From SI.com's Stewart Mandel's mailbag

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Tue May 03, 2005 1:17 pm

Which lesser-known player will take the country by storm like Alex Smith did last year?
--Alexander, Virginia

It should be Bowling Green's Omar Jacobs. You would think he would have done so already, what with the whole 4,002 yards, 41 touchdowns and four interceptions thing in 2004, but since these mid-major guys play on TV so infrequently it usually takes longer than a year to become a household name. Jacobs' team is already scheduled for three ESPN Games this year.

Other possibilities: Boise State QB Jared Zabransky, who, like Smith, will be leading his team on a quest for the BCS; Memphis RB DeAngelo Williams, who could have a LaDainian Tomlinson-like senior season; and Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson, who, though he plays for a major-conference team, could be this year's version of Larry Fitzgerald when he was a sophomore.

MaggotMan09 · Post by **MaggotMan09** » Tue May 03, 2005 1:34 pm

Way to go Omar!!!!

Is it too early to start an "Omar for Heisman" campaign??

Metz · Post by **Metz** » Tue May 03, 2005 1:58 pm

MiE2005 wrote:Way to go Omar!!!!

Is it too early to start an "Omar for Heisman" campaign??

I think that campaign started before we even saw him play...

BGFalcons232 · Post by **BGFalcons232** » Tue May 03, 2005 2:45 pm

if omar does anything close to 41 TDs - 4 INTs, we'll end up seeing him twice on TV in new york. once for the heisman ceremony and once for the NFL draft. if he puts up the numbers, the rest will come for him and any heisman campaign.

i think a 37 - 5 season is possible for omar this season. 41 - 4 was incredible and probably won't be duplicated.

Metz · Post by **Metz** » Tue May 03, 2005 2:52 pm

BGFalcons232 wrote:if omar does anything close to 41 TDs - 4 INTs, we'll end up seeing him twice on TV in new york. once for the heisman ceremony and once for the NFL draft. if he puts up the numbers, the rest will come for him and any heisman campaign.

i think a 37 - 5 season is possible for omar this season. 41 - 4 was incredible and probably won't be duplicated.

Omar will not enter the draft next year. I don't care if he throws 70 TDs and 0 Ints...he will not enter the draft. He is a smart kid and will stay to finish his last year of college. Argue if you want, but hey, Coach Miller told me Baylor wouldn't win the Ladies NCAA Tourney when I told him they would and look what happened

Next year at this time, feel free to bump this thread back up to the top and make fun of me if I'm wrong...but I'm 100% positive I'm not.

BGFalcons232 · Post by **BGFalcons232** » Tue May 03, 2005 2:55 pm

McMetz811 wrote: Omar will not enter the draft next year. I don't care if he throws 70 TDs and 0 Ints...he will not enter the draft. He is a smart kid and will stay to finish his last year of college. Argue if you want, but hey, Coach Miller told me Baylor wouldn't win the Ladies NCAA Tourney when I told him they would and look what happened Next year at this time, feel free to bump this thread back up to the top and make fun of me if I'm wrong...but I'm 100% positive I'm not.

something to remember, he is a senior academically next year. he was redshirted so he very well could be graduating next may. i'll hold out predicting him to the draft until i see how this season plays out, but as i said, he'll be a senior next year and could very well be on track for graduation.

oh yeah, if he puts up a 70 - 0 season, he'd be an idiot to stay in college.

Redwingtom · Post by **Redwingtom** » Tue May 03, 2005 3:07 pm

BGFalcons232 wrote:
McMetz811 wrote: Omar will not enter the draft next year. I don't care if he throws 70 TDs and 0 Ints...he will not enter the draft. He is a smart kid and will stay to finish his last year of college. Argue if you want, but hey, Coach Miller told me Baylor wouldn't win the Ladies NCAA Tourney when I told him they would and look what happened Next year at this time, feel free to bump this thread back up to the top and make fun of me if I'm wrong...but I'm 100% positive I'm not.

something to remember, he is a senior academically next year. he was redshirted so he very well could be graduating next may. i'll hold out predicting him to the draft until i see how this season plays out, but as i said, he'll be a senior next year and could very well be on track for graduation.

oh yeah, if he puts up a 70 - 0 season, he'd be an idiot to stay in college.

