'14 TX DB Payton Hendrix (Texas Tech Verbal)

[NDhoosier]

Been thinking about this since I read it yesterday.......do.....not......like.....if the kid wants to be in South Bend, then by all means, you take him, and go from there.....don't slow play a kid who has a lot of upside, for any reason........

It is the staff's opinion that counts and the staff thinks there is more upside in waiting for Juju Smith instead of accepting Hendrix right off the bat.

 

[stlnd01]

This is what bugs me about the state of recruiting reporting. Everyone is out for a scoop and there are enough sites out there battling, that regardless of the effects of releasing the info, one of them will do it.

I'm sure Hendrix is fine with it. But the different sites can't tell us that there isn't a risk to the team of releasing this type of info. I can easily see a kid being embarrassed by the fans all knowing that he is a second choice. Even having to read people on boards like this, discussing his merit to the class. It certainly doesn't give them the "warm fuzzies" that have always been an important part of wooing a recruit. This same thing happened with McKenzie. The kid verbally commits to the school, only to have the recruiting sites let everyone in on his grade situation. Leading to idiots tweeting about it to him, etc.

In an "instant gratification" world… recruiting news feeds that same desire. With no regards to the recruit's well being.

Idiots will be idiots, especially on Twitter. But the reporters don't work for the program. They work for us people who follow this stuff and want to know what's going on. Hopefully the kids know where they stand, but that's really up to the coaches. Notre Dame does seem like it's generally up front with recruits.
Also, it goes both ways. In this case, Hendrix might be embarrassed that it gets out that he's a second choice. But plenty of kids tell reporters about noncommitable from elite schools that make them look better, and may well lead to more offers. Recruits are the only ones who can talk on the record about this stuff.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

Theres a lot left to desired at Safety after his Senior film. Its not bad by any means, and most things are stuff that can get coached up. But he is more raw than I first thought.

His footwork needs a lot of work before he is ready to play college at a D1 level. Right now he can make up for it by being faster and stronger than the other kids. But if you watch, he does a lot more hustling than his counter part #6 (nick watkins) on the other side of the field. Watkins just flows with the game and lets his technique and trusts his reads. Hendrix seems to stare too much and then reacts. You can tell he is reading (staring) when he is there flat footed. His hips are what you look for in a safety and his tackling is more than good enough for the D1 level. He plays really physical. At the beginning of the plays he seems to really lock on to the QB and that will get him caught on deep plays bc he is too flat footed and not moving.

His reaction to the snap is similiar to Eilar Hardy. Both kind of stood flat footed for a little bit then reacted. I think Hardy is faster, reads and reacts better, and flows with the play a little better. Hendrix is probably twice the athlete Hardy is, but its a lot of little things in Hendrixs game that are the differenece between Hardy coming out, and being considered an Elite player.

I have no problems with taking this kid, bc it is the little things that can get coached up. He has the size, speed, athleticism to play Safety at ND, its all a matter of how he takes the coaching. Hardy got slowed by an injury and really took a year to get up to speed and then more time to work on his fundamentals he needed to shore up. As he has shown in spurts this year, he is more than capable of playing safety at a lot of schools across the country.

 

[Son of Kenmare]

It is the staff's opinion that counts and the staff thinks there is more upside in waiting for Juju Smith instead of accepting Hendrix right off the bat.

Maybe its a any no from Smith or Quick that gives him the green light.

 

[Luckylucci]

Theres a lot left to desired at Safety after his Senior film. Its not bad by any means, and most things are stuff that can get coached up. But he is more raw than I first thought.

His footwork needs a lot of work before he is ready to play college at a D1 level. Right now he can make up for it by being faster and stronger than the other kids. But if you watch, he does a lot more hustling than his counter part #6 (nick watkins) on the other side of the field. Watkins just flows with the game and lets his technique and trusts his reads. Hendrix seems to stare too much and then reacts. You can tell he is reading (staring) when he is there flat footed. His hips are what you look for in a safety and his tackling is more than good enough for the D1 level. He plays really physical. At the beginning of the plays he seems to really lock on to the QB and that will get him caught on deep plays bc he is too flat footed and not moving.

