[Class of 2010] Where does ND go from here?

[Irish Envy]

In wake of landing Carufel today, that puts us at 27 current commitments. We have three early enrollments (Aldridge, Stewart and West) and one player coming in on a Lacrosse scholie (Yeatman).

QB
1) Demetrius Jones
2) Zach Frazer

RB
3) James Aldridge (Early Enrollee)
4) Munir Prince

FB
5) Luke Schmidt

WR
6) George West (Early Enrollee)
7) Richard Jackson
8) Rob Parris
9) Barry Gallup

TE
10) Konrad Reuland
11) Will Yeatman (Lacrosse Scholarship)

OL
12) Matt Carufel
13) Dan Wenger
14) Chris Stewart (Early Enrollee)
15) Eric Olsen
16) Bartley Webb

OL/DL
17) Paddy Mullen

DE
18) John Ryan
19) Kallen Wade

DT
None

LB
20) Toryan Smith
21) Morrice Richardson

CB
22) Darrin Walls
23) Raeshon McNeil

S
24) Sergio Brown
25) Jashaad Gaines
26) Leonard Gordon

P/K
27) Ryan Burkhart

Doing some simple math, 27-4 = 23, means we still have two more scholarships that can be given in this year's recruiting class. With Butch Lewis committing to USC today at the Army All-American game and a recent rumor that we've been dropped from Gerald McCoy's list, we still have a need at defensive tackle as that is the only area we do not truly have addressed in this class.

At this point in time, most of the "blue chip" guys are accounted for by the major programs but there are still a lot of guys left out there. So where does Notre Dame go from here?

 

[Irishkid23]

Get the best possible remaining DT or athlete available ASAP!!!

 

[TexasDomer]

Are any of the OL recruits potential moves to DT?

 

[KMac151993]

Go out and get two DL guys no matter how good they are, I don't care if they are 5 star rated or 1 star rated, we just need bodies.

 

[MadCountyIrish]

The answer I think lies in grey shirts. With the last two scholarships ND should take the best two players available whether it Young and Mustain or a different combo. Giving grey shirt status might lewer a few not so highly rated kids and if they work out they can be given scholarships later.

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

Defensive tackle is a big need position, everyone knows that. But with what we have left, it's not worth spending a scholarship on trying to get a guy like Jason Kates to come here. I almost think that in terms of the DT situation, we should just concede this year as a defeat, and target the best DTs early next year, which is exactly what we did this year when targeting corners.

 

[Óglaigh_na_hÉireann]

I also think people need to stop panicking. I mean, this is the first year in quite a while, where almost all the need positions were covered well--with the one exception being defensive tackle.

Think about it. In next year's class, we pretty much have everything covered but DT. We can offer scholarship to the best of the best at WR, DE, OL, LB, CB, and Clausen at QB.

We just need to find a few guys to play DT. With what Weis and his staff were able to get done this year, I don't think it will be that hard.

 

[guff]

Among all the speculation about Jones switching from QB to WR no one ever speculates about one of the OL recruits switching to DL. Or a current OL player switching to DL.

It is not that hard to take an athletic O Lineman and swith him to D Line. Especially if there is a prospect of major playing on the D Line. As I see it the O Line for next year is pretty much set - Harris and Sullivan will be a seniors, Santucci and Morton are 5th year eligble (I thougth Stevenson was also but a previous indicates otherwise). That only leaves one spot. Much more opportunity exists on DL.

 

[TexasDomer]

Guff,

I agree. Read a few posts up from yours.

 

[Irishkid23]

Santucci

Santucci

Among all the speculation about Jones switching from QB to WR no one ever speculates about one of the OL recruits switching to DL. Or a current OL player switching to DL.

It is not that hard to take an athletic O Lineman and swith him to D Line. Especially if there is a prospect of major playing on the D Line. As I see it the O Line for next year is pretty much set - Harris and Sullivan will be a seniors, Santucci and Morton are 5th year eligble (I thougth Stevenson was also but a previous indicates otherwise). That only leaves one spot. Much more opportunity exists on DL.

