The Mega Mitch Mustain Rumor Thread (Merged)

[Irish1225]

IF, and a big IF, Mustain was to come to ND (and that is assuming that he still has a scholarship), would he be an early enrollee? If so, wouldnt he be commiting in the next couple of weeks? I believe NDs second semester begins January 16th, so he would have to decide in two weeks. I dont see this happening, so if the coaches really want him, there gonna hve to find another early enrollee fast. Ive heard talks of possibly Gaines or Jackson, and Gallup enrolling in January, but I dont know if these were serious talks. Personally, I would love to take Mustain, but that would probably mean no Clausen, and I dont know who Id rather have. But ND is very fortunate to be in this situation, possibly turning down a 5* quarterback.

 

[polishdomer]

I don't see why Clausen is "god"

I don't see why Clausen is "god"

I had read that he plays in what amounts to a Leve 10 league or something in California.

The idea of Mustain coming to ND is intriguing...I don;t see why an eraly enrollment is out of the question as I would rather have 3 top 100 QBs than 2...quantity is good in this case. You will always have transfers in any program, and I think it is very silly to hold out for Clausen. That said, I had read previously that Mustain had a 2.8 GPA and not sure about his SAT/ACT, but that does not sound like numbers that would be adequate for an early enrollee...can someone perhaps elaborate on the early enrollment issue?

On another note, I thought that OL and DL were our 2 biggest needs with the OL coming along very nicely...McCoy would be a great addition, and hope we beat the Buckeyes. GO IRISH!

 

[jiggafini19]

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer.

Roll Tide!!

 

[Batch]

The thing that has me guessing is that MM keeps mentioning ND. You would think that if Coach Weis has talked to him and said "Sorry son, there is no room at the inn" MM would not be talking about ND.

I may be seeing something that is not there but I get the feeling there are things happening behind the scenes that only the coaching staff knows about.

-Batch

 

[BGIF]

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer.
Roll Tide!!

Do you know what a Yellow Hammer is?

 

[irishwavend]

I would say that Wolke, and for that matter, Sharpley and Gorski, will be 4, 5, and 6 on the depth chart after Quinn, Frazer and Jones for 06.

Why does everybody down on Sharpley so much??? Frazer and Jones will most certainly be behind him in '06.

 

[jiggafini19]

Do you know what a Yellow Hammer is?

A book.

A bird.

Banking software.

Something tells me there is something else you have in mind.

 

[scooper]

In an article from Atlanta yesterday, Mustain mentioned Notre Dame as a team that is still in it. I'm not sure what this means, but I'm plenty happy with the QB's we have. That said, if the Irish keep coming up in his interviews, either there's something going on behind the scenes or he really wants to come to ND but is waiting to see if room opens up.

Let's be honest. The shockwaves of landing the top QB in the nation would be huge. How easy will offensive recruiting be for Weis if he can bring in three top QB's in one year with each knowing the others are coming?

I don't care about how this year's class affects Claussen or anybody else. This year's class is the foundation on which the future will be built. The stronger they are, the better. That said, I really don't expect there to be any room for Mustain, and I'm happy about what that means.

Here's a guy who it sounds like wanted ND for awhile now, but he waited due to maybe indecision, maybe local pressure, who knows why. Remember the rumors of his impending commitment? Immediately following those rumors, Jones went public with his intentions. Folks, that right there was a race to take ND's second QB slot. Jones won. To the winner go the spoils.

Recruiting is a competition. It is a competition for college coaches to land the best players. But now there may be a new competition, for players to land a spot in Charlie's offense. It's naive to think that recruiting will be easy. A big reason for this year's success is the hard work of the entire staff. That will continue. But from now on, that hard work may lead to spots filling up before some prospects are ready to commit. It's a great position to be able to turn away blue chippers.

Now a word of advice- There are going to be times when the staff accepts a kid who may not be as highly ranked as those remaining on the boards. I've heard people suggest jettisoning one of our QB's for Mustain. That's assinine. This is Notre Dame and Notre Dame is above such crap. We have to trust that Charlie and his staff watch much more of these players than Joe Schmoe at Rivals. He knows his system better than them. He knows who fits. If he accepts a three star guy and turns away a four star guy, he got the guy he wants. We have to trust that. He has earned it. If writers for Rivals and Scout knew more about football than Charlie, they'd be on the sidelines somewhere.

