Upshot for the Rest of the Class (2013 edition)

[IrishLax]

Just to elaborate a little bit more on Isaac because I've gotten some PMs.... ignore absolutely everything he has said publicly. It's completely immaterial. He hasn't shut down his recruitment whatsoever, has been heavily involved with ND coaches for some time now, and this is an incredibly fluid situation. For my money, he would've already visited or would be visiting this weekend if we didn't already have 2 great RBs signed up.

He's the dreamiest ILB candidate ever if he would just change his mind on playing RB....

 

[Whiskeyjack]

He's the dreamiest ILB candidate ever if he would just change his mind on playing RB....

That would make my day. Isaac to LB or Folston to CB. Huge pick up either way; but only if they're both OK with changing positions. If one of them won't have it, could be a net negative.

 

[Rack Em]

That would make my day. Isaac to LB or Folston to CB. Huge pick up either way; but only if they're both OK with changing positions. If one of them won't have it, could be a net negative.

Think about USC's class if they lose Isaac, Prevot, Hatcher, and Ramsey.

I'm almost as excited to see USC's class get decimated as I am for ND to finish with a bang.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Just to elaborate a little bit more on Isaac because I've gotten some PMs.... ignore absolutely everything he has said publicly. It's completely immaterial. He hasn't shut down his recruitment whatsoever, has been heavily involved with ND coaches for some time now, and this is an incredibly fluid situation. For my money, he would've already visited or would be visiting this weekend if we didn't already have 2 great RBs signed up.

He's the dreamiest ILB candidate ever if he would just change his mind on playing RB....

 

[IrishLax]

That would make my day. Isaac to LB or Folston to CB. Huge pick up either way; but only if they're both OK with changing positions. If one of them won't have it, could be a net negative.

Ty Isaac at ILB is basically just a more athletic Anzalone. Big frame, faster and more agile. It's scary.

 

[Emcee77]

He's the dreamiest ILB candidate ever if he would just change his mind on playing RB....

That would make my day. Isaac to LB or Folston to CB. Huge pick up either way; but only if they're both OK with changing positions. If one of them won't have it, could be a net negative.

I'm with you guys ... Isaac has the build and the agility to play ILB, no question, and we need a good ILB prospect (I still prefer Randolph and Jaylon as OLBs). If Isaac comes around to the idea of playing ILB for us I'd be tap dancing

 

[Irishman77]

How bout Randolph inside and jaylon and Ty on the outside?

 

[Emcee77]

How bout Randolph inside and jaylon and Ty on the outside?

I like Randolph on the outside as a DE/OLB. Isaac could be like Lawrence Timmons for the Steelers as an ILB. Fast, agile guy flying around and making tackles. Love it.

 

[aubeirish]

I'm with you guys ... Isaac has the build and the agility to play ILB, no question, and we need a good ILB prospect (I still prefer Randolph and Jaylon as OLBs). If Isaac comes around to the idea of playing ILB for us I'd be tap dancing

The question is. Is he mean enough to play defense? You need to want to hurt guys when you play D baby. If he is, he's got all the tools.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Could <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23NotreDame">#NotreDame</a> claim a recruiting title on National Signing Day? @<a href="https://twitter.com/gregladky">gregladky</a> takes a look at the potential path: <a href="http://t.co/NnuUAHNB" title="http://bit.ly/XFeXmM">bit.ly/XFeXmM</a></p>— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDatRivals/status/294843293261516801">January 25, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Title shot: First, Notre Dame must keep its current list of commits. Unless the Irish expect to get Hollins, Fitts and Prevot, landing Eddie Vanderdoes is an absolute must to win the national recruiting title. Vanderdoes alone would give them 2,893 points, a strong number, but Notre Dame probably needs Vanderdoes and two of the three four-star prospects to get to where we think Alabama will end up -- which is near 2,950 points. With James Hearns' de-commit from Florida Thursday, Notre Dame could easily be argued as the second-most likely to win. Let's call the chances for Florida with Ramsey and Notre Dame with Vanderdoes a wash. After that, Notre Dame has a solid chance with more four-star guys than Florida does. But Florida has more of a history with surprises and surges on National Signing Day. We'll keep Florida at No. 2 for now, but this is going to be interesting to watch.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Could <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23NotreDame">#NotreDame</a> claim a recruiting title on National Signing Day? @<a href="https://twitter.com/gregladky">gregladky</a> takes a look at the potential path: <a href="http://t.co/NnuUAHNB" title="http://bit.ly/XFeXmM">bit.ly/XFeXmM</a></p>— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDatRivals/status/294843293261516801">January 25, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Title shot: First, Notre Dame must keep its current list of commits. Unless the Irish expect to get Hollins, Fitts and Prevot, landing Eddie Vanderdoes is an absolute must to win the national recruiting title. Vanderdoes alone would give them 2,893 points, a strong number, but Notre Dame probably needs Vanderdoes and two of the three four-star prospects to get to where we think Alabama will end up -- which is near 2,950 points. With James Hearns' de-commit from Florida Thursday, Notre Dame could easily be argued as the second-most likely to win. Let's call the chances for Florida with Ramsey and Notre Dame with Vanderdoes a wash. After that, Notre Dame has a solid chance with more four-star guys than Florida does. But Florida has more of a history with surprises and surges on National Signing Day. We'll keep Florida at No. 2 for now, but this is going to be interesting to watch.

I'd love to finish numero uno, but having a top 5 class year after year is what matters most. I'd concede the top spot each year to another team as long as our staff continues to recruit, sign, and develop the elite talent that will keep us in the BCS picture year after year. Finish in the top 5, and this guy is happy.

