'15 IN ILB Darrin Kirkland Jr. (Tennessee Verbal)

[arrowryan]

Inside Linebacker
Indianapolis, Indiana
Lawrence Central

Height- 6'2"
Weight- 215
40- 4.58

Ratings:
247: 92 rating; #208 overall; #6 ILB
ESPN: 81 rating, #7 ILB, #266 overall
Rivals: 5.8 rating, #7 ILB, #167 overall
247 Comp: .9246 rating, #5 ILB, #172 Overall

Offers:
Akron
Boston College
Cincinnati
Duke
Georgia Tech
Illinois
Indiana
Kentucky
Louisville
Maryland
Mississippi State
NC State
Nebraska
North Carolina
Northwestern
Oklahoma
Ole Miss
Oregon
Penn State
Purdue
Tennessee
Texas
Toledo
Virginia Tech
Wisconsin

Interest:
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Vanderbilt<iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/x8XA9_BXX6w" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>

#1 player in Indiana for 2015 and is a position of need. It was probably unnecessary to make a profile now but we could be hearing more about him at some point.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

ILB, you say? DO WANT

 

[arrowryan]

ILB, you say? DO WANT

I'm watching his film right now. He isn't a bad offensive weapon either, pretty athletic

 

[md_bennett]

Highly ranked ILB from Indy??? OFFER NOW!!! Ok got that out of my system. Get him on board early and put him to work.

 

[Irishman77]

Highly ranked ILB from Indy??? OFFER NOW!!! Ok got that out of my system. Get him on board early and put him to work.

No doubt. What a blessing to have talent like this in our backyard. 6'2 might be a generous measurement.

 

[Booslum31]

Do the irish have any history with his High School? How big is the high school?

 

[NDdomer2]

park tudor is 2a i believe. definitely a basketball school

 

[arrowryan]

2A or 5A, they play good competition in Indianapolis. They play Speedway(Justin Brent's school)

 

[Booslum31]

2A or 5A, they play good competition in Indianapolis. They play Speedway(Justin Brent's school)

Good to know. He's certainly dominant...like his speed and aggressiveness.

 

[arrowryan]

Good to know. He's certainly dominant...like his speed and aggressiveness.

And to answer your question, we have not taken anyone from Park Tudor in a while. We have had good luck in Indianapolis though, taking kids from Bishop Chatard(Nick Martin), Warren Central(Sheldon Day), and Cathedral(John Turner),

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Brent and his Speedway team destroyed them last year. PT hasn't been good the past couple years but might have to check this kid out.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

2A or 5A, they play good competition in Indianapolis. They play Speedway(Justin Brent's school)

I wouldn't say they play good competition. 2A in Indiana is not that great.

Also, PT I believe is the most expensive private high school in the state. It is in Indy at least. I know this because my wife wants our kids to go there and I almost had to commit her.

 

[arrowryan]

I wouldn't say they play good competition. 2A in Indiana is not that great.

Do they only play teams in their class down in Indy? In the NIC(Northern Indiana Conference), there teams in there that are 3A, 4A, and 5A

 

[STLDomer]

He's camped at OSU twice (no offer) and not ND. Wierd.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Do they only play teams in their class down in Indy? In the NIC(Northern Indiana Conference), there teams in there that are 3A, 4A, and 5A

Most all the schools they play are the same size. They play Beech Grove who is usually decent and Cardinal Ritter who is supposed to be really good this year (still 2A) but none of the major Indy schools like Carmel, WC, Cathedral, LC, HSE, etc...

 

[arrowryan]

Most all the schools they play are the same size. They play Beech Grove who is usually decent and Cardinal Ritter who is supposed to be really good this year (still 2A) but none of the major Indy schools like Carmel, WC, Cathedral, LC, HSE, etc...

I've never understood why they have Carmel and Central in the same sectional. It's crazy how the best 2 best teams (usually) in the state have to play each other so early

 

[NDhoosier]

ILB? From Indiana? and ranked as a 4*?

Next please, we dont need this guy.

On a serious note: Park Tudor is known for its basketball players, not as much for its football players.

 

[Praytorian]

I liked the tape and would like to land a kid like this. I do think he would need to put a couple of pounds on, and work on driving through the player. I was just waiting to see one of those grab ats miss and the guy go by. Then I remembered it was a highlight tape... silly me. But the kid looks good, and fast for an ILB if the 40 time is correct.

