2021 Verbal: Cole Payton

[NI4NI]

Double edge sword. More playing time = more tape to entice portal poachers... In the end, nothing would stop transfers anyway in the current environment. NDSU needs to move up the food chain. It will never fully escape the effects of those higher up still taking what they want, but we are too far down the food chain currently.

I agree. We gotta coach to whatever gives us the best opportunity to win the game, not to give a single player a warm fuzzy feeling.

[Snowgoose]

Let me be Johnny Raincloud for a minute. Saw a story yesterday that Cameron Ward (WA State QB, formerly known as the Incarnate Word QB) already has over ten, One Million Dollar NIL offers to transfer. HE'S NOT EVEN IN THE PORTAL. As currently constituted, NIL is nothing more than legalized tampering, which puts all of our guys at risk for poaching. It happened with Grant Nelson, and it will happen again. In my mind, a guy like Cole has huge upside, has learned under coaching that has produced NFL QBs and just needs an opportunity. If that opportunity comes with some cash, it would be hard to blame him for taking it. Every team in B1G West is looking for a competent QB. So...I hope we see increased utilization of CP during the playoffs because I think it's going to be increasingly difficult to keep him around in the current environment.

College football will begin to lose fans at a steady rate if this continues besides a select big few. This is a complete disaster. NDSU BB will most likely have less fans this year due to Grant Nelson leaving than if he stayed. Moving up a level in football does not help this situation very much if at all. The Big boys will steal whoever they want whether we are G5 or FCS. I want us to move up cause I don't want to watch FCS football anymore, but if we lose our good third and fourth year players no one is going to attend.

[EC8CH]

I agree. We gotta coach to whatever gives us the best opportunity to win the game, not to give a single player a warm fuzzy feeling.

Agreed. Portal considerations can't be part of game planning. Chasing ghosts if you think you'd accomplish anything with that.

[Honeybooboo]

well, with only 28 passes in 3 years unless a team is looking for a running back, he doesn't show much in the Arm department

[SDbison]

well, with only 28 passes in 3 years unless a team is looking for a running back, he doesn't show much in the Arm department

LOL, what a small number spread over that length of time. Coaches don't let him pass because he only gets back to back downs at the end of blowouts, and our meathead coaches are playing "be nice" don't score which is ridiculous! I believe the one time Cole played more in a game he was 3 for 3 passing. That shows something. I don't believe for a minute that he can't throw consistently well (if given the reigns for most of, or an entire game). Look at his High School passing stats! It's a joke some here think Cole's passing sucks with so few data points. I watched him pass in practice a couple years ago and in my opinion he had the best arm strength of all the QB's. Doubt he got weaker since then. Cam just happened to be a year older and got the nod to start and won a natty on the back of Luepke's running. I get it, coach is not going to displace Cam, but at the same time don't make judgements about how good Cole is based on no games started and so few passing attempts.

[Kevin]

The passes Cole has made this year have all passed the eye test. His motion looks much better as well.

[Twincitybizon]

The passes Cole has made this year have all passed the eye test. His motion looks much better as well.

While I agree his passes have been much better this year, his motion still looks slow and goofy to my untrained eye. Maybe I'm just lefty hating... Lol

[Kevin]

While I agree his passes have been much better this year, his motion still looks slow and goofy to my untrained eye. Maybe I'm just lefty hating... Lol

I agree. A left handed motion is only going to look so good regardless. But at least he's not doing the Tim Tebow "start your windup at your hip" thing anymore.

[G_Funky]

There has to be a reason why Cole isnt throwing it more...and obviously that reason isnt something we can identify from watching him for 3 hours on a Saturday.

Maybe he doesnt do well with reading defenses...maybe he's slow through his progressions...maybe hes inconsistent...but there has to be a reason. Because if he really can spin it...and he can also do all the other things required by a quarterback in our offense, then there is no reason they couldnt use him in the same capacity as Cam. So since that isnt the case, I dont think its because the coaches dont want to "hurt Cam's feelings"...because if Cole is as good or better than Cam and Cam wants to leave because he's butt hurt about his playing time then who really cares...

All I can say is that its hard to justify benching a Walter Payton award finalist who is the clear team leader and arguably our best player on offense.

[El_Chapo]

the REASON IS!! ENTZ/ROEHL DONT WANT A QB CONTROVERSY ive said it multiple times for about a year now.

thats the reason. period. they played the older guy just like a high school fb team. Cole easily makes all the passes Cam does this year, so whatever.

after the season maybe Cam portals before Cole.