Irregardless of what his numbers are next season, if he is projected as the 2nd QB to be taken and a first round pick he would be foolish to risk an injury in his senior season. No doubt he would leave early if this was the case..

transfer2BGSU · Post by **transfer2BGSU** » Tue May 03, 2005 3:13 pm

Redwingtom wrote:Irregardless

I like that word

hammb · Post by **hammb** » Tue May 03, 2005 3:39 pm

Redwingtom wrote:
BGFalcons232 wrote:
McMetz811 wrote: Omar will not enter the draft next year. I don't care if he throws 70 TDs and 0 Ints...he will not enter the draft. He is a smart kid and will stay to finish his last year of college. Argue if you want, but hey, Coach Miller told me Baylor wouldn't win the Ladies NCAA Tourney when I told him they would and look what happened Next year at this time, feel free to bump this thread back up to the top and make fun of me if I'm wrong...but I'm 100% positive I'm not.

something to remember, he is a senior academically next year. he was redshirted so he very well could be graduating next may. i'll hold out predicting him to the draft until i see how this season plays out, but as i said, he'll be a senior next year and could very well be on track for graduation.

oh yeah, if he puts up a 70 - 0 season, he'd be an idiot to stay in college.
Irregardless of what his numbers are next season, if he is projected as the 2nd QB to be taken and a first round pick he would be foolish to risk an injury in his senior season. No doubt he would leave early if this was the case..

If all the draft prognostications that I've read for next year are accurate he would be stupid NOT to leave. As you said, pretty much everyone has him penciled in as a first rounder, the #2 QB in the draft. He'd be likely looking at a $5+ million signing bonus, and a long term contract, probably a total contract value in the $20 million range, or more depending on where he's taken.

If you ask me the stupid move is to go back to school and risk missing out on that deal.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Tue May 03, 2005 3:55 pm

$20 Million contract? And agents get 10%? Anybody got Omar's phone number? I am gonna change professions.

Lord_Byron · Post by **Lord_Byron** » Tue May 03, 2005 3:58 pm

McMetz811 wrote: He is a smart kid and will stay to finish his last year of college.

People always say this and I don't understand it. Does the ability to get a college degree stop when one enters the workforce? Since he can probably afford the tuition, can he not go back to school in the off season to get his degree?

If he is truly smart, he takes the cash, invests wisely, and is set for life -- as are his children.

UK Peregrine · Post by **UK Peregrine** » Tue May 03, 2005 4:14 pm

Lord_Byron wrote:
McMetz811 wrote: He is a smart kid and will stay to finish his last year of college.
People always say this and I don't understand it. Does the ability to get a college degree stop when one enters the workforce? Since he can probably afford the tuition, can he not go back to school in the off season to get his degree?

If he is truly smart, he takes the cash, invests wisely, and is set for life -- as are his children.

In fact, Josh Harris did something similar to this exact thing. J5 finished his degree through the "distance education program" while in Ravens camp. He took the last of his classes online from Maryland and didn't make the trip back for graduation. My guess is that if Omar was close enough to graduation, he could finish the remainder of his work online just like Josh.

http://www.bgsu.edu/offices/pr/news/2004/news5907.html

Dayons_Den · Post by **Dayons_Den** » Tue May 03, 2005 4:26 pm

I am also not certain AD actually completed his degree. . .

UK Peregrine · Post by **UK Peregrine** » Tue May 03, 2005 4:32 pm

Dayons_Den wrote:I am also not certain AD actually completed his degree. . .

The NBA's website with AD's bio claims he "received his degree in Elementary Education from Bowling Green."

Post by **ZiggyZoomba** » Tue May 03, 2005 4:48 pm

Dayons_Den wrote:I am also not certain AD actually completed his degree. . .

I have a video clip of him receiving his diploma.