Jake Heaps to play 4 years?

There has been a lot of speculation that Heaps will leave after his junior year. Heaps has made it known that he wants to bring another National Championship to Provo. First question, does BYU have a decent chance at a Champ. the next 3 seasons? Bronco had stated that this past spring that he had his most impressive team to date. That's a pretty big statement. It will be very interesting to see if the team lives up to their potential this year and I can only see us improving over the next 3 years.



I think BYU does have a decent shot at a Champ. With Jake leading the offense and the defense improving with Bronco back at DC I think the talent is getting there. In your opinion what year do we have the best shot at the Champ? If BYU doesn't win a Champ. in the next two seasons do you think Jake would come back his senior year to hopefully fulfill a big goal of his? I say yes, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I think we'll improve each year so I believe our best shot at a Champ. will be Jake's senior year. Here's hoping that Jake becomes the 2nd QB in BYU history to bring home a National Championship and in the process become the best QB BYU has ever had.

No idea. All really depends on several unknowns at this point.



First is what happens with the NFL labor deal. If a rookie cap gets put in place, that takes away incentives to leave super early for guys who gte drafted early, because the money is not as huge, and is capped. Still great for a poor kid, though, but not the same.



Second, yet to be seen if Jake develops into the QB we all hope he becomes. He has shown glimpses, but needs to take a step to get next level or two this year. Without that, he stays all 4 years.



Third, injury issues are always a factor. IF he stays healthy, better chance of staying. But if he has injury risks, he goes early, like Unga and Collie did.

If Heaps is smart he stays. QBs improve with age. The longer he stays the more time he has to develop.



Although if goes early, he may go to a better team where he wouldn't have play right awaay.

We'll see. It's an unusual young adult athlete that does what is really best for him as opposed to what seems to easily be justified as being the best. Most athletes use the notion that playing an extra year and not getting paid and risking a career ending or stifling injury as being more of a risk than doing what the wiser QBs have done and staying in college, getting a degree and spending the time legitimately developing instead of getting paid to ride the wood.

All great points but I think you're missing the main point of the thread which is, will Jake come back because of his goal to win a national championship? In your opinions is that goal strong enough to make him want to come back if it looks like he'll be drafted high following his junior year? He's made it sound like a championship is a huge deal to him. Is that a big enough reason for him to stay if he hasn't gotten one by his senior year or is it a moot point and that won't have much bearing on his decision?

I think decisions like this are made based on future possibilities. So the question is, how good are we going to be in 2011 (sophomore) and 2012 (junior)? Who will be joining BYU in 2013 versus who will we be losing after 2012? If we are ranked in the top 25 both in 2011 and 2012, like I think we will be, that means we are making progress. The bigger question is, will we be losing key players after those years or will we have a legitimate chance at improving year over year?



I do think a national championship is a big enough motivation for him to come back. After all, that was the reason he came to BYU. He is a 5 star QB, he knows he is good and has potential to be great. He played a lot as a freshman and improved greatly throughout his first year. I think everything is going according to plan so far...and if it does for the next two, then I think he sticks to his plan.



On the other hand, when a goal looks impossible to reach you tend to be less motivated to work towards it. I think he will come back if we continue to improve and continue to get solid players around him.



Two less important questions in my mind that might persuade him are:

1 Who else will be available at QB in the draft if he left after his senior year. Could he be a #1 draft pick?



2 How far along will he be development-wise. He looks a bit on the skinny side to be a starting QB, so will he be NFL ready after another two years?

I think Heaps plays four years regardless.

Before someone mentions Heaps "three-year plan" (unless I missed it already being mentioned), his mom posts on a few different forums, and she has said unequivocally that there is no such plan.

All I know is leaving early, even for the projected number one pick, is no longer a foregone conclusion.



Matt Lienart started it after the 2004 season.



We had Sam Bradford, Colt McCoy, and Tim Tebow all decide to stay one more year.



Jake Locker stayed last year, and Andrew Luck did it this year even though he was losing his coach.