'14 NJ CB Jabrill Peppers (Michigan Verbal)

[RuntheBall]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ke2UTXNficI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[returnofthemack]

One of my friends who's well-connected as far as NJ recruits has been saying he's a silent commit to scUM since last month. I don't anticipate that changing, especially with Stanford now out of the race. I know we're not playing them anymore afte 2014, but I still want to see them crash and burn. The only team that can make me root for Urban Meyer.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I personally wouldn't mind Stanford getting top flight players. They deserve it, and if we can continue to play well on the field, there will be some Ali-Frazier type bouts this decade between ND and them.

* it is scary to think about since they have been so good with average players, but Id like to see what they can do with some studs.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I personally wouldn't mind Stanford getting top flight players. They deserve it, and if we can continue to play well on the field, there will be some Ali-Frazier type bouts this decade between ND and them.

* it is scary to think about since they have been so good with average players, but Id like to see what they can do with some studs.

I understand where you're coming from, but few things could harm our recruiting efforts more than a consistently excellent Stanford team. They're arguably our most dangerous recruiting rival.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I understand where you're coming from, but few things could harm our recruiting efforts more than a consistently excellent Stanford team. They're arguably our most dangerous recruiting rival.

True, but if BK has already showed us anything, it's that this program is sexy as hell again, and the Inn has high priced (no SEC pun intended) guests lining up to stay the night at it.

 

[returnofthemack]

I personally wouldn't mind Stanford getting top flight players. They deserve it, and if we can continue to play well on the field, there will be some Ali-Frazier type bouts this decade between ND and them.

* it is scary to think about since they have been so good with average players, but Id like to see what they can do with some studs.

I have to disagree with you man. The only places where you can play championship-level football with elite academics are Stanford and ND. Our football teams are now roughly at the same level, we probably have a little more talent, and I love ND, but Stanford is barely behind Harvard and Yale as far as academic excellence. If they stay at this level, for recruits choosing between ND and Stanford, it's hard to not choose Stanford: Academically elite, Championship-level football, one of the most gorgeous campuses in the country, and fantastic weather. I liked when they were doormats. If Vanderbilt and NW keep rising, they could also hurt us.

 

[IrishLion]

Maybe Stanford, ND, Vandy and NW should just form their own smart kids league (though James Franklin might not be down for that).

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I have to disagree with you man. The only places where you can play championship-level football with elite academics are Stanford and ND. Our football teams are now roughly at the same level, we probably have a little more talent, and I love ND, but Stanford is barely behind Harvard and Yale as far as academic excellence. If they stay at this level, for recruits choosing between ND and Stanford, it's hard to not choose Stanford: Academically elite, Championship-level football, one of the most gorgeous campuses in the country, and fantastic weather. I liked when they were doormats. If Vanderbilt and NW keep rising, they could also hurt us.

Look at our upcoming schedules. With USC down, Stanford is the lynchpin for at least the next two seasons. If they were a doormat, SOS would take a huge hit. There's an ebb and flow in CFB where only a handful of teams maintain a high level, and I see Stanford as a harmless passing fancy in the grand scheme of things.

 

[Pachuco]

I have to disagree with you man. The only places where you can play championship-level football with elite academics are Stanford and ND. Our football teams are now roughly at the same level, we probably have a little more talent, and I love ND, but Stanford is barely behind Harvard and Yale as far as academic excellence. If they stay at this level, for recruits choosing between ND and Stanford, it's hard to not choose Stanford: Academically elite, Championship-level football, one of the most gorgeous campuses in the country, and fantastic weather. I liked when they were doormats. If Vanderbilt and NW keep rising, they could also hurt us.

ND football fandom >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.... Stanford football fandom. Just sayin', brother. Otherwise, you have great points.

 

[ACamp1900]

Maybe Stanford, ND, Vandy and NW should just form their own smart kids league (though James Franklin might not be down for that).

I have said over and over... we should join up with every other legit school with a football team and start a real super conference and crown the conference champion "The REAL College Foobtall National Champion"... shut to **** of the meatheads from the ESS. EEE. SEEE

 

[greyhammer90]

ND football fandom >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.... Stanford football fandom. Just sayin', brother. Otherwise, you have great points.

Nothing helps a fan base grow like being consistently successful. Stanford is our biggest long term threat as far as taking a cut of our academic/football balance goes.

 

[Pachuco]

Nothing helps a fan base grow like being consistently successful. Stanford is our biggest long term threat as far as taking a cut of our academic/football balance goes.