Dan Santucci was a defensive lineman at Saint Patrick's High School in Chicago when he went to ND and converted to OL. I wonder if they will switch him back???

 

[Irish Envy]

Among all the speculation about Jones switching from QB to WR no one ever speculates about one of the OL recruits switching to DL. Or a current OL player switching to DL.

It is not that hard to take an athletic O Lineman and swith him to D Line. Especially if there is a prospect of major playing on the D Line. As I see it the O Line for next year is pretty much set - Harris and Sullivan will be a seniors, Santucci and Morton are 5th year eligble (I thougth Stevenson was also but a previous indicates otherwise). That only leaves one spot. Much more opportunity exists on DL.

It has been wildly speculated that both Paddy Mullen and Eric Olsen could also play defensive line. Mullen played both OL/DL this year in high school because his team was pretty banged up and I believe Olsen did the same.

 

[BGIF]

Among all the speculation about Jones switching from QB to WR no one ever speculates about one of the OL recruits switching to DL. Or a current OL player switching to DL.

It is not that hard to take an athletic O Lineman and swith him to D Line. Especially if there is a prospect of major playing on the D Line. As I see it the O Line for next year is pretty much set - Harris and Sullivan will be a seniors, Santucci and Morton are 5th year eligble (I thougth Stevenson was also but a previous indicates otherwise). That only leaves one spot. Much more opportunity exists on DL.

Actually it was posted yesterday in the USArmy Game Thread. We've got many cross threads going in the Recruiting AND Football Forums rehashing the same stuff. Here's my comments from yesterday on the OL recruits

Preseason I expected ND to take 6 OLs to replenish depth. This is a very good OLine class without Young. With him it's the best. I was impressed with Carufel, Wenger, and Young.

The practice reports on Stewart noted he didn't get good instruction on technique in high school. He's a big kid with a spare tire that pushed smaller kids around in high school. The photo of the split got my attention. He's got flexibility. Think back to 2000. ND had a 300 pound guard, Jim Jones, who was a phenominal weight lifter. He had been tried at center but couldn't bend well enough. He was muscle tight. Stewart with Mendoza to trim his body and Latina to teach him will be good OL not just a big kid.

The practice reports on Webb weren't rave reviews but in reality Webb isn't a top (ranked) OL. The fact that he made it to All-Star game is notable. Again, I expect Latina to improve/provide the technique. I didn't see Webb play today but with all the typing I missed several plays. Anybody see how he did?

Which takes us to Olsen the only one of the ND OL class that didn't get selected although Scout ranks him a tad higher than Webb and a couple of slots behind Stewart.

If one of the OLs COULD move to the other side of the ball. Olsen is the man. He's the quickest and at 300 pounds has the size now.

I'm neither projecting him to DL nor comparing him to McCoy just noting that he appears the most logical choice if there's a void to fill after Signing Day.

It is not that hard to take an athletic O Lineman and swith him to D Line.

Actually it is hard to turn an OL into a DL it usually happens the other way around. OLs are thought of as road graders or pass rushing impediments. OLs get in the way, DLs have to get around them. The DLs are usually the quicker of the big bodies.

Some examples and there are many, Kurt Vollers came into ND as a USA Today AA DL got and was switched to OL. Jerry Wisne First Team USA Today DL switched to OG.

Under Bear Bryant, Alabama's OL and DL coaches put all the linemen through speed and agility drills. The DL coach picked his guys and those left over were OLs. It was a typical way of separating the talent. Speed played defense.

The prime exception that comes to mind is Brad Williams who played OG under Holtz as a true freshman in '96 at Croke Park against Navy although he was a career DL. The only reason he played on the offense was Rosenthal was injured and Holtz and Joe Moore were having a pissing contest over the blocking scheme for the Blarney Offense. You may recall that was the year ND was held to 60 yds rushing by the Air Force. holtz first took over coaching the OTs then took over the whole OLine. Williams was recruited as a DL and did not take a snap in pads with the offense at ND until the first play of the Navy game. He was returned to the DLine and played there the rest of his career.

