Ducks Attack Message Board Forum

Man, I was just going to post how this guy has a ton of speed and is a good get, then I read that he probably will never make it to Oregon.

Maybe he'll want to at least try playing college football for awhile? Wouldn't he otherwise have just signed for a baseball scholarship and called it good if he wasn't planning on playing for at least a little while?

Here's a link to an Orioles site; has him as the #8 OF prospect for '09 draft:
http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/ ... hp?t=72118

That'd probably put him in the top half of the second round at the worst. Hopefully Coach Kelly and Coach Horton can convince him it's better not to put all his eggs in one basket. Would be a great get for both programs.

PDXShogun wrote:Here's a link to an Orioles site; has him as the #8 OF prospect for '09 draft:
http://forum.orioleshangout.com/forums/ ... hp?t=72118

That'd probably put him in the top half of the second round at the worst. Hopefully Coach Kelly and Coach Horton can convince him it's better not to put all his eggs in one basket. Would be a great get for both programs.

I don't follow MLB draft, but do they have guaranteed money the higher you get drafted like in the NFL? If he's projected the #8 OF and second round, would he benefit much from playing 1 or 2 years of college baseball to rise his draft status and get paid more? I realize it's a risk/benefit analysis. I just don't follow baseball and I know that the minor leagues play into this decision as well.

I don't understand the MLB draft either. Wasn't Dixon officially drafted by the Braves, yet continued to play football?

If he feels that a year of college level conditioning/competition/experience can boost him up higher in the draft, he may go to school for a year.

Being in the top half of the first round would get him a ton more in bonuses.

Yes he was. Mewelde Moore was playing Minor League baseball whlie in school at Tulane as well. When I say playing I really mean riding the pines.

Destroyer77 wrote:Maybe he'll want to at least try playing college football for awhile? Wouldn't he otherwise have just signed for a baseball scholarship and called it good if he wasn't planning on playing for at least a little while?

He is signing a football scholarship because if he plays both sports he counts towards the team that has their season first in the school year. A player of his stature wont simply sign a LOI to sign one. Hes doing this as a tool for more options when contract talks hit and incase he doesn't get the money he should he has a backup plan.

They do get signing bonuses; but they aren't as large as the NFL. I think the top picks usualy get around $10m guaranteed, of course if they actually get to "the show" they make much more than football players.

One thing working against us is with the baseball draft, if they decide to go to college, they're not draft eligable again until after their junior season. This may be a factor in his decision.

PDXShogun wrote:They do get signing bonuses; but they aren't as large as the NFL. I think the top picks usualy get around $10m guaranteed, of course if they actually get to "the show" they make much more than football players.

One thing working against us is with the baseball draft, if they decide to go to college, they're not draft eligable again until after their junior season. This may be a factor in his decision.

On the flip side, however, we'll know pretty much for certain if he's going to play at Oregon for 3 years come this fall. We won't have to wonder year in and year out. He's a good chance to take. Like Mops said, low risk-high reward.

Matt Smith was drafted in the top 20 and got $1M out of high school then when he couldn't hit a breaking ball he came to UO. That one worked out for us since he signed with Stanford as a SR in HS. Akilli Smith played a year or 2 of minor league baseball before coming back to football. Dixon was drafted in like the 16th RD so I don't think he passed up much money. Very few of these kids actually ever get to the Majors so even if he doesn't show up this year he may be back in school in 2-3 years.

Matt Smith, I went to High School with him. What a big strong guy he was. And he was actually a REALLY nice guy in HS. I was a soph I think when he was a senior. He killed it for our football team as QB.
I hope it works for Lane to come to Oregon, but it sounds like this is all about bargaining power for him. I hope his agent sucks.

Great news guys in landing this guy but the baseball thing...damn it! But as mops said nothing ventured nothing gained...its a no risk situation so lets hope it works out in our favor!

GO DUCKS!!

Wasn't Dixon in a similar situation to Lane? It worked out well for him. Sounds to me though that Lane is more of a baseball player than a football player.

duckgrad99 wrote:Wasn't Dixon in a similar situation to Lane? It worked out well for him. Sounds to me though that Lane is more of a baseball player than a football player.

Dixon was like a 7th round draft choice. If this kid is a 1st or 2nd round then pro ball is the way to go for him. Baseball players also have much higher shelf life than football players.