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

[koonja]

Denbrock's visit on Saturday went well. They talked about life and school and not much about football. The relationship with Denbrock is very good and it will be tough to turn him down if he doesn't choose ND.

He is visiting USC this weekend but Kelly, Denbrock, and maybe Elliot will have the last in-home.

He's deciding whenever, right? As in, not announcing on NSD?

I guess there's reason to have slight hope since he hasn't announced for USC yet, but IDK if that's the case.

But that comment 'it will be tough to turn down Denbrock' I don't think you say unless you're already preparing to tell someone you really like and respect, sorry but no thanks.

 

[Emcee77]

He's deciding whenever, right? As in, not announcing on NSD?

I guess there's reason to have slight hope since he hasn't announced for USC yet, but IDK if that's the case.

But that comment 'it will be tough to turn down Denbrock' I don't think you say unless you're already preparing to tell someone you really like and respect, sorry but no thanks.

Fyi Loy wasn't quoting anyone directly when he made that comment ... those might have been Loy's words, not Juju's or even the source's.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Loy= the eternal optimist.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

He's deciding whenever, right? As in, not announcing on NSD?

I guess there's reason to have slight hope since he hasn't announced for USC yet, but IDK if that's the case.

But that comment 'it will be tough to turn down Denbrock' I don't think you say unless you're already preparing to tell someone you really like and respect, sorry but no thanks.

No he is a signing day guy.

As to the last part, Loy said that he has been told that it would be hard if that's what he decides to do. Juju didn't say it, fwiw

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Loy also said that he isn't ready to change his pick yet [emphasis added]

 

[Luckylucci]

Loy= the eternal optimist.

Very true.

 

[koonja]

I still don't mind Loy at all and don't understand all of the dislike. But I don't have a subscription, so I never interact with him, fwiw.

For the update and clarification, thanks and reps.

 

[Luckylucci]

I still don't mind Loy at all and don't understand all of the dislike. But I don't have a subscription, so I never interact with him, fwiw.

For the update and clarification, thanks and reps.

For the record, I don't mind Loy either. How do I say this, he's kind of a dork and is a huge homer to get in good with the BGI board.

 

[gkIrish]

Having the last in-home visit is definitely a reason to be optimistic.

 

[Emcee77]

I still don't mind Loy at all and don't understand all of the dislike. But I don't have a subscription, so I never interact with him, fwiw.

For the update and clarification, thanks and reps.

I agree, it took him a while to get his feet under him in his new position but I think he's pretty solid now.

But I don't think GITF was being unduly critical. It's true that Loy is a little bit of a ND homer.

 

[Emcee77]

For the record, I don't mind Loy either. How do I say this, he's kind of a dork and is a huge homer to get in good with the BGI board.

Nicely put. Good guy and hard worker, but yeah, the above, definitely.

 

[Luckylucci]

Having the last in-home visit is definitely a reason to be optimistic.

I'm going to remain cautiously optimistic until he chooses somebody else. I really believe that academics and religion mean a lot to this kid and if that holds true we win. Also, I believe that ND is the one school his parents wouldn't question, outside of USC, because of those traits. I could very well be wrong but I do see similarities between him and Redfield.

 

[koonja]

I mean, if I'm stepping into a role that was just vacated by someone that everyone loved (Jason Sapp), I'm definitely going to error on the side of homerism as well.

In a perfect world, he'd come in and be completely neutral, but since these guys have to make guesses all of the time as to where a recruit is going to land, I'd error on the side of optimism as well, lol.

Also, my hopes are non-existent. He's all USC if I had to guess.

 

[gkIrish]

I'm going to remain cautiously optimistic until he chooses somebody else. I really believe that academics and religion mean a lot to this kid and if that holds true we win. Also, I believe that ND is the one school his parents wouldn't question, outside of USC, because of those traits. I could very well be wrong but I do see similarities between him and Redfield.

I agree. I used to be very confident in this recruitment because I thought USC was going to finish the season on a sour note. That didn't happen and things trended away from us. However, it seems we have weathered the storm a little bit and have a chance to convince a kid that does care about things other than football to play for us.

There seems to be 1-2 kids per year that we land that no one was confident about for a long time. Hopefully he is the one.

 

[NDBoiler]

I'm going to remain cautiously optimistic until he chooses somebody else. I really believe that academics and religion mean a lot to this kid and if that holds true we win. Also, I believe that ND is the one school his parents wouldn't question, outside of USC, because of those traits. I could very well be wrong but I do see similarities between him and Redfield.

Being on the outside and looking in, this is what I see too from what I can observe. I also think ther fact that the last in-home is ND's cannot be understated.

 

[lcaps20]

I agree that getting the last in home is huge. It could possibly mean that he is having doubts about ND and wants to have the staff come in and reenforce everything that he liked about ND to begin with. either way i really want this kid. Him and redfield together is a very exciting pair of safetys

 

[Pachuco]

The big difference between Redfield and Smith: no more Kiffin.

USC is all honeymoon phase currently...

Also, has JuJu expressed a strong desire to take the road less traveled? That was a characteristic that seemingly emerged during Redfield's recruitment, a guy driven to move beyond his comfort zone, and take the path best for him and his future.

I think the Nelson A. comparison is still probably more accurate, but I appreciate the optimism of some on the board.

I hope to be wrong. I personally like JuJu the most, as far as remaining offensive weapons go.

 

[Emcee77]

The big difference between Redfield and Smith: no more Kiffin.

USC is all honeymoon phase...

