Who is Likely Next (2013)

[AdmiralBackhand]

It's a thread I started. You can check my stats.

 

[NDhoosier]

So you think we get K. Muhammad and not Folston? I personally like Folston better.
From your perspective, why do we get K. Muhammad and not Folston?

Is A. Muhammad a big ND lean even though his process hasnt really started yet being from Don Bosco?

 

[GBdomer]

So you think we get K. Muhammad and not Folston? I personally like Folston better.
From your perspective, why do we get K. Muhammad and not Folston?

Is A. Muhammad a big ND lean even though his process hasnt really started yet being from Don Bosco?

Folston just isn't coming here be kind of surprised he visited. Tennessee leads for him now. A. Muhammad I am not sure I just know he really likes ND and always mentions them with Bama.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Any truth to the fact that we may be getting another spot back?

 

[clashmore_mike]

As in...? Medical hardship, transfer, decommit?

 

[clashmore_mike]

Never mind, just saw the thread bump

 

[irishog77]

Any truth to the fact that we may be getting another spot back?

Wut?

 

[Irishman77]

Wut?

It's erased now but Rees thread was blowing up with transfer to Miami of Ohio...

 

[irishog77]

Thanks, Irishman.

 

[Emcee77]

So what do people make of the Randolph news?

If we get him, how will we fill out the class? Do we still need a pure DE/ROLB? It's one of those things -- we really don't need another DOG prospect but it sounds like the staff is high on Randolph. No doubt Mattingly could bulk up and play CAT, but I don't see him as the pure pass rusher/block destroyer we are looking for.

We have four spots left, correct? If Randolph takes one, I think we aim to finish with a top WR, a DE/ROLB (ideally Muhammad), and a top CB. But I could see arguments for not taking any more DE/OLBs unless we get a top talent like Muhammad.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

BGI is projecting 5 remaining spots. This number assumes there will be four players coming back for fifth years.

<a href="http://ow.ly/i/UACu" target="_blank"><img src="http://static.ow.ly/photos/normal/UACu.jpg" alt="Owly Images" /></a>

 

[IrishLax]

I think when all is said and done we aim to take 25 this year... maybe come up 1 or 2 short with a whiff or decommit. Just my personal opinion looking at numbers and players who might leave early.

Randolph would put us at 20. I don't think we give a scholarship to a punter or kicker. Those 5 spots are very fluid, the only certainties are that we'll take at least 1 CB and 1 DEish guy.

Right now it looks like ND is considering a number of RBs and has a very realistic shot at a fair number of guys and if we pass on a RB it will be because we swung for the fences with an elite prospect and passed up a solid 4 prospect like Muhammad. At WR we're certainly pursuing a number of guys and I think we'll try to, at minimum, take one more but it's also quite possible to me that we pass on another WR for a "best available" or ATH.

I think we are going to for sure take 1 more CB (IMO it's L.J. Moore after the Michigan game) and then likely go all-in on Alexander and other elite prospects where we have less than a 50% shot but it's still very realistic.

I think we are going to try really, really hard to get someone like A. Muhammad but in the meantime I wouldn't be surprised to see us pick up someone like Hooper or comparable.

My best guess is that the class finishes with 1-2 CB, 1 DE, 1 WR, 1 RB if we land Randolph.

 

[Emcee77]

BGI is projecting 5 remaining spots. This number assumes there will be four players coming back for fifth years.

Oh, cool. Two CBs then.

But who knows how many 5th years will come back. Depending on draft stock, I could definitely see fewer than four 5th years returning.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

After seeing GAIII and Cam perform admirably last week, I would personally prefer that Amir be redshirted this season and we pass on taking another RB this cycle. James is in the fold and if he sticks, I say he's our only one. I'd much rather see the staff use those spots on DL, WR, CBs (plural), and Randolph is he so chooses. Just my opinion.

Speaking of RB depth, do we really believe Cierre leaves w/ a 5th year remaining even if he has a mediocre season or perhaps gets passed on the depth chart by Theo and George? If Cierre comes back, our RB stable is terrific thus eliminating this "need" for a second RB this cycle.

Something else I'd like to add: I understand that this offense is trending in a way that's incredibly different than what I'm used to seeing out of ND. Multiple play-makers on the field, etc. (see Keith's article). I get it, and I'm excited to see Cierre and Amir join the rest of the guys out there. With that said though, there's a huge glaring hole at corner and I personally like to see plenty of elite depth at DL, so I'm just not getting the need for another RB in this particular cycle when there's one already on board and we can use those spots for other (imo, more needed) positions.

Hopefully that ramble makes sense.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Way to lay it out there, but what if the corner starts to shore up and the db's develop on par with the rest of the team. The db story until now has been Harrison. What if six guys come out of the woodwork that can play?

 

[irish4ever]

Way to lay it out there, but what if the corner starts to shore up and the db's develop on par with the rest of the team. The db story until now has been Harrison. What if six guys come out of the woodwork that can play?

That would be a good "problem" to deal with!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I am thinking. Of course anything can go wrong, look at poor Lo, but thing are trending upward.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Way to lay it out there, but what if the corner starts to shore up and the db's develop on par with the rest of the team. The db story until now has been Harrison. What if six guys come out of the woodwork that can play?

