Is there a downside for a team using extra COVID eligibility?

[CP87]

I saw Illinois has 21 super-seniors back who used their extra year of eligibility, and 42 seniors total. Student-athletes using the extra year of eligibility DO NOT count against the scholarship limit, so Illinois essentially has 106 scholarship players this year (assuming they have filled their full 85 in their normal fresh - senior classes). They could have the same next year if they convince all of those 21 "regular" seniors to come back.

That seems like a pretty big advantage. Do you think there are any major drawbacks?

They can keep bringing back those extra-year guys for the next 3 years, but not forever. Will all the extra snaps to those 6th year guys mess up development of your young guys? Will teams lose more young guys to the transfer portal? Is it going to be hard to recruit to a program bringing tons of people back as recruits worry about playing time?

Or is it just a weird, random thing that won't make a difference at all?

Just curious how this will play out.

 

[CP87]

Here are the guys Iowa could bring back next year (I think):

13	Henry Marchese	DB	6-3	199 lbs.	Sr.
16	Charlie Jones	WR	6-0	188 lbs.	Sr.
21	Ivory Kelly-Martin	RB	5-10	200 lbs.	Sr.
23	Xavior Williams	DB	5-11	192 lbs.	Sr.
28	Jack Koerner	DB	6-0	204 lbs.	Sr.
33	Riley Moss	DB	6-1	194 lbs.	Sr.
48	Bryce Schulte	TE	6-3	245 lbs.	Sr.
64	Kyler Schott	OL	6-2	294 lbs.	Sr.
86	Tommy Kujawa	TE	6-3	236 lbs.	Sr.

Of those, I think X. Williams and K. Schott are the ones for whom it might be mutually beneficial to seek the extra year. Aside from them, not sure it would make sense to Iowa or for the player.

Koerner and Moss are great, but they will hopefully be pursuing NFL aspirations, and there are lots of young, talented DBs behind them that need to play (or they will transfer).

You could make an argument for IKM as well, but I hope he has a great year and feels good about going out on a high note. If Goodson leaves early, maybe it would make sense for him to return for a 6th year to potentially be the top guy.

 

[CP87]

Here are the guys Iowa could bring back next year (I think):

13	Henry Marchese	DB	6-3	199 lbs.	Sr.
16	Charlie Jones	WR	6-0	188 lbs.	Sr.
21	Ivory Kelly-Martin	RB	5-10	200 lbs.	Sr.
23	Xavior Williams	DB	5-11	192 lbs.	Sr.
28	Jack Koerner	DB	6-0	204 lbs.	Sr.
33	Riley Moss	DB	6-1	194 lbs.	Sr.
48	Bryce Schulte	TE	6-3	245 lbs.	Sr.
64	Kyler Schott	OL	6-2	294 lbs.	Sr.
86	Tommy Kujawa	TE	6-3	236 lbs.	Sr.

Of those, I think X. Williams and K. Schott are the ones for whom it might be mutually beneficial to seek the extra year. Aside from them, not sure it would make sense to Iowa or for the player.

Koerner and Moss are great, but they will hopefully be pursuing NFL aspirations, and there are lots of young, talented DBs behind them that need to play (or they will transfer).

You could make an argument for IKM as well, but I hope he has a great year and feels good about going out on a high note. If Goodson leaves early, maybe it would make sense for him to return for a 6th year to potentially be the top guy.

Oops, I missed one: Gersonde could come back for one more year.

Our super-seniors this year are:
Shudak
Spiewak
Hankins (5th year, he did not RS)
Cooper (5th year, he RS last year, the extra year is only available to those who played in '20-'21)
VanValkenburg

I am probably missing someone, I thought they had 6 super-seniors.

 

[haydensly]

Not sure if Kyler Schott will be back. He is rated the 8th best guard in college football according to Pro Football Focus. For what it's worth. If the scouts think that highly of him, he may want to leave after this year.

 

[CP87]

Not sure if Kyler Schott will be back. He is rated the 8th best guard in college football according to Pro Football Focus. For what it's worth. If the scouts think that highly of him, he may want to leave after this year.

I was thinking if he had a senior year significantly impacted by injuries...might want to try to put a healthy season together to reassure NFL teams. You know he will be knocked for his size, if they can question his durability on top of that...there might be room for him to improve his stock.

 

[haydensly]

I was thinking if he had a senior year significantly impacted by injuries...might want to try to put a healthy season together to reassure NFL teams. You know he will be knocked for his size, if they can question his durability on top of that...there might be room for him to improve his stock.

Agreed. And selfishly I hope he comes back.