'14 IN WR Justin Brent (Notre Dame Early Enrollee)

[connect the dots]

I just read in the South Bend Tribune that Brent will play primarily RB this year to increase his touches. I have to admit, my initial reaction to this news is not a good one.

Notre Dame football recruiting: WR Brent fares well at camps - South Bend Tribune: Recruiting

I don't see a problem. In high school football, your best athletes never leave the field. These are the players you want to recruit. Onwualu(Cretin), Keivarae Russell(Marnier), Jaylon Smith(Luers) got a lot of touches as halfbacks on offense. Russell, for example, played halfback most of his high school career under a 170lbs.

 

[Junkhead]

Not thrilled about the RB thing much either. I'd rather him get more time in at WR since that's where he'll be at ND. A 6-3 RB can take a pounding also.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

I think it will make him a tougher player and possibly show him how to use his body to break tackles like Floyd used to do.

 

[Irishnuke]

I don't see a problem. In high school football, your best athletes never leave the field. These are the players you want to recruit. Onwualu(Cretin), Keivarae Russell(Marnier), Jaylon Smith(Luers) got a lot of touches as halfbacks on offense. Russell, for example, played halfback most of his high school career under a 170lbs.

I'm with you on this one. Elite high school players are always on the field on both sides of the ball. For obvious reasons we'd all love him to just play WR but I don't recall any of us saying Jaylon shouldn't play RB in high school.

 

[CanadalovesND]

I'm with you on this one. Elite high school players are always on the field on both sides of the ball. For obvious reasons we'd all love him to just play WR but I don't recall any of us saying Jaylon shouldn't play RB in high school.

What makes this situation different is that Jaylon wasn't coming to ND as a RB but still played LB for Bishop Luers his senior season.

Brent is coming in as a WR but will be playing RB.

 

[NDinL.A.]

What makes this situation different is that Jaylon wasn't coming to ND as a RB but still played LB for Bishop Luers his senior season.

Brent is coming in as a WR but will be playing RB.

Yeah, I agree, but Davaris Daniels played QB in high school, as did Barrati (I believe it was him) and many other stud athletes. It's not ideal for us, but it's not uncommon.

 

[rtrn2glory]

As a coach I agree 1000 percent with his coach. U want your best player to hav the ball in his hands and we can be upset about it all we want but he has to do whatever gives his team the best chance to win. I can't imagine Justin being the competitor he is thinking any different

 

[clashmore_mike]

Yeah, I agree, but Davaris Daniels played QB in high school, as did Barrati (I believe it was him) and many other stud athletes. It's not ideal for us, but it's not uncommon.

yep Barrati played QB until he got a concussion then came back and played WR/RB because the new QB was playing well. I believe that's how it went down.

 

[Irish#1]

Keep in mind he plays in either 1A or 2A (too lazy to look it up). He won't be facing outstanding athletes with size, strength and speed on a regular basis.

 

[connect the dots]

What makes this situation different is that Jaylon wasn't coming to ND as a RB but still played LB for Bishop Luers his senior season.

Brent is coming in as a WR but will be playing RB.

What's so complicated? Speedway probably doesn't have an incoming quarterback that can successfully get the ball to Brent. Therefore, Speedway will put the ball in the hands of their best athlete to make plays for them. If Mister Indiana Football was on my team, he would be getting plenty of touches. As an aside, one of the best high school point guards I have ever encountered in south Florida was Anthony Carter. As a high school football player Anthony was good, but that chest of his could barely spread out that single digit One he wore on his jersey. When I heard he was going to Michigan to play wide receiver, I shook my head in disbelief. Morale of the story - these multi-sport athletes can transition and play very well in football space.

 

[woolybug25]

I think that people shouldn't be worried about him not getting more experience at WR. This kid is pretty polished and we turn non-WR's into WR's every year it seems.

My only concern (and it is what it is) is that he will be playing RB specifically. RB's get hit almost every time they touch the ball. That is a little different than playing QB. But with all players, you risk injury. Brent will be fine.

 

[NDWorld247]

I don't see a problem. In high school football, your best athletes never leave the field. These are the players you want to recruit. Onwualu(Cretin), Keivarae Russell(Marnier), Jaylon Smith(Luers) got a lot of touches as halfbacks on offense. Russell, for example, played halfback most of his high school career under a 170lbs.

As CanadalovesND pointed out, the Brent situation is different than all of your examples because Brent will be playing a position that's different than what he will play at ND. All of the guys you mentioned will be playing one of their HS positions at ND. Also, I don't think anyone has a problem with Brent playing defense. As you said, in HS, your best athletes never leave the field.