 

[IrishLax]

Updated. Basically have about 2 spots left for 5 potential prospects. We aren't the leader for any of them but it wouldn't be shocking to see us land 1 or 2.... especially a guy like Prevot if he makes the visit next weekend.

 

[IrishLax]

Updated to remove Ty Isaac from the board. 4 prospects left on the board for two spots... one week to go.

 

[gkIrish]

Updated to remove Ty Isaac from the board. 4 prospects left on the board for two spots... one week to go.

Could be three spots if Folston jumps ship. 50/50 IMO

 

[irishff1014]

Updated to remove Ty Isaac from the board. 4 prospects left on the board for two spots... one week to go.

And we could end up with none of them that's crazy.!!!

 

[IrishLax]

And we could end up with none of them that's crazy.!!!

In fact it's more likely than not that we end up with none of them. So we could potentially close this class with only 82 kids on scholarship. Awesome.

I keep wondering when ND will wake up and approach recruiting from the correct angle. We turn away way too many kids early in the cycle or wait too long to offer because we're afraid of oversigning. We need to accept that aiming to oversign by 2-3 kids a year = we end up with a full class.

In this cycle we had Dorian Johnson and Corey Clement. Last year we had Joe Bolden and Tommy Schutt and Marcus Rios. It's always the same song and dance. It's just either over confidence by the coaches or unadulterated stupidity. I'm not sure which.

 

[Ironman8]

Looks like Nichols is getting a medical as well.

 

[Grahambo]

In fact it's more likely than not that we end up with none of them. So we could potentially close this class with only 82 kids on scholarship. Awesome.

I keep wondering when ND will wake up and approach recruiting from the correct angle. We turn away way too many kids early in the cycle or wait too long to offer because we're afraid of oversigning. We need to accept that aiming to oversign by 2-3 kids a year = we end up with a full class.

In this cycle we had Dorian Johnson and Corey Clement. Last year we had Joe Bolden and Tommy Schutt and Marcus Rios. It's always the same song and dance. It's just either over confidence by the coaches or unadulterated stupidity. I'm not sure which.

 

[irishff1014]

In fact it's more likely than not that we end up with none of them. So we could potentially close this class with only 82 kids on scholarship. Awesome.

I keep wondering when ND will wake up and approach recruiting from the correct angle. We turn away way too many kids early in the cycle or wait too long to offer because we're afraid of oversigning. We need to accept that aiming to oversign by 2-3 kids a year = we end up with a full class.

In this cycle we had Dorian Johnson and Corey Clement. Last year we had Joe Bolden and Tommy Schutt and Marcus Rios. It's always the same song and dance. It's just either over confidence by the coaches or unadulterated stupidity. I'm not sure which.

I agree Lax. There is a lot of offers that seem to come late. And next year it is only going to get worse. But on a positive note we have 3 more spots for next year!! Which i doubt because the will probably bring back Carlo back to help in the middle and the maybe slaughter so there is 2 spots gone.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

In fact it's more likely than not that we end up with none of them. So we could potentially close this class with only 82 kids on scholarship. Awesome.

With Folston's potential flip, Nichols' medical, and the rumored transfer, we could easily be under 80.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

?

 

[irishff1014]

With Folston's potential flip, Nichol's medical, and the rumored transfer, we could easily be under 80.

That is not good for a school that played in the national championship game.

 

[johnnykillz]

We'll bring back every 5th year player available and have a chance to pull a Texas A&M class next year...

The 2014 class could be ginormous.

Everything will be fine.

All is well.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

There is no post that can adequately describe the attitude around here, other than to say, it is a good thing that no one here has any direct connection to the program.

I will write it off as a mass of tortured Irish souls.

 

[Domina Nostra]

With Folston's potential flip, Nichols' medical, and the rumored transfer, we could easily be under 80.

Slaughter denied: 84
Tate's medical: 83
Folston flips: 82
Transfer: 81

I guess you mean after spring ball?

Won't we offer the punter, Austin Barnard, if it gets to that point?

 

[IrishLax]

Yeah, we'll almost surely take a punter if things shake out poorly.

 

[ND NYC]

good points Lax...geez, didnt realize we could/will more likely than not still be under the 85...ugh...let's just get eddie v in here-any of the rest are icing on the cake for me at this point. 2014 is setting up to match this year so long term we will be ok barring disaster on the filed next year.
on the field and especially off the field this has by far been the craziest year of "all things ND football" that i can ever rememeber and ive been at this since the 70's!

 

[Whiskeyjack]

We'll bring back every 5th year player available and have a chance to pull a Texas A&M class next year...

There aren't many other 5Ys to offer. Calabrese, Fox, Martin and Fox would all contribute, but outside of those guys, the only options are J. Golic, Stockton and Tausch. Bringing back Tausch as an insurance policy might not be a bad idea, but J. Golic and Stockton are likely dead weight. Might as well go through 2013 with 83 on scholarship.

Slaughter denied: 84
Tate's medical: 83
Folston flips: 82
Transfer: 81

I didn't mean that we'll actually end up with fewer than 80 on scholarship (we'd obviously bring back more 5Ys and maybe offer the P); I was borrowing Lax's language to describe our worst case scenario.

It's incredibly frustrating to be in this position again after the season we just had.

 

[Domina Nostra]

It's incredibly frustrating to be in this position again after the season we just had.

We'll see where we end up. Its a learning process for this staff. They were gambling on the fact that we could close strong after a big run.

I think the fact that is emerging is that ND truly is a different animal than other schools, as far as recruiting. All the extra stuff that ND offers is actually scary to a lot of the elite footbal talent who just want to play ball.

The lesson to me is that we should always add an exta Hooper/Matsuka-type to the DL early and then work on landing an elite kid later as a cherry on top, rather than a need.

 

[Meacon Irish]

I'm out of the loop. Who is the potential transfer?