 

[jiggafini19]

I can make this simple for us:

There are 3 spots left. No early enrollment, no magic tricks. 3 spots available. Four players left:

Carfuel, Young, McCoy and Mustain.

Now what three players do you want to fill those spots out of these four? The answer should be obvious and should not include a third QB.

Have you looked at the current depth chart for the o and d lines? And have you looked further down the road to see who will be gone after the Ohio State game? Then after 2006?

ND has 2 QBs verballed. They NEED Carufel, Young and McCoy more than anything else right now. That includes Mitch Mustain, Jimmy Clausen and any other signal calling God that is 18 years old.

Mustain, Jones, Frazer and Clausen are all great quarterbacks. But they'll be killed if intramural walk ons are blocking for them. Notre Dame is in dire need of offensive line depth. They need 6 this year and four next year.

 

[scooper]

Easily Carufel, Young and McCoy. If Mustain were to come, he'd have to make room for himself by enrolling early.

 

[jiggafini19]

Which they have already said he is not going to do....regardless of where he goes. And if that is something he'd like to do, he'd better decide to do it soon since it is December 23rd.

This really is no longer an issue. He will end up at Arkansas. Personally, I'd like to see him go to Alabama because I think he'll have the best chance to succeed there of the three.

 

[scooper]

Bama would be my preference as well. Though his commitment may move them to claim two more national titles on signing day.

 

[BGIF]

Mustain's short list: Arkansas, ND, Tenn. and Alabama
Quarterback Mitch Mustain, who initially committed to the Razorbacks, is also considering Notre Dame, Tennessee and Alabama.

Associated Press
Dec. 23 LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas has three main competitors in the Mitch Mustain sweepstakes — Notre Dame, Tennessee and Alabama.

Mustain, one of the nation's top quarterback prospects, appears to have narrowed his search to those four schools. The Springdale star announced in August he planned to attend Arkansas, but he reopened his recruitment earlier this month.

Mustain was in Atlanta this week for Fox Sports Net's "Countdown to Signing Day" show. While there, he spoke to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

"It's Notre Dame, Tennessee and Alabama a little bit," Mustain told the paper Wednesday. "And I still like Arkansas."

Mustain's mother, Beck Campbell, confirmed the list Friday.

"That's pretty accurate," Campbell told The Associated Press. "I think at this point that pretty well sums it up."

Campbell said Mustain will try to make some official visits in January, and that it is hard to anticipate how much time he'll need before making a decision. National signing day is Feb. 1.

"I'm looking for a place where I'm comfortable," Mustain told the Journal-Constitution. "The first thing is where I'm going to be living. I want to enjoy that."

Mustain threw for 3,817 yards and 47 touchdowns this season, leading Springdale to a Class AAAAA state championship. He was named Gatorade national player of the year, and he will be named Parade Magazine player of the year in its Jan. 1 issue.

Mustain's coach at Springdale, Gus Malzahn, was named Arkansas' offensive coordinator two weeks ago after months of speculation that he would move up to the college level. But that didn't stop Mustain from considering other schools.

"When he was still my coach, I knew he would be on the staff at Arkansas somehow," Mustain told the Journal-Constitution. "But I decided to open it up anyway. He's capable of handling that job on his own."

 

[jjsccer2]

The focus shouldn't be on the quarterback position because right now we have two good ones. We should be focusing on landing in other positions that we have none in this class right now. For example, defensive tackle.

 

[BGIF]

The focus shouldn't be on the quarterback position because right now we have two good ones. We should be focusing on landing in other positions that we have none in this class right now. For example, defensive tackle.

Regardless of what's in the news (or rumor mill) only the coaching staff knows the real score.

And while just about everyone agrees that Carufel, Young, and McCoy are the last three in the class, Mustain is the only one talking. And he keeps mentioning ND.

With those 3, the class appears full. But Mustain keeps mentioning ND as a finalist. Why?

Several other prospects have told the recruiting media that the ND coaches said the class was full so why would Mustain keep mentioning ND?

Early in recruiting prospects may mention schools showing interest of any type to bolster their worth. Mustain is already the #1 QB, the Offensive POY, honor after honor, offers from across the country. He doesn't need to drop names to get a better offer. He has had them for a long time.

