'13 CA DT Eddie Vanderdoes (UCLA)

[NDinL.A.]

Elite prospects never care about the numbers game. They think/know they're the cream of the crop and it doesn't matter.

I just posted my thoughts on this on the USC recruiting thread, but it belongs here as well.

Michael Hutchings, USC commit and friend of EV's, said about a month ago that EV would not go to USC if A'Shawn Robinson did. Now, he might have been mistaken, but he did say or tweet that (can't remember which one, but it was definitely him, 1000% sure). Soooooooo, IF that were true, it MIGHT have an effect on EV come NSD...

Also, I still think he ends up at UCLA. He loves every school he visits (except for USC, which is apparently out for a reason that maybe I'll share after NSD), they all run a 3-4, they all give him great opportunities in many different ways. But I keep going back to the fact that he calls the UCLA coaches 3-4 times a week. That's big for me. I hope I'm wrong, but think of these guys that have flirted with ND, and their comments about other schools and their actions as well (all USC guys cause that's who I follow as far as recruiting):

* Seantrell Henderson: After getting a USC offer, his dad said, "That's the one we've been waiting for." And after visiting Iowa, son said, "I liked it, but it was a small town, and I can't see myself in a small town." And yet he kept ND hanging around until the end, knowing he wouldn't go there. For a LONG time, people doubted USC, but he ended up going there. His comments made sense, looking back.

* Nelson Agholar: Kept ND around quite awhile, and FL as well until NSD, even though he was a silent to USC for over 6 months. He visited USC on his own dime twice, and then took his OV in January. Talked to more USC folks on Twitter than anyone.

* Ty Isaac - taking his 3rd visit to USC on his own dime this weekend. Kept talking to ND coaches until this week, but even before he committed to USC he said it was his dream school and he was always a fan. Always looked for reasons NOT to go to ND.

* Sua Cravens - got his ND offer and talked about how honored he was and how great of an offer it was and how he was definitely going to visit. Also said USC was his dream school but even if they offered he wouldn't commit because he had to check out all his options. Then USC offered, and he never visited ND or any other schools.

Not saying that EV is like those guys, I'm just saying (and truthfully, rambling!) that the calling the UCLA coaches thing has really stuck to me in the same way Seantrell's quotes stuck with me and Nelson Agholar's actions stuck with me, even when ND was supposedly under consideration. I think EV is being much more sincere and will truly consider ND in the end, but then pick UCLA on NSD. And yes, I definitely hope I'm wrong because he and Jaylon would be the lynchpins to this class...

 

[yankeeND]

I just posted my thoughts on this on the USC recruiting thread, but it belongs here as well.



Also, I still think he ends up at UCLA. He loves every school he visits (except for USC, which is apparently out for a reason that maybe I'll share after NSD), they all run a 3-4, they all give him great opportunities in many different ways. But I keep going back to the fact that he calls the UCLA coaches 3-4 times a week. That's big for me. I hope I'm wrong, but think of these guys that have flirted with ND, and their comments about other schools and their actions as well (all USC guys cause that's who I follow as far as recruiting):

* Seantrell Henderson: After getting a USC offer, his dad said, "That's the one we've been waiting for." And after visiting Iowa, son said, "I liked it, but it was a small town, and I can't see myself in a small town." And yet he kept ND hanging around until the end, knowing he wouldn't go there. For a LONG time, people doubted USC, but he ended up going there. His comments made sense, looking back.

* Nelson Agholar: Kept ND around quite awhile, and FL as well until NSD, even though he was a silent to USC for over 6 months. He visited USC on his own dime twice, and then took his OV in January. Talked to more USC folks on Twitter than anyone.

* Ty Isaac - taking his 3rd visit to USC on his own dime this weekend. Kept talking to ND coaches until this week, but even before he committed to USC he said it was his dream school and he was always a fan. Always looked for reasons NOT to go to ND.

* Sua Cravens - got his ND offer and talked about how honored he was and how great of an offer it was and how he was definitely going to visit. Also said USC was his dream school but even if they offered he wouldn't commit because he had to check out all his options. Then USC offered, and he never visited ND or any other schools.

