Kates Still Plans To Visit ND

[BGIF]

Kates Waiting on Visits
Jeff Baumhower IrishEyes.com Oct 20, 2005

*A freebie

Defensive tackle prospect Jason Kates of Bishop McDevitt high school (Harrisburg, Pa.) has been a prospect that the Irish have been recruiting for a long time. As the available scholarships continue to decrease for Notre Dame is Jason nearing a decision?


Jason Kates wanted to visit Notre Dame for the USC game, but he wasn’t able to attend because Harrisburg played on Saturday. He was able to watch most of the game from home.

“I played on Saturday and by the time I got home it was almost the end of the second quarter, but I was able to catch the game,” he explained. “It was a good game. It was a great game. It was one of the greatest games I’ve ever seen. I was disappointed in the way it ended. I didn’t think it should have ended like that."

Besides Notre Dame, Kates is considering Penn State, Virginia Tech, Maryland, Syracuse, and Michigan among others, but has yet to visit a school officially.

“I’m just taking things day by day and trying to live life to it’s fullest,” Kates replied when asked how his recruitment was going.”

“I went to the Penn State game when they beat Ohio State – that was a real good game.

“I haven’t taken any officials anywhere yet, and I haven’t scheduled any official visits yet,” he said of his plans to visit schools. “I’m trying to, but it seems like every time I try to go somewhere I have a game that day.

Jason has visited Notre Dame several times on unofficial visits since the Irish have been recruiting him. Does he plan to visit the South Bend campus again before making a decision?

“I’ll be up there soon for one of those games, either Tennessee, Syracuse or Navy,” he replied

Kates hasn’t given any indication as to which college leads for his services, but he did say that he had a favorite team when asked.

“I’m favoring the Bishop McDevitt Cougars right now. I like them a lot,” he said naming his high school.

Comments: Jason isn’t in a hurry to announce his college destination and Notre Dame is getting low on available scholarships. Will he make a decision before the Irish close shop?

 

[jiggafini19]

This gets better with every passing day.

 

[Irish Envy]

This gets better with every passing day.

Well, I guess Penn State isn't too bad. At least he'll get a first hand account when we kick their tail next year.

 

[BGIF]

My print copy of Blue and Gold arrived in the mail today. BGI lists Kates as a commit, one of 20 names listed.

 

[jiggafini19]

My print copy of Blue and Gold arrived in the mail today. BGI lists Kates as a commit, one of 20 names listed.

Gerald McCoy and Butch Lewis, baby. Nuff said.

If ND gets both of these guys or all three, I don't really care anymore. Laws and Landri are back, Hand is waiting in the wings.

I'm bored with the whole Kates situation. I'm going to assume that he's on the fence and if they already have him, I'm not any the wiser.

 

[jimoats]

I haven't seen McCoy or Lewis play so I can not really comment on them. But I have seen Kates and I won't lose any sleep if we don't land him. Silently all along I hoped that he would not end up taking a scholarship from someone else.

 

[jiggafini19]

Kates is a run stuffer.

The other two are more mobile and athletic.

I say get all three. Greed is good.

 

[bigdon]

Jiggs, I said earlier that I was losing interest in Kates because of his apparent dilly-dallying with ND. If he has committed to ND he ought to say so and not take advantage of the generousity of other schools in giving him free visits. I believe, if that is the case, this reflects badly on the character of the man.

That is why I don't believe he has committed at this point and I don't care if he does or not. Welcome to Penn State, Jason.

 

[jiggafini19]

I am in full agreement. Run up the flag and commit yourself.

Watching this BYU game, ND needs athletic D linemen. McCoy and Butch Lewis are that. Kates is a space eater.

 

[guff]

I just watched Kates play. Game was televised. I caught the game at the beginning of the second half.

Keeping in mind that I've only seen two televised games my one word opinion of him is raw. He's Ted Washington big. Probably too big. He doesn't seem to crave contact. I didn't see him make a difference. And he wasn't facing a consistent double team either.

He may turn out to be an impact player at some point but chances are it won't be until his junior year in college. He's a blank slate - a gigantic blank slate - but he'll need to time to develop the skill and technique needed for big time D1 football.

 

[BGIF]

I just watched Kates play. Game was televised. I caught the game at the beginning of the second half.

