'12 NJ S Elijah Shumate (Notre Dame Signed LOI)

[NDdomer2]

I don't know if anyone saw it or not but Te'o said Elijah is going to be a future all American on twitter.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

I don't know if anyone saw it or not but Te'o said Elijah is going to be a future all American on twitter.

I would prefer he become a future All American on Football, but that's just me.

 

[NDdomer2]

Touche.

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

Does anyone know what safety position he is set to play next year?

**Bye week is killing me, so I'm just wondering what the D looks like next year.

 

[Emcee77]

Lol. I don't. Does it really matter? Or is there any way of knowing? I haven't noticed much difference between the players we have used at safety. They seem basically interchangeable anyway.

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

Probably not... but I was thinking about that "star" or "rover" spot.
Which led to the thought of a Shumate and Jaylon Smith backfield.

If our other LB recruits live up to the hype. IMO Shumate, Jaylon and Russell = big time stars. And they will play together for atleast 3? years

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Does anyone know what safety position he is set to play next year?

**Bye week is killing me, so I'm just wondering what the D looks like next year.

He was recruited as a SS (spent most of his time in the box at Don Bosco), and unless the NCAA grants Slaughter a 6th year, I expect Shumate to be our starting SS next year.

 

[NDinFL]

He was recruited as a SS (spent most of his time in the box at Don Bosco), and unless the NCAA grants Slaughter a 6th year, I expect Shumate to be our starting SS next year.

I believe that Slaughter has already been denied a 6th year

 

[BGIF]

I believe that Slaughter has already been denied a 6th year

That would be a lightening quick decision by the NCAA. As of two weeks ago ND/Slaughter were evaluating the possibility according to the SBT. Does the NCAA render any judgement in two weeks (aside from slam dunking PSU)?

A comment were made that sitting out his freshman year may prevent a 6th year but have not heard anything since then.

 

[NDinFL]

That would be a lightening quick decision by the NCAA. As of two weeks ago ND/Slaughter were evaluating the possibility according to the SBT. Does the NCAA render any judgement in two weeks (aside from slam dunking PSU)?

A comment were made that sitting out his freshman year may prevent a 6th year but have not heard anything since then.

Not to question the super computer, but I believe that GITF, or one of our regulars posted that he wouldn't be allowed back for a 6th year, let me see if I can find it....

Edit:

He has already redshirt one time, so the question is can he get a 6th year.

It use to be that the NCAA only gave a sixth year if his first redshirt was also a medical redshirt. But the past year or two the NCAA has been more lenient, so there is a possibility but not a guarantee that he coud get the sixth year.

Was also mentioned he played 11 quarters this year, which may make him ineligible

 

[BGIF]

Not to question the super computer, but I believe that GITF, or one of our regulars posted that he wouldn't be allowed back for a 6th year, let me see if I can find it....

Edit:


Was also mentioned he played 11 quarters this year, which may make him ineligible

You're not questioning me. I didn't report it. The SBT did 2 weeks old. I heard Kelly's presser where he noted it was being looked into. It didn't sound promising but I've seen nothing official stating he's finished, they've applied or decided it was useless. That's all I was noting.

 

[NDinFL]

You're not questioning me. I didn't report it. The SBT did 2 weeks old. I heard Kelly's presser where he noted it was being looked into. It didn't sound promising but I've seen nothing official stating he's finished, they've applied or decided it was useless. That's all I was noting.

He's most certainly finished for this season.

Hopefully he'll be let back for another season, and I hope it will happen....

 

[military_irish]

He's most certainly finished for this season.

Hopefully he'll be let back for another season, and I hope it will happen....

I think he meant finished with the process of applying for a 6th year.

 

[tko]

now back to Elijah.

 

[nsideirish]

Has he been getting playing time the last few weeks? I was really impressed with him early on but haven't seen him in on many plays recently. Even though that is often a good thing for a CB...

 

[PANDFAN]

Has he been getting playing time the last few weeks? I was really impressed with him early on but haven't seen him in on many plays recently. Even though that is often a good thing for a CB...

stanford was in sparingly...we were more loading up the box and not running a nickel package often...he played in miami quite a bit.

 

[Riddickulous]

Elijah Shumate ‏@ElijahShumate
I believe in surrounding myself with successful people... lets help each other get to the top.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

He's gonna be a good one. He's been getting more playing time the past few weeks. Almost every passing situation it seems.

 

[Redbar]

Elijah Shumate ‏@ElijahShumate
I believe in surrounding myself with successful people... lets help each other get to the top.

Wise words, life is a team sport, indeed!

 

[Chamellion]

Still hasn't lost since Middle School

 

[yankeeND]

Still hasn't lost since Middle School

I've been thinking about that all day! How amazing that must be! Hope he stays all 4 years!

 

[jakerbluegold]

Still hasn't lost since Middle School

I did not know this!
Interesting.

 

[Ironman8]

IrishIllustrated.com - Shumate plays role as rookie

It didn’t take long for veteran secondary coach Bob Elliott to spot some truly unique characteristics in freshman defensive back Elijah Shumate.

“Very seldom do you recruit a safety that moves to corner, although we have one this year - Elijah Shumate - who was so athletic at safety that we felt he was capable of, first, playing the role of a nickel,” said Elliott back in mid-August, before Shumate had played a down for the Irish.