Do we even have 6 CBs on the roster who could come out of the woodwork? LOL

There are plenty of safeties on the roster. But very few at the corner position.

My philosophy is to have tons of depth, which betters your chances that a couple will stand out from the pack and become NFL caliber backs. I feel this way about every position actually. This is addressed via solid recruiting (with which our staff does an incredible job). We can't afford any misses in the cycles. We don't have the "luxury" of gray shirting, etc. So it makes it that much more important to get plenty of high caliber recruits that can be developed into productive players. Getting project players is fine w/ me (I know the staff has a great eye for talent and an even better track record w/ development), but you can't afford to miss on the elite guys as well. Sure there are busts and diamonds in the rough, but I just feel you have better chances of a hit when you stock pile a roster. (This is one of the main reasons I love BK's skill/big skill/power recruiting molds and how he's not afraid to move guys around where he sees better fit). A perfect hypothetical example: If Hawkins, Luke, and Alexander all want on board, I say hell yes. One may be a bust. Another may be a better fit at safety or for nickel packages. And the third may turn into a first round draft pick. Why not give yourself a chance by taking all three, rather than only take one or two because you "need" another running back this cycle (when the position already looks pretty good). The reverse argument is that the same can be said about RBs...bla bla bla. My rebuttal: BK has said over and over that he can fabricate an offense w/o elite players. But defense, that's where it makes a difference. You can't fake that...

Sorry for the rant.

I'm just a diehard fan who trusts BK and his offense and prays we can put together a SEC style defense someday.

 

[NDinFL]

Doug Randolph!

 

[arrowryan]

I think it is safe to say that the secondary won't be a problem next year. Every single cornerback will be returning and we will have Lo Wood back. So is we don't land a "blue chip" recruit at cornerback(Alexander), we will be perfectly fine

 

[NDhoosier]

As long as we get:
DE - A. Muhammad
CB - LJ Moore or Alexander
Ill be happy with how the rest of the class pans out (personally I would love to get both LJ Moore and Alexander)

So, my list with the randolph update (I am going with 25 commits):
DE - A. Muhammad
CB - LJ Moore
CB - Alexander
OLB - Doug Randolph
WR - Hunter Jr.
RB - Folston (I know GBdomer doesnt like this pick, but I am not letting go of him yet)

 

[beryirish]

As long as we get:
DE - A. Muhammad
CB - LJ Moore or Alexander
Ill be happy with how the rest of the class pans out (personally I would love to get both LJ Moore and Alexander)

So, my list with the randolph update (I am going with 25 commits):
DE - A. Muhammad
CB - LJ Moore
CB - Alexander
OLB - Doug Randolph
WR - Hunter Jr.
RB - Folston (I know GBdomer doesnt like this pick, but I am not letting go of him yet)

gimme gimme gimme

Just getting 4 CBs with high praises from analysts and recruiting services with Alexander being a 5 - A strong DE to go with Jacob and Isaac - A top tier WR shoulder to shoulder with two other committed studs - Randolph capping off the best LB core in the country - throw a speedy gonzalez in there and it makes for a great finish to a strong, mature class that seem to be making tight friendships with each other already to build cohesiveness with your squad which goes a long way in its own right.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I still think that if we land Randolph, Mattingly may end up switching to TE once he's here.

 

[ndfi78]

I think just about anyone could be happy if we got that list

 

[yankeeND]

Still have a shot with Corey Clement also as a RB option! Just saying

 

[NDdomer2]

So it seems everyone thinks we should take a rb, wr, de, cb plus one best available preferably someone able to play cb if you ask me.

I am trying to think of our best options at those positions. Please let me know other names I am sure to forget. I am assuming Randolph is Irish.

RB:
Muhammad
Clement
Folston

WR:
Hunter Jr.
Allen
Boyd
Treadwell (although this seems unlikely to me)

DE:
Muhammad
Hooper

CB:
Moore
Alexander
Luke

 

[Me2SouthBend]

So it seems everyone thinks we should take a rb, wr, de, cb plus one best available preferably someone able to play cb if you ask me.

I am trying to think of our best options at those positions. Please let me know other names I am sure to forget. I am assuming Randolph is Irish.

RB:
Muhammad
Clement
Folston
WR:
Hunter Jr.
Allen
Boyd
Treadwell (although this seems unlikely to me)

DE:
MuhammadHooper

CB:
Moore
Alexander
Luke

That's who I see coming on board.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Thanks! Interesting.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

So it seems everyone thinks we should take a rb, wr, de, cb plus one best available preferably someone able to play cb if you ask me.

I am trying to think of our best options at those positions. Please let me know other names I am sure to forget. I am assuming Randolph is Irish.

RB:
Muhammad
Clement
Folston

WR:
Hunter Jr.
Allen
Boyd
Treadwell (although this seems unlikely to me)

DE:
Muhammad
Hooper

CB:
Moore
Alexander
Luke

I think we have a good shot with Jogh Augusta also.

 

[Rack Em]

I think we have a good shot with Jogh Augusta also.

I think JOSH Augusta had a little work to do in the classroom yet. Believe GITF brought that up in his thread, but I'm not 100% on that.