CB Devon Torrence (official thread)

[MililaniBuckeye]

Stated that he said that if he wasn't drafted in the first 5 rounds then he would be a Buckeye. Then says it depends on his signing bonus.

Yeah some guys won't get drafted earlier due to signability, but if the Stros are willing to pony up the money there is still a chance he could go the baseball route...

Somehow I doubt the signing bonus for a 16th-rounder--who had 500 guys picked in front of him--isn't going to be much, if he even gets one at all.

 

[Napoleonbuck]

You'd be surprised what some baseball draftees get. Even for a 16th rounder, the pay would still be pretty good. Whether it's good enough to pass up college and go straight to the pros, I don't know, but if he chose baseball he certainly wouldn't be making chump change.

 

[jwinslow]

The avg signing bonus for a 10th round pick is $75,000. Some players early 6 figures in that round. If the 'stros really want him, could they offer that kind of money? Possibly.

Despite being a 6th rounder, Quan Cosby was offered over $800k to skip Texas football. Only 7 of the 31 second-rounders were offered that kind of signing bonus in 01.

Will Devon get enough to skip college? Who knows... but his promising football option gives him room to negotiate.

Somehow I doubt the signing bonus for a 16th-rounder--who had 500 guys picked in front of him--isn't going to be much, if he even gets one at all.

So you're in agreement? :p

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

The avg signing bonus for a 10th round pick is $75,000. Some players early 6 figures in that round. If the 'stros really want him, could they offer that kind of money? Possibly.

Despite being a 6th rounder, Quan Cosby was offered over $800k to skip Texas football. Only 7 of the 31 second-rounders were offered that kind of signing bonus in 01.

Will Devon get enough to skip college? Who knows... but his promising football option gives him room to negotiate.

Just as in the NFL, look at the huge dropoff from the higher rounds to the lower rounds...it's almost reverse-exponential. Just a wild guess, but I'd guess that if the average bonus for a 10th-rounder is $75,000 then the average bonus for a 16th-rounder would be no more than half that...round that up to the nearest $10,000 and you have a $40,000 signing bonus. Take out the 10% (at least) agent fee and then 15% in taxes and you have just over $30,000. Doesn't sound like the kind of money that would deter someone from getting a free four-year education and the opportunity for playing on one of very best football programs in college football history.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

Just as in the NFL, look at the huge dropoff from the higher rounds to the lower rounds...it's almost reverse-exponential. Just a wild guess, but I'd guess that if the average bonus for a 10th-rounder is $75,000 then the average bonus for a 16th-rounder would be no more than half that...round that up to the nearest $10,000 and you have a $40,000 signing bonus. Take out the 10% (at least) agent fee and then 15% in taxes and you have just over $30,000. Doesn't sound like the kind of money that would deter someone from getting a free four-year education and the opportunity for playing on one of very best football programs in college football history.

agree for the most part.

a couple of things

i dont really know how the whole baseball system works but hockey ive got a decent handle on. the thing i know is that if a team wants a kid they usually get the kid, cash is king. also its weird when drafting and talking to people about prospects like this. i use hockey cuz i know a decent amount but also in a certain way it closely resembles baseball, with colleges, minor leagues and in hockey jrs ushl/whl/ohl/q teams have a the ability to dictate to the kid where he goes in a weird sort of way.

which brings me to an interesting conversation i once had. one day i was at lunch playing fly on the wall with maybe a dozen guys and the discussion went from quickly the top flight prospects to 2nd, 3rd rounders then the late round guys came up. it was interesting to see how some of these kids (limited number maybe a dozen names were discussed and seven or so agreements) on kids who were cant misses. here i am wondering how the hell is he pick 200 if hes a cant miss, well whats a miss. as i was later told it had to do with upside, potential, max celling but most importantly teams views on kids. if the team for lack of a better phrasing has a fascination with a kid its interesting to how it all pans out.

of note of those seven guys one of them has no real shot at a nhl career, 4 of them are in the nhl, 1 in the ahl, 1 is a first call up from the ahl to the nhl

 

[Buckskin86]

OSU football recruit waits to hear pitch from Astros
Saturday, June 9, 2007 3:28 AM
By Ken Gordon

The Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State football recruit Devon Torrence is waiting to find out if the Houston Astros will make him an offer he can't refuse.

Torrence said he had a dollar figure in mind for a signing bonus, which he declined to reveal. If the Astros meet it, he would spurn his football scholarship and play baseball.

"I don't know yet what's going to happen," he said. "I'll know pretty soon."

The Columbus Dispatch : OSU football recruit waits to hear pitch from Astros

Torrence faces a choice
Saturday, June 9, 2007
By JOSH WEIR
repository sports writer

"It's not about the round, it's about how much a team is willing to offer," Speed said. "He's certainly not going to sign for 16th-round money. He's got too much going on at Ohio State. But he likes a lot of people in the Houston Astros organization. Now, it will be a waiting game."

