'14 FL WR Isaiah McKenzie ( Georgia ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

[Ironman8]

You're also comparing McKenzie a 17 year old HS player to Toma who has gone through 4 years of the ND strength and conditioning program and probably trained for that 40 and all the ins and outs of running it for months.

This. I'd be willing to bet that after Isaiah goes through the same thing, his football speed will be noticeably faster than Toma's. And this is no knock on Toma, who I thought was a great ND student / athlete, and one of my favorites. I just have high expectations for what Isaiah can be.

 

[Rambler09]

Let's all remember that Alford, Martin, and Kelly each needed to approve this offer before it was made. That's all I need to know. They know what they're doing- both in evaluating talent and in building championship classes. If his offer shouldn't be actionable then it won't be.

It's not like they've given us reason to believe that they'll offer a kid just because he wants one (Joe Bolden being a prime example).

 

[IrishLax]

Whenever someone earns an offer in person it's usually a good offer. The only time I've ever been confused by one was John Turner because we already had like eleventy billion safeties in that class... but maybe the staff saw him as some sort of special teams ace or something.

 

[NDWorld247]

You're also comparing McKenzie a 17 year old HS player to Toma who has gone through 4 years of the ND strength and conditioning program and probably trained for that 40 and all the ins and outs of running it for months.

Agreed. And if people want to compare Toma's Pro Day results to McKenzie's NFSC numbers, look at Toma's 31" vertical compared to Isaiah's 36". That speaks to the 'explosion' Deeb is referring too and is good for 10th best among 2013 NFL Combine WR's.

This. I'd be willing to bet that after Isaiah goes through the same thing, his football speed will be noticeably faster than Toma's. And this is no knock on Toma, who I thought was a great ND student / athlete, and one of my favorites. I just have high expectations for what Isaiah can be.

Isaiah's Jr. year HS highlights compared to Toma's Sr. year HS highlights show a noticeably faster 'football speed'. I share those high expectations for what Isaiah can be.

 

[stlnd01]

Let's all remember that Alford, Martin, and Kelly each needed to approve this offer before it was made. That's all I need to know. They know what they're doing- both in evaluating talent and in building championship classes. If his offer shouldn't be actionable then it won't be.

It's not like they've given us reason to believe that they'll offer a kid just because he wants one (Joe Bolden being a prime example).

Same staff that last year offered but then slow-played Khalfani Muhammed, kid with a similar profile who also really wanted to be here, and wound up landing Tarean Folston instead. I'll take that, and have reasonable confidence at this point that Kelly & Co. know what they're doing.
I do wonder, though, if losing Davonte Neal makes them more willing to take a chance on McKenzie than they were on Muhammed.

 

[IrishSpartan]

He just randomly followed me on twitter I wasn't even following him lol

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

He just randomly followed me on twitter I wasn't even following him lol

Haha same. I gave him a follow back

 

[NDinL.A.]

Whenever someone earns an offer in person it's usually a good offer. The only time I've ever been confused by one was John Turner because we already had like eleventy billion safeties in that class... but maybe the staff saw him as some sort of special teams ace or something.

That was the first name I thought of. I am always in the camp of "they saw him on film and they saw him in person, so I'm good with the offer." I used that with the Turner offer, even though I was skeptical because so many people who saw him thought he didn't deserve the offer. (Edit: I should say that Turner is just getting started and there is plenty of time for him to contribute.)

And I'm willing to do that with this offer as well. These guys know WAY more than I do.

However, it doesn't mean they don't make mistakes, so on borderline prospects I don't blame people for questioning the offers (presuming they actually looked at the film and not just the stars); it's part of the recruiting game. We're all experts lol. BGIF looked at the film and doesn't like the offer; others disagree...it's all good in my book.

For me, I want speed BADLY. He says he has been clocked at 4.42 (as with all 40 times pre-combine, take with a grain of salt), and he is playing in FL and still looks fast on film, and the coaches saw him and offered, so I'm good with it. Hope he commits and it all works out...

 

[Irishnuke]

Same staff that last year offered but then slow-played Khalfani Muhammed, kid with a similar profile who also really wanted to be here, and wound up landing Tarean Folston instead. I'll take that, and have reasonable confidence at this point that Kelly & Co. know what they're doing.
I do wonder, though, if losing Davonte Neal makes them more willing to take a chance on McKenzie than they were on Muhammed.

Maybe similar in height but that's about it. KM was the fastest kid in California and maybe the country. He was also rated much higher by the services and had a better offer list.

 

[Ironman8]

Maybe similar in height but that's about it. KM was the fastest kid in California and maybe the country. He was also rated much higher by the services and had a better offer list.

He also was a RB, and a RB only, and whereas Isaiah has more flexibility in terms of position and use on a college football roster.

 

[Luckylucci]

This site is all about discussion so I have no problem comparing KM to IM. However, they may be similar players but different years create different circumstances. KM wasn't taken because of Folston and I agree with that decision. Last cycle we needed the best Rb's available with the holes that were created from departures of Cierre and Theo. This cycle I think we have more flexibility. They see a spot for IM and I agree with that as well. So I personally don't make the parallel that why would we take IM if we didn't take KM. Lastly I also think Mckenzie brings more versatility than KM did.

