Comments about ‘BYU football: Unga might skip senior year, enter NFL draft’

Give me a break! I'm a big Cougs fan and bigger Unga fan, but get real. This guy can't even make it through a MWC season uninjured. Look at where coming out early got Luke Staley-- als on an injury-proned runner? If I'm an NFL scout, I want to see if Unga's body can withstand at least one more year in the "mighty MWC" injury-free. I'm guessing the NFL hits a tad harder than in the MWC. Harvey, please stay around for your senior year and get the ol' body toughened up for what I hope is a successful NFL career ... in due course!

My advice Harvey, STAY IN SCHOOL! Think about it, look at those who came out early, Luke Staley comes to my mind. Here is a PRIME EXAMPLE example of what can happen when you come out early! Staley a back up with the Lions never had a chance because of injury, and he wanted "Money" which he really never got. Opportunity lost? If he stayed in school he could have gotten healthy been able to gain MORE YARDS, impress the NFL even more, gotten drafted HIGHER, played more, made more, and still be playing if he so desired! Sure think of your buddy AUSTIN COLLIE, fact, he is EXTREMELY LUCKY, he hasn't been bothered much by injury, he fell in when someone else went elsewhere, someone else got hurt, and they HAD TO USE HIM! I still think he will be out of the league in less than 5 seasons! Why, he didn't stay in school the extra year and mature. I think if he had stayed, BYU might have helped his career, another season to IMPRESS, another opportunity to have his stock go up, and more cash in his till. PLEASE STAY IN SCHOOL AND GRADUATE!

if he had gone to the yewts, he would have been a linebacker instead of the most prolific running back in the history of the conference. Good thing he went to the Y. This should be a lesson to all those high schoolers that your dreams can be fulfilled at the Y, but not with the yewts.

Money comes and money goes, but an education is for life.

Anytime there is a story like this, "...weighing options, etc.", it's basically adios to the player in question. Choosing between $$ and risk of injury + homework/classes, etc. is no choice for these kids. Unga is good, but he doesn't have the durability or the speed to get around the corners for the MWC let alone the NFL.

Why run the risk of a major injury playing one more year of college ball when he has already proven that he can play well. Go when the going is good. Take the money and run Harvey run.

Take the cash. He is at a point where he is not going any higher in the draft next year. It is too risky. Take the money and run.

The very reason he should bolt now is because of his injury issues. Staley did the right thing. Yes, he got injuried in the NFL and didn't get the big paycheck he hoped for, but seeing how often he was hurt in college, why do you think his senior season would have been any different? Had he stayed and gotten hurt again, his chances to get in the NFL would have been even worse. Injury prone players just don't suddonly get healthy.

He has nothing left to prove at BYU. Much like Collie last year. He comes back next year with a new QB, new FB, and 2 new TE's. Not to mention a team with an entire new front 7 on defense, and road games at TCU, Utah, FSU, and Washington at home.

Just say no Harvey. Get the payday now.

What? Lucky. Please you crazy Ute fan..... He is leading rookie receiver. Desevres props. Love your Hatred for the Y. Dork... Unga ought to Go to NFL in my opinion because he might get hurt worse. Take the money while you can. BYU just restock and reloads because they are getting all the recruit the Utes wish they had. LOL...GO, Take the money and hope you don't get cheap shots on the ankles like the Utes like to give everyone. Cheap Cheap Cheap Utes........ I feel just like MAX HALL>>>>>>>>

Yeah. I don't think guys like Sean Smith and Paul Kruger benefited much from switching positions at Utah did they!

Naive Cougar fan. Truth is Unga would have been a terrific LB, and when it comes to playing at the next level, his chances to have a long NFL career would be much better at LB than RB. Not quick enough to be an every-down back in the NFL. But would be a heck of a middle linebacker.

Just in response to all of the previous comments, yes Luke Staley had a very unlucky pro career. And while you all make good points on staying another year and finishing school which is great. And he may impress the NFL scouts even more next year, especially with Max Hall leaving so i'd imagine that they'll run the ball a lot more next season. But there's also a chance of him getting seriously hurt next season which would destroy his chances of going pro. If he gets word that he will be a 1st round or early 2nd round pick i'd imagine he'll decide to go. It would be stupid to stay another year after the career he's already had. You don't want to risk losing everything you've accomplished. Of course, me being a Ute fan, i'd like to see him go so we don't have to play him anymore. He is one great runner

Yes money comes and goes. But where and how it may come and where it actually goes in securing a family's future is the concept that probably matters to Unga.

I remember when many a cougar jumped on the Roger Reid train about Shawn Bradley letting down 8 million Mormons. However many Mormons or more Cougar fans to be more specific, are telling Unga not to leave BYU hanging next season, think it about the relative situation completely.

It may be in Unga's best interest to stay another year in Provo. Who really knows? It's a tough decision, one that will include advice, yet still one that carries no guarantees either way.

The Staley comparison is not really comparable is it? Two BYU RBs is more or less it.

Personally, I see Harvey Unga as a great MWC and BYU RB but not one who will excel at next level. As with Pitta, it takes different physical abilities to flourish in the NFL than the ones these two (Unga & Pitta) have used to be BYU greats.

Dude, I cheered for you for the last 3 years. I gave you my loyalty along with 1000s of others. Where's the loyalty to your fans and school?

He better stay .
I know Tonga passed Lego's 3 and his Barney puppet class but I don't know if he is eligible for the post season , let alone next year.
Better come back and help those blue blooded Ute haters. Wouldn't want you to have any treasures on earth when you can have all of those treasures in heaven via Bronky and his coaches "The Fireside Five".

I think he should test the waters. Get a feel for what the NFL scouts say about his game. It depends on how well he does in his pro day. The injury bug will bite him wether he is in the NFL or MWC but no one will know, only time will tell. I do believe school and education are very important. But even if he is on a NFL practice squad he will bring in around 7k a week. His education would be around 8 or 9k to finish depending how far away he is from graduating, point is one week on a practice sqaud (that means he actually is not a a NFL roster) can pay for his education. There is plenty of time in the summer to finish up that degree. Whatever Harvey decides to do I will support him. All the posters including myself can't say what he does will be right or wrong because we would never even sniff this tremendous opportunity. Good Luck Harvey, take is to OSU

Re: Utah Fan. There's ZERO chance Harvey will be a 1st or 2nd Round Draft pick. Mark my word. No way. I'm a Cougs fan and Unga fan, but the reality is he'll be a mid-round draft pick (4-6 round) at best! If I lose this beat, I'll turn over my over-priced mortgage to you! Go Cougs! Still wish they were coming to Sunny San Diego!

Well, Utah Fan, therein lies the rub -- he WON'T be a late 1st or 2nd round pick. I would guess a mid-round pick, out of the guaranteed money. So a major injury means no guaranteed $$. I don't see him having the speed to be an NFL TB, nor the durability or blocking ability to be an NFL FB. So, another year in Provo may not improve his draft status, but it will be easier to land a decent post-football job with a degree in hand....

Who says he'll even get drafted if he decides to leave school? He is a pretty decent college player but I'm not convinced he could make it in the NFL.

You don't owe the fans or school anything. Get good advice and do what is best for you and your family.

If you do come back, do it for the 4-year degree and not a shot at winning the MWC or getting into the BCS. There is no chance that the Y. beats TCU in Fort Worth with a new quarterback next fall, and beating Utah or Florida State on the road is probably not happening either.

You try running the ball 2 billion times for almost 3400 yards over 3 seasons and see how long you last. Harvey takes a beating, and he has handled it all quite well.

None of the U backs have done that yet.