CBs eat their way (or run slowly) to Safeties. Safeties to LBs. LBs to DEs. DEs to DLs. DLs to OLs. TEs go to DEs, DTs, or OLs.

Mullen and Yeatman (in '07 or later) are TEs that will play DL or OL as the need and their speed dictate and as they add 40 -50 pounds. Olsen is had a body and the feet that could make that switch when he steps on campus.


As for current players making the switch, that's a Football Forum topic but if you check the Depth Chart and look at PTs you'll see thanks to the prior recruting and attrition ND had a dearth of OL AND DL bodies in '05. There was no depth on either side of the ball and there are no bodies there to make the shift. Leitko returning to school (if admitted and if in condition) is one possibility.

 

[BGIF]

It has been wildly speculated that both Paddy Mullen and Eric Olsen could also play defensive line. Mullen played both OL/DL this year in high school because his team was pretty banged up and I believe Olsen did the same.

It's not wild speculation.

Mullen was interviewed about it several times and noted he'd be happy contributing anyway he can. The past two seasons, I believe, he saw more time on Defense than TE due to, an injury (broken hand limited pass catching as a junior), the type offense his team ran, and the his ability to contribute on D. His offensive stats were very low which is one of the reasons his stock fell as a TE.

 

[jiggafini19]

Santucci was a DE and the o line depth isn't much better than the D line depth, so we probably can't consider that an option.

At this point, it's McCoy and Young or bust. Losing out on them will hurt a great deal. ND needs to be able to grab the big time difference makers in recruiting. Aldridge and Walls are the big gems right now, probably with Reuland added in there. Getting both of these guys would vault this class to the top of the list. Based on what others are doing, ND could drop a few slots out of the top 5.

More importantly than status, these guys play positions ND is in need of. Not getting a defensive tackle in this class would be a failure in my mind, especially since they lose two starters at that spot after the 2006 season.

The unbiased reports have ND leading for Young, McCoy slipping away to OU. They have a great shot with both. I have to believe that what needs to be said has been said, but if there is anything Weis and staff can do that they haven't already, consider it done.

 

[scooper]

There are still three weeks left and things should heat up. Hopefully, we can get back in on McCoy.

I like the thought of Mullen at DL. He's not heavy enough to be a great DT yet, 262, but at 6-5, there is room to put on 20-25 pounds over the next couple years without chubbing up. And he has the athleticism to be a pass catching TE, which could translate well at DL.

On defense, he had 27 tackles, 9 tackles for a loss, 7 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 INT. Those are good numbers for a DL. I really think he's part of the answer there.

 

[jiggafini19]

Demetrius Jones gave an interview this weekend saying McCoy is in, Young is most likely in.

I trolled over to BGI and have been reading anything recent on McCoy. I'll see if I can grab a transcript of it. Aldridge is echoing this as well.

 

[Irish Envy]

Demetrius Jones gave an interview this weekend saying McCoy is in, Young is most likely in.

I trolled over to BGI and have been reading anything recent on McCoy. I'll see if I can grab a transcript of it. Aldridge is echoing this as well.

That's really interesting.

 

[Irish Envy]

Actually it was posted yesterday in the USArmy Game Thread. We've got many cross threads going in the Recruiting AND Football Forums rehashing the same stuff. Here's my comments from yesterday on the OL recruits

My goal of this thread was to discuss other prospects Notre Dame could land if McCoy is OU bound, not who we could turn into a DL.

 

[jiggafini19]

ND offers still uncommitted:

Young
McCoy
Kates
Mustain
Jeremiah Hunter
Daron Rose

The last two would be miracle long shots.

 

[bigdon]

ND offers still uncommitted:
Young
McCoy
Kates
Mustain
Jeremiah Hunter
Daron Rose
The last two would be miracle long shots.

Rose committed elswhere at the Army game. Not sure where. Don't know about Hunter.

 

[jiggafini19]

Rose committed elswhere at the Army game. Not sure where. Don't know about Hunter.

