GT on Phil Ferguson's move to WR.

[Blue & Gold]

Here is another George Thomas article. This time on Phil Ferguson's ballsy move to the football team.

Dude's crazy, if you ask me. Good luck, my man. Don't get killed.

Go Zips!

And go George Thomas!

[akzipper]

Here is another George Thomas article. This time on Phil Ferguson's ballsy move to the football team.

Dude's crazy, if you ask me. Good luck, my man. Don't get killed.

Go Zips!

And go George Thomas!

There have been a lot of basketball players turned successful football players. But I'm not sure about track to football. He may have the speed, but can he catch? Track really doesn't force you to have very good hand-eye coordination. In a high-tempo offense, speed can be a huge strength and help him get separation. But if he can't catch the ball, he'll just be Braylon Edwards out there. I'm not trying to be negative about a guy I've never seen play, just saying it's a possible challenge.

Another thing I was wondering. How many years of eligibility will he have? I have zero knowledge of how the NCAA rules go as far as switching sports.

[K92]

Braylon Edwards had 252 catches for 3541 yards and 39 touchdowns for Michigan. I'm with akzipper! Hope Phil is nothing like that non-catching bum! Jeeeeeeeeeez.

[johnnyzip84]

Thanks to GT for following up with one of our more interesting curiousities of spring football this year!

His 13 years of baseball give me at least some hope that he's developed decent hand eye coordination in the past. Those skills don't leave you. And the track-to-football transition is not exactly unprecedented. Bob Hayes and Renaldo Nehemiah are just 2 NFL WRs who successfully made the switch.

Still, the odds are against Phil I'll admit. But is there anything more exciting than the true, old fashioned, deep threat who can stretch the defense like nothing else? I look forward to seeing him get a shot or two at the spring game.

[Kangaroo Craig]

There have been a lot of basketball players turned successful football players. But I'm not sure about track to football. He may have the speed, but can he catch? Track really doesn't force you to have very good hand-eye coordination. In a high-tempo offense, speed can be a huge strength and help him get separation. But if he can't catch the ball, he'll just be Braylon Edwards out there. I'm not trying to be negative about a guy I've never seen play, just saying it's a possible challenge.

Another thing I was wondering. How many years of eligibility will he have? I have zero knowledge of how the NCAA rules go as far as switching sports.

Bob Hayes - Dallas Cowboys - Dubbed the world's fastest man at the time. I believe he played in the 60's and 70's

Renaldo Neimiah - San Francisco 49er's - Another olympian. Played 2-3 seasons in the NFL. Career was not as illustrious as Hayes. Played during the late 80's, maybe early 90"s. Not sure.

I'm sure there have been a few others who have made the switch at the collegiate level, but these are the only two that I know of how made it to the NFL. Bottom line, its rare that these guys succeed, but it has happened.

[Dr Z]

I'm sure there have been a few others who have made the switch at the collegiate level, but these are the only two that I know of how made it to the NFL. Bottom line, its rare that these guys succeed, but it has happened.

There was a Pitt track star that was in Steeler's camp for about 4 straight years in the 80's, I can't remember his name. He never made it out of camp, but they wrote the same article in PG year after year.

Speed kills, and as long as I will live I will remember coach Bowden saying "we are going to get speed on the corners."

I realize this is an apples an oranges comparison, but others do it, so I'm going to also. Wallace is the "speedster" for the Steelers.

A lot of times last year, just his presence on the field opened things up for Antonio Brown. So what I'm saying is, maybe

just Ferguson's routes could cause a lot of "attention", and open things up underneath for other receivers. Worth a try IMO.

How fun is this excitement/buzz before the first kickoff this year?

[K92]

[scottditzen]

Something I haven't considered....anyone out there know which one of our QB's is most capable of throwing a deep ball?

There was a Pitt track star that was in Steeler's camp for about 4 straight years in the 80's, I can't remember his name. He never made it out of camp, but they wrote the same article in PG year after year.

Speed kills, and as long as I will live I will remember coach Bowden saying "we are going to get speed on the corners."

I realize this is an apples an oranges comparison, but others do it, so I'm going to also. Wallace is the "speedster" for the Steelers.

A lot of times last year, just his presence on the field opened things up for Antonio Brown. So what I'm saying is, maybe

just Ferguson's routes could cause a lot of "attention", and open things up underneath for other receivers. Worth a try IMO.

How fun is this excitement/buzz before the first kickoff this year?

[ZachTheZip]

Thanks for the article, George!

[Zipmeister]

Thanks for the article, George!

Closer to home (but a few seasons ago) Gerald Tinker at The K.S.U.

[Zipmeister]

There have been a lot of basketball players turned successful football players. But I'm not sure about track to football. He may have the speed, but can he catch? Track really doesn't force you to have very good hand-eye coordination. In a high-tempo offense, speed can be a huge strength and help him get separation. But if he can't catch the ball, he'll just be Braylon Edwards out there. I'm not trying to be negative about a guy I've never seen play, just saying it's a possible challenge.

Another thing I was wondering. How many years of eligibility will he have? I have zero knowledge of how the NCAA rules go as far as switching sports.

(Barring an extra year for an injury in a particular sport) Your five year time clock for ALL sports starts the first year you play (or are on the team roster of) any varsity sport.