His reaction to the snap is similiar to Eilar Hardy. Both kind of stood flat footed for a little bit then reacted. I think Hardy is faster, reads and reacts better, and flows with the play a little better. Hendrix is probably twice the athlete Hardy is, but its a lot of little things in Hendrixs game that are the differenece between Hardy coming out, and being considered an Elite player.

I have no problems with taking this kid, bc it is the little things that can get coached up. He has the size, speed, athleticism to play Safety at ND, its all a matter of how he takes the coaching. Hardy got slowed by an injury and really took a year to get up to speed and then more time to work on his fundamentals he needed to shore up. As he has shown in spurts this year, he is more than capable of playing safety at a lot of schools across the country.

I agree. I can see him growing into an OLB so for us a DOG OLB.

 

[koonja]

We just got two surprise commits at lb and all of a sudden lead for morgan. I'd guess drues moving to safety and so safety is no longer a need unless it's juju.

 

[Irish#1]

Why not be honest with him and say, you're #2 to our board for safety, rather than you commit now and then we get Juju and then no longer need you, just hold off for now. If he goes to USC, you become our #1 safety and can commit then without worry.

ND prides itself and has been praised for being honest and up front with where recruits are on their wish list. I hope that doesn't change.

I think if you tell a lot of recruits "Please wait, you're our second choice" a lot of feelings will get hurt which leads kids going elsewhere. You know other schools will use that as a negative against ND. Slippery slope.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

I think if you tell a lot of recruits "Please wait, you're our second choice" a lot of feelings will get hurt which leads kids going elsewhere. You know other schools will use that as a negative against ND. Slippery slope.

Not really if done right. If a kid is turned away from that, then he probably shouldnt be part of your program. I think from a fans perspective it can come off as, "hey we dont want you but if we dont get the 5star, come on down" Its different when their are strong relationships built and a sense of respect is made between the kid, family and the coaching staff. That is what excels ND and puts them above other schools.

 

[Irish YJ]

Not really if done right. If a kid is turned away from that, then he probably shouldnt be part of your program. I think from a fans perspective it can come off as, "hey we dont want you but if we dont get the 5star, come on down" Its different when their are strong relationships built and a sense of respect is made between the kid, family and the coaching staff. That is what excels ND and puts them above other schools.

Hey TP, Even if done right, feeling like anyone's second choice is enough to push a lot of kids elsewhere. And IMO that's no dig on the kids who choose to go somewhere else where they are clearly a team's priority, especially if those other offers are big time programs. Personally if in that position myself, I'd probably wait, but I also have a long family history of ND fans, as well as Irish blood from my grandmother running through my veins. That said, if I were Stanford's clear first choice, I'd have an awful time making a decision as I know the combination of education and being a team's priority would be hard to say no to. I liken the whole situation to being crazy about a girl when you're in HS. If there's a superhot chick, but she really wants to be with someone else, and she's settling for you, but there's another hot chick who is crazy about you, you'd typically pick the super hot chick crazy for you.

 

[Meacon Irish]

A lot of kids look at this as a "career" decision, too, though. If a kid knows that Notre Dame is the best fit for them, they'll wait. It's like with a job. You may apply to a job that you absolutely love. If the HR department says, "We like you, but we have an offer out to someone else. We will let you know." Are you going to go out and accept a job that you like less? Or are you willing to wait and hope the first choice says "Thanks, but no thanks" so you can take the spot you really want?

Everybody, and every situation, is unique.

 

[ab2cmiller]

A lot of kids look at this as a "career" decision, too, though. If a kid knows that Notre Dame is the best fit for them, they'll wait. It's like with a job. You may apply to a job that you absolutely love. If the HR department says, "We like you, but we have an offer out to someone else. We will let you know." Are you going to go out and accept a job that you like less? Or are you willing to wait and hope the first choice says "Thanks, but no thanks" so you can take the spot you really want?

Everybody, and every situation, is unique.

Very good analogy.

The only factor that I would say that complicates it for some kids is the fact they've been told for years how great they are and have had their egos stroked at every turn. At that point some kids will let their pride get in the way and go to a lesser school where they are shown more love.

