OT: Is Shai McKenzie still playing football?

[Sean Miller Fan]

Its amazing how WPIAL stars flame out when they leave the state. They do well at Pitt or Penn State but for whatever reason, very few of them ever see meaningful playing time when they go elsewhere. I dont understand it really.

Think about it. Try to name WPIAL playera who did well out of state? There's not many. About a year ago, Dokish wrote an article on this phenomenon.

 

[Teh Teh]

Well being supported and having support from family is very important. Most that move away probably don't have that support and that's why they want to get away? Or have the wrong kinda support like parents who want quid pro quo.

Aaron Donalds father jumps to my mind on the right kinda father to have.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

He got hurt again, plus made the shit list when he started hooking up with 14 year old girls from the local HS. VT lost several RBs due to injuries, but found a pretty solid player in a true freshman that knocked out multiple 100 yard games down the stretch.

Shai is dumb for going to VT and being convinced he was ready to play early after ACL surgery. Who would you trust UPMC staff who work with some of the best athletes in the world, or Montgomery Regional in SW Virginia.

And why go to a school that had been failing offensively for years, while Pitt always seems to develop RBs no problem.

The Too Good for Pitt Syndrome strikes again.

 

[Farnox]

Its amazing how WPIAL stars flame out when they leave the state. They do well at Pitt or Penn State but for whatever reason, very few of them ever see meaningful playing time when they go elsewhere. I dont understand it really.

Think about it. Try to name WPIAL playera who did well out of state? There's not many. About a year ago, Dokish wrote an article on this phenomenon.

He blew out the same knee he hurt before. Two ACL surgeries on the same knee is not good. I would assume he was redshirted this year and VT will wait and see how his recovery goes. Doinking underage girls has not helped his cause either.

 

[Panther Parrothead]

He blew out the same knee he hurt before. Two ACL surgeries on the same knee is not good. I would assume he was redshirted this year and VT will wait and see how his recovery goes. Doinking underage girls has not helped his cause either.

Right now, the best that he can hope to be is a "dime-a-dozen, run-of-the-mill" running back. Meanwhile, VT will continue to recruit better backs than him. I hope that he takes advantage of the free education and finds a place for himself away from football.

 

[anon_d97v9o3a8b6xr]

He may end up transferring out. I don't know if he redshirted, I have a feeling he played several games this year before getting hurt again. He may end up in the same situation as Price.

 

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

Man, I would love to make up a list of WPIAL kids (stars) who left the area vs ones that stayed at Pitt and do a comparison as to success.

 

[pittmeister]

He wasn't getting enough love from Pitt and they had the gall to recruit other RB's even though he wasn't committed to Pitt. Apparently he wasn't getting enough love at VT either because he was chasing high school girls...

 

[CentPaPittFan]

How far back you want to go 60's, late 70's, 80's, 90's I can come up with 10 off the top of my head that I remember seeing play in high school at some point.............Joe Montana, John Frank, Craig Dunaway, John Ritz, Jim Kelly, Gus Ferette, Charlie Batch, Tom Clements, Ryan Mundy, Steve Breaston, couple Mt. Lebanon OL started at Vanderbilt and Kansas for 3 years in the 90's (Whitaker/Geisinger). One of the OL from mid 80's north hills teams went out west somewhere. Gronkoski went out west, Paul Lang at Michigan State now. Heck where did Mercury Morris play in college, saw him when I was like 3 or 4 years old. They are not WPIAL but the Erie Cathedral Prep teams had guys go elsewhere and be successful and we got stuck with Jawan Walkers attitude and Joe Dupre.

I think you'll find a mixed bag both ways.
More recently since like say 2000, I'd say more success at Pitt/Penn State, then taking the big splash out of town

And since I've lived in Central Pa. the last 20 years, believe me it is the same out here with guys who go out of state vs Pitt/Penn State in state..........mixed bag for sure.

And since this got me thinking I listed 15 above off top of my head. I could come up with 100's of Pa. players that played Div I in college over this period. Pennsylvania is no longer one of the high school football kings due to population loss, soccer, mills closed, spring football in the south, speed in the south whatever, but Pa. still produces a heck of a lot of high school players that are damn good and play in college at a high level, not Texas, Florida, California or Ohio, but have to be right up there with the rest.

I
.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

Isn't he singing this swan song now??????