'13 FL RB Tarean Folston (Notre Dame Signed LOI)

[NOLAIrish]

ND currently visiting. JSapp was told "All good" in regards to where ND stands vs Auburn. Don't know who was quoted though.

EDIT: re-read the update and it appears as though the quote is from his HS coach. I personally wouldn't put any stock in that. His coach has been very positive about ND, but it's not him I'm worried about lol

That's really bizarre. ESPN put a subscription article up yesterday with a direct quote from his coach saying that he flip flops daily. (Link $)

 

[aubeirish]

That's really bizarre. ESPN put a subscription article up yesterday with a direct quote from his coach saying that he flip flops daily. (Link $)

It was from Corey Long. SEC bias...

 

[IrishLax]

At this point I would be surprised to see Folston sign at ND. I think the reason is that he visited ND a long time ago and I'm sure didn't get half the attention he would've gotten on an OV outside of the season... nor half the attention he got at Auburn a few days ago. Even if he LOVED his OV it has probably worn off to a degree. He seems impressionable and Auburn made the most recent impression and continues a full court press.

I think the coaches are working their asses off here though and doing everything imaginable to keep him. I hope they set up Alford in the nearest hotel.... nay, across the street in his neighbors house... and maybe we can pull this off. Truth is its easy as hell to neg recruit Gus Malzahn, Auburn's trajectory, and Auburn's academics... and I hope we take of the gloves and beat home those points.

 

[NDdomer2]

So much flip-flopping going on in this thread and I am not talking about Folston.

 

[Goldedommer44]

This is from ESPN insider conversation with Corey Long who is a Southeast region recruiting reporter for ESPN RecruitingNation

Juan (South Bend)


Corey, what are you hearing about Tarean Folston? there seems to be a lot of movement on that front. Thanks.

Corey Long (3:30 PM)


I talked with his coach yesterday. He's legitimately torn between Auburn and Notre Dame. He wants to stick with his commitment to Notre Dame, but the distance thing is coming into play. AU is closer to home and the weather is nicer.

 

[Booslum31]

At this point I would be surprised to see Folston sign at ND. I think the reason is that he visited ND a long time ago and I'm sure didn't get half the attention he would've gotten on an OV outside of the season... nor half the attention he got at Auburn a few days ago. Even if he LOVED his OV it has probably worn off to a degree. He seems impressionable and Auburn made the most recent impression and continues a full court press.

I think the coaches are working their asses off here though and doing everything imaginable to keep him. I hope they set up Alford in the nearest hotel.... nay, across the street in his neighbors house... and maybe we can pull this off. Truth is its easy as hell to neg recruit Gus Malzahn, Auburn's trajectory, and Auburn's academics... and I hope we take of the gloves and beat home those points.

Great post Lax. I agree on all fronts. I was curious if there was a strong parental influence at play with him...it actually doesn't sound it. Went back a little in the thread and didn't see. What pays the highest 30 year dividend...full ride ND? Full ride Auburn? A parent should step in here!

 

[CanadalovesND]

This is from ESPN insider conversation with Corey Long who is a Southeast region recruiting reporter for ESPN RecruitingNation

Juan (South Bend)


Corey, what are you hearing about Tarean Folston? there seems to be a lot of movement on that front. Thanks.

Corey Long (3:30 PM)


I talked with his coach yesterday. He's legitimately torn between Auburn and Notre Dame. He wants to stick with his commitment to Notre Dame, but the distance thing is coming into play. AU is closer to home and the weather is nicer.

Weather is nicer, sure, I mean South Bend actually gets a winter, but in the summer and the fall, the weather is beautiful, and the scenery on campus, it is just a wonderful sight to see.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

So much flip-flopping going on in this thread and I am not talking about Folston.

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday too yoooo. Happy birthday dear qaurta-gen-arian, Happy birthday to you!