The Astros can wait until Aug. 15 to get a deal done, but Torrence - a defensive back on the football field - would like to have something finalized in about a week. He is scheduled to play in the Ohio North-South Classic football game June 16 in Columbus

cantonrep.com

 

[jimotis4heisman]

The Columbus Dispatch : Ohio State recruit's participation in doubt for North-South football game (2:34 p.m.)

Ohio State recruit's participation in doubt for North-South football game (2:34 p.m.)
Canton South's Torrence could give pro baseball a try
Monday, June 11, 2007 2:34 PM
By Tim May


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Through early afternoon today Ohio State recruit Devon Torrence was a no-show for participation in Saturday's Grange Insurance Ohio North-South Classic All-Star Game. Torrence, a defensive back from Canton South High School in Stark County, had been expected to play for the North squad. But he was taken in the 16th round by the Houston Astros in last week's baseball entry draft and reportedly is pondering whether he wants to give pro baseball a shot first.
A center fielder, he told reporters last week his decision likely would depend on how much the Astros offer in terms of a signing bonus. Should he sign, he likely would head to the Astros' rookie team in Greenville, Tenn., where the season will begin June 19.
"I know he's still debating about it," his stepbrother J'Keem Waters said this afternoon when reached by phone at their Canton residence. Torrence was not available for comment.



continued...

 

[Buckskin86]

OSU football: Offer doesn't thrill recruit
Wednesday, June 13, 2007 3:38 AM
By Tim May

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The adviser for Devon Torrence said yesterday that barring a "significant" increase in the offer from the Houston Astros, Torrence likely is going to play football at Ohio State this fall.

The Columbus Dispatch : OSU football: Offer doesn't thrill recruit

 

[Best Buckeye]

Good news for us!! :tongue2:

 

[CleveBucks]

Not yet. It's just a way to get extra leverage with the Astros and see how much they'll sweeten the deal. Luckily OSU won't have to wait very long to find out.

 

[thackattack]

Does anyone else think that Devoe's commitment to tOSU might have a small influence on Devon's decision? I'm sure the brothers want to play together. No way do I believe that Devoe will change his mind if Devon moves on to MLB, but I'm just wondering if Devon is content to play for the Bucks since his brother is coming next fall...

 

[ant80]

Not yet. It's just a way to get extra leverage with the Astros and see how much they'll sweeten the deal. Luckily OSU won't have to wait very long to find out.

At least we now have a timetable for the decision... Monday.

 

[Buckskin86]

Torrence aims to be two-sport star
Sunday, June 17, 2007
By JOSH WEIR
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

Professional baseball. Big-time college football. Maybe Devon Torrence can have the best of both worlds.

The multi-talented Canton South High School graduate, who was drafted by the Houston Astros last week and has a football scholarship to Ohio State, may not have to choose between the two. Sources close to the negotiations say the Astros and Torrence are nearing a deal that would allow Torrence to play both sports.

A meeting with Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and compliance officers is scheduled for Monday.

Torrence was scheduled to start summer school classes Monday, but those have been put on the back burner. As soon as Torrence attends a college class, the Astros lose his rights, and Torrence can't be drafted for three years unless he transfers to a junior college.

cantonrep.com

DeVON'S ASKING PRICE HIGH

When the Houston Astros drafted Canton South outfielder Devon Torrence with the 501st pick in the baseball draft, the team knew Torrence had signed to play football at Ohio State. As such, high school players usually can get a little more signing bonus money.

However, an American League scout told us Torrence is asking for fourth-round money. Last year, seven high school position players were taken in the fourth round, and the average signing bonus was $507,000 - it ranged from $227,000 to $1 million.

"He's more of an athlete than a baseball player, very raw," the scout said. "But he's definitely got the ability to become a very good major league player."

Dirk Hayhurst, who pitched at Canton South and Kent State, is a reliever at Class AA San Antonio (San Diego Padres). His advice to Torrence would be to go to college.

"That's an experience you can't get again when you're that age ... and it's important to get an education," Hayhurst said. "Plus, he can play football and baseball at Ohio State, and they're going to pay for his education. That would be tough to pass up."

cantonrep.com

 

[osugrad21]

Scout $

From Bill Greene...

Devon discusses his plan to play minor league baseball and college football with the blessing of Coach Tressel.

 

[Colvinnl]

There are lots of pressures pulling in various directions here. Undoubtedly, Devon's commitment to OSU dropped him a round or two at the least so he know's he is worth more than 16th round money...but he doesn't know how much more (certainly not 4th round money).