‘22 CA LB Niuafe Tuihalamaka (Offer)

[BeauBenken]

NBC Sports had accidentally posted a commitment article for him to ND last week, but it was taken down quickly and the guys at ISD said that it was a nothing burger.

Even if it was, it does seem like we have some positive momentum here.

[zelezo vlk]

I believe even before that though, Jamie and Matt were talking about how his rankings are a bit overinflated lol. They say he's fine, but nowhere near the prospect as the other LBs they're in on. This could be a great LB class for the Irish.

[BeauBenken]

I believe even before that though, Jamie and Matt were talking about how his rankings are a bit overinflated lol. They say he's fine, but nowhere near the prospect as the other LBs they're in on. This could be a great LB class for the Irish.

I definitely don't think he's a top LB in the class based off just his sophomore film. But I differ to people who have seen him in person.

[dublinirish]

After reading that article it seems a Coney or Morgan type LB is what is preferred for Freemans system. One that can play down hill and attack the C gap. Im not an x and o guy at all and I dont claim to know much about game planning but I love a bad ass MLB

yeah on II podcast they were saying Freeman's defense will feature more of a 1 gap LB who comes downhill with less read and react required

[Dale]

He’s posted the same Manti edit the ND recruiting department gave him multiple times now. Got ND on his brain

[IrishSportsDaily]

[NDdomer2]

lol at that headline

[TP81989]

Loy 6 CB

[FightingIrishLover7]

lol at that headline

Somewhere Pete sampson is saying "told ya so"

[FightingIrishLover7]

Watching his film now.
Am I crazy or does he seem pretty slow for his ranking?

[Irishbounty28]

He doesn't have elite speed by any means, but neither did Manti which didn't seem to hurt his ranking out of HS. This guy has elite instincts IMO which can mask some of the other issues at the college level. Speed is awesome in most cases, but speed without instincts just means you consistently get to the wrong spot quickly. Now sometimes guys have enough athleticism to make up for being out of position.

Basically, I don't think lack of speed is as much of an issue if the prospect has elite instincts, which I think is the case here. I like him as a prospect, and think he is a high floor/low ceiling guy.

[FightingIrishLover7]

He doesn't have elite speed by any means, but neither did Manti which didn't seem to hurt his ranking out of HS. This guy has elite instincts IMO which can mask some of the other issues at the college level. Speed is awesome in most cases, but speed without instincts just means you consistently get to the wrong spot quickly. Now sometimes guys have enough athleticism to make up for being out of position.

Basically, I don't think lack of speed is as much of an issue if the prospect has elite instincts, which I think is the case here. I like him as a prospect, and think he is a high floor/low ceiling guy.

Yep - don't get me wrong. I think he's a tremendous player from what I've seen. But lately (post Manti) more praise goes to the sideline to sideline type of players. He seems like an old school Mike to me

[Dale]

“I definitely love Coach Kelly” - from 247

Another 1-1 Zoom this week. Applying some pressure on Wesolak and now Niuafe

[NDdomer2]

it is interesting how the pay sites are using this Kelly recruiting thing as part of their news and notes now.

[Cackalacky2.0]

Yep - don't get me wrong. I think he's a tremendous player from what I've seen. But lately (post Manti) more praise goes to the sideline to sideline type of players. He seems like an old school Mike to me

I dont know if the game has passed that position by but I LOVE LOVE LOVE a heavy hard hitting downhill MLB.

[Dale]

I dont know if the game has passed that position by but I LOVE LOVE LOVE a heavy hard hitting downhill MLB.

I’d view it as yes game as moved to sideline to sideline but if you have a roster of 12 of those type LBs and zero that can lay the wood inside the numbers, you’re going to have a different issue

[Armyirish47]

I’d view it as yes game as moved to sideline to sideline but if you have a roster of 12 of those type LBs and zero that can lay the wood inside the numbers, you’re going to have a different issue

Agreed, and with our schedule always having a great variance among opponents you have to stock the cupboard for everything.

[Luckylucci]

Agreed, and with our schedule always having a great variance among opponents you have to stock the cupboard for everything.

This. It's good to have a variety of players even if some of them are not every down or every game type players. Is it hard to keep those guys happy on the roster? Potentially, but let's worry abou that after we get them, lol.

Plus, there are still really good Mike LB's in college football that aren't considered great athletes so it's not of concern to me. We don't need to look any further than a guy we played this year, James Skalski. Dude is an average athlete but he's a brick shit house, that is physical every play, and knows how to read a defense.

[dublinirish]

This. It's good to have a variety of players even if some of them are not every down or every game type players. Is it hard to keep those guys happy on the roster? Potentially, but let's worry abou that after we get them, lol.

Plus, there are still really good Mike LB's in college football that aren't considered great athletes so it's not of concern to me. We don't need to look any further than a guy we played this year, James Skalski. Dude is an average athlete but he's a brick shit house, that is physical every play, and knows how to read a defense.

For some reason i always despise LB's like him, Ben Boulware was probably the most insufferable. They get value because they are surrounded by underclassmen future NFL'ers

[Luckylucci]

For some reason i always despise LB's like him, Ben Boulware was probably the most insufferable. They get value because they are surrounded by underclassmen future NFL'ers

They have value because they are good football players. Skalski made the Clemson defense better, not the other way around.

Just like Tevon Coney. You can be a very good collegiate player and not one suited for the NFL. Not mutually exclusive in the slightest.

[ThePiombino]

Anyone who thinks this dude isn't worth the roster spot because he's a downhill player isn't considering one simple fact -- Freeman's scheme requires a gap shooter which Niuafe would be perfect for. May not have been as much of an impact player in Lea's scheme, but with Freeman he could be a juggernuat.

