Cherry exit? (The Chexit)

[Juan]

Talking to aggies always makes my ass hurt....

And they dont even tell you they love you after, do they?

 

[Bevostuntdouble]

Davante Davis is the lone member left but fitting in well so far. Burt wasn't part of that group but is from Florida.

 Man that whole group was a pretty big waste of time and sucked up some commitments that could have been used elsewhere. Whats up with Clarington? He just not going to qualify? 

 Should the staff be doing a bit better job with putting time and effort into those that will qualify academically and less on those that are very iffy? Seems like there have been quite a few in the recent past that show up and just dont have the grades so we lose the commitment that could have been used elsewhere. 

 

[streettopeschel]

Now that it's apparently done I'll cross-post some tweets and a little more here.

I heard the rumor about this yesterday but didn't want to say anything because (1) it was just a rumor and I didn't want to draw unnecessary attention to Cherry if there was nothing to it, and (2) I'm not a good reporter because I care more about the program than about making news. If there was any truth to it, I wanted the coaches to be able to resolve it quietly without Texas fans and opposing fans jumping in and basically calling Cherry a coward — like they did — making the job of keeping him harder for the coaches.

Everything I heard is out in public now. Long story short, Cherry was frustrated — which is very normal. Just about every freshman across the country is finding out right now that they weren't as good as they thought they were and that college football is harder than they thought. Most of them have family, old coaches and friends to encourage them. Brian Davis had the great scoop there that that was not the case with Cherry. Everyone here has experienced that at least once in their life, that fear that you're in over your head and can't hack it. Now imagine expressing that to someone you trust and respect and having them say, "I told you so. It's OK. Come home."

People are mocking the Florida 5 thing right now because they're missing the points. First, what was remarkable about the Florida 5 was that Charlie Strong, in his first true recruiting class, walked into Florida and landed commitments from four of the top 50 players in the state, plus the #60 player (Cherry) and Johnson, who would have been #71 if he'd been a high school senior. The accomplishment was getting those commitments (and most of the signatures), and the fact that most of them didn't make it doesn't take away from that accomplishment.

Second, the exciting part about the Florida signees was that fans expected them to bring a new attitude to Texas. It turns out we didn't need them to; Malik, Williams, Hager, etc. have brought the attitude themselves. I've never seen a freshman class shake things up like this class has. Charlie Strong is going to go out and get "dogs" wherever he goes. It doesn't matter if they're from Texas, Florida or Alaska — the only players he's bringing in are guys he wants.

And one last thing. Look at how the freshmen have responded to this news and keep that in mind when Paul Finebaum or Clay Travis or Travis Haney get wind of this development — probably coupled with the video of Roberson and Nickelson fighting — and allege again that Charlie Strong doesn't have control of this football team. The young guys are coming together exactly how you'd want them to in response to news like this. They're going to be fine off the field and on it, with or without Cherry.

good writeup. And screw the Finebaums of the world. Yes, he will say that to entertain the mouth-breathing yokels who comprise his audience.

 

[primal defense]

good writeup. And screw the Finebaums of the world. Yes, he will say that to entertain the mouth-breathing yokels who comprise his audience.

And screw the Randolph Dukes of the world.

 

[Throthefade]

I saw someone mention something about grades... There are a lot of big time players right now that are committed to schools with grade issues in this 2016 class.

 

[primal defense]

I understand to some degree about Cecil wanting to transfer because of playing time. However, his getting upset about not getting his chosen number makes him look like a entitled baby. You would think he would like having number 52 which was the number Ray Lewis had.

.

Cherry, one of Strong’s Florida recruits, was reportedly upset about not getting first-team reps at middle linebacker and not being given his preferred number.

Charlie Strong confirms he’s spoken with Cecil Cherry, Duke Catalon

Texas coach Charlie Strong confirmed Thursday night that he had spoken with freshman linebacker Cecil Cherry and redshirt freshman running back Duke Catalon.

Both have indicated they will transfer less than a week into camp, according to published reports. After practice, Strong told reporters that his preference was to talk about the players who remained.

“Anything you get in this program you’re going to have to work for,†Strong said.

Cherry, one of Strong’s Florida recruits, was reportedly upset about not getting first-team reps at middle linebacker and not being given his preferred number. He had chosen Texas despite his father’s preference for Tennessee.

“I feel like I’m unhappy,†Cherry told Orangebloods.com.

Catalon faced a crowded situation at running back behind senior Johnathan Gray.

http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/2015/08/charlie-strong-confirms-hes-spoken-with-cecil-cherry-duke-catalon.html/

 

[Duke C #11]

I don't know coined it, but the old saying goes, "There is no "i" in team."

 

[utisdabomb12]

Cherry is only a "loss" from a perception standpoint since he was a Strong recruit. I think Cherry had the potential to be a good one in 2 years or so, but he needed a bunch of work in a strength and conditioning program. Cherry simply doesn't have the speed/quickness yet to contribute (his father pretty much said this in the AAS article). The fact Strong signed the transfer release so quickly is pretty telling. The 4 LBers in the '15 class have been out performing Cherry in practices so far (at last from the practice reports I've read). Not to mention Texas is in good shape with Shemar Smith, Jeffrey McCulloch and Dontavious Jackson in the '16 class. This tweet from Deshon Elliott is right on the money, "only the Strong survive." I do think Cherry has the potential to be good in a few years if he's willing to put in the work. 

