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

[GBdomer]

I think he always wanted to go to ND and always had his mind set but just wanted to take visits and have some fun with the process.

 

[koonja]

Greyhammer,

Side note - we should have a 'vbuck' thread to keep track of the bets made.

 

[ACamp1900]

I bet someone over Clowney winning the Heisman and never received my payment......

 

[TheRealLynch51]

I bet someone over Clowney winning the Heisman and never received my payment......

Judging by the stupidity of that bet (for Clowney to win it), I'm sure they're one of those people who only pop up after Irish losses to proclaim how the sky is falling.

 

[Grahambo]

The thing with IM that kept me confident was that when the big offers started to come in, Loy said to expect him to take visits and enjoy the spotlight. He was offered late which didn't allow him to enjoy the process which is something he wanted to do.

That's not to say he did not become tempted to join another school. Just don't be fooled. Several updates have stated that people close to IM feel that ND is the best place for him and they rather see him get away.

Those are part of why I've remained confident.

 

[ACamp1900]

Judging by the stupidity of that bet (for Clowney to win it), I'm sure they're one of those people who only pop up after Irish losses to proclaim how the sky is falling.

Nah, I think it was Irish#1 (i think)... though that also explains the stupidity...

 

[NDWorld247]

I bet someone over Clowney winning the Heisman and never received my payment......

It was me, and I told you to send me the pic I have to use for my profile but you never did...check your visitor messages from October 8!

Judging by the stupidity of that bet (for Clowney to win it), I'm sure they're one of those people who only pop up after Irish losses to proclaim how the sky is falling.

Well, I'm not saying it was the smartest bet I've ever made, but he was considered by MANY to be the front runner before the season started. Vegas gave him 6/1 odds, which was 2nd only to Braxton Miller at 9/2. Also, I was getting odds, so it wasn't straight up. Unfortunately, he laid an egg on national tv in week 1 and his candidacy basically ended right then and there.

 

[Irish#1]

Nah, I think it was Irish#1 (i think)... though that also explains the stupidity...

OUCH! lol

 

[Irish#1]

I think he always wanted to go to ND and always had his mind set but just wanted to take visits and have some fun with the process.

Agree

 

[IrishFaninTX]

Very curious about why ND is trending more now with IM. I think he always loved ND but what I mean is why now before he has visited. What has changed since last week when nobody was sure what he was going to do and now lots of CB's to ND and the recruiting guys are saying they won't be surprised if he commits again before his visit. I hope it's all true. The thought of having an actual threat again at PR and/or KR is mind-boggling.

 

[IrishLax]

Very curious about why ND is trending more now with IM. I think he always loved ND but what I mean is why now before he has visited. What has changed since last week when nobody was sure what he was going to do and now lots of CB's to ND and the recruiting guys are saying they won't be surprised if he commits again before his visit. I hope it's all true. The thought of having an actual threat again at PR and/or KR is mind-boggling.

Basically, it seemed when he talked to some people (and announced initial visit plans) that ND wasn't even going to get a visit. And sources around McKenzie thought ND was all but out. Then Alford it appears went all in here and, having by far the longest standing and best relationship with McKenzie of any coach, was able to lock in ND for the last visit. That's where the tide started changing from horrible prognosis to having an even chance. Then he made it through the Florida visit and Muschamp in-home without committing. Then he went to Ole Miss. And now that the storm has been weathered, people are leaning towards him ultimately pledging to ND.

I think it's still far too close to call. For all we know he hates the ND visit in this horrible winter or any myriad of other things could happen that push him towards staying south. But ND's position has been steadily improving since the point a couple weeks ago where ND was *at best* a "maybe but probably not" to get a visit. Recruiting is always fluid with every prospect, but it especially has a lot of twists and turns with someone like McKenzie. I'll be crossing my fingers it all works out.

 

[IrishFaninTX]

Basically, it seemed when he talked to some people (and announced initial visit plans) that ND wasn't even going to get a visit. And sources around McKenzie thought ND was all but out. Then Alford it appears went all in here and, having by far the longest standing and best relationship with McKenzie of any coach, was able to lock in ND for the last visit. That's where the tide started changing from horrible prognosis to having an even chance. Then he made it through the Florida visit and Muschamp in-home without committing. Then he went to Ole Miss. And now that the storm has been weathered, people are leaning towards him ultimately pledging to ND.