So why does Mustain keep mentioning ND?

He had a window of opportunity to commit but didn't. Now he's expressing renewed interest but ND doesn't appear to have a slot. Yet he persists in naming ND.

As long as he keeps mentioning ND, he's news until all the signed letters of intent are received.

 

[MemphisIrish]

RE:Mustain's persistent interest

RE:Mustain's persistent interest

Is there any chance that we would have one of our recruits walk-on with an academic scholarship? I know that alot of basketball teams often ask players to walk on until a scholarship opens up. Anyone think that might be the case in order to fit mustain in?

 

[weisfaninmass]

Is there any chance that we would have one of our recruits walk-on with an academic scholarship? I know that alot of basketball teams often ask players to walk on until a scholarship opens up. Anyone think that might be the case in order to fit mustain in?

No.

 

[Rip Rap]

academic scholarship.

No such thing.

 

[BGIF]

Is there any chance that we would have one of our recruits walk-on with an academic scholarship? I know that alot of basketball teams often ask players to walk on until a scholarship opens up. Anyone think that might be the case in order to fit mustain in?

Is there a chance? I supose there's always a chance.

Do I think that's the case? No!


Carufel
Young
McCoy

Lewis
Kates
Hunter
Mustain

It appears that one or more of the first three have to chose elsewhere for any of the next four (not in any particular order) to have a slot. Is Mustain just wishing and hoping or does has he received some spark of encouragement?

Until Mustain states ND's no longer a consideration, he's news here.

 

[jiggafini19]

I think he's holding his breath. Too many dominos have to fall a certain way for him to get on board. If Young and\or McCoy go in another direction, you're looking at Lewis, Austin and Kates all waiting in the wings. All of them still mention ND while others like Eliades and LaRon Moore are no longer. The priority has become Young, McCoy and juniors.

Mustain is very very good. I've read some things about him where he is called all but flawless. Josh Booty, Brock Berlin, Chris Leak, Dan Kendra and Ron Powlus all got major publicity and were considered can't miss guys. No such thing. Prep QBs and their abilities have to be kept in close perspective. Jones and Frazer could both bust, but the idea of having both would lead one to think that one of them will have an impact, at least mathematically. If ND had Mike Hartline and Tyler Lyon instead of Jones and Frazer I'd probably be more inclined to be a bit more excited about the prospect of Mustain coming to ND. But the two guys they have aren't chopped liver and don't appear to be headed anywhere else.

I feel like those of us who are satisfied with them are growing less and less in number.

 

[jkmoline]

http://notredame.rivals.com/feature.asp?SID=880&FeKey=10327

scroll down, and on the left hand side you will see a picture of MM at the army all american practice wearing a play like a champion towel

 

[polishdomer]

Holy crap...

Holy crap...

You're right! Now that is very intriguing, and makes my earlier theory of Mustain perhaps enrollign early a possibility...

 

[BGIF]

Zach? No.

Demetrious? No.


It's ...

Undecided QB Mitch Mustain drops back to pass.

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

I would love the Mustain-Jones combo

no offense to Frazer but uhhhh....sorry

 

[BGIF]

Quote:
Originally Posted by BGIF
Do you know what a Yellow Hammer is?

A book.

A bird.

Banking software.

Something tells me there is something else you have in mind.

I just noticed your response from 12/23. A Yellow Hammer is the Alabama State Bird.

 

[BGIF]

I think he's holding his breath. Too many dominos have to fall a certain way for him to get on board. If Young and\or McCoy go in another direction, you're looking at Lewis, Austin and Kates all waiting in the wings. All of them still mention ND while others like Eliades and LaRon Moore are no longer. The priority has become Young, McCoy and juniors.

Mustain is very very good. I've read some things about him where he is called all but flawless. Josh Booty, Brock Berlin, Chris Leak, Dan Kendra and Ron Powlus all got major publicity and were considered can't miss guys. No such thing. Prep QBs and their abilities have to be kept in close perspective. Jones and Frazer could both bust, but the idea of having both would lead one to think that one of them will have an impact, at least mathematically. If ND had Mike Hartline and Tyler Lyon instead of Jones and Frazer I'd probably be more inclined to be a bit more excited about the prospect of Mustain coming to ND. But the two guys they have aren't chopped liver and don't appear to be headed anywhere else.

