Upshot for the Rest of the Class (2013 edition)

[IrishLax]

Back by popular demand... a lot of this is contained within the Who's Likely Next? threads and individual player profiles, but this thread will serve as a consolidation of said information up until NSD. In the end, I intend this thread to be a 'one stop shop' of sorts that saves people time in scrounging through pages of recruiting threads for answers to the same questions like "how many spots do we have left?" or "when is so-and-so deciding?" Please feel free to add on and offer corrections/insight/opinions below. I will keep it updated weekly or as new major recruiting developments happen.
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Notre Dame has probably 2 spots remaining after the commitment of Durham Smythe. The numbers game is a little fuzzy with Jamoris Slaughter’s 6th year situation and potential transfers/medicals but we do know at this time that it is likely that Hegarty will be back (yay!) and that you can almost always count on at least one transfer (although none have been announced quite yet).

"Locks" (i.e. guys where all evidence points to them committing to ND and only a bizarre change of circumstances could get them to do something different)
None.

Guys We Currently Lead For
None.

Guys We Are Squarely in the Race For (does not mean in the slightest that we will or are expected to win the race... but means we have a legitimate shot to land these guys depending on how the next 8 weeks play out)
Eddie Vanderdoes - Eddie had a great visit to ND. Still looks on track to make his visit to 'Bama next weekend. ND should be a player until the end but is definitely can't be considered a favorite by any stretch of the imagination.

Deon Hollins - The UCLA commit will be a tough pull at this point but he had a great visit. So we're in the discussion if the staff really pushes for him hard... I expect him to end up at UCLA at this point though.

Torrodney Prevot - Another rush OLB type of prospect who, while currently committed to USC, is more likely than not going to end up at Notre Dame or Texas A&M according to reports. Visited A&M, no report of a commit to the Aggies, so expect him to make the trip to ND next weekend.

Kylie Fitts - Had a really strong visit to ND. Distance could end up being a big issue especially without his parents visiting. I think he liked the visit more than he was expecting to. UCLA would probably be my guess right now but USC is also a strong option with ND being a big dark horse.

Guys We Have a Shot At (i.e. could hypothetically become part of this class but it would take a significant change of the status quo)
None.

 

[IrishLax]

Please let me know if I forgot anyone.

 

[Oberon]

LJ Moore? At least until he commits to UCLA

 

[jerboski]

Well done

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Well done. Couldn't hurt to add Mac Alexander, Priest Willis, etc. ie. guys we've stopped actively recruiting, but are still in the mix (although not favorable) and would likely take their commitment if they chose to do so.

 

[NDPhilly]

I'm thinking Muhammad, Redfield, Bryant.

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

Deon Hollins?

 

[sparkyND]

Thanks a lot. Much appreciated and good read!

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I'm so excited to see how this class works out. It's like the opposite feeling from last year. Last year we were losing guys and no one was seriously considering us. Now we are keeping most of our commits and will be picking up players too.

 

[DillonHall]

I'm so excited to see how this class works out. It's like the opposite feeling from last year. Last year we were losing guys and no one was seriously considering us. Now we are keeping most of our commits and will be picking up players too.

Actually there were lots of elite prospects last year that were supposedly seriously considering us. We need to seal the deal much better this time.

 

[IrishLax]

Well done. Couldn't hurt to add Mac Alexander, Priest Willis, etc. ie. guys we've stopped actively recruiting, but are still in the mix (although not favorable) and would likely take their commitment if they chose to do so.

Yeah I left them off for that very reason. Same with L.J. Moore... I'm honestly not even sure if our coaches still keep in touch with them at all.

Wouldn't hurt though to add them though... along with the likes of Hollins, Hooper, etc... I'll probably do so at a later date if their recruitment picks up at all or they schedule a visit.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Great job Lax! Thank you!

 

[IrishLax]

Actually there were lots of elite prospects last year that were supposedly seriously considering us. We need to seal the deal much better this time.

