'10 FL CB Lo Wood (Notre Dame Signee)

[Cackalacky]

Umm what? This is a product of there being too much depth for Lo Wood to handle, and in increase in the athleticism Kelly and Co are bringing in. Lo Wood is a Weis recruit getting beaten by Kelly recruits. Smile, don't fret.

Lo Wood can ball, but if there is too much depth and he has graduated, it's a no brainer to play elsewhere. If he hasn't graduated, it's dumb as hell on his part.

I like this opinion.

 

[mgriff]

Umm what? This is a product of there being too much depth for Lo Wood to handle, and in increase in the athleticism Kelly and Co are bringing in. Lo Wood is a Weis recruit getting beaten by Kelly recruits. Smile, don't fret.

Lo Wood can ball, but if there is too much depth and he has graduated, it's a no brainer to play elsewhere. If he hasn't graduated, it's dumb as hell on his part.

It can be a problem if the young kids don't step up. If the staff deem they are ready, fine, but I still think my point that we can't plug and play a kid remains. If the staff are wrong then we have issues. I'm not worried about Lo Wood leaving, just the systemic consequences we face in comparison to other programs.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Roster is shaking out...we are progressing....14 class will be a&m ish

Amish? Look out for Yoder Dame!

For our class to be like TAMU's, there'd have to be a lot of oversigning and cash changing hands. Wouldn't count on that.

But it should be a large class. Good thing there are lots of elite ILBs with interest in us this cycle!

 

[Irish YJ]

Best wishes to him. If he has his degree, will not see PT, and wants to go be a starter for 1 year, more power to him. If he truly accomplished his 40 year plan (graduating), why not. He deserves to go have fun, get some PT, and live the dream a bit before he tackles the 40 years....

 

[aubeirish]

Feels like I am missing something here. Did he actually say he was transferring or people are just assuming again?

 

[Emcee77]

Feels like I am missing something here. Did he actually said he was transferring or people are just assuming again?

Sampson of II apparently said that Lo was considering leaving, per RackEm.

 

[greyhammer90]

It's these kids! They just don't have the heart, balls, stomach, chest, for this level of competition! IT'S THE KIDS! IT'S THEIR GENERATION! I BLAME THE INTERNET, FAST FOOD, AND VIDEO GAMES! THEY ARE NEW AND ARE THEREFORE RESPONSIBLE FOR A PHENOMENON THAT HAS EXISTED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF COMPETITION!

Is this the change that was promised to us?!?!

Thanks alot Obama...

 

[dshans]

Is this the change that was promised to us?!?!

Thanks alot Obama...

At least you were kind enough to leave me and my fellow baby boomers out of your mix ...

 

[ThePiombino]

This is annoying, but more like mosquito annoying. Hurts depth this year, but overall not really sweating it. Hope he sticks for depth reasons, but if he thinks he's better off elsewhere, then it's just too bad it took him 4 years to realize it.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

From II:

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/72558444" width="500" height="281" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>

Lo Wood elevated at the goal line, breaking up a Tommy Rees pass ticketed for Chris Brown in the end zone.

It was the kind of competitive play Wood didn't make enough during his first two years at Notre Dame, which buried the former early enrollee on the depth chart behind older talent. But during Saturday's practice Wood delivered, a capable cornerback almost a year removed from a ruptured Achilles tendon that knocked him out of the starting lineup and helped KeiVarae Russell stage a historic freshman season.

Unfortunately for Wood, that play probably won't affect his depth chart standing.

Brian Kelly closed the door on any competition with Russell for the starting job opposite Bennett Jackson last week. And based on the weekend, Wood isn't in line for a nickel or dime job either. That work went to Cole Luke and Austin Collinsworth respectively.

That means Wood's path to playing time may start and stop with special teams. For a player who's already graduated from Notre Dame, which could pave the way for a transfer without penalty of sitting out a season, that's not how he imagined his comeback.

"Whatever happens, happens," Wood said. "It's not my decision, all I can do is keep playing.

"It's still hard. You've still got to always worry about your spot because you never know what can happen. If you just go out there and practice hard every day and have a good practice, that's the only thing you can do."

It's expected that Notre Dame will set depth charts later this week as training camp becomes less about internal competition and more about preparing for Temple. If Wood's position doesn't change, it could prompt him to look for opportunities elsewhere now that he's behind Russell and Luke, at least in the nickel.

Wood said he's still not 100 percent healthy in terms of strength after his season-ending injury, even if he's practicing full go. The coaching staff was careful with Wood during spring practice, not playing him during the Blue-Gold Game as tightness persisted in his left foot.

"As for not worrying about it tearing again, yes I felt that (I'm over that)," Wood said. "As for it being 100 percent stronger, not so much. It's way stronger than it was in the beginning of camp. It's still not as strong as my right leg of course.

"Each day I see myself stepping more and more toward that, like I used to be.
Just the power in my step, just getting all of my speed back and everything."

Wood said he hadn't talked to the coaching staff about his role as of last weekend, although it's expected that may occur this week. Until then all Wood can do is try to replicate the form that let him break up that Rees pass last weekend. Whether or not that boosts his playing time, Wood doesn't know.

"I'm still pushing," Wood said. "I've still got to do my job on the field and become a better corner, because if I become better that means the guys ahead of me, that means they'll become better too.

"To me, it's still a grind for me to go out there every day and just get better, that's what I'm working towards right now, just getting better every day."

 

[NDdomer2]

I can respect a guy that keeps busting his *** in practice!

