'14 FL WR Isaiah McKenzie ( Georgia ¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

[koonja]

ESPN is so dumb.

 

[ulukinatme]

Heard on Power Hour that he's no longer a lock if the test scores are good enough. Anyone hear anything?

Hrm...high on Notre Dame, wants in, but test scores aren't good enough at that time.
Works on getting grades up, possibly eligible now, decides to look into other options.

Why get the grades up if you're thinking about other options? Crazy

 

[CanadalovesND]

Hrm...high on Notre Dame, wants in, but test scores aren't good enough at that time.
Works on getting grades up, possibly eligible now, decides to look into other options.

Why get the grades up if you're thinking about other options? Crazy

It was reported that his grades weren't even up to NCAA clearinghouse standards.

So, it was simple, get grades up, get to play football at Div 1 level.

Also, Isaiah 'committed' to ND when no other major schools were showing interest, for the most part. Rutgers appeared to be our only competition for the kid. Now, more schools have come calling, which each one presenting it's own oppourtunity for Isaiah. He wants to be sure with his decision.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Is that NYMike? "I got the shakes" He seemes to have gone missing from this board.

 

[GBdomer]

I think It was Luke but I don't remember correctly that IM would visit UTjr the last weekend of Jan. Be huge if we could get him on campus.

 

[koonja]

I think It was Luke but I don't remember correctly that IM would visit UTjr the last weekend. Be huge if we could get him on campus.

I apparently cannot read.

 

[BeauBenken]

Cleaned up Lax's post.

 

[ACamp1900]

I apparently cannot read.

LOL.. glad I'm not the only one...

 

[Buster Bluth]

Whole thing is a circus. All I'll say is that there are reasons why ND basically stopped recruiting him at one point and he didn't even receive a Pot of Gold... and they don't all have to do with academics. This is a Tee Shephard-esque soap opera with its twists and turns. There is no doubt that the staff right now really wants him to be part of this class now, but they have an uphill battle at best.

And yet, I think the staff must take him if they possibly can and play that opera out.

Would the Tee Shepard fiasco have been such a big deal if Yuri Wright wasn't a bonehead, or if Ronald Darby didn't decommit? That class was straight from hell in so many ways.

Since the staff already has 1) suitable WR depth and 2) two other WR studs this class--unlike in 2012 with CBs--I would think the only logical choice is to take your chances with McKenzie, as his athleticism cannot be taught and is, to put it in ESPN terms, SECesque.

 

[IrishLax]

And yet, I think the staff must take him if they possibly can and play that opera out.

Would the Tee Shepard fiasco have been such a big deal if Yuri Wright wasn't a bonehead, or if Ronald Darby didn't decommit? That class was straight from hell in so many ways.

Since the staff already has 1) suitable WR depth and 2) two other WR studs this class--unlike in 2012 with CBs--I would think the only logical choice is to take your chances with McKenzie, as his athleticism cannot be taught and is, to put it in ESPN terms, SECesque.

Yeah, I think you've got the right read on it Buster. You've got to roll the dice at this point... his talent is that unique to the roster and can be worth Ws. They obviously agree which is why they started recruiting him again. It'd be different if they felt really good about Quick or Nelson, but they don't.

What is the downside to him not signing? None. What is the downside to him signing and failing out/transferring? Practically none. What is the downside to passing on him completely? Sizable.

 

[AvesEvo]

And yet, I think the staff must take him if they possibly can and play that opera out.

Would the Tee Shepard fiasco have been such a big deal if Yuri Wright wasn't a bonehead, or if Ronald Darby didn't decommit? That class was straight from hell in so many ways.

Since the staff already has 1) suitable WR depth and 2) two other WR studs this class--unlike in 2012 with CBs--I would think the only logical choice is to take your chances with McKenzie, as his athleticism cannot be taught and is, to put it in ESPN terms, SECesque.

And it would have been a hell of a class if ND had kept/gotten them. And including the Tommy Schutt incidence, I about had a conniption that year.

 

[SoJerseyIrish]

Like the song says......"wake me up when it's all over".......I have to disengage from recruiting it's maddening yet I need something to quench my ND thirst this time of year!