Yeah, we ended the year with really poor momentum, in large part thanks to the loss to FSU. I'm interested to see what happens this year... by all accounts we should close very strong and I'm not even sure if an embarrassing loss in the title game would change that.

 

[IrishLax]

Now hearing/reading multiple places that both Nichols and Hegarty are more likely than not to get medicals. So that brings the number up near 6 and begs the question of whether or not we will try to get in with another OL in this cycle or save the spot and use it in the next cycle.

Martin and Watt absolutely, positively must come back next year or we are going to have serious OL depth issues. Also, who the hell is going to play center if Hegarty can't come back? Harrell? Sheesh.... and what if he gets injured?

 

[Fbolt]

Now hearing/reading multiple places that both Nichols and Hegarty are more likely than not to get medicals. So that brings the number up near 6 and begs the question of whether or not we will try to get in with another OL in this cycle or save the spot and use it in the next cycle.

Martin and Watt absolutely, positively must come back next year or we are going to have serious OL depth issues. Also, who the hell is going to play center if Hegarty can't come back? Harrell? Sheesh.... and what if he gets injured?

cite?

 

[stlnd01]

Now hearing/reading multiple places that both Nichols and Hegarty are more likely than not to get medicals. So that brings the number up near 6 and begs the question of whether or not we will try to get in with another OL in this cycle or save the spot and use it in the next cycle.

Can see that either way, but we've already got a full class of O linemen, and taking more than that is a logjam waiting to happen. I'd hope we can convince Martin and Watt to stick around and save the spot for next year. Would think the coaches already have an idea of their intentions, right?

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Now hearing/reading multiple places that both Nichols and Hegarty are more likely than not to get medicals.

Terrible TERRIBLE news. Just threw a wet blanket over all the other good recruiting vibes. Losing Hegarty would be a huge blow to our offense in 2013.

 

[Irish8248]

i think we may have 6 spots but with limited spots next year, this staff would feel comfortable with taking 4 more in the final month and pass those two off til next year... i base this off the fact i dont think we get 6 more people to commit to us anyways and we seem to be focusing in on a certain 4 main targets with likely to highly likely possibilites of signing up (AQM, Red, Bryant, Vanderdoes)... Folston seems to have cooled and tread was a far shot to begin with

 

[irishfan]

Thanks LAX. Awesome update as always.

 

[DillonHall]

i think we may have 6 spots but with limited spots next year, this staff would feel comfortable with taking 4 more in the final month and pass those two off til next year... i base this off the fact i dont think we get 6 more people to commit to us anyways and we seem to be focusing in on a certain 4 main targets with likely to highly likely possibilites of signing up (AQM, Red, Bryant, Vanderdoes)... Folston seems to have cooled and tread was a far shot to begin with

Unfortunately, Vanderdoes committing to ND is anything but likely

 

[Ironman8]

Unfortunately, Vanderdoes committing to ND is anything but likely

His visit is even in doubt apparently. USC is pushing hard for his visit to LA to be his last.

 

[Emcee77]

Now hearing/reading multiple places that both Nichols and Hegarty are more likely than not to get medicals. So that brings the number up near 6 and begs the question of whether or not we will try to get in with another OL in this cycle or save the spot and use it in the next cycle.

Martin and Watt absolutely, positively must come back next year or we are going to have serious OL depth issues. Also, who the hell is going to play center if Hegarty can't come back? Harrell? Sheesh.... and what if he gets injured?

Wow, that makes me sick to my stomach ... First Prestwood and Carrico, now Nichols and Hegarty ... suddenly OL depth is really sucky.

Seriously what will we do about center? I guess Barrett Jones learned the position late in his career, didn't he (guard in 2010, tackle in 2011, center in 2012)? Hopefully the staff has a backup plan in mind. I doubt Harrell is ready to be a starter, just physically. As I recall he was not a huge guy coming out of high school.