 

[fitz_bu47]

From II:

<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/72558444" width="500" height="281" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>

That's the type of interview I like to hear.

 

[Emcee77]

Lo hasn't graduated yet, has he? The fall semester will be the first semester of his senior year. I don't think he graduates for at least another semester. Is Sampson saying he has already graduated? In three years? That's not impossible but I'd be surprised.

So the smart move for him would be to see how this year goes and, if it goes poorly, transfer elsewhere for his 5th year. Won't have to sit the one-year penalty.

I stand corrected on the bolded. Apparently Lo has graduated ... Dan Murphy of BGI has also reported that Lo has graduated and his situation is up in the air. He specifically corrected another BGI reporter on it. If he has that kind of confidence, it must be true.

 

[stlnd01]

Graduated or no, it still seems like it'd be hard to transfer someplace and play right away. Season starts in ten days.

 

[LaJollaIrish]

Wood is going to have a major role to play this season. He's a twisted ankle away from starting and he's part of a team gunning for Pasadena, but more importantly, he's part of a team, this team. Just sit tight, grind, contribute and win...maybe pull an MBA while you're at it. When you have the physical skills he has, you leverage them. You recognize them for the tools that they are to get you to the next stage in life.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Wood is going to have a major role to play this season. He's a twisted ankle away from starting and he's part of a team gunning for Pasadena, but more importantly, he's part of a team, this team. Just sit tight, grind, contribute and win...maybe pull an MBA while you're at it. When you have the physical skills he has, you leverage them. You recognize them for the tools that they are to get you to the next stage in life.

Please God yes.

 

[nd1989]

Wood is going to have a major role to play this season. He's a twisted ankle away from starting and he's part of a team gunning for Pasadena, but more importantly, he's part of a team, this team. Just sit tight, grind, contribute and win...maybe pull an MBA while you're at it. When you have the physical skills he has, you leverage them. You recognize them for the tools that they are to get you to the next stage in life.

Isn't the rumor he's not only behind luke, but also butler? He might be two ankles away from playing nickel....

 

[dublinirish]

i dont Wood would make a good nickel corner tbh. I would presume he is only in competition at field corner right?

 

[woolybug25]

i dont Wood would make a good nickel corner tbh. I would presume he is only in competition at field corner right?

That's what I want to know, where is he on the depth chart for field corner. Is he one of the next men in after KRuss/Bennett? If so, he will play a lot this year. Not to mention the amount of special teams duties. If he is as advertised, he will get an opportunity to shine.

Now... if he is behind Luke/Butler at field corner too. Then all bets are off.

 

[dublinirish]

That's what I want to know, where is he on the depth chart for field corner. Is he one of the next men in after KRuss/Bennett? If so, he will play a lot this year. Not to mention the amount of special teams duties. If he is as advertised, he will get an opportunity to shine.

Now... if he is behind Luke/Butler at field corner too. Then all bets are off.

depth chart is due today though at media day right? Anybody can confirm/deny this?

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Don't see the guy just packing up and leaving now, I mean we are 9 days away from the first game. just sounds crazy even thinking about it. He is still posting stuff like this....

 

[ThePiombino]

Don't see the guy just packing up and leaving now, I mean we are 9 days away from the first game. just sounds crazy even thinking about it. He is still posting stuff like this....

Valid point. This would be more likely after spring ball I think. Or at least wiser...

 

[irishpat183]

He needs to keep in mind that he's one injury away from being a starter...And you never know if the guy in front of you is going to play well enough to keep his spot.


Keep working hard, and the opportunity will open up

 

[clashmore_mike]

He needs to keep in mind that he's one injury away from being a starter...And you never know if the guy in front of you is going to play well enough to keep his spot.


Keep working hard, and the opportunity will open up

You should tell him as I'm sure he doesn't realize that.

 

[stlnd01]

Keep working hard, and the opportunity will open up

Or it won't. But either way there's honor in trying.

 

[Emcee77]

I stand corrected on the bolded. Apparently Lo has graduated ... Dan Murphy of BGI has also reported that Lo has graduated and his situation is up in the air. He specifically corrected another BGI reporter on it. If he has that kind of confidence, it must be true.

So, I've just noticed that a poster on BGI posted that Pete Sampson has now reported that a ND source has told him that Lo Wood has not in fact graduated, although his family believes he has ...

... so it kind of sounds like nobody really knows anything about this.

 

[RuntheBall]

How do you not know if you graduated? Maybe he doesn't know if he can graduate (has taken al of the required classes or something)?

 

[IrishLax]

So, I've just noticed that a poster on BGI posted that Pete Sampson has now reported that a ND source has told him that Lo Wood has not in fact graduated, although his family believes he has ...

... so it kind of sounds like nobody really knows anything about this.

How do you not know if you graduated? Maybe he doesn't know if he can graduate (has taken al of the required classes or something)?

Pretty sure you have to do a degree audit to figure it out... he was probably waiting to walk with the rest of his class, and believed he already had all the credits done.

 

[stlnd01]

Was he an EE? If not, he must have hustled through some serious classwork to graduate in three years flat, even to be close enough to think you have.

 

[Rack Em]

Lo's dad just started a thread on II titled "No One is Playing for Kelly"

"A Man's (sic) Word is his Bond. When you make a Promise to a player and then LIE, that player will (sic) lose trust."

He followed up saying that part 2 was coming and he'll tell it all. I'm really interested to hear if it's a disgruntled parent or a real story.