Definitely. Wouldn't argue that point. But at our worst, which wasn't all that long ago, our fan base was still pretty healthy. Angry and bitter, but active. When Stanford fans reach that level of delusional/prideful arrogance that only an obsessed fan can appreciate, I'll start to fear the tree. Until then, I'll expect ND to chop them down every time.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Maybe Stanford, ND, Vandy and NW should just form their own smart kids league (though James Franklin might not be down for that).

He wouldn't. ESS EE SEE is a big part of his sales pitch.

Look at our upcoming schedules. With USC down, Stanford is the lynchpin for at least the next two seasons. If they were a doormat, SOS would take a huge hit. There's an ebb and flow in CFB where only a handful of teams maintain a high level, and I see Stanford as a harmless passing fancy in the grand scheme of things.

Our SoS isn't dependent on a couple marquee games like most SEC teams (which hurts us in the human polls, but such is ND); we get in by (1) eschewing cupcakes; and (2) playing consistently average to very good teams. If a couple of our rivals turn into perennial powers, and nothing else about our schedule changes, we won't be making the NCG without some serious luck (see 2012).

 

[koonja]

I'll take my chances with him at Stanford. I understand the reasoning and logic behind it being better for ND to have him at Michigan, but I hate Michigan too much to care.

 

[IrishLion]

He wouldn't. ESS EE SEE is a big part of his sales pitch.

I was making an attempt at sarcasm without the acclaimed sarcasm font; Franklin had ND outside the top 10 in the final regular season polls or some such nonsense, didn't he?

 

[Andy in Sactown]

I was making an attempt at sarcasm without the acclaimed sarcasm font; Franklin had ND outside the top 10 in the final regular season polls or some such nonsense, didn't he?

He had us 4th in his final coaches poll, but he had been a statistical outlier with bias against us all season long.

“This is what you have to understand: it’s an opinion,” Franklin said. “But it’s an educated opinion. I’ve coached in the ACC. I’ve coached in the Big 12. I’ve coached in the Pac-10. I’ve coached in the SEC. I’ve coached in the NFL. So I think I have a pretty good understanding of what these conferences are like and what our conference is like.

“The other thing is we’ve played Florida. We’ve played Georgia. We’ve played South Carolina (which Franklin ranked eighth). We also played Wake Forest, who played Notre Dame the week before (Vanderbilt).

“So I’ve studied all these teams on film, and that’s my opinion. I don’t mean it to be disrespectful to anybody else. I have tremendous respect for Notre Dame, what they’ve done this year — great year. They can prove me wrong the day after the (BCS Championship), but that’s just how I feel.”

 

[returnofthemack]

I was kind of ticked off when that happened, but hell, he was right and I was horribly wrong.

 

[Andy in Sactown]

I was kind of ticked off when that happened, but hell, he was right and I was horribly wrong.

I have been internally conflicted about such remarks. The politics of the coaching poll versus the notion of impartial ranking. Impartially, I would have had us in the 3-5 range, but within the constructs of the politics of rankings, it clearly was a snub. I lean toward disapproval of his rankings, impartial ranking aside, because the only way that argument flies is if a case can be made for everyone being objective and impartial. Clearly, that is not the case and hindsight is 20-20.

Not to mention he was a statistical outlier in our rankings all season long. He's yelling S-E-C, S-E-C as loud as he can. It's in his interests (especially as a good academic institution) to talk **** about Notre Dame every chance he gets. He sees the young men committing to Notre Dame and Stanford and says to himself, I need to pitch Ivy League academics and SEC football. If it's Stanford, I negative recruit the PAC-12. If Notre Dame, I go strait to knocking their Independance. Negative recruiting to the N-th degree.

 

[BeauBenken]

Going through and deleting the "shits" posts eventually.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

I dont want to see the kid go to Michigan as much as anyone, but at the sametime its a GREAT thing for kids to start coming to ND, Mich and Ostate. There will be a shift from the SEC and keeping talent like Peppers out of the SEC only helps. The SEC run has to end and that starts with keeping Northern kids up North, and bringing Southern kids North. All 3 schools have started to do this, Penn St with their circumstances hurts, as well as the Big10 just being so down right now. ND in ACC will only push kids to come North even more. A few years ago, you didn't see as many kids from the South make MidWest tours. I hate Michigan and I absolutely hate ohio st, but both teams are working with ND to get the MidWest back to where it should be. Over the last couple years, Id honestly say that ND has won that battle of the "the big 3" in recruiting, but all 3 teams having good classes benefits each other in the long run.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I dont want to see the kid go to Michigan as much as anyone, but at the sametime its a GREAT thing for kids to start coming to ND, Mich and Ostate. There will be a shift from the SEC and keeping talent like Peppers out of the SEC only helps. The SEC run has to end and that starts with keeping Northern kids up North, and bringing Southern kids North. All 3 schools have started to do this, Penn St with their circumstances hurts, as well as the Big10 just being so down right now. ND in ACC will only push kids to come North even more. A few years ago, you didn't see as many kids from the South make MidWest tours. I hate Michigan and I absolutely hate ohio st, but both teams are working with ND to get the MidWest back to where it should be. Over the last couple years, Id honestly say that ND has won that battle of the "the big 3" in recruiting, but all 3 teams having good classes benefits each other in the long run.

