We haven't a single starter to the portal yet. Job well done and is good as could be done. This is because we put our money on kids that are going to start. We spend whatever it takes to get our best kids to stay. Then, the budget issues come into play. Particularly on defense, we have recruited well and have really good and talented kids that we anticipate or project as backups next year. Examples are Strong, Devan Jordan, Jaden Hardy, Howland, Sammy O and Gentry Williams. We love those kids and absolutely want to keep them, but only at what a backup makes. In each of those kids cases, they simply found universities that will pay them starter money (which isn't in our budget to pay as, for us, they are backups). OU doesn't want to lose them, and most don't want to go, it is just a wise financial decision for them and something we can't prevent. Georgia, Alabama and other blue bloods are experiencing the same thing. Can't pay everyone like a starter, and so you will be vulnerable to losing kids that are projected as depth pieces.
As for Gentry, if we didn't have 3 fairly elite corners, in Eli, Courtney and Jacobe, we would have gambled Gentry would stay healthy and kept him. Georgia, doesn't have 2 elite corners, and is willing to gamble on Gentry. We are already paying 3, and just aren't in a position to pay Gentry what the open market will pay. Pretty easy to understand. But, like some of you, I really hate to lose that kid. I think he will play in the the NFL if he can stay healthy. OU has a lot of money and is spending a lot of money but it isn't unlimited.
