I acknowledged Hypolite was a possible bad loss, but it's not like this defense wasn't getting torched by big plays when Maddox was playing. He would have added good competition next season, but is he really a guy that was worth RS this year? Agree that Wigly could at least provide some better PT than Trujillo/Luckett at the moment.
Hypolite was kicked off the team for violating team rules, so there is not much you can do there. Suspend him for the season?? I gave HCMM props for his ability to send kids off for a season, and then have a clean slate upon meeting certain conditions. If that was not possible, then the coaches hands were tied.
Per the musings, Maddox put the staff in an impossible situation at the airport gate. I think that they gave him the option to stay home, cool off, and reconsider. I hate the timing but he portal'd as he thinks that he can immediately play somewhere else. From a player standpoint, I can't blame him for thinking there are greener pastures out there. By asking for a red-shirt without a plan to remain at CU, he essentially quit the team. Given his behavior, he was not going to be an upperclassman leader. Also, with Rakestraw's improvement I would not envision Maddox beating him out next year, or even another new player at the position.
With Wigely and Ronnie Blackmon, I think that the staff was honest with them about their chances of starting/playing a substantial role, and they opted to Portal. Stanley and KD were going to handle the returns and have done fine. To my knowledge, Wigely is not even playing football. Sure Trujillo and Luckett are getting picked on, but they are young with substantial upside. So long as they do not get significantly hurt, the experience will be a plus for this team. Dante would be getting picked on just like last season.
This new defensive scheme is tough for all the players to adjust. Of all the players that left, I thought that Callier had the most upside as an OLB, but that is a tough learning curve from the previous defense. Unfortunately, that was not going well, thus he left. Much of MT's success will be based upon recruiting, and the most important position that they need to hit home runs is LB.
As I think more about attrition, generally I hate it; but it is what it is. You can't blame guys for wanting playing time or have the propect of sitting at the bottom of the depth chart. Sometimes it moves, sometimes it does not. Akil Jones stuck it out and is finally starting. I do think players need to try and stick it out with their team. Certainly, the Transfer Portal has changed things: instead of the unknown, it is akin to a new recruitment. Teams find them, where they need specific needs (i.e. Onu). For coaches they just need to be honest in their assessment and fair to the player. I think MT and staff have done that.