Not saying that EV is like those guys, I'm just saying (and truthfully, rambling!) that the calling the UCLA coaches thing has really stuck to me in the same way Seantrell's quotes stuck with me and Nelson Agholar's actions stuck with me, even when ND was supposedly under consideration. I think EV is being much more sincere and will truly consider ND in the end, but then pick UCLA on NSD. And yes, I definitely hope I'm wrong because he and Jaylon would be the lynchpins to this class...

That was an excellent post LA! Thank you for sharing that. I hope your wrong but it seems pretty spot on.

 

[Fbolt]

I just posted my thoughts on this on the USC recruiting thread, but it belongs here as well.



Also, I still think he ends up at UCLA. He loves every school he visits (except for USC, which is apparently out for a reason that maybe I'll share after NSD),

so not cool

 

[ThePiombino]

But I keep going back to the fact that he calls the UCLA coaches 3-4 times a week.

This is VERY telling, assuming he isn't making contact with the ND coaches nearly as often. But do we know that's the case?

 

[Irish To The Core]

Let me put it this way; we are in a much better spot with EV heading into NSD than we were with Manti. EV might well decide to come to Notre Dame but UCLA and 'Bama are also in the mix. Who is currently leading doesn't make much difference because EV and his parents are going to sit down on Tuesday/Wednesday and review his options carefully and that is how the decision will be made.

 

[scUM Hater]

First off, I KNOW NOTHING, HAVE NO INSIDER INFO. But, I just have a feeling that Eddie is going to choose ND. Wednesday can't come soon enough, I have a gut feeling we will know before then though.

 

[NDinL.A.]

First off, I KNOW NOTHING, HAVE NO INSIDER INFO. But, I just have a feeling that Eddie is going to choose ND. Wednesday can't come soon enough, I have a gut feeling we will know before then though.

Man I hope you are right!

 

[IrishLax]

Based on what though? Proximity to home? How close IS UCLA to home?

And are we sure about that timeline? Because I know EV said he had been decommitted from USC for 3 weeks before anyone outside of his family and USC had known. So based on that, did he actually decommitt immediately following the UCLA visit or had he already been for a while?

Yeah, I'm sure about the timeline. You're spot on with the 3 weeks thing too. He took a visit to UCLA, thought it was awesome, and then decommitted from USC weeks before making it public.

I think UCLA is a big threat because it is the closest to home and he had the most developed relationship with those coaches. Before ND and 'Bama even came firmly into the picture UCLA had been on him for awhile and he had been reciprocating interest. A lot of UCLA people almost thought he was a "lock"... though I always take the approach of never making assumptions until after visits. It was going to take a lot to overcome the relationships with UCLA but I really think we might have done just enough.

UCLA, as a school, offers a lot of what ND does just within (long) driveable distance. ND has a LOT of discriminators in terms of football over UCLA though. The way I see it, if he makes a football-only decision it's probably 'Bama. If he makes the "easy" or "comfortable" decision, it's probably UCLA. If he combines athletics and academics... I think the best overall decision might end up being ND for him.

So now we just wait and see what happens. Only 92 hours until we know for sure.

 

[scUM Hater]

Here is for all those saying he doesn't want to go to a crowded house of bama:

<IFRAME height=315 src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/J9gKyRmic20" frameBorder=0 width=420 allowfullscreen></IFRAME>

 

[dyrtdogg]

To add a little perspective: only 50% of the 5-star recruits live up to the hype and become big stars. Go look at the ESPNU 150 from the past several years and you won't recognize the names of half the top 10 recruits from each year. A lot of those can't-miss, all-world, "the future of our program depends on getting them" kids were busts. No program will live or die over whether they get this guy or not. If you get him, be happy. If you don't get him, don't worry about it.

What's this? Perspective? What the hell is this doing on the internet?

 

[Grahambo]

Remember, mom is supposedly in our corner so there is that.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I think we're in the mix, but I still don't think we get him. It'll take a year or two to get that sort of depth on both lines, but you're on the right path. Kelly's doing a good job and building your team for the long haul. Be patient. You're getting there.

LOL! When my Alabama buddies say things like, "you'll get there," I just laugh. Comparing Alabama's success with ND'S is like comparing sales of regular SI issues, with the SI swimsuit issue. I can't just picture the SI management meeting: "Gentleman, we aren't leaving this room until we figure out why this one issue is outselling all the rest by such an enormous margin."