 

[SouthernComfort]

Leaning Auburn on this. Much faster PT and closer to home. With Auburn's recent departures/academic disqualified/kicked off team losses, he wont have a lot of work to do to get PT this year while at ND he will redshirt next year.

Would love to be wrong on this one.

 

[IrishLax]

Leaning Auburn on this. Much faster PT and closer to home. With Auburn's recent departures/academic disqualified/kicked off team losses, he wont have a lot of work to do to get PT this year while at ND he will redshirt next year.

Would love to be wrong on this one.

Don't really get where you're coming from on the PT. Outside of Amir Carlisle, there isn't a single guy currently on the roster he should be remotely afraid of for the Riddick role. Mahone? Nope. McDaniel? Nope. GAIII? Nope... he can't catch.

If he beats out Carlisle he would basically be a co-starter this year.

 

[woolybug25]

Don't really get where you're coming from on the PT. Outside of Amir Carlisle, there isn't a single guy currently on the roster he should be remotely afraid of for the Riddick role. Mahone? Nope. McDaniel? Nope. GAIII? Nope... he can't catch.
If he beats out Carlisle he would basically be a co-starter this year.

Has this ever actually been confirmed by anyone watching practice, etc? I have also never seen him drop a pass in a game (admittingly, I cant recall him catching one either). I just find it weird that this entire board feels like GA3 has terrible hands, but meanwhile he is our main kickoff returner (and pretty dang good at it too). I can't recall him ever bobbling a kickoff either.

 

[greyhammer90]

Has this ever actually been confirmed by anyone watching practice, etc?

It came from BK stating that GAIII wasn't suitable for WR because he didn't have the hands for it.

 

[Ironman8]

It came from BK stating that GAIII wasn't suitable for WR because he didn't have the hands for it.

That's not exactly true. I had to clarify his remarks to a few others who said the same thing. BK's actual quote was he didn't have the ball skills to exceed at WR, not hands.

To me, those are two mutually exclusive things, and does not mean he can't catch the ball.

 

[greyhammer90]

That's not exactly true. I had to clarify his remarks to a few others who said the same thing. BK's actual quote was he didn't have the ball skills to exceed at WR, not hands.

To me, those are two mutually exclusive things, and does not mean he can't catch the ball.

Hence my lack of quotation marks. Don't go all "Knick's fan" on me Carmelo.

 

[woolybug25]

That's not exactly true. I had to clarify his remarks to a few others who said the same thing. BK's actual quote was he didn't have the ball skills to exceed at WR, not hands.

To me, those are two mutually exclusive things, and does not mean he can't catch the ball.

This is how I remember it as well. Being a go to receiver is a lot different than a RB capable of taking passes out of the backfield. Seems like the well believed "stone hands" persona of GA3 may be built on false pretenses.

 

[IrishLax]

Has this ever actually been confirmed by anyone watching practice, etc? I have also never seen him drop a pass in a game (admittingly, I cant recall him catching one either). I just find it weird that this entire board feels like GA3 has terrible hands, but meanwhile he is our main kickoff returner (and pretty dang good at it too). I can't recall him ever bobbling a kickoff either.

I have.... hit him right in the numbers while he was standing still. He doesn't have ball skills.

 

[woolybug25]

I have.... hit him right in the numbers while he was standing still. He doesn't have ball skills.

What game? I can find it on youtube, as every game's offensive plays are on youtube clips categorized by game.

He sure doesn't seem to lack ball skills when he catches kickoffs from 60 yards away.

 

[IrishLax]

This is how I remember it as well. Being a go to receiver is a lot different than a RB capable of taking passes out of the backfield. Seems like the well believed "stone hands" persona of GA3 may be built on false pretenses.

It's not. He's not a viable receiver for the RB/Z role.

 

[IrishLax]

What game? I can find it on youtube, as every game's offensive plays are on youtube clips categorized by game.

