investment in the future, boys. Money in the bank earning interest.

Don’t be short-sighted and wish they’d stay for one more selfish year, especially when they’d likely not match the seasons they had this year.

Go get your money, boys, and make sure you @ those recruits on Twitter for us.

No doubt.

I just hope that all the powers that be, recruiting, sports marketing, etc are making as much hay out of this as they can. I know that the soft sell is KFz's style...but you can't waste this kind of equity.

 

[Ree4]

AJ and Wirfs are gone.

Write it down.

 

[Ree4]

I think this year was an even bigger what if than Greene simply because I don't think we necessarily beat OSU in 09 with Greene.

Bro that game went to OT, you dont think Shonn was worth 1 point in regulation?

 

[PCHawk]

Bro that game went to OT, you dont think Shonn was worth 1 point in regulation?

The only way he could be worth 1 point was if he kicked a PAT. Seriously tho, if we had Greene, I think we would have tried to run more and I'm not sure it would have worked out that well. I think Vandeberg surprising them with coming out passing is what kept us in the game. I do think it's possible Greene could have run on them to the point where we were better off than the game plan we used. I just think the odds were against it.

 

[westender]

Hooker has not played a great deal with the Titans. I am sure the money is good though. better than the rest of us toiling in obscurity

 

[hawkdrummer1]

Hooker has not played a great deal with the Titans. I am sure the money is good though. better than the rest of us toiling in obscurity

Amani Hooker signed a 4 year, $3,253,480 contract with the Tennessee Titans, including a $733,480 signing bonus, $733,480 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $813,370. In 2020, Hooker will earn a base salary of $585,000, while carrying a cap hit of $768,370 and a dead cap value of $550,110.

Not a bad place to be at 21 years old.

 

[NikeHawk21]

Hooker has not played a great deal with the Titans. I am sure the money is good though. better than the rest of us toiling in obscurity

Amani Hooker signed a 4 year, $3,253,480 contract with the Tennessee Titans, including a $733,480 signing bonus, $733,480 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $813,370. In 2020, Hooker will earn a base salary of $585,000, while carrying a cap hit of $768,370 and a dead cap value of $550,110.

Not a bad place to be at 21 years old.

One thing I’ve noticed and this potentially goes for Geno too is that Hooker does some sponsor stuff on his instagram page mostly with local Nashville company’s. I’m not sure if he’s raking in the cash doing it but it’s something that a college kid obviously can’t do per NCAA rules. Point being you don’t have to be Aaron Rodgers doing State Farm commercials to profit off your likeness in the NFL, especially in today’s social media world.

 

[okeefe4prez]

One thing I’ve noticed and this potentially goes for Geno too is that Hooker does some sponsor stuff on his instagram page mostly with local Nashville company’s. I’m not sure if he’s raking in the cash doing it but it’s something that a college kid obviously can’t do per NCAA rules. Point being you don’t have to be Aaron Rodgers doing State Farm commercials to profit off your likeness in the NFL, especially in today’s social media world.

Man, that feels like Tiger Woods rolling around in a Buick for some reason.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

One thing I’ve noticed and this potentially goes for Geno too is that Hooker does some sponsor stuff on his instagram page mostly with local Nashville company’s. I’m not sure if he’s raking in the cash doing it but it’s something that a college kid obviously can’t do per NCAA rules. Point being you don’t have to be Aaron Rodgers doing State Farm commercials to profit off your likeness in the NFL, especially in today’s social media world.

The reality is a small segment of players are able to capitalize on sponsorship opportunities. There's quite a spread from a National State Farm ad campaign to a local meal delivery service. Don't twist what I'm saying....good for Amani. But this isn't a significant source of income for most players.

 

[HawksMN]

So it looks like the cupboard will clear out again this year. That'll hurt. I'm not in the camp of cheering guys on to go get money, sorry. Their choice....go for it I suppose.

 

[SpiderRico]

Yanda was a 2nd team all B1G player as a SR and is 7 time All Pro and will be in the HOF some day.

Point taken.

But you have to get an opportunity to be a borderline Pro Bowler before you can actually be a borderline Pro Bowler and I'm not sure there's much of a market for 5'10" 190lb safeties that run 4.65 40's these days.

Like I said, I love Stone....have since we first recruited him. But I'm not sure he's gonna get drafted. Scott and Marc on the OnIowa podcast brought up a good point as well. Say he's a 6th round draft pick and gets to camp and pulls a hammy or a quad.....6th round guys that can't compete in camp are jettisoned.

