Which freshman impressed you most so far?

[JughedJones]

Oh, my apologies for not being completely up to date on all information after a night game. Please forgive me.

You stop it.

I didn't mean that shittily, sorry.

Just really like the kid, trying to convince myself more than anything.

 

[Rocket's Rocket Fan]

In my opinion I have to hands down it has been Day. I love what he brings to the table.

 

[Bluto]

I'm less sure why they're burning Ferguson's eligibility on special teams.

Easiest way to get a good athlete on the field in an area of need, keep him engaged in the process and get him "used to the speed of the game". That's my guess anyhow. All of the freshman have been impressive so far.

 

[ACamp1900]

Day and Russell...

 

[Ironman8]

Extremely impressive to me to see Day, Russell, and Shumate play well at their particular positions as true freshmen. Day more than holds his own in the trenches and has great technique for an 18 year old, and I love the ball awareness and aggressiveness the two DBs possess.

 

[jmurphy75]

IMO it's without question Day. He's a flex D-Lineman who's done the job at DE as well as NG.

Could you image if Lynch had stayed? He's a special athlete and being able rotate him in there with Day for KLM and Tuitt, my god the front 7 would be even that more special.

Who the hell is Lynch? I don't remember a player named Lynch....j/k there is absolutely no reason to bring him up our players are amazing on the line

 

[irishff1014]

I am surprised that Day over powers the O-line the way he does. It just goes to show what talent with good coaching can do. Russell and Shumate don't look scared or anything wile on the field. Russell gets better every week. Going to be fun to watch these young guns get even better.

 

[ND NYC]

Shumate

 

[Redbar]

If Day continues to improve and doesn't wear down in his first year he will have to be at the top of this list. Just needs to take care of his body...wish he'd have put those honey buns back now.

 

[Irish To The Core]

They are an impressive bunch. I am going to say Russell because his improvement game to game has been phenomenal but no doubt Day and Schumate have looked very impressive. Brown is going to hook up for a long score sometime soon...Neal is going to take a punt to the house anytime now too. Now Baratti has cracked the two deep...Our next man in has been pretty good so far.

 

[Grimm]

Before Lo was hurt, my preseason guesses were that Day, Russell and Schumate would be most impactful (in that order). Given what has happened to our back line, we can't survive wo Russell and Schumate. But boy, Day looks tough and SMART. A couple times he saw the play develop so early. That almost interception was an amazing read for a true freshman. And the tip passes by Schumate were great. I think Russell must have had a good MSU game, becase I never noticed him.

 

[PANDFAN]

it's just soo mind boggling that everytime there is a pass break up in the secondary you see #6 or #22 ....amazing to think of the impact they have had thus far!! imo they have been saviors for our secondary! we have not had their physicality and speed in a very long time!

its remarkable how much this team reminds me of the Holtz's days....

improsing front 7 speed and being physical in the secondary
mobile qb, speed on special teams and wr....and a stable of running backs

 

[irishpat183]

People are saying Schumate, but the guy only made a couple of plays. Very nice, but I'd like to see him on some consistant snaps before I think he's more "impressive" than Day or Golson. And we still have a lot of games to go, against better talent.


But I haven't been this excited about a group of young players in a long time.

When's the last time we were able to talk about so many young stars in the making????

 

[Irish#1]

I'm going to have to go with K. Russell and Shumate, only because they play a skill position as true Freshman. Not that Day hasn't been impressive, because he has been, but the skill positions are much more dire at this point.

I'm going to go with all of them that have played. All have shown something so far and they haven't hurt us.

Brown would have had a TD against MSU if Golson had thrown the ball just a tad later.

 

[PANDFAN]

People are saying Schumate, but the guy only made a couple of plays. Very nice, but I'd like to see him on some consistant snaps before I think he's more "impressive" than Day or Golson. And we still have a lot of games to go, against better talent.


But I haven't been this excited about a group of young players in a long time.

When's the last time we were able to talk about so many young stars in the making????

these have all been on critical 3rd downs when he has been in on coverage...he isn't a starter or in the 2 deep to be able to consistent in terms of being in every down ...but he is consistent when he is in

 

[irishpat183]

these have all been on critical 3rd downs when he has been in on coverage...he isn't a starter or in the 2 deep to be able to consistent in terms of being in every down ...but he is consistent when he is in

I'm not trying to downplay that....I'm just saying that I would give more credit to guys that have been on the field more.

 

[PANDFAN]

I'm not trying to downplay that....I'm just saying that I would give more credit to guys that have been on the field more.

by that theory it would be only between Russell and Neal as true Freshman or rs freshman Golson and farley...shumate has played in the same ballpark of snaps as Day

 

[North Buffalo Irish]

by that theory it would be only between Russell and Neal as true Freshman or rs freshman Golson and farley...shumate has played in the same ballpark of snaps as Day

I don't have time to dig through all the condensed videos of our games so far, but against MSU it seemed like Day was out there on 40-50% of defensive snaps. He is just too good not to play a lot with that frontline rotation. Shumate, on the other hand, usually only plays when the situation demands an extra DB.

If anyone had some sort of stats page where it lists # of plays, that would be great. But just off the top of my head I'd bet Day has played at least twice as many snaps as Shumate, and that number is only going to grow as it looks like he's the first man in after the starting three.

 

[TDHeysus]

Day has been outstanding, and Shumate impressed me during the Purdue game. I think Russell has had the most on his plate, and deserves quite a bit of credit for doing his part. It seems like it has been quite commonplace for Freshman to contribute early in the Brian Kelly era, and with pretty decent results.

I know he isn't a Freshman, but Ishaq has impressed me thus far, and will only continue to improve. I think he will have a great game against Michigan State, as I feel we will bring pressure early and often to keep Maxwell off balance.

I would like to 2nd these comments, Day has been incredible, Shumate has been very nice surprise, and russell is holding down the fort to his best abilites given the situation.

Ishaq, as previously stated, I know he is not a freshman, but I think he deserves mentioning here. Dude 'has a nose for the ball' he is at that point where everything he does doesnt necessary show up on the stat sheet, but he is making things happen. pressuring the qb, causing fumbles, disrupting the flow of the offense.. I see this guy around the ball all the time, and sheldon day is usually right there with him.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I would like to 2nd these comments, Day has been incredible, Shumate has been very nice surprise, and russell is holding down the fort to his best abilites given the situation.

Ishaq, as previously stated, I know he is not a freshman, but I think he deserves mentioning here. Dude 'has a nose for the ball' he is at that point where everything he does doesnt necessary show up on the stat sheet, but he is making things happen. pressuring the qb, causing fumbles, disrupting the flow of the offense.. I see this guy around the ball all the time, and sheldon day is usually right there with him.

Ishaq needs to improve his strength (bull rush) and his pass rushing skills. but, he is till having a hell of a season.

 

[NDhoosier]

Ishaq seemed a little quiet against MSU, but I noticed that we was dropping back a little more than he usually does and other times he was right next to the QB when he got sacked or pressured. It just turned out that a teammate got there first. I would definitely like to see Ishaq explode in the coming games on the stat sheet.