'14 KY DT Matt Elam (Kentucky Verbal)

[Irish#1]

He tends to shoot the gaps a lot rather than engaging the OL. The kid is insanely athletic though and quick off the ball for a man of that size. He'll probably need a year to contribute but I definitely want to see him at ND.

I quit watching after half way thru. In all but one play no OL tried to block him. The poor schmuck that did was half his size and got leveled. The rest must have been scared of him.

 

[dublinirish]

seemed like he was being left unblocked to be read by the QB alot. You see this all the time on Elite DL film, the opposition knows they can't man on man block the guy so they try to get him overpursuing or force them to make decisions

 

[andre784]

Matt Elam tweeted out "Best game ever." I'd say we made as good impression as we could've possibly.

 

[KyfightingIrish36]

ISD update. https://twitter.com/isdupdate/status/391904630755430400

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

ISD update. https://twitter.com/isdupdate/status/391904630755430400

Wake up people!

 

[Irishnuke]

ISD update. https://twitter.com/isdupdate/status/391904630755430400

Lemme see here. Says he loved the concession stand hot dogs. Ate about a dozen or so. Says the nachos were just standard nachos. Did say he was disappointed ND didn't have sweet tea. Spent most of the second half wandering around trying to find some. He settled for a 64oz Dr. Pepper instead. Said he'll definitely have to take that into consideration. Sounds like we did ok but we might need to bring in more food.

I hope somebody believes this.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Holler

 

[clashmore_mike]

He had a great time, as did all the coaches on the trip. Matt is considering staying another night and then flying back home on his own which is obviously a great sign. His coach says ND helped itself and is in the mix and says Matt would say the same.

 

[Chris P. Bacon]

The Ole Miss recipe...$$$

I think they put all their recruiting money into basketball, not sure the Univ can afford to do both?

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Wake up people!

I'm up! Damn, dude.

He loved it. He came up with his coaches but was considering staying overnight on his own and leaving tomorrow (today/Sunday). No word on whether this happened. Noticed that the line dominated the game and loved watching Nix. Said he realizes that he would fit at the nose in a system like ours and realizes that he would be double teamed a lot. ISD's words are that it couldn't have gone better but his decision date is still Jan 4 at the Army AA Bowl. His coach said that we are firmly in his Top 3

 

[yankeeND]

I'm up! Damn, dude.

He loved it. He came up with his coaches but was considering staying overnight on his own and leaving tomorrow (today/Sunday). No word on whether this happened. Noticed that the line dominated the game and loved watching Nix. Said he realizes that he would fit at the nose in a system like ours and realizes that he would be double teamed a lot. ISD's words are that it couldn't have gone better but his decision date is still Jan 4 at the Army AA Bowl. His coach said that we are firmly in his Top 3

That's all we can ask for. Should be in it till the end.

 

[yankeeND]

I may not be a smart man... But I do know that Wiltfong CB'd him to ND this morning!

 

[arrowryan]

I may not be a smart man... But I do know that Wiltfong CB'd him to ND this morning!

holy cow, he sure did

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

I may not be a smart man... But I do know that Wiltfong CB'd him to ND this morning!

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Sounds like he stayed and may stay again tonight. Staff feels really good about their chances. - Wiltfong

 

[RuntheBall]

Sounds like he stayed and may stay again tonight. Staff feels really good about their chances. - Wiltfong

If he did/does stays and/or stay again... wow that says a lot. Either he is really enjoying himself and was seriously considering us before he came, or he is really enjoying himself and wasn't really considering us, but now realizes he should consider us and wants more time to get a feel for the school and be around the coaches/players when we don't have 2 bajillion recuits here.

Either way Daddy likes.

 

[rtrn2glory]

like that he's playing in the Army game...pretty sure we'll be well represented there so hopefully our guys can get into his ear.

 

[yankeeND]

If he did/does stays and/or stay again... wow that says a lot. Either he is really enjoying himself and was seriously considering us before he came, or he is really enjoying himself and wasn't really considering us, but now realizes he should consider us and wants more time to get a feel for the school and be around the coaches/players when we don't have 2 bajillion recuits here.

Either way Daddy likes.

All of this

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Staff will try and get him up again before he decides at the AA game

 

[Irish#1]

Very positive news.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Come to Notre Dame, Big Fella. A great and good place, a great and good staff, a great and good defensive plan.... and a great and good second family.........

There's a wonderful, interesting, successful future waiting on you.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Come to Notre Dame, Big Fella. A great and good place, a great and good staff, a great and good defensive plan.... and a great and good second family.........

There's a wonderful, interesting, successful future waiting on you.

Mike,

I gotta tell you, with my big personality I don't feel small often. But this kid walked by himself toward the beginning of the recruits procession, in advance of the player walk. First time I saw the players come first. But this kid was almost alone. Bunches of people said "Hi," "Good luck," and "Go IRISH!" But no one dogged any of the recruits. I got that he was kind of looking for how the fans reacted. And he has a look, kind of an intense semi-scowl - that with his modified Mohawk, visible under his hat. This guy is beyond huge. This guy really looks twice as wide as any other human being. He does not look like most of his recruiting photo's. He doesn't look like a baby-fat dough boy. He looks like if he came through the door with that look on his face, and we were standing there, with lead pipes, we would make our ways out the back door, post haste.