-----Ala. / ND
2008- 32 / 23
2009- 28 / 18
2010- 26 / 23
2011- 23 / 23
2012- 26 / 17

21 a year gets you to 84. Not even counting Alabama's KEY plug-and-play JuCo athletes, they benefit in a huge way from kids dropping out of their program. You can afford to miss on kids like Eddie when you just shed your non-productive players (as they might say, "the kids who don't buy in") and move on. Add in the completely different academic expectations, and you have two very, very different animals.

We are not "getting there." We are heading somewhere else. That's fine by me, but we don't have to tolerate Alabama fans pretending we are playing by the same rules.

 

[koonja]

EV4™ ‏@EddieVanderdoes

Great time in T-Town now time to head back to the 530.

 

[koonja]

The 3-4 calls per week TO the UCLA staff is pretty hard to believe. If true, that's very telling. But how sure are we in the accuracy of that report? Seems very odd for a 5-star who everyone wants to be the one calling coaches every other day. I'm guessing it was A) an exaggeration or b) it was misreported and the UCLA coaches call him 3-4 times per week.

Does anyone know of a UCLA forum that you can sign up for for free? I have some down time in the next two hours and want to do some digging.

 

[koonja]

BTW, google mapped the drive from Auburn, CA to UCLA. 414 miles estimated at 5 hours and 56 minutes. Not necessarily a flight-only situation, but it's a drive that's for sure. BTW, ND is 30 hours and 2,000 miles, lol.

Yep, I'm bored.

 

[chicago51]

Anyone know if EV is a 49ers fan?

 

[aubeirish]

Elite prospects never care about the numbers game. They think/know they're the cream of the crop and it doesn't matter.

We have seen elite prospects choose schools for depth chart in the past. I would say that elite competitors(in terms of character) are indeed never afraid of competition.

 

[rtrn2glory]

all i can say about this is raise your hand if you thought you'd be paying as close attention as we are to who this stud was going to sign with on February 6th?

definitely not me for sure, so we are in as good a position as we possibly could be in.

gonna try to stay as optimisitc as possible the last 3 days of the 2013 cycle b/c this class is phenomenal and i am stoked to have each of them!

 

[IrishFrog]

Does anyone know of a UCLA forum that you can sign up for for free? I have some down time in the next two hours and want to do some digging.

Still a rook so not sure how to post links but was reading this yesterday..
Vanderdoes Sweepstake Ticker

 

[IrishLax]

We have seen elite prospects choose schools for depth chart in the past. I would say that elite competitors(in terms of character) are indeed never afraid of competition.

True... you're right, I'm wrong. Just this year Mackenzie Alexander comes to mind as a guy REALLY concerned about depth.

 

[Irish Man3]

Still a rook so not sure how to post links but was reading this yesterday..
Vanderdoes Sweepstake Ticker

It's hard to argue anything in that blog. If I'm betting on it, I'd say he ends up a Bruin as well. That would round out a great class for them. Happy to see them reeling in the talent that was once USCs.

 

[IrishLax]

Still a rook so not sure how to post links but was reading this yesterday..
Vanderdoes Sweepstake Ticker

Man... what a worthless post full of typos and inaccuracies. I mean, that's really pathetic and I hope that guy isn't a professional. He has a cursory grasp of the situation at best.

The funniest sentence in the whole thing: "Vanderdoes is 18 years old and during his lifetime Notre Dame has had multiple losing seasons, and has won a total of own bowl game against that football powerhouse....Hawaii."

 

[Irish#1]

IMO.....If EV is as honest and level headed as been described, then I don't see him as a UCLA lock. If he was leaning that heavily to the Bruins, I couldn't see him taking the visits to ND or Bama and wasting everyones time.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

We will see on Wednesday, what I am looking forward to as all these people with all this logic, what they will do when three or four schools worth of them will be disappointed.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

EV4™ ‏@EddieVanderdoes
Watching film with Coach Rumph of Marcell Dareus and I def can see the similarity in body type and how we play! Got me excited!

Why is he still there.

 

[STLDomer]

Just retweeted this

“@BMac_SN: Sat with Eddie Vanderdoes this past summer at The Opening, right before he picked #USC--he was raving about SEC defenses. #Bama maybe?”

 

[chicago51]

Why is he still there.

I really have no idea. I figured he would have gone home yesterday.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

I'm pretty sure he's watching film they gave him.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

He tweeted this morning he was on his way back.

 

[johnnykillz]

Sounds to me like Bama hit a home run.