'12 IN QB Gunner Kiel (Cincinnati Transfer)

[Grahambo]

I look forward to Gunner Kiel winning a Super Bowl and Lou Holtz being able to tweet about his career at ND.

 

[aubeirish]

Anybody knows if Wooly is alright?

 

[Emcee77]

Man this bums me out. I really wanted him to have a chance to win the job this spring. I certainly never ruled out the possibility that he might beat out Golson. I wonder who did, him or the coaches. Anxious to hear more. Best of luck, Gunner.

 

[IrishHokie22]

Disappointing, but not totally surprising. Kelly can say what he wants about how no one's position is safe and competition is great and everything, but realistically, Kiel knew he didn't have a chance at winning the job. Golson led the Irish to the NCG! You don't bench a sophomore QB coming off a season where he took you to the NCG. Golson will be the starter here for the next three seasons if he chooses to stay for three more years.

Wish Kiel nothing but the best. Can't fault the guy for wanting to be somewhere where he has a chance to be the guy. Hope he has nothing but success and grows into an outstanding QB.

So that puts us at four QBs. Has anyone heard anything about Hendrix? I know his name has been tossed around in recent months as a potential transfer. Really hoping that's not the case, as I wouldn't feel great about going into next season with only three quarterbacks.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Yes, it would be great to keep him for depth. Yes, he could be a potential star.

No, you cannot expect to keep a #1 QB recruit on the bench unless he is guaranteed to be a multi-year starter down the road. Anyone who expected he would stick around is crazy... the only question would be whether or not he would be given a chance to truly compete for the starting job this spring. If not, he was 100% gone.

Exactly

 

[IrishLion]

This makes it crucial that Hendrix sticks around for a 5th year.



Worst case scenario, Rees and Hendrix are both gone after this year, and Golson and Zaire are the only options in 2014. BK will have to recruit a QB hard for this cycle now as well.

In 2014, we could see: 1. Golson 2. Zaire 3. Freshman.

Makes me wonder how Pete Carrol got all of those highly-rated QBs to stick around and wait their turn at USC.

 

[irishandy]

Golson led the Irish to the NCG!

The defense led us to the NCG....

 

[Jerry]

Quote:
Originally Posted by GoldenIsThyFame
@ChiTribHamilton: #NotreDame QB Gunner Kiel on if transferring entered his mind: "It honestly hasn't." Said he'll be in spring practice "for sure."

I wonder how much Zaire's presence affected Keil's decision? It's one thing when you are behind the older players but when new big shot freshman show up on campus you probably start to wonder where you fit into this puzzle.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

The defense led us to the NCG....

Bruce Heggie led us to the NCG....



(slowly slinks out of the room.)

 

[IrishSteelhead]

This makes it crucial that Hendrix sticks around for a 5th year.



Worst case scenario, Rees and Hendrix are both gone after this year, and Golson and Zaire are the only options in 2014. BK will have to recruit a QB hard for this cycle now as well.

In 2014, we could see: 1. Golson 2. Zaire 3. Freshman.

Makes me wonder how Pete Carrol got all of those highly-rated QBs to stick around and wait their turn at USC.

USC had a good NFL pipeline going. Cassell got drafted as a career backup, I think they saw the appeal in that.

 

[Rocket89]

That's exactly my point. We have 4, doesn't mean we have 4 good ones. Golson had one loss yes, but that wasn't due to his awesome play. That was due to the defense. He's only going to get better but at some point he's going to get hurt. Tommy can come through in a pinch but I wouldn't trust him to go the whole game against Michigan, Oklahoma, SC. He's very limited in what he can do. Hendrix hasn't shown anything and Malik will hopefully redshirt. If he doesn't, that means **** seriously went wrong. So while yes we have 4 QBs, our depth isn't as good as people think.

What college team has 4 good QB's? Just about every program is eff'd if their starter gets hurt.

 

[IrishLion]

USC had a good NFL pipeline going. Cassell got drafted as a career backup, I think they saw the appeal in that.

Yeah, but it had to start somewhere. I think with another year of success, QBs will start signing with ND knowing they won't see the field until they are a JR at the earliest.

 

[texbender]

Wish this was not the case, but understand why it could come to pass. It will be a big loss if it pans out. Can't imagine GK wouldn't have played quite a bit next year, albeit as a backup.
Next man in............Malik

 

[IrishHokie22]

The defense led us to the NCG....

True, but he certainly didn't prevent the Irish from making the NCG. He played well in the latter half of the season and there's no way he was going to lose his spot.

 

[Nothingman]

If only EG was a year older or Gunner was a year younger. C'est la vie.

 

[gkautz10]

So how many more years of eligibility does Hendrix have entering this season. I was under the impression of 1 more after this year correct?