But hey, I'm pulling for the kid.

 

[okeefe4prez]

But you have to get an opportunity to be a borderline Pro Bowler before you can actually be a borderline Pro Bowler and I'm not sure there's much of a market for 5'10" 190lb safeties that run 4.65 40's these days.

There is room for guys who have a high football IQ. With the youth movement in the NFL and the injury bug that seems to crush most teams by week 12, I think Geno will have a landing spot somewhere. I shudder at the thought of him trying to cover a guy like DK Metcalf on a 50/50 ball.

 

[NikeHawk21]

The reality is a small segment of players are able to capitalize on sponsorship opportunities. There's quite a spread from a National State Farm ad campaign to a local meal delivery service. Don't twist what I'm saying....good for Amani. But this isn't a significant source of income for most players.

Agreed, and I mentioned that in my post. The point was though that it’s an opportunity not afforded to a college player, and it’s in addition to their contract. Just another small piece to the puzzle or decision.

 

[Xerxes]

Point taken.

But you have to get an opportunity to be a borderline Pro Bowler before you can actually be a borderline Pro Bowler and I'm not sure there's much of a market for 5'10" 190lb safeties that run 4.65 40's these days.

Like I said, I love Stone....have since we first recruited him. But I'm not sure he's gonna get drafted. Scott and Marc on the OnIowa podcast brought up a good point as well. Say he's a 6th round draft pick and gets to camp and pulls a hammy or a quad.....6th round guys that can't compete in camp are jettisoned.

But hey, I'm pulling for the kid.

You might be spot on. There are so many kids leaving early now that some are starting to go undrafted. Stone could be one of them.

For me personally, I'd finish the last year and a half of college and kiss the right alumni asses so I had a soft cushy sales job that pays a ton waiting for me when my possible NFL career is over.

But I come from a family that values education above all. Almost to a fault. Plus I loved being in college. But some kids don't. Some kids see the opportunity to leave and do so. I'd bet money, Geno got a "return to school" grade from the NFL advisory committee but I'd also bet money that he made his mind up a long time ago that he was done after this season.

Good for him. He's taking his shot. I hope he lands in the right spot with a good coaching staff. The NFL is about as situational as a sport can be. Land in the right place and a marginal guy excels. Land in the wrong sport and a talented guy is wasted.

 

[Jonrn]

I've just assumed Eppy and Wirfs are gone. It's surprising they haven't announced yet though. I figured they'd declare right after the bowl game.

I’m not surprised when anyone declares, however the fact we heard stone first is surprising.

 

[Jonrn]

You might be spot on. There are so many kids leaving early now that some are starting to go undrafted. Stone could be one of them.

For me personally, I'd finish the last year and a half of college and kiss the right alumni asses so I had a soft cushy sales job that pays a ton waiting for me when my possible NFL career is over.

But I come from a family that values education above all. Almost to a fault. Plus I loved being in college. But some kids don't. Some kids see the opportunity to leave and do so. I'd bet money, Geno got a "return to school" grade from the NFL advisory committee but I'd also bet money that he made his mind up a long time ago that he was done after this season.

Good for him. He's taking his shot. I hope he lands in the right spot with a good coaching staff. The NFL is about as situational as a sport can be. Land in the right place and a marginal guy excels. Land in the wrong sport and a talented guy is wasted.

My concern is similar, obviously stone is a great talent, and Iowa DBs do well. However, he’s not hooker and he thinks he is. Hooker was bigger and faster and he was a 4th rounder? I fear stone falls to 5th or 6th or worse, when he could have come back and been an all American Thorpe finalist and been a 2-3 rounder.

 

[RobHowe]

The odds of improving his stock to the second round were not good, IMO.

He’s 5-10 and 210 pounds running a 4.6. That means more to NFL player personnel than does postseason college awards. Desmond King is an example of that.

 

[Jonrn]

The odds of improving his stock to the second round were not good, IMO.

He’s 5-10 and 210 pounds running a 4.6. That means more to NFL player personnel than does postseason college awards. Desmond King is an example of that.

rob, where do you stand? Is he a 4th or 5th rounder?

 

[RobHowe]

rob, where do you stand? Is he a 4th or 5th rounder?

I think we have to see how his pre-draft workouts go. That plays a role in how teams view him.

 

[Stanzi]

@RobHowe

Any idea what the holdup is with Eppy and Wirfs? I assume they're both making the leap but seems odd they haven't announced by now.