'14 TN OT Alex Bars (Notre Dame Signee)

[TerryTate]

 

[mriguy]

Great choice Alex! Welcome to the ND family!

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

This is awesome!!! All the linemen!

 

[EuropeanDomer]

Braden Smith is recruited as a OT or OG?

 

[GreenSox04]

Lets go. Bryant/hood behind these kind of offensive linemen.

Let that one sink in.

Now go change.

 

[Ironman8]

Braden Smith is recruited as a OT or OG?

Could play either.

 

[Luckylucci]

Mr. Hiestand better be getting a raise. This isn't happening by chance. The guy can coach and recruit. Congrats Alex! Best two year Oline haul since I've been following recruiting. In a couple of years our two deep will be better than some teams 1st string, haha.

 

[Redbar]

Congratulations Alex, that is incredible news. This class is going to be as stacked as last years and that can only mean great days ahead for the Irish!

 

[NDFAN22]

Im not sur ewhat Hiestand and co are telling these kids, but must be powerful with them knowing the depth and talent there already. GO IRISH!!! gonna be great in the trenches next 5 years and on

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Alex, a chara,

Beidh tú a thabhairt an ceart a bhí ar Dhia a bhaint síos ár naimhde.

Beir bua agus beannacht,

Bogtrotter

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Most important offensive unit, and Hiestand has knocked it out of the park two years in a row. It will take a couple years before we see the full effect of his recruiting dominance on the field, but good God. We'll just be running people over in 2015+.

 

[Ben E.]

Congrats Alex!!!

 

[Bogtrotter07]

100% of crystal ball said Michigan. Oh.

Welcome Alex.

Brady must have know.

 

[Ironman8]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>@<a href="https://twitter.com/alex_bars70">alex_bars70</a> Wooooo love you biig guy welcome abord I gotta be the happiest RB in the nation with big boys like you coming in!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>— Elijah Hood (@EHood34) <a href="https://twitter.com/EHood34/status/335470084711653376">May 17, 2013</a></blockquote>
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[Irishman77]

Yes yes yes yes yes yes!!!!!

 

[Emcee77]

YES! Every single lineman!!! Welcome to ND Alex!

I'm savoring this win over scUM

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Harry Heistand, a chara,

Ag dul duit a ardú, agus i ngach ceann dár raibh maith agat!

Beir bua agus beannacht,


Bogtrotter

 

[IrishLion]

Just graduated so I've been off the radar, but I love stopping in for the first time in a bit and seeing good news like this!

 

[aubeirish]

NICE! NICE! NICE!
Made my day.

 

[arrowryan]

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/MSHr4ubuD64" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Redbar]

Just graduated so I've been off the radar, but I love stopping in for the first time in a bit and seeing good news like this!

Well congrats to you to Lion, I'm with you, I love when things have been slow and out of nowhere you get some great news.

 

[RuntheBall]

 

[Whiskeyjack]

ISD just published an article with quotes from Bars on his commitment:

Notre Dame's 2014 recruiting class got a major boost on Friday afternoon as Tennessee offensive lineman Alex Bars announced his commitment to the Irish over Twitter.

"@Alex_Bars70 I have officially committed to The University of Notre Dame! #playlikeachampiontoday"

The 6-foot-6, 290-pounder from MBA Academy in Nashville is the 10th verbal pledge for the Irish in the Class of 2014 and fourth offensive lineman, joining Jimmy Byrne, Sam Mustipher and Quenton Nelson.

“I’ve been thinking hard about it for about a month,” Bars told Irish Sports Daily. “I knew that was my dream school and that’s where I want to go. My parents made me wait a week, so today was the day.

“Just everything about it; the academics with the great program and the coaching staff and of course the tradition. It’s top-notch. You can’t beat it.”

Bars is the son of former Notre Dame player Joe Bars and chose the Irish over offers from schools like Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee, LSU, Ohio State and Stanford among several others. His dad was especially excited.

“I really appreciated him not pressuring me at all,” said Bars. “I think he’s happy with it.”

He has brothers who play at Michigan and Penn State, but they didn't apply much pressure either and were also happy with his choice.

“Of course my brothers wanted me to go to their schools, but in the end, they were pretty happy about it,” he said.

Bars hasn't heard from Byrne, Mustipher or Nelson since he made the announcement, but is happy to be joining the group.

“I know they’re great guys,” he said. “They’re just like me and it says something about the character and type of player that goes to Notre Dame.”

He did have the opportunity to speak with Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, offensive coordinator Chuck Martin and offensive line coach Harry Hiestand.

“They were really excited,” said Bars. “I talked to Coach Hiestand, Coach Martin and Coach Kelly and they were all really happy for me and can’t wait to get me up there again.”

Bars is hoping to make an impact when he gets to South Bend.

“Hopefully I can make them better on and off the field and represent the school well when I’m there.”

 

[Whiskeyjack]

ISD's In The Film Room on Bars can be found here:

OVERALL

I believe Bars is a terrific prospect who would be a welcome addition to Notre Dame’s program and offensive tackle depth. He has tremendous size, but can also move really well. His athleticism allows him to make all the block necessary to compete at a high level when he gets to college. He’s a versatile lineman who can base block in a one-on-one setting or zone block in a combination situation. His pass blocking needs to be fine-tuned a bit, but his flaws in that regard are easily correctable. His physical nature and desire to compete are evident when watching him on film.

GRADES

Size: 90 (big boy with room to grow)

Strength: 85 (good overall power)
Speed: 80 (can run well and get downfield or pull)
Athletic Skills: 85 (footwork is solid – agile and quick)
Technique: 80 (all run blocks are really good – rises up a bit, needs to fix pass protection)

Versatility: 85 (seems to be locked in at tackle – but athletically he’ll make all the blocks look easy)
Upside: 4 (cleans up his pass pro and he could be a good one)
Overall Grade: 4

 

[Whiskeyjack]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Welcome Home Alex Bars!</p>— Jay Hayes (@JayHayesND) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayHayesND/status/335473258877034496">May 17, 2013</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>This class is stacking up on some talent!</p>— Jay Hayes (@JayHayesND) <a href="https://twitter.com/JayHayesND/status/335473083177656320">May 17, 2013</a></blockquote>
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[BleedBlueGold]

Bingo Bango!!! Yeehaw!! Cowabunga!!

What an OL class to follow up a stellar group last year. Right on staff! Neato!

 

[PANDFAN]

Is Hoke unhappy because he knows something we do not know?

Committed to Notre Dame!!!!!

nice

 

[Irish YJ]

The last two OL hauls will put us in the elite category as a team in two years. Any decent QB or RB could look damn good back there. We have much better than decent. Hope we get Smith, but I'm turning my praying and wishing power now towards the DL.

 

[STLDomer]

 

[Irish YJ]

Must be molly