Mark Pantoni (Assistant Athletic Director, Player Personnel)

[Captain Buckeye]

I agree. That he should bare some responsibility for this past years portal class. Maybe he was directed to get older kids like Indiana and that led to a complete failure?

But what is Pantoni and others doing to get underrated talent onto the team? Just taking bigger schools back ups isn’t a great way forward.

Just go out and get talented players. How is Indiana able to get Daly to come in and play great? How did Indiana identify the defensive end from Kansas State?

Why are we missing on every single transfer that’s not obvious? Of course identifying Downs, Klare, Judkins, Davison, and Fields is easy.

But where is the kid where we are floored we identified? They’ve not done well in the portal other than the obvious kids.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

I agree. That he should bare some responsibility for this past years portal class. Maybe he was directed to get older kids like Indiana and that led to a complete failure?

But what is Pantoni and others doing to get underrated talent onto the team? Just taking bigger schools back ups isn’t a great way forward.

Just go out and get talented players. How is Indiana able to get Daly to come in and play great? How did Indiana identify the defensive end from Kansas State?

Why are we missing on every single transfer that’s not obvious? Of course identifying Downs, Klare, Judkins, Davison, and Fields is easy.

But where is the kid where we are floored we identified? They’ve not done well in the portal other than the obvious kids.

Josh Simmons was a no-name from SDSU who developed into a 1st round pick (would've been top 10 if not for the injury and character concerns).

 

[Captain Buckeye]

Josh Simmons was a no-name from SDSU who developed into a 1st round pick (would've been top 10 if not for the injury and character concerns).

I knew I was forgetting someone. That’s at least one lol… who btw Frye fought to get and coached him up.

 

[billmac91]

This is a tough one IMO……bc it isn’t just about identifying a talented player, it almost becomes “political” in a sense. In today’s NIL era, the perfect example is Bo Jackson. OSU actually had to fight to keep him on the team last year…..at one point they assumed he was gone. In that process, they were identifying elite RB’s to “recruit” in the portal. In a tough negotiation, they ended up opening the wallet a bit more than they originally intended and kept him. In that process, they also decided bringing in a “elite” RB portal would be a net negative to program and opted instead to go with Jakobi Jackson who was a depth piece intended not to rock the boat.

All that to say, it isn’t simply identifying talent and bringing it in…..there’s roster management decisions that are deeper than what many probably assume.

While Beau Atkinson and Terry Moore would be listed as “misses”, Devin McCuin, Christian Alliegro, Earl Little would be listed as hits….how much credit or blame goes to Pantoni??

I believe Pantoni is one of best in business at relationships….i don’t think he’s lost his fastball on that. Who he’s asked to target has changed a lot. Maybe his role needs to change a bit but like many others, I think he has earned the right to course correct and have at least another year or two.

 

[pnuts34]

This is a tough one IMO……bc it isn’t just about identifying a talented player, it almost becomes “political” in a sense. In today’s NIL era, the perfect example is Bo Jackson. OSU actually had to fight to keep him on the team last year…..at one point they assumed he was gone. In that process, they were identifying elite RB’s to “recruit” in the portal. In a tough negotiation, they ended up opening the wallet a bit more than they originally intended and kept him. In that process, they also decided bringing in a “elite” RB portal would be a net negative to program and opted instead to go with Jakobi Jackson who was a depth piece intended not to rock the boat.

All that to say, it isn’t simply identifying talent and bringing it in…..there’s roster management decisions that are deeper than what many probably assume.

While Beau Atkinson and Terry Moore would be listed as “misses”, Devin McCuin, Christian Alliegro, Earl Little would be listed as hits….how much credit or blame goes to Pantoni??

I believe Pantoni is one of best in business at relationships….i don’t think he’s lost his fastball on that. Who he’s asked to target has changed a lot. Maybe his role needs to change a bit but like many others, I think he has earned the right to course correct and have at least another year or two.

The landscape of CFB has changed and fans haven't been able to change with it yet. I posted an article from LeCharles Bentley's substack regarding this

 

[Jaxbuck]

This is a tough one IMO……bc it isn’t just about identifying a talented player, it almost becomes “political” in a sense. In today’s NIL era, the perfect example is Bo Jackson. OSU actually had to fight to keep him on the team last year…..at one point they assumed he was gone. In that process, they were identifying elite RB’s to “recruit” in the portal. In a tough negotiation, they ended up opening the wallet a bit more than they originally intended and kept him. In that process, they also decided bringing in a “elite” RB portal would be a net negative to program and opted instead to go with Jakobi Jackson who was a depth piece intended not to rock the boat.

All that to say, it isn’t simply identifying talent and bringing it in…..there’s roster management decisions that are deeper than what many probably assume.

While Beau Atkinson and Terry Moore would be listed as “misses”, Devin McCuin, Christian Alliegro, Earl Little would be listed as hits….how much credit or blame goes to Pantoni??

I believe Pantoni is one of best in business at relationships….i don’t think he’s lost his fastball on that. Who he’s asked to target has changed a lot. Maybe his role needs to change a bit but like many others, I think he has earned the right to course correct and have at least another year or two.

You could make the case that in this system of wide open talent acquisition, relationships is as important or maybe MORE important than raw talent eval.

If we ever get into a draft system then the pendulum swings to talent and character eval but right now, in the wild wild west? Give me the better salesman (so to speak)

 

[Captain Buckeye]

This is a tough one IMO……bc it isn’t just about identifying a talented player, it almost becomes “political” in a sense. In today’s NIL era, the perfect example is Bo Jackson. OSU actually had to fight to keep him on the team last year…..at one point they assumed he was gone. In that process, they were identifying elite RB’s to “recruit” in the portal. In a tough negotiation, they ended up opening the wallet a bit more than they originally intended and kept him. In that process, they also decided bringing in a “elite” RB portal would be a net negative to program and opted instead to go with Jakobi Jackson who was a depth piece intended not to rock the boat.

All that to say, it isn’t simply identifying talent and bringing it in…..there’s roster management decisions that are deeper than what many probably assume.

While Beau Atkinson and Terry Moore would be listed as “misses”, Devin McCuin, Christian Alliegro, Earl Little would be listed as hits….how much credit or blame goes to Pantoni??

I believe Pantoni is one of best in business at relationships….i don’t think he’s lost his fastball on that. Who he’s asked to target has changed a lot. Maybe his role needs to change a bit but like many others, I think he has earned the right to course correct and have at least another year or two.

Are Alliegro, McQuin and Little Jr. really hits though? They’re fine but none of them have been players where if you take them off the field it’s debilitating. Alliegro and Little Jr were also starters for major college football programs.

With that said, I think he was directed to get older players. Nearly all of the players were old. I’m not saying he should go but whatever parameters he was given didn’t pan out either. To me he’s just struggled finding dudes when they aren’t obvious.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Are Alliegro, McQuin and Little Jr. really hits though? They’re fine but none of them have been players where if you take them off the field it’s debilitating. Alliegro and Little Jr were also starters for major college football programs.

With that said, I think he was directed to get older players. Nearly all of the players were old. I’m not saying he should go but whatever parameters he was given didn’t pan out either. To me he’s just struggled finding dudes when they aren’t obvious.

We have zero insight into the constraints he has worked under.

Who did his boss tell him to focus on? What kind of budget has he been given?

I mean speculate away like we do on any topic but this one and coach Mick are the two that people are just talking out of their ass about if they choose to opine. We know dick and we can infer dick from what little we do know.