'14 CA ATH John (Juju) Smith (USC Signee)

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Obviously a great update. My biggest concern with his recruitment is the position he wants to play matching up with the position we want him to play. It's been said before that he wants to play WR and we want him as a Safety. If that gets figured out (or has already been figured out), then our chances are really good.

He mentioned in this update that he loves WR still

 

[Luckylucci]

He said that he'd play either WR or DB in college but his passion is WR. So it could ultimately come down to whats more important, school fit or position fit. It sounds like he places more emphasis on school fit but who knows.

 

[ThePiombino]

Obviously a great update. My biggest concern with his recruitment is the position he wants to play matching up with the position we want him to play. It's been said before that he wants to play WR and we want him as a Safety. If that gets figured out (or has already been figured out), then our chances are really good.

I understand that we would prefer him at S, but wouldn't giving him a shot at WR be a no-brainer? It's not like he is an "A" S prospect and a "C" WR prospect. Besides, he can always cross-train and/or move to S if/when WR doesn't work out for him. I know it's never as simple as black and white, but I feel like an athlete the calibre of Juju deserves a shot at what would make him happiest. Didn't we play the same exact card with Redfield?

 

[NDWorld247]

He mentioned in this update that he loves WR still

Thanks. Not to be Debbie downer, but that's rather disappointing to me. Of course I'd welcome him with open arms as a WR and think he could be a stud there, but IMO, and apparently the ND coaching staff, his upside on defense is Max Redfield-esque. Either way, hopefully this isn't the snag in his recruitment that results in him signing somewhere else.

 

[Luckylucci]

I understand that we would prefer him at S, but wouldn't giving him a shot at WR be a no-brainer? It's not like he is an "A" S prospect and a "C" WR prospect. Besides, he can always cross-train and/or move to S if/when WR doesn't work out for him. I know it's never as simple as black and white, but I feel like an athlete the calibre of Juju deserves a shot at what would make him happiest. Didn't we play the same exact card with Redfield?

I do like the idea of bringing in athletes and letting them play into a certain position but like NDWorld just said I don't see a WR when I watch him play. There is a little stiffness to his game which I think is perfect for safeties but can make WR difficult and I also don't see elite ball skills. JMO.

 

[rtrn2glory]

this seems to be a case where the kid wants to go to usc, but his heart and mind know the right place for him is ND.

 

[ThePiombino]

I do like the idea of bringing in athletes and letting them play into a certain position but like NDWorld just said I don't see a WR when I watch him play. There is a little stiffness to his game which I think is perfect for safeties but can make WR difficult and I also don't see elite ball skills. JMO.

But that's kind of my point - let him get on campus, actually give him a legit shot at making the 2-3 deep at the WR position. If he's as good at WR as he thinks he is, he'll be GTG. If he's better suited for the S position like we and the ND staff believe, it will work itself out. A few rough practices at WR, maybe Elliot pulls him aside and says to him, "You can red-shirt as a WR and maybe see the field regularly as an academic Junior OR you can start training at S and see the field by the end of this season."

 

[Emcee77]

I do like the idea of bringing in athletes and letting them play into a certain position but like NDWorld just said I don't see a WR when I watch him play. There is a little stiffness to his game which I think is perfect for safeties but can make WR difficult and I also don't see elite ball skills. JMO.

Could not agree more regarding the stiffness. His game is violence, power, speed ... I don't see the fluidity that allows an offensive player to evade and slip through tackles or slip past defenders to make catches. Watch Folston's tape ... he absolutely has that quality, and it's why I always preferred him on offense as opposed to defense. I think Juju is a much better S prospect than WR prospect.

On the other hand, we've used a WR as an H-back this year, and it really hurt us that that player wasn't really a threat to catch the ball. I do see a role on our team for a Hines Ward-like physical WR who is a fierce blocker, both downfield and out of the backfield, AND a guy who can be an athletic playmaker catching the ball. Right now I'm hoping C.J. Prosise can fill that role, but if not, Juju, come on down and give it a shot. I'd be totally cool with that.

 

[NDWorld247]

I understand that we would prefer him at S, but wouldn't giving him a shot at WR be a no-brainer? It's not like he is an "A" S prospect and a "C" WR prospect. Besides, he can always cross-train and/or move to S if/when WR doesn't work out for him. I know it's never as simple as black and white, but I feel like an athlete the calibre of Juju deserves a shot at what would make him happiest. Didn't we play the same exact card with Redfield?