“He’s very, very athletic. He has corner feet and burst and speed and athleticism. He may be a safety still in his career. He may be a corner. But we think he can definitely be a nickel-type of player and on special teams.”

Shumate did indeed win the nickel job as a true freshman. The emergence of Dog linebacker Danny Spond allowed the Irish to use more base defensive coverage in long yardage situations, thus cutting into Shumate’s playing time.

But the 6-foot-0, 198-pounder from East Orange, N.J., and Don Bosco Prep played in all 13 games, making nine tackles (seven solo) to go along with three passes broken up and three passes defensed.

“It was a great opportunity and I had fun going out there and playing the game I’ve loved to play since I was seven-years old,” said the effervescent Shumate. “It’s been a big transition from high school to college, but it’s been a fun transition.”

Early in the season, Shumate was in the spotlight every time he stepped on the field. He had a pass break up against Purdue in Week Two, and then came up with two more in Week Three against Michigan State.

“They wanted me to play the nickel because they wanted to get me on the field and get some game experience,” Shumate said. “I would have one down to make a play -- third down -- and I had to make a play.”

Shumate sensed the opposition was picking on him because of his inexperience.

“You see this random guy out there, No. 22, and he hasn’t been out there the whole time,” said Shumate, breaking into his light-up-the-room grin. “They tend to go at that guy.”

Shumate relished those opportunities, even trying to bait the opposing quarterback into throwing to the man he was defending.

“You kind of like make a few moves or be a second late so they throw it to him, and you come up and make a play on the ball,” Shumate laughed. “I had to find a way to make the quarterback throw it to my man.”

As the Irish prepared for their national title tilt with Alabama, Shumate wasn’t sure where his future would be. A safety by trade, he could compete for the open spot vacated by the loss of veterans Zeke Motta and Jamoris Slaughter, he could remain predominately in the nickel back role, or he could compete with cornerbacks Bennett Jackson and KeiVarae Russell to form a rotation.

“I can’t really say where my future is, but I’m pretty sure that the coaches have a great plan for me, whether it’s cornerback or safety,” Shumate said.

“I’ve been playing defensive back since I was a freshman in high school. I told the coaches, ‘Wherever you need me in the defensive backfield, I can play it. Whether it’s corner, nickel, safety, strong safety?it doesn’t matter.’”

Coming from a high school where discipline is a prerequisite for success, Shumate’s transition to college life, while not without its bumps in the road, has been pretty smooth. In his own words, Shumate “crushed it” in the classroom his first semester. Yet he remains wary of the challenges that lie ahead.

“There are always adjustments, especially being on your own and not having your parents around,” Shumate said. “Then you’re at a Catholic school and you have to watch what you do and say. It’s definitely a transition, but it’s a great transition.

“You’ve got to be focused in the classroom if you want to maintain a certain g.p.a., and you’ve got to be focused on the field if you want to stay on the field. They teach you about character and how to be a better person.”

Shumate quickly learned what he didn’t know about football in his early days on the Irish practice field.

“My first year at Notre Dame definitely changed my knowledge of the game,” Shumate said. “I came from a great program in high school where you’re the man. But in college, you’ve got to be patient.

“This next level is a lot faster and you’ve got to be a student of the game. That’s definitely what Notre Dame teaches you. It helps you build character on and off the field because it’s a great academic school. It was hard at first in the summer, but as the year went along, I adjusted.”

Still, Shumate learned he didn’t know as much about the game on this level as he thought.

“The tough part is just trying to get everything down pat,” Shumate said. “Coaches are in your ear and they have big expectations. That’s why we (played) in the national championship. We’ve got the greatest coaches in the world.

“The expectations are really high. Being a freshman, you make a lot of mistakes. Everything is big and you try to put that in the back of your mind. You’ve got to learn how to leave that alone and play for the next play.”

Shumate also adjusted to thinking in terms of BCS games and national championships.

“I knew how much talent we had and I knew how young we were, and I knew we had a lot of work to do,” said Shumate, reflecting back upon his first year of football at Notre Dame.

“But I also knew that this is a special team. That’s why I came here. I had no doubt that we were going to be a winner.”

 

[30MilesSE]

Impressive.

 

[ThePiombino]

This kid is gonna shine big time at ND. Can't wait to see him progress over the next 3 season.

 

[DillonHall]

Articles like this are helping me get over the loss. Thanks!

 

[Luckylucci]

Good read, great kid!

 

[Ironman8]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>"He's our guy back there," Kelly on Elijah Shumate at the backend of the defense as Notre Dame's starting safety.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDatRivals/status/323121306088386564">April 13, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Boom!

 

[Ironman8]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23NotreDame">#NotreDame</a> HC Brian Kelly on S Elijah Shumate: "He is what we thought he was in terms of a tackler. ...He's physical."</p>— Dan Murphy (@BGI_DanMurphy) <a href="https://twitter.com/BGI_DanMurphy/status/323121007965659137">April 13, 2013</a></blockquote>
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[RuntheBall]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>"He's our guy back there," Kelly on Elijah Shumate at the backend of the defense as Notre Dame's starting safety.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDatRivals/status/323121306088386564">April 13, 2013</a></blockquote>
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Boom!

Kelly named him starter? Already? IMPRESSIVE!

He is one of my favorite players, great athlete!