 

[Irish2155]

Park Tutor is a great school, horrible at football though. They are just 2A and don't play a very good schedule. Yogi Farrell, IU point guard, went there...they were pretty good in basketball during his years.

Some of the better small schools will move up to play comp. I know Scecina (1A) plays Roncalli (4A) every year and there are some other examples.

 

[peoriairish]

He's camped at OSU twice (no offer) and not ND. Wierd.

Clearly he's more Paris Hilton than Beyonce.

 

[STLDomer]

ND isn't in contact w/ Kirkland per 247

 

[md_bennett]

ND isn't in contact w/ Kirkland per 247

If true I just don't get this. Position of need - at least looking from the outside - and an in state kid. I would think this is a guy you HAVE to be in contact with. If its his current weight listing then ffs he isn't even a junior yet in high school. Hoping just nothing being reported yet because we need to lock up in state talent when we can. It may only be 1-2 a year but when it's there it's a must.

 

[STLDomer]

If true I just don't get this. Position of need - at least looking from the outside - and an in state kid. I would think this is a guy you HAVE to be in contact with. If its his current weight listing then ffs he isn't even a junior yet in high school. Hoping just nothing being reported yet because we need to lock up in state talent when we can. It may only be 1-2 a year but when it's there it's a must.

A 247 guy just texted him. I wouldn't question the staffs interest in a IN guy, there were a lot of ppl (not as much here) wondering why we didn't go after Dominque Booth when he was the #1 IN this time last year. I think the staff made the right decision w/ Brent instead.

Also this kid is ranked high but his offer list isn't very impressive, he's also camped at OSU twice and still no offer.

 

[md_bennett]

A 247 guy just texted him. I wouldn't question the staffs interest in a IN guy, there were a lot of ppl (not as much here) wondering why we didn't go after Dominque Booth when he was the #1 IN this time last year. I think the staff made the right decision w/ Brent instead.

Also this kid is ranked high but his offer list isn't very impressive, he's also camped at OSU twice and still no offer.

While all good points I guess I may just be stressing ILB recruiting atm. It's about to become the thin unit on the team. Plenty of time though so I shall calm myself.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Still a lot of time left in this kids recruiting process.

There may not be contact yet but there might be down the road. Hard to see how there wouldn't be.

 

[Cpnd1]

@TomVH: Michigan and Notre Dame will be in-school for ESPN Jr. 30 LB Darrin Kirkland Jr. (Indianapolis) tomorrow.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Perhaps an offer will be on the way (finally).

 

[NewEnglandGuy]

Offers from VTech, Tennessee, Louisville, NC State, Miss St, Illinois, Purdue, and Cincinnati. Also by Duke, Vanderbilt, and Northwestern (academics appear in line).

Interest from Michigan, Ohio St, Penn St, Missouri, and Ole Miss.

RANKINGS:
Rivals: ILB #5 | Overall #169
24/7: ILB #4 | Overall #221
ESPN: ILB #6 | Overall #203
Scout: OLB #14 | Overall #168
Composite: ILB #5 | 0.9160 | Overall #211

The current consensus top 2015 player in Indiana. He transferred to Lawrence Central HS (Indianapolis) IHSAA 5A from Park Tudor HS, IHSAA 2A, in the summer of 2013 as a rising junior. His teammate, and fellow linebacker, Brandon Lee ('14) committed to Missouri over Louisville and VTech.

Camped last summer at Louisville, Ohio St, Indiana, and Cincinnati. Since the start of the season, he has visited Michigan x2, Ohio St, NW, VTech, and Lousiville among others.

Quote about recruiting process: "The tradition of the program and their mindset overall about winning championships will definitely be important to me. Location will be important to me too. I don't really want to go too far for college, I'm more of a homebody." (Granted it is from summer of 2013)
2015 ILB Darrin Kirkland Jr. looking at Notre Dame

Junior season highlights:
Darrin Kirkland Jr. - Highlight Videos, Schedule & Roster - Hudl

 

[ThePiombino]

Stud in our own backyard. I wonder why no offer yet.

 

[Luckylucci]

ILB recruiting this cycle is going to be interesting for a couple reasons. We have 4 or 5 ILB's with 4 years of eligibility currently on the roster. How many do we bring in this cycle? We also have two local prospects deserving of offers. With Hilliard being one of the top guys on the overall board. I could see offering Kirkland and recruiting him and Hilliard over the summer and slow playing Barajas for awhile.