 

[stlnd01]

KM was rated higher but his offer list wasn't dramatically better than McKenzie's (besides us, Cal, UCLA, Arkansas were KM's best vs. Michigan and West Va. for IM, who's got time to rack up more).
They're about the same size, play the same positions (I agree IM has more flexibility to play slot, but maybe that's why we didn't take KM) and both have a reputation as a burner ("fastest kid in California" "most explosive player in S. Florida.") Both really want(ed) to be Irish. Both are borderline from our perspective.

Obviously they're not exactly the same, no two players are. But the circumstances remind me of KM last year, that's all.

Either way, Lucci's right. Circumstances change. With Neal gone and scholarships aplenty, I'd rather have KM right now than not. But I understand why Kelly & Co. played it the way they did, and it worked out. Might actually work out in Mr. McKenzie's favor, too. We'll see.

 

[NDdomer2]

That was the first name I thought of. I am always in the camp of "they saw him on film and they saw him in person, so I'm good with the offer." I used that with the Turner offer, even though I was skeptical because so many people who saw him thought he didn't deserve the offer. (Edit: I should say that Turner is just getting started and there is plenty of time for him to contribute.)

And I'm willing to do that with this offer as well. These guys know WAY more than I do.

However, it doesn't mean they don't make mistakes, so on borderline prospects I don't blame people for questioning the offers (presuming they actually looked at the film and not just the stars); it's part of the recruiting game. We're all experts lol. BGIF looked at the film and doesn't like the offer; others disagree...it's all good in my book.

For me, I want speed BADLY. He says he has been clocked at 4.42 (as with all 40 times pre-combine, take with a grain of salt), and he is playing in FL and still looks fast on film, and the coaches saw him and offered, so I'm good with it. Hope he commits and it all works out...

i remember going to watch cathedral and Warren central play (Turner vs s. day) their senior year.WC rarely threw toward John but ran at him quite often. believe i sent you a scouting report that day. he had the size to play, looked a little chunky, kept his leverage very well in coverage. he was very timid coming up to hit tho. that is why i don't know if i see the move to lb.

offer still puzzles me but John still has 4 years of eligibility no?

on the other side when kids work out in front of our coaches, get offered, and want to be here, it is hard to argue with.

 

[Luckylucci]

Good post from TJ at II, McKenzie proved that as well as playing slot he could be an APB and come out of the backfield. The staff liked what they saw in a camp setting when it comes to the skillset needed to be that type of player. Said he has excellent speed, quickness, agility and balance, and a knack for planting and going (N-S) without hesitation. Legit and consistent low 4.4's guy with football moves.

Side note, this was in response to a question about how many receivers we'd take if Mckenzie and Holmes commit. He said that we'd take 2 more top WR's. Brent, Holmes, ?, ?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Good post from TJ at II, McKenzie proved that as well as playing slot he could be an APB and come out of the backfield. The staff liked what they saw in a camp setting when it comes to the skillset needed to be that type of player. Said he has excellent speed, quickness, agility and balance, and a knack for planting and going (N-S) without hesitation. Legit and consistent low 4.4's guy with football moves.

Side note, this was in response to a question about how many receivers we'd take if Mckenzie and Holmes commit. He said that we'd take 2 more top WR's. Brent, Holmes, ?, ?

Quick & Saeed.

 

[Redbar]

Quick & Saeed.

Dupre

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Dupre

Any two of those 3 would be great!

 

[koonja]

Malone.

 

[Ironman8]

Malone.

Seems like that ship might be sailing.

 

[STLDomer]

Erik Brown

 

[Redbar]

Lazard?

 

[stlnd01]

Lazard?

Well ****, I'd hope we'd take him if he wanted.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Lazard?

Forgot about him...looks like we have plenty of options.

 

[Luckylucci]

Lazard, Quick, Dupre, and Brown. I think that Blacknall is a much longer shot than most do. As Ironman mentioned Malone had been slipping quite a bit lately, not sure why.

 

[BMT]

I heard Michael Deed say this guy is the most explosive high school football player he has seen, coming from South Florida competition, I would take his comments pretty seriously that he has the skills to play at ND.

 

[CanadalovesND]

I heard Michael Deed say this guy is the most explosive high school football player he has seen, coming from South Florida competition, I would take his comments pretty seriously that he has the skills to play at ND.

What's more surprising by that comment is that 5-star RB Sony Michel plays for American Heritage too.

 

[koonja]

Deebs comments don't mean much to me. It's his friend, teammate, and when he said it, McKenzie was still hoping to get an offer. But that tape, wow. After the first play I knew I was going to enjoy the rest of his film. I think he's electric.

 

[ND NYC]

have to think if he wants in...he is in.

are they slow playing this guy?

sure hope not. look at the tape.

 

[Irish Man3]

have to think if he wants in...he is in.

are they slow playing this guy?

sure hope not. look at the tape.

They just offered him at a camp setting in person. Not sure they're slow playing anything.

Ironman, what happened with Malone?

I think Saeed is going south. LSU most likely.

Would like one of the guys from LA and Holmes or Scott. Lots of options out there still.

 

[dwshade]

have to think if he wants in...he is in.

are they slow playing this guy?

sure hope not. look at the tape.

From what I understand staff didn't think he was in a hurry to decide.