I'm sure the staff will take him regardless. Even though I like him better on defense, it's not his skills on offense that I'm concerned with. It's his preference for a position and the way he's being pitched by his other top schools. I've just always viewed our staff as very straight forward recruiters and we've seen what happens when recruiting expectations aren't met when an athlete steps on campus. They can tell him he'll get a shot on offense, but if they would rather him play defense, that's where he's going to play.

Whatever though. I don't want to turn positive news into a debate about position and assumptions on how our staff is recruiting players. I trust them.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

this seems to be a case where the kid wants to go to usc, but his heart and mind know the right place for him is ND.

Sounds like Redfield. Hopefully he'd like to play next to Max as well.

 

[Irishnuke]

this seems to be a case where the kid wants to go to usc, but his heart and mind know the right place for him is ND.

Where has it been said that he's in love with SC? I've never seen that. In fact it seems to the opposite. Dude just made a top 5 and didn't include SC.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Where has it been said that he's in love with SC? I've never seen that. In fact it seems to the opposite. Dude just made a top 5 and didn't include SC.

I think he grew up a USC fan and his family consists of USC fans

 

[PANDFAN]

and his high school is a pipe line to usc

 

[rtrn2glory]

Where has it been said that he's in love with SC? I've never seen that. In fact it seems to the opposite. Dude just made a top 5 and didn't include SC.

maybe i'm thinking of quick? for some reason i thought he really wants to go to usc?

 

[rtrn2glory]

Sounds like Redfield. Hopefully he'd like to play next to Max as well.

sounds like max is a good guy for him to pair up with for his official

 

[IrishLax]

If we actually end up signing Juju this winter that will be epic. Definitely an elite prospect. Personally, I'm still a bit skeptical we pull this off... but all recent updates have been very positive.

 

[STLDomer]

I've never seen him say he loves USC. He has admitted he is a USC fan and so are his parents.

 

[PANDFAN]

maybe i'm thinking of quick? for some reason i thought he really wants to go to usc?

no you are correct...it was his dream school growing up, family are huge fans, high school is a pipe line to usc

Picked up a USC offer (which apparently happened when he was a freshman, but didn't know..) and says USC was his dream school growing up.

http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com...sp?CID=1467885---paid link

 

[rtrn2glory]

so the final 5 should really be a final 6? i have a hard time believing he totally kicked sc to the curb, especially once they hire a new coach he'll be all in his ear regardless of if he is committed by then or not.

 

[PANDFAN]

I've never seen him say he loves USC. He has admitted he is a USC fan and so are his parents.

The No. 3-rated athlete will take all five official visits, including one to Notre Dame on Oct. 18 for the USC game and another to Oregon on Oct. 25 for the UCLA game.

Smith has not seen childhood favorite USC in person this season. Rather than attend the Trojans’ game against Boston College on Saturday, Smith opted to watch close friend Damien Mama of powerhouse Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco take on Chandler (Ariz.) instead. He was glad to not have been at the Coliseum for the Trojans’ loss to Washington State in the home opener.

“I was happy I didn’t go,” Smith said. “I’m not saying it’s embarrassing but, dude, it’s USC. … With Lane Kiffin’s situation, it’s really depressing to me and probably a lot of guys.”

Smith, like many of the top local recruits, will continue to take a wait-and-see approach with the Trojans.

“It’s a home school. I love USC,” Smith said. “Growing up as a kid watching Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and all those guys.”

According to Smith, recruits talk with each other about the USC coaching situation. Some wonder what is wrong and already have their eyes set on different options. Others, like Smith, are content to let things unravel.

“You know what would be crazy? If Pete Carroll came back,” Smith said jokingly. “I would commit on the spot. ... We all love Tee Martin. We all love our recruiting guy. I want to hear more from the DB coach at USC. I don’t want to be recruited just as a wide receiver -- I want to do both. If I do go to USC, I would love to be back there with Su’a Cravens.”

 

[Emcee77]

The No. 3-rated athlete will take all five official visits, including one to Notre Dame on Oct. 18 for the USC game and another to Oregon on Oct. 25 for the UCLA game.