What's so complicated? Speedway probably doesn't have an incoming quarterback that can successfully get the ball to Brent. Therefore, Speedway will put the ball in the hands of their best athlete to make plays for them. If Mister Indiana Football was on my team, he would be getting plenty of touches.

It's not that it's complicated to understand. The Speedway coach is making a decision to help his team win and Brent is on board with that. That's the good news. The bad news for ND fans is a.) Brent will take a beating and b.) he won't be playing his natural position. I'm sure there are some positives that will come of it (e.g. he'll touch the ball more, it will toughen him up, etc), but point (a) is a concern. As Wooly pointed out, point (b) should not really hurt his development.

I guess the fact this came out of nowhere to me adds to the surprise and concern. It will definitely be interesting to see.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I would hope his coach is creative enough to create some situations on a weekly basis that lines him up on the perimeter. Guy with his talent should be moved all over. Would be fun to game plan offensively with a weapon like that

 

[STLDomer]

Notre Dame commit Justin Brent daily workout routine

Video interview Notre Dame wide receiver commit Justin Brent

 

[koonja]

Justin's going to be a horse to take down and will get lots of YAC. He's on his way to a TO type body.

Those ladder drills don't do him justice because he seems to be going through the motions. If you look on his twitter pictures/videos, there's one of him going through the ladder full speed and he looks very quick on that one.

 

[Irish2155]

I'm definately going to see him play this year. He plays Beech Grove, who is horrible, on 9/6...about five minutes from my house. The week before that he plays a school I went to a couple of years, probably check that one at too. Excited to see him on the field.

 

[GowerND11]

Didn't Golden Tate play RB in high school? Obviously there was a learning curve that freshman year, but he did some great things for us. I wouldn't worry too much about his playing RB this year. Though I do agree with Wooly about him getting hit. That would be the only concern.

 

[Luckylucci]

Didn't Golden Tate play RB in high school? Obviously there was a learning curve that freshman year, but he did some great things for us. I wouldn't worry too much about his playing RB this year. Though I do agree with Wooly about him getting hit. That would be the only concern.

I don't think they're comparable situations. Golden Tate was a RB converted WR, Brent is a WR that they are trying to convert to RB. If his ultimate position in college is WR, how could not playing that position for a year not stunt his growth. Will he backslide probably not but will he be getting the necessary work to get even better at WR probably not as well.

 

[Irish2155]

It's 2A Indy football, he'll be fine playing whatever position. He's going to monster his comp.

 

[chubler]

Well, if he keeps going to camps and such, he'll still get work in at WR, theoretically. and I'm sure the staff will send him stuff to work on as well. In an ideal world, he keeps improving his WR skills at camps and on his own, and playing RB for a year helps him learn to break tackles and block. Unfortunately this usually isn't an ideal world

 

[Buster Bluth]

Playing RB didnt hurt Tate. Football is football.

 

[ryno 24]

Playing rb will actually help him he will get more touches and that will help him get tougher going against linebackers more often. He is early enrolling so he will have all spring to work at wr

 

[GowerND11]

Playing RB didnt hurt Tate. Football is football.

This. He can still work on his footwork. He is still playing the sport and being an explosive athlete. This could make him much better with yards after catch and field vision.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Justin's going to be a horse to take down and will get lots of YAC. He's on his way to a TO type body.

Those ladder drills don't do him justice because he seems to be going through the motions. If you look on his twitter pictures/videos, there's one of him going through the ladder full speed and he looks very quick on that one.

Please just the body, and not the mind

 

[Irish#1]

I'm definately going to see him play this year. He plays Beech Grove, who is horrible, on 9/6...about five minutes from my house. The week before that he plays a school I went to a couple of years, probably check that one at too. Excited to see him on the field.

Scecina is small but usually competes for a state title. He won't face many big kids but they stay after it.

 

[Irish#1]

Playing rb will actually help him he will get more touches and that will help him get tougher going against linebackers more often. He is early enrolling so he will have all spring to work at wr

Excellent point.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/S3YOfeUQg_g" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Pretty, wow.

 

[pumpdog20]

One word, hands.

This is simply remarkable scouting by our coaches.

 

[ulukinatme]

It probably has already been mentioned, but in case it hasn't it looks like Brent is enrolling early:

Are you playing basketball this year?
Unfortunately not. I will be enrolling to Notre Dame in January. Which means no basketball. #GoIrish

[EDIT] Ok, disregard, search is my friend. Nothing to see here.

Someone asked him another question about the whole switch to RB thing. He confirmed that it is just to help out the team at a position of need, and he's still in it for us as a WR next year:

Why are u going out for running back! I thought u were a wide receiver?
I'm definitely a wideout. Just making a position change to help the team this year. No worries haha! #GoIrish

 

[NDPhilly]

Jesus Christ he is going to be a load to bring down.