Not sure this should impact 2013 recruiting though. Mayybe we take another interior linemen, but we don't want our O-line recruiting to be unbalanced. If we need freshmen to play next year, a couple of the five we've got committed already will do nicely. Then we go for another 5 or so next year instead of 3 or so.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Wow, that makes me sick to my stomach ... First Prestwood and Carrico, now Nichols and Hegarty ... suddenly OL depth is really sucky.

Seriously what will we do about center? I guess Barrett Jones learned the position late in his career, didn't he (guard in 2010, tackle in 2011, center in 2012)? Hopefully the staff has a backup plan in mind. I doubt Harrell is ready to be a starter, just physically. As I recall he was not a huge guy coming out of high school.

Not sure this should impact 2013 recruiting though. Mayybe we take another interior linemen, but we don't want our O-line recruiting to be unbalanced. If we need freshmen to play next year, a couple of the five we've got committed already will do nicely. Then we go for another 5 or so next year instead of 3 or so.

I bet one of the guards like Hanratty could play center.

 

[Ironman8]

Wow, that makes me sick to my stomach ... First Prestwood and Carrico, now Nichols and Hegarty ... suddenly OL depth is really sucky.

Seriously what will we do about center? I guess Barrett Jones learned the position late in his career, didn't he (guard in 2010, tackle in 2011, center in 2012)? Hopefully the staff has a backup plan in mind. I doubt Harrell is ready to be a starter, just physically. As I recall he was not a huge guy coming out of high school.

Not sure this should impact 2013 recruiting though. Mayybe we take another interior linemen, but we don't want our O-line recruiting to be unbalanced. If we need freshmen to play next year, a couple of the five we've got committed already will do nicely. Then we go for another 5 or so next year instead of 3 or so.

Harrell started training for center in HS I'm sure he will at least be a backup option there next year, if nothing else.

Also believe Hanratty saw some snaps there in practice. I'm sure the coaches will have a plan.

 

[Emcee77]

I bet one of the guards like Hanratty could play center.

I guess he'll have to. Interior linemen on the team next year:

Watt (if he comes back, and I think chances are better than 50% that he will, but who knows)
Hanratty
N. Martin (might play tackle)
Heggie
Harrell
Montelus (true frosh)

and that's it! Frightening lack of depth.

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

I'm thinking Muhammad, Redfield, Bryant.

This.

 

[NDGirlzRock]

I guess he'll have to. Interior linemen on the team next year:

Watt (if he comes back, and I think chances are better than 50% that he will, but who knows)
Hanratty
N. Martin (might play tackle)
Heggie
Harrell
Montelus (true frosh)

and that's it! Frightening lack of depth.

Why not Heggie......??? I got a good feeling about him......he could really get into it and make his mark!

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Why not Heggie......??? I got a good feeling about him......he could really get into it and make his mark!

I'd have an issue with a 285 pound center.

 

[pumpdog20]

Now hearing/reading multiple places that both Nichols and Hegarty are more likely than not to get medicals. So that brings the number up near 6 and begs the question of whether or not we will try to get in with another OL in this cycle or save the spot and use it in the next cycle.

Martin and Watt absolutely, positively must come back next year or we are going to have serious OL depth issues. Also, who the hell is going to play center if Hegarty can't come back? Harrell? Sheesh.... and what if he gets injured?

I must not be understanding this statement. To me it says that they will be getting medical hardships. Doesn't that mean, they can come back?

 

[shakedownthethunder]

I'd be willing to bet dollars to donuts that they quickly make Bivin an interior lineman at ND.

If Hegarty really is gone, wow...

But, I betcha Hanratty would be the center then. I think Watt comes back, I don't think Martin does.

So, if Hegarty is gone:
Lombard
Watt
Hanratty
??
???

It'd be interesting for those last two. I'd say Nick Martin plays one of those two spots. Any Ronnie Stanley love?