[ab2cmiller]

Anyone who thinks this dude isn't worth the roster spot because he's a downhill player isn't considering one simple fact -- Freeman's scheme requires a gap shooter which Niuafe would be perfect for. May not have been as much of an impact player in Lea's scheme, but with Freeman he could be a juggernuat.

Excellent point.

[IrishSportsDaily]

ISD Audio | Notre Dame LB Target Junior Tuihalamaka

[irishff1014]

Dropped 6 spots on Rivals update. Now #71.

[Luckylucci]

[TWITTER]https://twitter.com/JuniorNiuafe/status/1366478405479198720[/TWITTER]

[Luckylucci]

I wonder what, if anything, happens to with Burnham or Junior if one of them commits. Do they take both and then only go after one of Cheeks or Jackson. Or is it first come first serve for these two. LB recruiting is about to get really interesting.

[greyhammer90]

[TWITTER]https://twitter.com/JuniorNiuafe/status/1366478405479198720[/TWITTER]

Are these twitter links not working for anyone else, or is it just me?

[Luckylucci]

Are these twitter links not working for anyone else, or is it just me?

We stripped out some of the bells and whistles in hopes that the site would run better. Removing Twtter and 247 embeds was a part of that.

[greyhammer90]

We stripped out some of the bells and whistles in hopes that the site would run better. Removing Twtter and 247 embeds was a part of that.

Ok just wanted to be sure I wasn't missing some update because people are still using them frequently and not only are they not embedded for me but they can't even be used as a hyperlink.

[Dale]

ISD tweeted this the other day. Not a casual listen but a in depth listen

Posted in Freeman’s thread. Talk here about his LBs at UC last year and how that works with scheme could be relevant here

[arrowryan]

Matt Freeman put in a prediction to Notre Dame.

I get the feeling that he's a visit away from committing. Hell, he might already be committed.

[Luckylucci]

I would agree. I think we have multiple guys that are a visit away from a public commitment.

[rtrn2glory]

That last week or two of June could be a very busy stretch

[Irish#1]

That last week or two of June could be a very busy stretch

Yeah, I can see the flood gates flying open.

[texbender]

Yeah, I can see the flood gates flying open.

Time to but flood insurance and get reservations for the Ark.

[irishandy]

I would agree. I think we have multiple guys that are a visit away from a public commitment.

Do you think ND has any silent commits at the moment?

[Irish Man3]

Do you think ND has any silent commits at the moment?

100%

[Dale]

Do you think ND has any silent commits at the moment?

My not insider opinion would be there are at least 2, possibly as many as 4 depending how you classify silent commit

[dublinirish]

Do you think ND has any silent commits at the moment?

you don't deserve to know

[Luckylucci]

Do you think ND has any silent commits at the moment?

I agree with those above that there are most certainly multiple silent commits. Or guys that are waiting to visit and commit. And I think the number is bigger than what some might think.

[Irish#1]

I agree with those above that there are most certainly multiple silent commits. Or guys that are waiting to visit and commit. And I think the number is bigger than what some might think.

Possibly. I try to temper expectations. We've seen expectations get high only to be disappointed.

[Trait Expectations]

He might've planned a visit? Could it just be a matter of time?

[Dale]

He might've planned a visit? Could it just be a matter of time?

Yes per 247 June 11 - 13

https://247sports.com/college/notre-...it--163784430/

[Dale]

Per Loy, committing on his fathers birthday, June 18th is the plan. Interesting timing compared to visit for sure...



https://247sports.com/college/notre-...aka-163803556/

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TP81989]

Per Loy, committing on his fathers birthday, June 18th is the plan. Interesting timing compared to visit for sure...



https://247sports.com/college/notre-...aka-163803556/

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Definitely a silent.

Now we know why Sneed was told there's one LB spot left.

[Trait Expectations]

Damn, our class average is about to take a jump. Add Niuafe and potentially Sneed and watch Gobaira make a big jump.

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Would he be the highest ranked LB recruit we've had since Jaylon?

[ThePiombino]

Would he be the highest ranked LB recruit we've had since Jaylon?

I think it depends on which service you're referencing, but Simon was ranked pretty high.

[Luckylucci]

Damn, our class average is about to take a jump. Add Niuafe and potentially Sneed and watch Gobaira make a big jump.

I made mention of this in another thread a few weeks back. The board is filled with guys we have a realistic shot at that are higher rated than our current average player rating. So, we have a good chance at improving in that area. The notable, possible, negatives would be where Agu ends up? WR recruiting? And, how much of the dream DB scenario do we get?

[Trait Expectations]

I made mention of this in another thread a few weeks back. The board is filled with guys we have a realistic shot at that are higher rated than our current average player rating. So, we have a good chance at improving in that area. The notable, possible, negatives would be where Agu ends up? WR recruiting? And, how much of the dream DB scenario do we get?

We have 4 CBs that appear to be more than "viable" options. I'd love to see Agu bumped but I really don't care. Any player that is ranked that low that gets an Alabama offer this early is definitely good enough. I don't mean to gloat on Alabama but they are the standard in recruiting right now. I don't know what their 3star hit rate is but they truly have their pick of quality recruits. It seems like many people are cautiously optimistic for WR recruiting but I don't know enough to swing in either direction.

The big question mark to me is safety. I think we're going to be ecstatic with the CBs we end up with in this class. If we hit on 2 of our 4 desired safeties, this'll be a class to help us take the next step.

OL, 2nd RB, and WRs 2,3 (& 4?) are bigger concerns for me right now.