'10 UT S Chris Badger (BYU Transfer)

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Why are they at practice?

They do the NBC pre game show.

 

[tko]

They do the NBC pre game show.

They're learning the names of our players.

 

[Kak7304]

They're learning the names of our players.

Then why isn't Hammond there?

 

[irishfanjho15]

Then why isn't Hammond there?

Because he already knows them all.

 

[Kak7304]

My all-time favorite Hammond call happened a few years back when he said, "And Harrison Ford, in on the tackle" when #22 made a nice play.

 

[BGIF]

My all-time favorite Hammond call happened a few years back when he said, "And Harrison Ford, in on the tackle" when #22 made a nice play.

Common Tom, Harrison Ford ran out of eligibility to play Indiana Jones.

 

[NYMIKE6]

I'm assuming he is preserving a year this season? i haven't head much about him....

 

[Emcee77]

I'm assuming he is preserving a year this season? i haven't head much about him....

Yeah. He may have been a little bummed about it this weekend ... being a Mormon from Provo, he had a lot of family make the trip out for the game.

BYU Football: Provo’s Badger loves making history at Notre Dame | The Salt Lake Tribune

 

[sfk324]

Yeah. He may have been a little bummed about it this weekend ... being a Mormon from Provo, he had a lot of family make the trip out for the game.

BYU Football: Provo’s Badger loves making history at Notre Dame | The Salt Lake Tribune

Maybe, but he's got another shot next year...although it will likely be quite a bit colder.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Yeah. He may have been a little bummed about it this weekend ... being a Mormon from Provo, he had a lot of family make the trip out for the game.

BYU Football: Provo’s Badger loves making history at Notre Dame | The Salt Lake Tribune

But, his parents and family still got to see him dressed and run out onto the field.

 

[Buster Bluth]

According to the interwebs, BYU is coming to South Bend again next year?

They can see him then.

 

[irishff1014]

He may be moving to special teams player with the talent we are bringing in at Safety.

 

[dublinirish]

BYU plays ND in late november in 2013

 

[TheChosen1]

IrishIllustrated.com - Badger's journey continues

If you ever wondered why Chris Badger chose an LDS mission in Ecuador over going directly from Timpview High School in Provo, Utah to Notre Dame, it only takes one conversation to realize you’re not talking about your average Joe.

Badger lets a higher power direct his course, and his 21-month mission 3,500 miles away in Ecuador was all part of the unfolding plan that is his life.


Although the experience was life changing in a positive way for the 6-foot-0, 193-pound sophomore-to-be safety, there’s nothing quite like the realization of a dream to attend Notre Dame. After falling victim to not one but two armed robberies in Ecuador, Badger appreciates the safe haven the campus of Notre Dame offers.

“You get such a special feeling, it’s inspirational,” said Badger, who enrolled at Notre Dame in the spring of 2010 before heading to Ecuador. “You get a feeling that you want to do great things. You come to Notre Dame because you want to do great things on the football field and in life.

“I love the spiritual aspect at Notre Dame, kind of the feeling that anything’s possible. School-wise, I had a good semester, and football-wise, it (was) an incredible year. It’s just the perfect place for me to grow and develop all around: spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically.”

The first time Badger was held up on his mission, the armed robber demanded his money and cell phone. Badger gave the man the few dollars he had, but said that he didn’t own a cell phone.

“But I do have a book that is about God,” Badger reportedly said to the armed robber, who promptly gave Badger back his money.

The second time he was held up, the demand was his money and his brand new Adidas shoes. Badger walked home in his socks.

For Badger to achieve his football goals at Notre Dame, he’s going to have to wade through a bunch of talented, and in most cases, larger bodies. Badger will be one of seven scholarship safeties vying for playing time in the Irish secondary this spring, eight if Elijah Shumate returns to safety after working at cornerback and nickel in 2012. This summer, five-star recruit Max Redfield joins the competition.

“From (December) through March, I’m doing everything I can to get bigger, faster and stronger, and just to show the coaches I’m someone they can put their trust in and someone that will make plays,” Badger said.

“In the spring, I’ll get a chance to get more reps and an opportunity to show I can make plays. So I’m truly excited. I’m only a couple of months into a four- or five-year career, so I’ve just got to be patient.”

Although every defensive back can be better or smoother with his technique, Badger’s greater challenge is to add more size and strength while tending to the specific details of fundamental play. There was no training table in Ecuador.

“I like to do extra work on my footwork,” Badger said. “It’s so important. It’s such a little thing but it makes such a big difference. I feel like I’m really good at reading and reacting to plays, so if I read and react to something and I take one little extra step, that’s going to make all the difference between batting a ball down or maybe making an interception.

“So what I try to work on is staying really low when I backpedal, taking quick steps, not taking extra steps and trying to be as quick and fast as possible. Now I just need to add bigger, faster and stronger to that.”

But to spend any time with Badger is to know that football is just a portion of his life. Right now, he’s also enjoying the Notre Dame experience. Before coming to Notre Dame, he called his enrollment at Notre Dame “a match made in heaven.” He also said he received “a revelation” that Notre Dame “is where I need to be.”

“All of my teammates have just been so great,” Badger said. “One of my great friends on the team is Danny Spond, and he’s been a great inspiration to me. He got hurt back in fall camp and he came back, and (he had) such an amazing year. I love seeing him do so well.”

Badger also credited Manti Te’o for being a good friend during his first semester back at Notre Dame. They attended Sunday service together at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Mishawaka, Ind.

