'11 CA DE/OT Troy Niklas (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[billyboettcher]

So I have a question/concern. This kid is a darn good player and so is a kid like Hounshell. We also have solid kids like Carrico and Springmann. I know some could move to offense but if i'm one of these kids seeing up to 6 guys for two positions I'm probably not too excited about it. From a fan standpoint and from a coach standpoint it is awesome to have depth like this but I wonder what goes through one of these kids minds seeing that you're probably not as good as Lynch or Tuitt and you will at best be a sub to give these guys rest and at worse never see the field.

Also a guy like Rabasa is a star in his own right but is already penciled in behind Ishaq at the Cat position. any chance he could mover over to ILB? It just feels like such a waste to have two studs projected at the same spot for ~4 years.

Having said all that, this is an awesome problem to have.

[InKellyITrust]

Originally Posted by billyboettcher

So I have a question/concern. This kid is a darn good player and so is a kid like Hounshell. We also have solid kids like Carrico and Springmann. I know some could move to offense but if i'm one of these kids seeing up to 6 guys for two positions I'm probably not too excited about it. From a fan standpoint and from a coach standpoint it is awesome to have depth like this but I wonder what goes through one of these kids minds seeing that you're probably not as good as Lynch or Tuitt and you will at best be a sub to give these guys rest and at worse never see the field.

Also a guy like Rabasa is a star in his own right but is already penciled in behind Ishaq at the Cat position. any chance he could mover over to ILB? It just feels like such a waste to have two studs projected at the same spot for ~4 years.

Having said all that, this is an awesome problem to have.

You really bring up a great point. Some of these guys are probably 2-3 years away from seeing the field. I'm sure that Kelly & company have a better idea how to get all of this talent on the field all at once. The nice thing about depth especially on defense is that everyone will be ready to go in the 4th quarter while the offensive linemen have been playing the entire game.

[billyboettcher]

Originally Posted by InKellyITrust

You really bring up a great point. Some of these guys are probably 2-3 years away from seeing the field. I'm sure that Kelly & company have a better idea how to get all of this talent on the field all at once. The nice thing about depth especially on defense is that everyone will be ready to go in the 4th quarter while the offensive linemen have been playing the entire game.

I do like that idea. As a D3 o-lineman myself I always thought I had an inherent advantage over d-linemen because i didn't have to chase anyone and if I do well then the drive extends and they get tired/demoralized because their goal is 3 plays. but having extra guys ready to sub in certainly foils my plan.

[NCDomer]

Originally Posted by billyboettcher

So I have a question/concern. This kid is a darn good player and so is a kid like Hounshell. We also have solid kids like Carrico and Springmann. I know some could move to offense but if i'm one of these kids seeing up to 6 guys for two positions I'm probably not too excited about it. From a fan standpoint and from a coach standpoint it is awesome to have depth like this but I wonder what goes through one of these kids minds seeing that you're probably not as good as Lynch or Tuitt and you will at best be a sub to give these guys rest and at worse never see the field.

Also a guy like Rabasa is a star in his own right but is already penciled in behind Ishaq at the Cat position. any chance he could mover over to ILB? It just feels like such a waste to have two studs projected at the same spot for ~4 years.

Having said all that, this is an awesome problem to have.

I'd like to think that these kids are smart enough to realize that they likely won't make it to the NFL. If you can't work your way onto the starting lineup in college (even on a good team), why would you think you'll be playing on Sundays? The only people who should even have a reasonable expectation of that are 5-star recruits, and we all know that doesn't happen. Thus, smart players decide to go to great academic schools (not all encourage the academic part as much for athletes) and apply themselves in the classroom. Even star athletes should go this route and consider their education an insurance policy.

With that said, our real rivals for these wise kids comes down to a few schools: Stanford, Cal, UCLA, USC, UM, UNC, and BC. These are the only ones with similar academics to help them if football doesn't pan out and have big enough football programs to ensure they're not undervalued when drafted. I like our chances.

[IrishLax]

Anyone with insight on how his visit might be going? I'm assuming he is in South Bend for only today and tomorrow. Really want this kid... 4* across the board with versatility and the frame to develop into an impact player at a number of positions.

[NDinL.A.]

Originally Posted by IrishLax

Anyone with insight on how his visit might be going? I'm assuming he is in South Bend for only today and tomorrow. Really want this kid... 4* across the board with versatility and the frame to develop into an impact player at a number of positions.

The media can't talk to him until he leaves campus. He just got there last last night so it'd be impossible for anyone to know this early in his visit.

And anyways, he RARELY talks to the media so we won't hear anything from him most likely. He didn't say a word to SC's media after their visit, and he rarely if ever talks to ND's media.

I personally think he stays closer to home, but we'll see. He is an ND-type kid from what people say around here, but the pull to stay home is apparently great from family (but those are just rumors). We'll see...

[Ironman8]

Originally Posted by NDinL.A.

The media can't talk to him until he leaves campus. He just got there last last night so it'd be impossible for anyone to know this early in his visit.

And anyways, he RARELY talks to the media so we won't hear anything from him most likely. He didn't say a word to SC's media after their visit, and he rarely if ever talks to ND's media.

I personally think he stays closer to home, but we'll see. He is an ND-type kid from what people say around here, but the pull to stay home is apparently great from family (but those are just rumors). We'll see...

I really think it would have been Stanford had he been accepted. I have no concrete basis for this but I just have a good feeling about him being Irish.