Exactly. The more kids look, the more kids hear.

I am not 100% sold that Peppers would be a good choice for ND. Second best is if he plays for someone in the area. The more high end recruits playing in Ohio-Mich-Indiana, the better.

 

[TomHaverford]

Jabrill just sets the New Jersey high school state record in the 200m with a 20.79. This is like a week after the internet was buzzing with him running a 10.48 in the 100.

His tape showed he had serious speed, but these track times only confirm it. He might wind up as the #1 recruit in the country. I really like Da'Shawn Hand, Lorenzo Carter, and Fournette, but I'm not sure that any of them are as dynamic or versatile as Jabrill. Or as accomplished on the football field. Jabrill has lead both Don Bosco and Paramus Catholic to New Jersey state championships, and he's now assaulting the New Jersey high school track record books. Wouldn't bet against him being a huge star in college.

 

[Ironman8]

Jabrill just sets the New Jersey high school state record in the 200m with a 20.79. This is like a week after the internet was buzzing with him running a 10.48 in the 100.

His tape showed he had serious speed, but these track times only confirm it. He might wind up as the #1 recruit in the country. I really like Da'Shawn Hand, Lorenzo Carter, and Fournette, but I'm not sure that any of them are as dynamic or versatile as Jabrill. Or as accomplished on the football field. Jabrill has lead both Don Bosco and Paramus Catholic to New Jersey state championships, and he's now assaulting the New Jersey high school track record books. Wouldn't bet against him being a huge star in college.

Yup. He should be a superstar. Can't believe I am saying this, but I really hope Penn State pulls him from Michigan and Stanford. I don't want the Wolverines to have him, and I certainly don't want ND to face him.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Jabrill just sets the New Jersey high school state record in the 200m with a 20.79. This is like a week after the internet was buzzing with him running a 10.48 in the 100.

His tape showed he had serious speed, but these track times only confirm it. He might wind up as the #1 recruit in the country. I really like Da'Shawn Hand, Lorenzo Carter, and Fournette, but I'm not sure that any of them are as dynamic or versatile as Jabrill. Or as accomplished on the football field. Jabrill has lead both Don Bosco and Paramus Catholic to New Jersey state championships, and he's now assaulting the New Jersey high school track record books. Wouldn't bet against him being a huge star in college.

Wow! That's blazing fast

 

[IrishLax]

Yup. He should be a superstar. Can't believe I am saying this, but I really hope Penn State pulls him from Michigan and Stanford. I don't want the Wolverines to have him, and I certainly don't want ND to face him.

At least he's not going to Stanford (knock on wood)... at most we'd play him once as a true frosh erly in the season.

 

[koonja]

He should get some time on offense. Too talented not to.

 

[rtrn2glory]

19.19 is usain's record, what could the kid run if he was solely concentrated on track?

at worst he's world class speed.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

He should get some time on offense. Too talented not to.

He should be taking kickoffs and punts if he's not already.

 

[Redbar]

Jabrill just sets the New Jersey high school state record in the 200m with a 20.79. This is like a week after the internet was buzzing with him running a 10.48 in the 100.

His tape showed he had serious speed, but these track times only confirm it. He might wind up as the #1 recruit in the country. I really like Da'Shawn Hand, Lorenzo Carter, and Fournette, but I'm not sure that any of them are as dynamic or versatile as Jabrill. Or as accomplished on the football field. Jabrill has lead both Don Bosco and Paramus Catholic to New Jersey state championships, and he's now assaulting the New Jersey high school track record books. Wouldn't bet against him being a huge star in college.

Have thought all along he should be the top prospect in this class. His tape is incredible, unfortunate that we are not more in this race, but cannot deny this young man is the genuine article on the football field.

 

[IrishLax]

Post by Wiltfong seems to indicate Peppers having legit interest in Penn State. Not sure I buy it at all. Seems like a big smoke screen to make things "interesting" now that he likely isn't visiting Stanford.