Smith has not seen childhood favorite USC in person this season. Rather than attend the Trojans’ game against Boston College on Saturday, Smith opted to watch close friend Damien Mama of powerhouse Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco take on Chandler (Ariz.) instead. He was glad to not have been at the Coliseum for the Trojans’ loss to Washington State in the home opener.

“I was happy I didn’t go,” Smith said. “I’m not saying it’s embarrassing but, dude, it’s USC. … With Lane Kiffin’s situation, it’s really depressing to me and probably a lot of guys.”

Smith, like many of the top local recruits, will continue to take a wait-and-see approach with the Trojans.

“It’s a home school. I love USC,” Smith said. “Growing up as a kid watching Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and all those guys.”

According to Smith, recruits talk with each other about the USC coaching situation. Some wonder what is wrong and already have their eyes set on different options. Others, like Smith, are content to let things unravel.

“You know what would be crazy? If Pete Carroll came back,” Smith said jokingly. “I would commit on the spot. ... We all love Tee Martin. We all love our recruiting guy. I want to hear more from the DB coach at USC. I don’t want to be recruited just as a wide receiver -- I want to do both. If I do go to USC, I would love to be back there with Su’a Cravens.”

Ooh, great find Panda, and not just for the "I love USC" quote ... the bolded is very interesting. That's just the sort of recruitment we do, and hopefully this shows that he isn't all about WR.

I still think he's saying "I love USC" as a fan, not as a prospective student. You never know how that will end up. Plenty of guys realize that their childhood fave is not the right place for them (to our chagrin, sometimes ... *ahem* Anthony Barr).

 

[IRISHMAN]

a long beach kid loving USC.....im shocked.

if he comes to ND he can team up with mad max.

 

[ACamp1900]

The No. 3-rated athlete will take all five official visits, including one to Notre Dame on Oct. 18 for the USC game and another to Oregon on Oct. 25 for the UCLA game.

Smith has not seen childhood favorite USC in person this season. Rather than attend the Trojans’ game against Boston College on Saturday, Smith opted to watch close friend Damien Mama of powerhouse Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco take on Chandler (Ariz.) instead. He was glad to not have been at the Coliseum for the Trojans’ loss to Washington State in the home opener.

“I was happy I didn’t go,” Smith said. “I’m not saying it’s embarrassing but, dude, it’s USC. … With Lane Kiffin’s situation, it’s really depressing to me and probably a lot of guys.”

Smith, like many of the top local recruits, will continue to take a wait-and-see approach with the Trojans.

“It’s a home school. I love USC,” Smith said. “Growing up as a kid watching Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart and all those guys.”

According to Smith, recruits talk with each other about the USC coaching situation. Some wonder what is wrong and already have their eyes set on different options. Others, like Smith, are content to let things unravel.

“You know what would be crazy? If Pete Carroll came back,” Smith said jokingly. “I would commit on the spot. ... We all love Tee Martin. We all love our recruiting guy. I want to hear more from the DB coach at USC. I don’t want to be recruited just as a wide receiver -- I want to do both. If I do go to USC, I would love to be back there with Su’a Cravens.”

How old is this???

 

[PANDFAN]

How old is this???

following the loss to wash st. but before the BC game...so whatever those dates are..sometime in then...did you read the article?

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Elite 2014 S/WR Juju Smith is excited about this weekend's official visit to <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> (Premium) <a href="http://t.co/LyN6k22n6z">http://t.co/LyN6k22n6z</a></p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/statuses/390466172845449216">October 16, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Cpnd1]

Wiltfong just put a CB prediction for ND.

 

[jerboski]

Wiltfong just put a CB prediction for ND.

Boom, Steve is the best in the business so I am loving our chances!

 

[Ironman8]

Wiltfong just put a CB prediction for ND.

That is huge. He is by far the most accurate in Crystal Ball predictions. Basically everyone else just follows his lead.

 

[rtrn2glory]

wow...good news to say the least. although i don't see a commitment this weekend from him.

might go a long way though to get a win against his childhood favorite

wiltfong wouldn't put down a prediction unless he thought it had legs to run on

 

[DillonHall]

wow...good news to say the least. although i don't see a commitment this weekend from him.

might go a long way though to get a win against his childhood favorite

wiltfong wouldn't put down a prediction unless he thought it had legs to run on

Hope we don't have a "Steve Elmer" situation come up