Why didn't you guys offer Porter Gustin?

He is a Utah native and a mormon, he is one heck of a football player and an all around good person. You can't tell me you guys didn't have enough room for this guy?

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/2144854-155/monson-bronco-takes-hard-look-at" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



On why the Cougars didn't want Porter Gustin, who ended up at USC: "There are a lot of different things, and I don't want to get into it as much, as I want every player who wants to come to BYU to attend a camp for us, to show they're interested in BYU. It gives us a fantastic chance to evaluate in-state players. Through our evaluation, it didn't seem like that was going to be what I wanted in our program. Certainly others do and I wish him the best."



Basically the coaches didn't like something in what they saw. I guess time will tell if he is all he was cracked up to be. He certainly had plenty of suitors. It is interesting though--people were saying his dad claimed that all BYU had to do was offer and he would have picked them but if you listen to him talk after his commitment day he wouldn't have picked BYU in the end anyway.

uscfootballfan wrote:
He is a Utah native and a mormon, he is one heck of a football player and an all around good person. You can't tell me you guys didn't have enough room for this guy?

First of all uscfootballfan, welcome to Cougar Corner. Your question/comment is appreciated. I personally asked myself the same question when it was first reported that BYU was overlooking one of the best athletes in the state. After looking into it, the best answer is he did not fit the system. That does not mean he is not a good, or even a great football player. We have had multiple players in the past that thought they were great players. and have turned out to be total busts (which is probably true for every team.)



Coach Mendenhall puts a premium on hard work and loves to give scholarships to walk-on players who work their butts off and become great players. He will start Freshmen is they work hard. He is looking for team players that are humble, teachable, who work hard and that give it all for the team.



Based on the comments and stories I have read,Gustin's ego and his athletic ability are on par with each other.



Hopefully he turns out to be a great player and does good things at USC. That will be both good and bad for football in the state of Utah, good for recognition, but bad for in-state schools getting the best kids to stay once the P5 schools increase their efforts to cherry pick the states best players.

Coach can't say. Best of luck with him and his dad. If he really wanted BYU, he would be here.

Things aren't always as they seem. Bronco also said there wre "different reasons." As in additional reasons.

scott715 wrote:
Coach can't say. Best of luck with him and his dad. If he really wanted BYU, he would be here.

I have no idea why any team wouldn't want Porter, none whatsoever.

There are also reports that Porter was possibly involved in some hazing incidents at a football camp this past summer and there are reports that some female students were sexually harassed as well.



No names were ever released, but to me, it makes sense that Bronco didn't want a player who either was involved or didn't stop guys on his team from behaving so poorly.



Throw in a helicopter dad and a kid who may not have liked Bronco's direct approach.



I think he's a good player and probably could have been offered. He could help BYU. But now he'll help USC.



One other thought I have is not every Mormon kid wants to serve a two year mission even though it's commonly expected. By leaving the valley you grew up in and by not playing for a team that is 85% returned missionary, you can "escape" some of the pressure to serve and any stigma you think might follow you if you don't go.



Going to USC could be a way for Porter to more easily avoid the mission.

I think it was quite clear that he expected an offer to add it to the list.. but was never sincere about his interest in BYU. BYU doesn't get excited about being on someone's list... we get excited about kids that want to be at BYU.



BYU football is more than just doing everything possible to win football games... There's an honor code, there's an expectation of humility and willingness to sacrifice for others, there's a God, family, team before self type of attitude.



Not all kids are the right fit at BYU. He was never offered because he isn't the right fit and BYU figured that out early on.



This is a question you're better off asking in four years... it's possible you won't be wondering sooner than that

Per a few kids in our ward who play on the Salem football team with Gustin, it was not a fit and he never seriously considered BYU as it would have cramped his style. It was never even close. If he wanted an offer, it was for the chance to shoot BYU down.

snoscythe wrote:
Per a few kids in our ward who play on the Salem football team with Gustin, it was not a fit and he never seriously considered BYU as it would have cramped his style. It was never even close. If he wanted an offer, it was for the chance to shoot BYU down.

That's a revealing insight. I've wondered what the real story was. This sounds very plausible. Something was amiss that didn't make sense. Physically, he's a monster. Very impressive. More than capable. No doubt Porter would dominate on the field. Something was amiss beneath the surface.



Thx for the insight Sno.

His entire press conference was all about Him - very narcissistic. Bronco has no intention of including these type of personalities on his team as enabling special status treatment would create a cancer for team morale.



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

I know little about Mr. Gustin, but was he an entourage recruit or something, a la Jake Heaps?



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">

I would also add that not all mormon football studs WANT to go to Byu and vice versa. With the growth of the LDS faith across the country we are seeing less and less Lds blue chip prospects considering the Y. Things have changed and I think with Porter the lack of intrest was mutual on both sides.

He wanted the byu offer to invalidate the character claim thrown around about him. he wanted to use byu and byu wasn't going to have it.

Who cares about the decision of an 18 year old kid? I have much higher standards for my happiness than riding the rollercoaster of "which hat looks better with a pair of nikes."



[ Post made via Mobile Device ] http://cougarcorner.com/images/mobile.png" alt="" loading="lazy" style="max-width:100%">