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

A lot of kids look at this as a "career" decision, too, though. If a kid knows that Notre Dame is the best fit for them, they'll wait. It's like with a job. You may apply to a job that you absolutely love. If the HR department says, "We like you, but we have an offer out to someone else. We will let you know." Are you going to go out and accept a job that you like less? Or are you willing to wait and hope the first choice says "Thanks, but no thanks" so you can take the spot you really want?

Everybody, and every situation, is unique.

Good analogy, just a tad off.. in the job scenario, you may need money right away so you'd have to accept a job.. but for Peyton, he can wait it out because he'll get a scholly regardless.. but I like your thinking, going through something similar right now as a matter of fact lol

 

[irishbird]

commit to Texas tech

 

[NDPhilly]

Holy Shit he did.

 

[IrishLax]

This is what happens when you allow second choice schools to make a power move. No idea if this actually has to do with it being leaked publicly that he was told to wait, but maybe it did.

 

[rtrn2glory]

prolly a good fit for him...kingsbury is a good young coach and i'm sure he's gotta appealing personality to recruits

good luck to him

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Good for him. Wish him the best.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Really weird timing during the dead period and with TT preparing for their bowl game...

 

[ThePiombino]

Best of luck to the kid. Too bad ND wasn't prepared to accept his commitment earlier. When we're playing with less than 85 schollies next year we'll be reminded of this...

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Wtf...


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[tko]

DOH!

 

[ResLife Hero]

Personally wanted him to be part of this class but after seeing him live and all the discussions about available scholarships, I can sleep ok with him at tech. If we land juju then it's not even a minor concern.

 

[Rhode Irish]

lolwut?

 

[Irishnuke]

I don't blame him for not wanting to be Juju's backup plan. However, I think he should have waited it out.

 

[Irish Man3]

Good decision for him. I would've been excited if he was Irish but I'm not heartbroken. I don't think we get Juju but I think Drue is moved to safety.

 

[woolybug25]

This is what happens when you allow second choice schools to make a power move. No idea if this actually has to do with it being leaked publicly that he was told to wait, but maybe it did.

X2. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he was offended. If that was indeed the actual case, then the kid has no other reason to believe that someone on the staff leaked it as well (if he didn't himself, which would be even worse). Why would he want to look like the kid that sat in the corner and waited to see if the shiny Cali toy decided ND was good enough for him. Meanwhile, this kid wanted to be here.

Mark it... We miss on Juju and this will be a bad strategic move by the staff. Not the first time this type of move backfired on us either.

 

[Pachuco]

The day I accept that recruiting has crystal clear logic is the day I stop following it.

Sadly (?) a commitment is not a commitment until signing day.... or wait, is it?

If JuJu doesn't work out, there's no telling we don't try to woo Hendrix back.

I have no idea. All I know is that nothing surprises me.

 

[Rack Em]

Sampson is saying that Hendrix didn't get a Pot of Gold....

Did the staff cool on him?

 

[IrishLax]

Sampson is saying that Hendrix didn't get a Pot of Gold....

Did the staff cool on him?

See previous pages about less than desirable senior film and him trying to commit but being told to hold off.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

There is always more to these things that meet the eyes. I personally would have taken him, bc he fits a build that could turn into a DOG LB pretty easy, but at the sametime, where do you get him PT at Dog. I think Baratti is on a good schedule, and he gets a 5th year. That changes the numbers chart a little bit as he was on schedule to play 4 years at this time last year. ND is the favorite to land Morgan. Does that give Tranquill a shot at Safety or Dog first? Do they feel comfortable with Hardy/Shumate/Baratti/Redfield/Farley to go ahead and go all in for JuJu?

There are many different situations to tell a player to hold off. I think it was just one of those bad timing things, coupled with so so Senior film. I do think that ND would have accepted his commitment if he tried to after the usc game. Recruiting is a momentum game as much as the game on the field. I think that is why ND stayed out of declining they didnt fully take McKenzie for so long. I have a feeling they were aware he was going to pop Friday before the usc game, and hoped that would steamroll some other commitments. Like I have said in the past, that usc weekend wasnt exactly a weekend where they expected to get verbals vs getting these kids a first hand experience of what ND has to offer.