Badger stays in touch with friends he made in Ecuador. Facebook allows them to “share the gospel” with one another. He admits he needs to do a better job of staying in touch with his Ecuadorian friends, partly to maintain his mastery of the Spanish language. He was able to brush up on his Spanish with some of the locals during his weeklong stay in south Florida for the national championship game.

He found that Ecuadorians didn’t have much interest in American football, at least until they heard how many people attended Notre Dame home football games.

Asked if he had lost any shoes recently, Badger laughed: “I lost some flip flops. It’s yet to be determined if I lost them or they were stolen. But I’m definitely praying that’s the last time I ever get a gun pointed in my face.”

Makes the pressure of competition in the Irish secondary pale in comparison.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I have never seen a recruit's high school film with as many fullthrottle slobberknocker plays as Chris' film. I am REALLY hoping that he gets some playing time, as difficult as this roster makes it. This guy can hit like John Lynch. Or Zibby before his shoulder got hurt. What a walloper.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Wonder if he ends up playing LB. UGA always has these undersized, athletic Linebackers that used to be safeties.

 

[irishpat183]

He may be moving to special teams player with the talent we are bringing in at Safety.

+1

Love the kid....but I'd rather see someone back there is that a better athlete. I hope Redfield steps in a makes us a more athletic D from day one.

We've had "big hitters"...We need playmakers.

I want playmaking ball hawks back there. That can run. Guys that go up and get the ball. He doesn't really fit that mold.

 

[GBdomer]

All I know is he will be head hunting.

 

[GBdomer]

Wonder if he ends up playing LB. UGA always has these undersized, athletic Linebackers that used to be safeties.

Heck there safeties are bigger than some of our LB's.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

+1

Love the kid....but I'd rather see someone back there is that a better athlete. I hope Redfield steps in a makes us a more athletic D from day one.

We've had "big hitters"...We need playmakers.

I want playmaking ball hawks back there. That can run. Guys that go up and get the ball. He doesn't really fit that mold.

You mean like Harrison Smith grin:

 

[irishpat183]

You mean like Harrison Smith grin:

TOUCHE! LOL....


I deserve that. Of course, just by looking at the numbers...Harrison was much more "athletic" than Badger.


I guess my point, not knocking Badger, is that I want an overall more athletic team. And I think we're recruiting guys that are probably better athletes than Chris (such as redfield).

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Interesting conversation and situation. This is one of the positions to really watch this spring.

 

[dublinirish]

if Badger became a Collinsworth of BJax type of guy on special teams i would be happy. i wouldnt think he will crack the two deep til his senior year but i reckon he will be flying on kickoff teams come the fall.

 

[irishpat183]

if Badger became a Collinsworth of BJax type of guy on special teams i would be happy. i wouldnt think he will crack the two deep til his senior year but i reckon he will be flying on kickoff teams come the fall.

Exactly. If there ever was a guy I'd like to see charging down the field about to smash someone...it'd be this guy.

 

[dublinirish]

forgot to add Baretti to this list. Kid did great work on ST last year

 

[Emcee77]

Wonder if he ends up playing LB. UGA always has these undersized, athletic Linebackers that used to be safeties.

I'm afraid Badger is too small to make this switch, at only 6'0" and below 200 pounds, but I like the way you are thinking. Depending on how they develop, I could see Baratti or Prosise making the switch to ILB.

But that's with a big "depending" ... I think Baratti is very likely to stay at safety, though he may be able to bulk up into a LB. We know Prosise has also impressed at safety, but we also know that he has no trouble putting on weight, so I could definitely see him bulking up if the staff wants him to -- but he doesn't have the ideal frame for LB either.

The basic idea of looking for ILBs who are former safeties is a good one, though, with our system.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I'm afraid Badger is too small to make this switch, at only 6'0" and below 200 pounds, but I like the way you are thinking. Depending on how they develop, I could see Baratti or Prosise making the switch to ILB.

But that's with a big "depending" ... I think Baratti is very likely to stay at safety, though he may be able to bulk up into a LB. We know Prosise has also impressed at safety, but we also know that he has no trouble putting on weight, so I could definitely see him bulking up if the staff wants him to -- but he doesn't have the ideal frame for LB either.

The basic idea of looking for ILBs who are former safeties is a good one, though, with our system.

Excellent points.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I'm afraid Badger is too small to make this switch, at only 6'0" and below 200 pounds, but I like the way you are thinking. Depending on how they develop, I could see Baratti or Prosise making the switch to ILB.

But that's with a big "depending" ... I think Baratti is very likely to stay at safety, though he may be able to bulk up into a LB. We know Prosise has also impressed at safety, but we also know that he has no trouble putting on weight, so I could definitely see him bulking up if the staff wants him to -- but he doesn't have the ideal frame for LB either.

The basic idea of looking for ILBs who are former safeties is a good one, though, with our system.

Not disagreeing, just wondering what the reason is: why do they make good ILB's?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Not disagreeing, just wondering what the reason is: why do they make good ILB's?

They are more athletic, which helps them out in coverage. This is why Alec Ogletree, a former safety in the UGA program, is more highly coveted than Manti.

 

[Emcee77]

Right, as long as our defense remains basically passive, our success depends on the "back seven" being able to cover their assigned areas. A lot of typical freshman ILBs, if they've been linebackers forever, have spent their entire football-playing lives at the line of scrimmage banging helmets. We want guys who have the size and strength (or can develop the strength) to do that, but who also have a lot of experience in coverage and have thereby developed good coverage instincts and good closing speed. A large-ish safety who plays physical (like Dan Fox, high school safety) is a great bet. Ogletree is a great example. For another, this combination of traits is what I LOVED about Michael Hutchings ... he played ILB, OLB and safety in his tape. In my view, great ILB prospect for us.