Also, has JuJu expressed a strong desire to take the road less traveled? That was a characteristic that seemingly emerged during Redfield's recruitment, a guy driven to move beyond his comfort zone, and take the path best for him and his future.

I think the Nelson A. comparison is still probably more accurate, but I appreciate the optimism of some on the board.

I hope to be wrong. I personally like JuJu the most, as far as remaining offensive weapons go.

Well, he has said that faith is critically important to him and he knows that ND would be the best place for him ... but no one is sure how sincere he was being or whether that sentiment will win out over his desire to play for his childhood favorite.

I'm actually going to quote (or at least paraphrase) kuehnja here: I think he put it aptly when he said Juju's decision is the decision between the wild, trashy hot girl and the cute, quiet girl-next-door type (or something like that, I probably butchered it). You know going for the latter is the right decision, but you really want the former.

 

[Jebediah Springfield]

Yes, he has said that faith is critically important to him and he knows that ND would be the best place for him ... but no one is sure how sincere he was being or whether that sentiment will win out over his desire to play for his childhood favorite.

I'm actually going to quote (or at least paraphrase) kuehnja here: I think he put it aptly when he said Juju's decision is the decision between the wild, trashy hot girl and the cute, quiet girl-next-door type. You know going for the latter is the right decision, but you really want the former.

But he can change her

 

[Pachuco]

Well, he has said that faith is critically important to him and he knows that ND would be the best place for him ... but no one is sure how sincere he was being or whether that sentiment will win out over his desire to play for his childhood favorite.

I'm actually going to quote (or at least paraphrase) kuehnja here: I think he put it aptly when he said Juju's decision is the decision between the wild, trashy hot girl and the cute, quiet girl-next-door type (or something like that, I probably butchered it). You know going for the latter is the right decision, but you really want the former.

Thanks for the info.

I think that is a fairly apt comparison, though part of me doesn't like to sell my enemies short.

I would never say USC represents itself as a beacon of religious influence, but I would imagine that faith is part of their recruiting repertoire, at least to some degree. Of course, I don't know this as fact, but it would be interesting to learn more about how they accomdodate "religious-types" of high athletic reputation (non-cynically speaking). A small youth group can go along way.

I just hope he takes the ND-as-personal-spiritual-retreat avenue.

 

[Booslum31]

Thanks for the info.

I think that is a fairly apt comparison, though part of me doesn't like to sell my enemies short.

I would never say USC represents itself as a beacon of religious influence, but I would imagine that faith is part of their recruiting repertoire, at least to some degree. Of course, I don't know this as fact, but it would be interesting to learn more about how they accomdodate "religious-types" of high athletic reputation (non-cynically speaking). A small youth group can go along way.

I just hope he takes the ND-as-personal-spiritual-retreat avenue.

While busting up dudes on Saturday afternoon. Gotta get this guy!

 

[Pachuco]

While busting up dudes on Saturday afternoon. Gotta get this guy!

Ah, of course, man. Of course!

I'm paraphrasing, but one of the best things I read from an ND player in recent years was Redfield expressing the desire to play tough with his teammates on behalf Our Lady. Spiritual warriors, on and off the field.

JuJu needs to join forces...

 

[Pachuco]

While busting up dudes on Saturday afternoon. Gotta get this guy!

Ah, of course, man. Of course!

I'm paraphrasing, but one of the best things I've read from an ND player in recent years was Redfield expressing the desire to play tough with his teammates on behalf Our Lady. Spiritual warriors, on and off the field.

JuJu needs to join forces...

 

[JD Irish]

I still don't mind Loy at all and don't understand all of the dislike. But I don't have a subscription, so I never interact with him, fwiw.

For the update and clarification, thanks and reps.

He just creates a lot of hype where there is none to sell subscriptions and generate mouse clicks. Basically everything a reporter with integrity is not. Either that or he is just clueless and naive.

 

[rocket66]

'14 CA ATH John (Juju) Smith (Offer)

'14 CA ATH John (Juju) Smith (Offer)

Wiltfong is also sticking to his prediction with JuJu and Quick citing "optimism is high in the Gug today regarding these four" (JuJu, Quick, McKenzie, Alexander).

 

[dwshade]

The big difference between Redfield and Smith: no more Kiffin.

USC is all honeymoon phase currently...

Also, has JuJu expressed a strong desire to take the road less traveled? That was a characteristic that seemingly emerged during Redfield's recruitment, a guy driven to move beyond his comfort zone, and take the path best for him and his future.

I think the Nelson A. comparison is still probably more accurate, but I appreciate the optimism of some on the board.

I hope to be wrong. I personally like JuJu the most, as far as remaining offensive weapons go.

Offensive weapon? We're recruiting him for safety.

 

[Goldedommer44]

Wow, could you even imagine getting both of them? If we do who else do we take and how many more?

 

[rocket66]

Wow, could you even imagine getting both of them? If we do who else do we take and how many more?

5 more in a perfect world. The 4 I posted and 1 of the DL's.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Wiltfong is also sticking to his prediction with JuJu and Quick citing "optimism is high in the Gug today regarding these four" (JuJu, Quick, McKenzie, Alexander).

In order of likeliness ND lands them according to Wiltfong:

IM
Alexander
Juju
Quick

For those interested in checking out the info for themselves, Steve started a thread titled "Notre Dame In The Mix For Top Three Class"

 

[Cpnd1]

Wiltfong is also sticking to his prediction with JuJu and Quick citing "optimism is high in the Gug today regarding these four" (JuJu, Quick, McKenzie, Alexander).

Would be sweet to land these four, but I really want another front four player in this class.