DB Eugene Clifford - transfer to Tenn. St. (official thread)

[mross34]

I agree with you to a certain extent, but I think a big part of why these guys came back was to win that elusive title. Hopefully, Clifford will have winning a MNC crossed off his to do list by the time his senior year rolls around.

[OregonBuckeye]

Originally Posted by Taosman

No way Clifford sticks for 4 years!

Originally Posted by mross34

I agree with you to a certain extent, but I think a big part of why these guys came back was to win that elusive title. Hopefully, Clifford will have winning a MNC crossed off his to do list by the time his senior year rolls around.

Why don't we let him crack the two-deep before declaring him a candidate to leave early for the NFL?

[Best Buckeye]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

Why don't we let him crack the two-deep before declaring him a candidate to leave early for the NFL?

Now just where is the fun in that ?

[mross34]

Originally Posted by OregonBuckeye

Why don't we let him crack the two-deep before declaring him a candidate to leave early for the NFL?

I wasn't so much saying he was a candidate to do so. More speculating/hoping, specuhoping if you will, that the circumstances will be different if the situation does present itself.

[Oh8ch]

This medical hardship was making me crazy as well but I think I have found the answer in this link:

TD LEE :: Lee Suggs :: Virginia Tech

The problem is that there are two components. The hardship waiver is granted by the conference- not the NCAA - and can be granted at any time.

However, the hardship waiver does not extend the 5 year clock. That can only be granted by the NCAA and can't be requested until the clock is used up.

So Clifford may indeed have his medical waiver, but that does not guarantee the sixth year.

The only reason the medical waiver has value without the sixth year is that it allows a player to play some games before being injured and still use that season as their traditional RS year.

[jlb1705]

Originally Posted by Oh8ch

This medical hardship was making me crazy as well but I think I have found the answer in this link:

TD LEE :: Lee Suggs :: Virginia Tech

The problem is that there are two components. The hardship waiver is granted by the conference- not the NCAA - and can be granted at any time.

However, the hardship waiver does not extend the 5 year clock. That can only be granted by the NCAA and can't be requested until the clock is used up.

So Clifford may indeed have his medical waiver, but that does not guarantee the sixth year.

The only reason the medical waiver has value without the sixth year is that it allows a player to play some games before being injured and still use that season as their traditional RS year.

You're mostly right. In Clifford's case, the sixth year (to play four) is not necessary at this point. The medical hardship waiver (redshirt) means he preserved a year of competition.

If he had not been granted the waiver by the conference, he would be down to four years left to play three seasons. Since he got the waiver though, he now has four years left to play four seasons.

The only time there is a need to appeal for a sixth year is when the number of seasons of remaining eligible competition is greater than the time left in which to complete them.

Because Clifford's injury happened as a true freshman (and the same holds for any player who has not used their "traditional" redshirt year), essentially what he got was a mulligan. The Buckeyes were able to retroactively apply a redshirt to him even though he had already played some games.

[matcar]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

You're mostly right. In Clifford's case, the sixth year (to play four) is not necessary at this point. The medical hardship waiver (redshirt) means he preserved a year of competition.

If he had not been granted the waiver by the conference, he would be down to four years left to play three seasons. Since he got the waiver though, he now has four years left to play four seasons.

The only time there is a need to appeal for a sixth year is when the number of seasons of remaining eligible competition is greater than the time left in which to complete them.

Because Clifford's injury happened as a true freshman (and the same holds for any player who has not used their "traditional" redshirt year), essentially what he got was a mulligan. The Buckeyes were able to retroactively apply a redshirt to him even though he had already played some games.

Thanks for the explanation... a mulligan!

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by jlb1705

You're mostly right. In Clifford's case, the sixth year (to play four) is not necessary at this point. The medical hardship waiver (redshirt) means he preserved a year of competition.

Isn't that what oh8ch said? I think oh8ch was completely right...

[Buckskin86]

Clifford moved to safety...

Eugene Clifford, who endured a suspension that kept him at home when the team went to the national championship game, has moved from cornerback to safety where he seems more comfortable, according to Heacock.

Blogging the Buckeyes

[emu]

Originally Posted by Buckskin86

Clifford moved to safety...



Blogging the Buckeyes

About time the cornerback project ended, IMO. Clifford is a prototypical ball-hawking FS and will absolutely excel there as he did in high school.

[jlb1705]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

Isn't that what oh8ch said? I think oh8ch was completely right...

I thought so, but my reading of the explanation seemed to imply that Clifford might need to appeal for a sixth year, when that is not the case for him. My apologies if I misread.

[RB07OSU]

Originally Posted by emu

About time the cornerback project ended, IMO. Clifford is a prototypical ball-hawking FS and will absolutely excel there as he did in high school.

I agree 100%...I liked Gene at safety on film and he has the perfect skill set to get some serious PT there this year,

[Oneshot]

:-/

I really thought Devon and Eugene would be the next set of incredibile bookend corners.

Oh well, I still like Eugene and Devon in the same back 4.

[Buckskin86]

Clifford's progress: Haynes called the move of Clifford, who did in fact redshirt last season despite seeing minor action, from cornerback to safety an easy switch for a player who had been a high school safety. Moving to corner to start last year was the harder move. Haynes said this switch was made right before spring practice and came about because the Buckeyes have better depth at corner than at safety. Haynes left open the possibility that the former big-time recruit could see the field this year.

"It goes back to him being a heck of an athlete," Haynes said. "He's got great range and he's not afraid to hit. He's bringing something to the table for sure."


But his suspension for bowl practice and the national title game after a failed drug test is still setting him back.

"He's a little bit behind because of that," Haynes said. "For young guys, the more reps they can get, the better they get. So he's a little bit behind rep-wise. But the kid makes up for that with his athleticism."

Ohio State football: News and notes on Malcolm Jenkins, Eugene Clifford and the defensive backs - Cleveland Sports News – The Latest Breaking News, Game Recaps and Scores from The Plain Dealer

[MD Buckeye]

Rivals $

4/9

Talks about how he has matured since last year & also about his move from Corner to Safety.