Keeping in mind that I've only seen two televised games my one word opinion of him is raw. He's Ted Washington big. Probably too big. He doesn't seem to crave contact. I didn't see him make a difference. And he wasn't facing a consistent double team either.

He may turn out to be an impact player at some point but chances are it won't be until his junior year in college. He's a blank slate - a gigantic blank slate - but he'll need to time to develop the skill and technique needed for big time D1 football.

When Cedric Hilliard signed with ND in '99 the ND boards were agog. "USA Today AA First Team DL. He start as a true freshman!'' "Big Ced will plug the hole in the DLine from Day One!" When asked why he hadn't rated Hilliard highly, Bobby Burton, the Texas guru noted, "Many high school OLs and DLs that become blue chippers do it on with size advantage and not technique. They push the smaller kids around. When they get to Division I they find everybody is their size and most are in better shape, smarter, and faster. I'm afraid Hilliard is one of them. He may become a player in time but he's going to need a lot of work. ND fans are going to be disappointed. He's not coming in as an impact player." ND fans angrily cried, "Bias". "Anti-ND".

Hilliard arrived overweight and out of shape as a freshman. He had to be taken out of drills his first day. He was exhausted. He didn't get in a game his his first year and only played 3 games his sophomore year. With work in the weight room and on the practice field he became a solid player but not the early impact player his high school clipping predicted.

Reading reports about Kates weight and style of play here and elsewhere reminded me of Burton's comments 6 years ago. Whether Kates goes to ND or not he needs to push away from the table, trim down that body, and improve or learn technique before he arrives on campus, any campus.

 

[jiggafini19]

Guff is right, though. He's raw. He hasn't been playing football very long.

At 6-2, 325 I think he needs to shape up. And he could.

Where he does it in college is up to him.

 

[bigdon]

BGIF I agree with your comparison to Hilliard but it is too late to expect that Kates will arive on campus, any campus, with a changed body and greater technique. He is completing his high school career and what you see is what you will get. I have not seen him play but with all the negative comments from those who have I wonder if we are wasting a scholie on an overweight teenager that might spend more time in the cafateria than on the practice field.

 

[domerfor life]

this guy is pretty fat from what I've seen. He is not an impact player. He is a guy who needs about 2 years of weight training and conditioning, before he'll make any kind of impact. He's look like he has a lot of baby fat. Gerald McCoy is a guy who could see some time in the first year.

 

[jiggafini19]

McCoy and Lewis could both unseat Laws and Landri by the end of the season next year. Kates wouldn't see the field for a couple of years.

I agree with Domerforlife. With the other two, there could be a four way rotation at DT.

 

[irishnd31]

Gerald McCoy and Butch Lewis, baby. Nuff said.

If ND gets both of these guys or all three, I don't really care anymore. Laws and Landri are back, Hand is waiting in the wings.

I'm bored with the whole Kates situation. I'm going to assume that he's on the fence and if they already have him, I'm not any the wiser.

I am VERY TIRED of the whole Kates committed/ Kates not committed talk. If this kid was a major piece of the puzzle needed to restore ND as a college power house (although, I feel that we are already well on our way to that) then I would be more interested. All I hear about this kid is (and I am not bad mouthing him at all) he is slow, fat, doesn't put forth much effort, doesn't like to get hit, etc... If he commits, great, if not then GOOD LUCK ELSEWHERE. McCoy and Lewis are on the wish list and are the ones that I am focusing on.

 

[bigdon]

I am VERY TIRED of the whole Kates committed/ Kates not committed talk. If this kid was a major piece of the puzzle needed to restore ND as a college power house (although, I feel that we are already well on our way to that) then I would be more interested. All I hear about this kid is (and I am not bad mouthing him at all) he is slow, fat, doesn't put forth much effort, doesn't like to get hit, etc... If he commits, great, if not then GOOD LUCK ELSEWHERE. McCoy and Lewis are on the wish list and are the ones that I am focusing on.

Right on--with all the negative comments I am sure he would be a liability. Come on Lewis and McCoy

 

[jiggafini19]

This class is very important because they are going to play huge roles wherever they play in the next four years. Depth is such a concern. Why have 2/3 of the freshmen class played already? Depth.

ND will need the best available players at Offensive line, defensive tackle, linebacker and wide receiver that are available.