That was Robert Rose to Ohio State.

Daron Rose was the big O lineman from Florida. They mutually decided they were no longer interested in each other.

Hunter is waiting until Signing Day. Penn State, Iowa and Tennessee are in the mix. As an LB from PA, gotta go with PSU on this one.

 

[bigdon]

That was Robert Rose to Ohio State.
Daron Rose was the big O lineman from Florida. They mutually decided they were no longer interested in each other.
Hunter is waiting until Signing Day. Penn State, Iowa and Tennessee are in the mix. As an LB from PA, gotta go with PSU on this one.

Sorry for the mistake.

 

[AlbuquerqueIrishFan]

That was Robert Rose to Ohio State.
Daron Rose was the big O lineman from Florida. They mutually decided they were no longer interested in each other.
Hunter is waiting until Signing Day. Penn State, Iowa and Tennessee are in the mix. As an LB from PA, gotta go with PSU on this one.

It sure makes sense for Huter to go to Linebacker U.

 

[irishwavend]

I am going to be bold and say...Skip DT this year...Take Young and a better one of the best prospects available at another position. Come back for next year's class and offer DTs the chance to play right away.

 

[scooper]

The bluegraysky blog has a great current article about the dangers of cycle recruiting. It touts the benefits of balanced recruiting. I think a DT in this class is important. Even if it's Olsen or Mullen. Somebody from this class has to play DT, or we're looking at having to overcompensate such as this year's OL class. At some point, the classes have to balance out.

 

[jiggafini19]

I am going to be bold and say...Skip DT this year...Take Young and a better one of the best prospects available at another position. Come back for next year's class and offer DTs the chance to play right away.

I'll give you props for suggesting this, but it would be depth chart suicide.

They will probably need 4-5 in the class of 2007 if they don't get one this year. The roster is horribly thin already and will be more so once Laws and Landri are gone. All Paddy Mullen has to do is learn the position, gain at least 20 pounds and go out and perform at Notre Dame. Gerald McCoy is a bonafide DT stud. He'll probably be in the NFL after his third year of college.

HUGE hole if they don't get McCoy or Kates.

 

[TexasDomer]

Jiggs,

I agree. BlueGraySky had a great post on balanced recruiting every year recently. We have to get some DT (and other position) talent this year and every year, if we want to reach "Reload, not Rebuild" status again.

Here's the article

 

[jiggafini19]

Jiggs,
I agree. BlueGraySky had a great post on balanced recruiting every year recently. We have to get some DT (and other position) talent this year and every year, if we want to reach "Reload, not Rebuild" status again.
Here's the article

EXCELLENT post.

 

[jiggafini19]

Junior DT on ND's radar as of today. No offers pending:

Joseph Barksdale - 6-4/315/4.9 Detroit, MI
Gary McClellan - 6-5/290/- Arkadelphia, AR
Po'u Palelei - 6-3/320/5.7 Las Vegas, NV
Stephen Thomas - 6-2/275/4.95 Mesquite, TX
Myles Wade - 6-2/290/5.1 Portland, OR
Leman Williams - 6-5/315/5.2 Norfolk, VA
Stefan Wisniewski - 6-3/265/- Pittsburgh, PA

Barksdale, Palelei and Wade are all guys I hope ND presses hard.

 

[LuckoftheIrish86]

Junior DT on ND's radar as of today. No offers pending:
Joseph Barksdale - 6-4/315/4.9 Detroit, MI
Gary McClellan - 6-5/290/- Arkadelphia, AR
Po'u Palelei - 6-3/320/5.7 Las Vegas, NV
Stephen Thomas - 6-2/275/4.95 Mesquite, TX
Myles Wade - 6-2/290/5.1 Portland, OR
Leman Williams - 6-5/315/5.2 Norfolk, VA
Stefan Wisniewski - 6-3/265/- Pittsburgh, PA
Barksdale, Palelei and Wade are all guys I hope ND presses hard.

Why those guys in praticular? have u seen them at all? or just based on stats/size?