 

[rtrn2glory]

good luck to the kid...can't say i'm shocked, but definitely bummed out and disappointed.

early blind predictions with no inside scoop:

Ball St
Illinois
Missouri
Kansas

 

[aubeirish]

So how many more years of eligibility does Hendrix have entering this season. I was under the impression of 1 more after this year correct?

2, but he is most likely gone after this season.

 

[Irish YJ]

Hoping Indiana or Tennessee. The only other teams I can cheer for. Well maybe Kansas.

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Hoping Indiana or Tennessee. The only other teams I can cheer for. Well maybe Kansas.

Atta boy.

Kansas has two years of Jake Heaps coming. He's been in the system redshirting for a year and will be the starter for two years. That would still leave two years for Kiel. I doubt that's in the mix.

 

[stlnd01]

2, but he is most likely gone after this season.

I'd think this news might change that, no?
Rees will be done. We won't recruit more than one QB to enter in '14. And we'd want four on the roster. Hendrix will probably never play meaningful minutes, but he would probably at least get offered a fifth year. He's not going to the NFL, so why not take it?

 

[Irish YJ]

Yeah it is bad after this year because it means Zaire will have to be ready to back up Golson. That's a scary proposition at this point but its too far off now to make judgements. Hendrix will likely leave to start at a MAC school or somewhere else in his final year of eligibility and it most definitely means we will take a QB this year.

Sucks that GK is gone, but I'm perfectly OK with Zaire pushed into the spotlight next year (if TR doesn't stick around). I just hate to see talent buried for years. Most studs don't have it in them to sit for very long.

 

[Emcee77]

I'm not worried about this from a depth perspective. It just means we must get at least one QB in this class, maybe two. If we do that, we should be fine, even if we lose Hendrix for his 5th year (interesting possibility ... Massa returning to QB, maybe even getting a 5th year). Hendrix and Rees will be fine at backup in 2013, and Malik will be ready to play the backup role as a redshirt frosh in 2014.

No, I'm sorry to see Gunner go because I thought of him as a potential starter. EG had a hell of a season for a RS frosh but he didn't prove to me that a top prospect like Gunner couldn't overtake him. Just bummed.

 

[Jerry]

Yeah, but it had to start somewhere. I think with another year of success, QBs will start signing with ND knowing they won't see the field until they are a JR at the earliest.

Not pro style QB's like USC had for all those years.

 

[Irish YJ]

All I know is that one Mr. Zaire is having a very good day somewhere.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

I'm perfectly fine with this.... It means we've made progress. That said, we're going to have to recruit 1, preferably 2 this year. We're in ok shape. Not worried.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Guy here is saying he has really good sources that Rocky Top or Cincy are the the likely destinations. We shall see

 

[Fbolt]

Disappointing, yes. Freaking out? I am not. I wish the young man the best.

I agree with many who feel this is not the "end of the world" scenario. ND does have depth with Rees, Hendrix and Zaire. Makes this an easy decision to recruit a QB this cycle.

Maybe GK felt that he could not beat out Golson? Is that not good for ND football? Is it possible that with Zaire behind him, Golson in front of him-he felt that his best PT option is to transfer? If so, he has to do what's best for him (IMO).

A coach is not going to put your interests in front of the W/L record.

Maybe he felt that the more mobile/dual threat type of QB's BK and staff were recruiting were "different" than his pro-style (I tend to think this is a portion of his reason)?

Regardless-Congrats on making his decision. Wish him the best and I am ready to move on. The positive side-this leaves ND with another slot for 2014!

 

[IrishJayhawk]

Disappointing, yes. Freaking out? I am not. I wish the young man the best.

I agree with many who feel this is not the "end of the world" scenario. ND does have depth with Rees, Hendrix and Zaire. Makes this an easy decision to recruit a QB this cycle.

Maybe GK felt that he could not beat out Golson? Is that not good for ND football? Is it possible that with Zaire behind him, Golson in front of him-he felt that his best PT option is to transfer? If so, he has to do what's best for him (IMO).

A coach is not going to put your interests in front of the W/L record.

Maybe he felt that the more mobile/dual threat type of QB's BK and staff were recruiting were "different" than his pro-style (I tend to think this is a portion of his reason)?

Regardless-Congrats on making his decision. Wish him the best and I am ready to move on. The positive side-this leaves ND with another slot for 2014!

I think next year is fine. Rees and Hendrix are 2-3 and Zaire is getting experience on scout team. The following year is what would worry me. Golson, RS frosh Zaire, and true freshmen. That's a bit thin for my liking.

NOTE: That's assuming Hendrix finishes the degree and goes somewhere for a 5th year. Might not be an assumption I can make.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Cincy would be a great fit...