I feel like those of us who are satisfied with them are growing less and less in number.

I don't think satisfaction is the case. Sure there are some that might not see scrambling QB as a Weis prototype but OSU looked pretty good on offense with a mobile QB. And there are some that are concerned about Frazer's senior stats neglecting the lack of support and that CW AND Cutcliffe had him ranked #1 preseason. But I think in the quietest, least suspenseful ND recruiting season that I can recall, Mustain sparks intrigue.

Is the interest mutual? Is Mustain knocking on a closed door? Has CW worked behind the scenes to make this happen? Do one or two on the short list of remaining offerees have to decline ND to make it happen? Is it Mustain a silent commit? Or is Mustain just helping the recruiting services generate hits in a low activity period?

ND has two QB verbals at the USA AA game and a third prospect is wearing the motto of the ND football team with his uniform.

You've frequently raised the topic of "timed verbals" for PR. Can you think of a bigger PR splash than the #1 Offensive Player declaring for ND on national TV?

And if he commits elsewhere, the message is out for next year that not anyone, EVEN #1 gets to go to ND just because they want to.

Like I've said before, I don't understand how the logisitics would play out but it's intriguing.

Four more days.

 

[jiggafini19]

BGIF, do you think Jones' rotator cuff problems might be worse than what the public knows of? Is this why Mustain is suddenly back in the mix?

This is just a crazy thought in my mind. I don't have anything to back it up. It isn't that wild of a theory I think, considering Jones is a WR in the minds of most people already. CW wants two QB in the class and if one is broken, why not move him to WR and get another?

I like Jones' attitude and moxy. He's a Weis kind of kid. I look forward to seeing how he fits in for the next 4-5 years.

After last night, I'd be looking up the best defensive players out there and giving them a call pronto. ND is far too thin on that side of the ball to be worrying about having 3 awesome QBs.

 

[jiggafini19]

I just noticed your response from 12/23. A Yellow Hammer is the Alabama State Bird.

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer is one of the best books I've ever read. Truly shows how crazy Dixie is about their college football.

You had me worried....I thought it was something offensive or worse.

 

[St.Kittsnd]

Get West and one other player to enroll early and let's get Lewis and McCoy in the fold along with Young and Carufel. Mustain would be great but lets not forget that his numbers for his senior year were similar to what Frazer had in his junior year. I believe that Mustains supporting cast this year was much better than Frazer's last year.

In conclusion, don't be disappointed if we don't get Mustain because we have a gem in Zach Frazer.

 

[BGIF]

BGIF, do you think Jones' rotator cuff problems might be worse than what the public knows of? Is this why Mustain is suddenly back in the mix?

This is just a crazy thought in my mind. I don't have anything to back it up. It isn't that wild of a theory I think, considering Jones is a WR in the minds of most people already. CW wants two QB in the class and if one is broken, why not move him to WR and get another?

I like Jones' attitude and moxy. He's a Weis kind of kid. I look forward to seeing how he fits in for the next 4-5 years.

After last night, I'd be looking up the best defensive players out there and giving them a call pronto. ND is far too thin on that side of the ball to be worrying about having 3 awesome QBs.

I don't know.

I had forgotten about the injury although we discussed it some time back. I've got no idea of his fitness. Correct me if I'm wrong but unlike the pros, colleges don't get to check out prospects medically. I'd suspect that a kid with an past injury might want to offer a medical report to confirm treatment/rehabilitation but I don't know if a school could even look at it. I think they have to make a decision based on observing the prospect in high school action or at the USA AA practices/game.

Keeping the door open with Mustain does provide insurance.

Another thing that seemed strange was Jones sharp drop in the QB rankings. He went from preseason Top 10 to somewhere in the 30's but as I recall his stats and reports from the papers, and local's like you, still gave Jones rave reviews.

The biggest reason for the WR buzz (prior to the injury mention) I thought was due to his athleticism, ala Battle, et al, making him more adaptive than a pure dropback QB. He's also got a body that lends itself to Safety or Apache (with a weight conditioning and pounds).

Of course after last night, Weis might be more receptive to a highly mobile QB but that puts us back in the 3 QB scenario that doesn't seem to work with the apparent number of scholarships and needs.