STrib: Antoine Winfield Jr.'s exit can benefit Gophers, P.J. Fleck says

[BleedGopher]

per Megan:

The Gophers lost their starting safety, unanimous All-America selection Antoine Winfield Jr., to the NFL draft, but coach P.J. Fleck thinks that’s a positive.

“Any time players are leaving early with your program, I think that’s a benefit,” Fleck said Thursday. “… We’re going to have to get used to this with a lot of the players that we have, and I think that shows the health of the program that you’re able to develop pro players really quickly and that the NFL wants them.”

Fleck added he never expected to keep the fourth-year sophomore, with his 88 tackles and seven interceptions, for his remaining two years of eligibility. He hoped for one more, but he understood why the projected second-round pick would leave.

Antoine Winfield Jr.'s exit can benefit Gophers, P.J. Fleck says

Coach says development of pro players serves program well.

www.startribune.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[Schnauzer]

He's right. We probably will have to get used to this as the team gets better. It doesn't just get better in a vacuum. It gets better because it has better players and better players tend to have more opportunities to play beyond college. As the team improves, it becomes a snowball. It improves because recruiting improves. As better players more commonly leave early, it makes recruiting easier. As recruiting gets easier, more players leave early. Players leaving early create opportunities for recruits. Etc. etc.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

Well yeah if it happens often ... you got good players.

If it happens and then doesn't ... not so good.

Certainly one of those "good problems to have" type things if you keep having it.

 

[Maverick]

My chili is "walking on the sun" hot!!! Love just thinking about this and seeing it come to fruition is....well....just insane!