As for Catalon, that's not a loss at all. It's been trending this way for a while because Catalon doesn't like to practice. Throw in the fact he's injury prone (injured his first year at Texas and had a ton of injury issues in HS). Catalon is already #3 on the depth chart behind Gray and Foreman. It's only a matter of time until Warren passes him up if he hasn't already. From a roster perspective, a RB needed to be gone when you throw in the fact we also have two other young RBs on the roster in Houston and Johnson. 

These losses aren't even really losses. Let me put it this way, losing Lampkin is a much bigger loss than these two transfers because that was a position of need.

 

[utisdabomb12]

 Man that whole group was a pretty big waste of time and sucked up some commitments that could have been used elsewhere. Whats up with Clarington? He just not going to qualify? 

 Should the staff be doing a bit better job with putting time and effort into those that will qualify academically and less on those that are very iffy? Seems like there have been quite a few in the recent past that show up and just dont have the grades so we lose the commitment that could have been used elsewhere. 

Strong took a big class because he knew a few players might have a difficult time qualifying. Every football program has to take players that are academic risks, it is what it is. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011


Dalton Santos on NSD. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[utisdabomb12]

All these tweets are from Ryan Bridges, and are right on the money. 

"3/30 signees from Texas' 2015 class won't make it. One is up in the air. 2/22 from Strong's 2011 class didn't make it. (1 came the next yr)"
"Strong also had a "Catalon" from his transitional class at UL: Jalen Harrington, who signed in 2010 and transferred after two seasons."
"The point is this isn't unprecedented by any stretch. Charlie Strong knew what he was doing yesterday, and he knows what he's doing today."
"Even if Devo doesn't make it, there's no reason he can't be in the next class. The same thing happened with Gerod Holliman and Louisville."
"ICYMI: Texas critics think it's funny and/or bad for Texas that players have to EARN playing time now."
"Who left? Guys who weren't playing or put other things above football. Have you considered what that means about the ones who stayed?"
"Whether it's got 85 or 78 members, a team of guys good enough and committed enough to play for Strong should scare the �� out of you. (1)"
"We're two steps closer to the second part (committed enough) after today. The first part (good enough) needs a few more classes like '15.(2)"
"Texas' 2015 class had three RBs. We know the freshmen are shaking things up. Do you think it's a coincidence a second-year RB wants to go?"
"Finally, look at how the freshmen are responding and keep that in mind when Pawwwl or Clay Travis use this to say Strong's lost the team."

 

[Hiphopopotamos]

Its too bad - I had high hopes for the kid and thought he could really develop into something special over the next few seasons.  Charlie Strong was likely just the type of coach this kid needs.

I wish him the best, but fear he'll be experiencing a tremendous amount of regret.

 

[Juan]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[utisdabomb12]

http://hornfm.com/afternoons-with-chad/

Dang, Anwar went in on Cherry and the people around him.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[primal defense]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

Dad needs to shut up like he did when he didn't speak to Cecil for two months when he chose Texas.

 

[primal defense]

http://hornfm.com/afternoons-with-chad/

Dang, Anwar went in on Cherry and the people around him.

Anwar did a good job. He was on top on this story.

 

[BevoBlake]

Anwar said exactly what needed to be said. Cecil was better off without his dad's assistance. You know everything you need to know about the character of Cecil's father when he stopped talking to Cecil for months.

 

[primal defense]

Alabama article

Texas freshman LB transferring; was jersey number snub a factor?

News broke Tuesday that freshman linebacker Cecil Cherry was transferring from Texas after just three practices with the Longhorns, though that in itself might not be all that unusual.

Cherry came to Texas as a 3-star recruit from Victory Christian Academy in Lakeland, Fla., one of the so-called "Florida 5" who committed in the Class of 2015 for Longhorns coach Charlie Strong, a longtime Florida assistant. With Cherry's departure, only defensive back Davante Davis remains of that group (one of the five, cornerback Tim Irvin, flipped to Auburn in late January).

What might have prompted Cherry's exit from Texas is the interesting part. His father, Winston Cherry, gave an interview with ESPN.com in which he indicated that the Longhorns "were just not the right fit for" his son.

Winston Cherry added this little nugget, according to ESPN's Max Cherry:

He also noted his son was disappointed by the fact that he was assigned the No. 52 jersey for this season instead of his preferred No. 3.

Uniform numbers — and promises thereof — are apparently a big part of the recruiting process. Some players merely prefer to wear the same number they wore in high school, while others have made it part of their social media user names (Cherry's Twitter handle is @cecil_cherry3) and even gotten jewelry and tattoos bearing their jersey number. (Incidentally, sophomore wide receiver Armanti Foreman currently wears No. 3 for the Longhorns).

Cherry might have also been unhappy with his standing on the depth chart, though his father denied those allegations. With senior Dalton Santos sidelined by an ankle injury, Cherry was working No. 2 at middle linebacker behind fellow freshman Malik Jefferson, a 5-star recruit from Mesquite, Texas.

Cherry was one of two high-profile players to leave the Longhorns on Tuesday, along with former four-star running back Duke Catalon, a native of Aldine, Texas. Strong confirmed the news after practice, according to 247 Sports.

"When a young man comes into our program, I always tell our upperclassmen in order for a freshman to play you just have to go out and not practice hard or you just lose your responsibility and just give up the position," Strong said. "They make a decision on what they want to do. Once they make a decision, it's all about... We always want guys to stay here, but it's also this – anything you get in this program you're going to work for."

Cherry's father gave no indication as to where his son might land, though South Florida is among the schools being mentioned. Cherry was verbally committed to Tennessee for a time before de-committing in December and ultimately signing with Texas.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/08/texas_freshman_lb_transferring.html