This guy moved way up my list.

I tried to remember his size, about five minutes later Troy Niklas walked by, in fact I shook his hand, and though I could see him having an inch in height on Matt, he could stand behind Matt and seem invisible. Matt is that much bigger than Troy! Not as cut, but just the way you would want the middle of your defense to look. I am pretty sure the only thing you could do to make that guy look more intimidating, is the old Teach trick of tying cannon fuses to his beard and lighting them, but I am pretty sure that is against the rules.

Trend up (definite in terms of playing potential; I cannot guess who will sign) with me: Greer, Tyler, DeShone, Damien, and Matt.

 

[ab2cmiller]

PREP FOOTBALL: Notre Dame makes quite an impression on Elam (10/22) | TheNewsEnterprise.com

John Hardin senior defensive tackle Matt Elam’s top three schools haven’t changed, but his choice is becoming even more difficult.

Elam lists his top three as Alabama, Kentucky and Notre Dame, which became firmly entrenched among his top choices after his official visit last weekend. Elam saw the Fighting Irish defeat Southern Cal, 14-10, but it was more about the Notre Dame experience.

“They definitely moved up there,” Elam said Monday after practice. “They have great tradition. They have a small enrollment, but the stadium was packed. The atmosphere was crazy. It was a fun experience.”

Elam said he met with coaches Saturday and went through meetings before watching the game from the front row. On Sunday morning, he met again with coaches where he had breakfast and then talked to head coach Brian Kelly.

Notre Dame has become a major player for Elam’s services. Elam, along with John Hardin coach Chad Lewis, met with Notre Dame assistant Bob Elliott, who coaches safeties, at the school Oct. 11 during fall break.

“It was a really good time,” Elam said. “It was a crazy atmosphere. You realize how important football is there. They have a wonderful tradition and it was great to be able to experience it.”

The 6-foot-6, 360-pound mammoth lineman has had a busy schedule. He attended the Kentucky-Alabama game Oct. 12 in Lexington and plans to go to the Alabama-LSU game Nov. 9 in Tuscaloosa. He said he is taking his official visit to Kentucky on Dec. 14 and will go to Alabama in December as well.

A recruit is allowed to take five official visits. Elam doesn’t know if he’ll use all five. Besides his top three, he said Tennessee is making a strong push and Ohio State and Louisville remain in the picture as well.

Kentucky coach Mark Stoops and offensive coordinator Neal Brown came to watch Elam in John Hardin’s 49-6 rout of North Hardin last Friday.

Elam is considered one of the nation’s top recruits. He is ranked seventh in the country by 24/7 and 215th by Rivals. At his position, 24/7 has him rated second and Rivals 18th. Scout.com lists him as the 15th best defensive tackle.

Elam plans to announce his college decision Jan. 4 at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio.

 

[ndfi78]

He is ranked seventh in the country by 24/7 and 215th by Rivals. At his position, 24/7 has him rated second and Rivals 18th.

LOL at the disparity.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

This guy moved way up my list.

Move over, Trinity. Bogs has a list now.

 

[T Town Tommy]

A post on a Bama board about Elam. Don't put a lot of stock in the "friend of the friend of the coach" talk but this guy at least is a little closer to Elam's coach than most of us.

Guys I was with him in Lexington sat night decked out in bama gear and talking to him all night about to you really want to be getting beat by 50 by elite teams or going to play for national titles every year.. he would just laugh at me.. But like I posted before on here, the kid is sold on being close to home and being a big fish in a small pound.. UK is recruiting him and telling him basically if he signs with them then the cats are a contender lol.... someone stated it earlier on here, the kid has raised himself and he wont be leaving the bluegrass,

LOL no form of booster just best friends with his hs coach's son who takes him on recruiting visits and have had the priviliage to meet and hangout with Matt a few times.. Just a great kid who I hope is successful wherever he decides to play, I still hold out hope because I have watched a lot of hs football and won a NAIA National Championship with his coach's son and he is by far the most dominate kid at his age I have seen.. He is already better than any lineman we had on a NAIA championship team..lol.. we joke about it all the time. He looks like Cody against other hs lineman.. I would give anything to see him in Crimson but I have said it several times already on here, you just have to know the kid's situation and wish him the best..

 

[Redbar]

Move over, Trinity. Bogs has a list now.

Funny.

 

[NDdomer2]

A post on a Bama board about Elam. Don't put a lot of stock in the "friend of the friend of the coach" talk but this guy at least is a little closer to Elam's coach than most of us.

ive never got the vibe that this kid was going anywhere but kentucky. only reason he has interest in nd is thehs coach imo

 

[Irish#1]

ive never got the vibe that this kid was going anywhere but kentucky. only reason he has interest in nd is thehs coach imo

As long as we still have a shot.............

 

[sparkyND]

I don't know if this has been addressed elsewhere. If Holley commits prior to Elam (or vice versa for that matter), are we still taking Elam? Just curious if we are after both really hard at this stage or whether it is a first come first served situation. Thanks in advance.