Huh. Only two ways I can make sense of this:
1) The staff has changed its view that Smythe is a "TE only" prospect rather than a flexible Mattingly-like "big skill" prospect. We have a spot for another "big skill" guy, and maybe the staff now thinks Smythe can fill it. I know the story on him previously was that he was purely a TE and that's why we weren't interested.
and/or
2) Smythe is a great profile fit as a student athlete. Quoted by 247 today as saying that he loves ND because it is a top university AND a top football program (also explains his Stanford interest). Maybe the staff figures we might be able to use another TE in this class after all and Smythe is a great one to take a chance on because you know he will be a "program kid" who works hard and stays out of academic trouble.
Do we think this means the staff doesn't feel great about other prospects on the board? Or does timing of visit in Feb make it completely irrelevant? I'd vote with him visiting after the 25th and deciding on NSD it's pretty independent but what do you guys think?
I think it is a mix of Emcee's #1 and #2 above. The staff obviously feels strongly about offering and taking high quality individuals, even if they may not be #1 athletically on the board, because of their perceived fit with the team and University.
As we start to stockpile these great recruiting class, instead of getting them once every few years like we have the past 20 or so years, it is going to become vitally important to balance these classes and the overall roster with "stars", "high upside projects", and "blue collar" guys.
I am not saying that those three categories are all-encompassing, but generally, that is how most good programs and teams are built, and the best (most successful) ones are able to balance these categories beautifully. BK and Co. have already proven to me that they are recruiting with an eye to this, and it will only continue to grow in importance as we improve.
Just my opinion, but from what I have read on Durham, I think he fits both as a high quality individual that truly embraces all that ND is and could do for him (case in point his top 2 of ND and Stanford after dropping the Horns), while being a high upside player on the field with the size and versatility the staff covets.
We were simply smaller that Bama in the title game. Durham is a guy that is an easy offer and accepted commitment, and will certainly help us continue to get bigger and stronger as a program (both on and off the field honestly).