I have no idea. But I remember my friend distinctly going "I guess that's why he plays running back"... it was almost certainly after the Michigan game... Link me the YouTube clips and ill find it for you.

 

[woolybug25]

It's not. He's not a viable receiver for the RB/Z role.

Just google "notre dame offensive highlights".

I think basing his entire capability of current/future ball skills off of one misconstrued comment made over a year ago and a memory of him dropping a pass might be a little much.

 

[Ironman8]

Hence my lack of quotation marks. Don't go all "Knick's fan" on me Carmelo.

You taste like Honey Nut Cheerio's.

 

[greyhammer90]

You taste like Honey Nut Cheerio's.

Be sure to chew.

 

[Kak7304]

Has this ever actually been confirmed by anyone watching practice, etc? I have also never seen him drop a pass in a game (admittingly, I cant recall him catching one either). I just find it weird that this entire board feels like GA3 has terrible hands, but meanwhile he is our main kickoff returner (and pretty dang good at it too). I can't recall him ever bobbling a kickoff either.

Catching passes and catching punts/kickoffs are completely different skills.

 

[woolybug25]

Catching passes and catching punts/kickoffs are completely different skills.

It's not like we are talking about him lining up on the outside, running routes across the middle or going for jump balls. We are talking about him being able to take passes out of the backfield, getting bubble screens (worst play ever) and being able to line up as a decoy. He's a RB.

 

[IrishLax]

It's not like we are talking about him lining up on the outside, running routes across the middle or going for jump balls. We are talking about him being able to take passes out of the backfield, getting bubble screens (worst play ever) and being able to line up as a decoy. He's a RB.

No, we're talking about him being able to play the RB/Z role similar to what Riddick played. That involves a lot more than what you just listed. That's what Folston would play and is what spurred the discussion of him being able to get PT in that role.

 

[woolybug25]

No, we're talking about him being able to play the RB/Z role similar to what Riddick played. That involves a lot more than what you just listed. That's what Folston would play and is what spurred the discussion of him being able to get PT in that role.

No, "we" were indeed talking about his hands. At least I was, and I was the one that brought the subject up. My concern is why people say that "he cant catch", when I don't see any proof of that. Can he play with the same capabilities as Riddick? Probably not, but that doesn't mean that he cant catch. Maybe he has even gotten better at catching passes. But why do we have to have "another Riddick"? Last time I checked, we have two top 10 TE's in this class and a baller in Niklas. Furthermore, we have guys like Neal to fill the z receiver role when we aren't running two TE sets.

Kelly has changed his offense constantly during his career (he used to not even use a TE at all), so I don't see why he cant find a role for GA3. One that may even include doing the kind of pass catching I listed above.

 

[GoIrish41]

Wasn't GA3 initially recruited as a wideout? Heck, I was a little disappointed last year when he was lined up at RB. I thought then that he'd make a great WR. I have no doubt that he could play outside WR or in the slot.

 

[ThePiombino]

I definitely remember a play in which a swing pass went right through his hands. Unfortunately, I couldn't possibly rememeber the game. MAYBE Purdue, but I'm not even close to sure.

 

[Kak7304]

No, we're talking about him being able to play the RB/Z role similar to what Riddick played. That involves a lot more than what you just listed. That's what Folston would play and is what spurred the discussion of him being able to get PT in that role.

Agreed. Look at how many clutch 3rd down catches Toma made this year to extend drives because he has exceptionally reliable hands and great ball skills despite physical limitations. I'd also argue that you want a slot to have better lateral agility than what Atkinson offers. He has exceptional straight line speed but lacks the shiftiness you want in a slot.

 

[GoIrish41]

I definitely remember a play in which a swing pass went right through his hands. Unfortunately, I couldn't possibly rememeber the game. MAYBE Purdue, but I'm not even close to sure.

I can remember Floyd, Tate, Shark, etc. drop a pass every now and again, too. That didn't mean that they had bad hands, it just meant they had a bad play.