 

[stlnd01]

Like the song says......"wake me up when it's all over".......I have to disengage from recruiting it's maddening yet I need something to quench my ND thirst this time of year!

The nice thing about this one - unlike some of the recruiting roller-coasters of recent years - is that McKenzie's kind of a luxury item. It'd be better to get him, but it'll be OK if we don't.

 

[stlnd01]

Would the Tee Shepard fiasco have been such a big deal if Yuri Wright wasn't a bonehead, or if Ronald Darby didn't decommit? That class was straight from hell in so many ways.

One could argue (though Darby fans might not) that two years later K. Russell has turned out to be the best college cornerback of the bunch. Even if we'd just landed Yuri, he could very easily be fighting for #4 running back instead.

 

[Buster Bluth]

It's obviously subjective, but I would call that depth "suitable" at this point too. Not that I don't believe that they have potential to be very good to elite, none of them are that at this point though. DD has shown the most, but even he wasn't a #1 guy. Right now... they are a group full of potential, but not proven players.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Will take an official January 31 to ND.


@AndrewSpiveyGC: Isaiah McKenzie tells me that he will now take an official visit to #Notre Dame on January 31st.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Will take an official January 31 to ND

Solid news.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

The plot thickens.

Reminds me of :

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Iwu-6GxBHN4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[koonja]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>WR Isaiah McKenzie official visit sked: <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Florida&src=hash">#Florida</a> (1/17) <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23OleMiss&src=hash">#OleMiss</a> (1/24) <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> (1/31)</p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/statuses/423620024826220544">January 16, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Ironman8]

Getting the visit is great news, especially the last one. If he makes it to campus, I think he signs with the Irish.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Will take an official January 31 to ND

 

[scUM Hater]

So, I am trying to catch up. Can he qualify academically?

 

[andre784]

Ok he's not completely over us...

 

[RyCo1983]

So, I am trying to catch up. Can he qualify academically?

I doubt we'll really know for a good bit yet.

Bad feeling here though. I sure hope he proves me wrong.

 

[Pachuco]

I doubt we'll really know for a good bit yet.

Bad feeling here though. I sure hope he proves me wrong.

Would the coaching staff really put themselves in this position again though?

As fans, we've witnessed the ups and downs.

I imagine they are more on guard than we are.

 

[RyCo1983]

Would the coaching staff really put themselves in this position again though?

As fans, we've witnessed the ups and downs.

I imagine they are more on guard than we are.

For a gamebreaking returner...yes...I imagine that they would.
The staff will have to take chances if they want to get the best talent on the field that they can.


Also, they certainly are aware that this kid might not be able to handle an ND course load. So even if he qualifies...It is quite possible that he won't stay eligible.

But this is the kind of player that the staff needs to take a chance on when they are interested.


Kid is electric, I want him in the blue and gold.

 

[GreenSox04]

the last say in this type of recruitment is always huge imo, hope he makes here. and i hope he is truly green lighted to commit/attend

we could go from having 0 return game to having teams not kick to us, kid is electric.

i can just see this kid beating everyone to corners on returns and becoming Don Criquis favorite player.

 

[woolybug25]

I wonder what we would be saying, if this message board existed, when Tony Rice committed.

 

[Pachuco]

For a gamebreaking returner...yes...I imagine that they would.
The staff will have to take chances if they want to get the best talent on the field that they can.

Yes, you are right about taking chances, and they've been taking that chance from the get.

Yet, a gamebreaking returner isn't going to do much for the team if he can't cut it academically and/or doesn't have the preparedness to compete for his grades throughout the long haul.

My point is that the staff must be taking an educated risk here, as it doesn't make practical sense for them to make a last push solely on his athletic talent.

I just don't think he's worth the egg on the face at this point for the program, considering the gauntlet that is ND admissions and past experience.

With that said, putting aside his recent flirtation with other colleges that never truly cared about him in the first place, it's possible the kid might have made some important strides...

At least, the optimist in me hopes so... but my hopes are tempered as well.

 

[RyCo1983]

I wonder what we would be saying, if this message board existed, when Tony Rice committed.

Lawd only knows.

That's before my time.


WAIT!

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