I think it's still far too close to call. For all we know he hates the ND visit in this horrible winter or any myriad of other things could happen that push him towards staying south. But ND's position has been steadily improving since the point a couple weeks ago where ND was *at best* a "maybe but probably not" to get a visit. Recruiting is always fluid with every prospect, but it especially has a lot of twists and turns with someone like McKenzie. I'll be crossing my fingers it all works out.

Cool. That makes sense. I don't follow recruiting quite as closely as some but I am always excited about getting great players who can help lead ND back to the NC game. I hope we can land this one. I think he will be an explosive contributor on both ST and somewhere on offense. I can see him being that change of pace back similar to Amir but much quicker or a slot receiver.

 

[PANDFAN]

“The visit went good,” McKenzie said. “Laremy [Tunsil] hosted me. It was similar to Florida. The players were cool, and that is what’s important to me.”

“[Freeze] wanted me to see how I felt around the players and how the environment was," McKenzie said. "I guess he was showing me that the team was a family."

There was one thing that stood out to the game-changing return man, in addition to the camaraderie of the Ole Miss players.

“The only thing that caught my eye that was different from Florida and Notre Dame were the dorms," he said. "They are more of an apartment style and feel. They don’t feel like dorms."

With a week to reflect, McKenzie also spoke more about his trip to Gainesville, Fla., the weekend before.

“I think the Florida visit was overwhelming," he said. "I got to hang out with the players and see how they were. I felt like Florida and Ole Miss were similar."

With all head coach in-home visits in the rear-view mirror and only next weekend's Notre Dame official visit remaining, McKenzie knows what the deciding factor will be.

“I would say it’s going to be the best fit for me," McKenzie said. "I only have had one main question I asked on the visits. I ask about the players, how they are together and the area. I don’t ask about playing time, depth charts, systems and anything like that. The playing time depends on if I handle my business when I get there."

While McKenzie has not finalized a date for his decision, national signing day remains a possibility.

McKenzie is the No. 49-ranked player in Florida and the nation's No. 36 athlete in the 2014 class. He also officially visited Rutgers Dec. 6.

 

[wizards8507]

“I would say it’s going to be the best fit for me," McKenzie said. "I only have had one main question I asked on the visits. I ask about the players, how they are together and the area. I don’t ask about playing time, depth charts, systems and anything like that. The playing time depends on if I handle my business when I get there."

That sounds like some #RKG talk to me.

 

[Irish#1]

Basically, it seemed when he talked to some people (and announced initial visit plans) that ND wasn't even going to get a visit. And sources around McKenzie thought ND was all but out. Then Alford it appears went all in here and, having by far the longest standing and best relationship with McKenzie of any coach, was able to lock in ND for the last visit. That's where the tide started changing from horrible prognosis to having an even chance. Then he made it through the Florida visit and Muschamp in-home without committing. Then he went to Ole Miss. And now that the storm has been weathered, people are leaning towards him ultimately pledging to ND.

I think it's still far too close to call. For all we know he hates the ND visit in this horrible winter or any myriad of other things could happen that push him towards staying south. But ND's position has been steadily improving since the point a couple weeks ago where ND was *at best* a "maybe but probably not" to get a visit. Recruiting is always fluid with every prospect, but it especially has a lot of twists and turns with someone like McKenzie. I'll be crossing my fingers it all works out.

I think he's favored ND all along. The only thing that kept this in question was his academics and why a lot of people thought he was trending away. As I said before, why put in the time and effort on the academics to qualify for ND if you really didn't want to go there? He could have taken the lessor path and simply committed where the entrance qualifications we less rigid.

Do we land IM?

 

[Pa Golden Tate Fan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>2014 WR Isaiah McKenzie talks <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Florida&src=hash">#Florida</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23OleMiss&src=hash">#OleMiss</a> visits & previews this weekend's trip back to <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> (Premium) <a href="http://t.co/xqln69iQm4">http://t.co/xqln69iQm4</a></p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/statuses/428183439976574977">January 28, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[IrishLax]

I think he's favored ND all along. The only thing that kept this in question was his academics and why a lot of people thought he was trending away.

I won't say I know this as a "fact" to be true, but based on what Loy said to me 3 weeks ago I really do not believe this to be the case. He was directly quoting what McKenzie said to him, and then on top of that there were a number of corroborating sources in other places that backed up what was being said. The issue throughout this recruitment is that McKenzie has been... inconsistent... in what he tells people. It's a red flag, but it also just is what it is and you have to accept it at this point. If he had always favored ND though, he would've stuck by his "commitment" after they told him he was a take rather than alerting media outlets that he was "decommitting" and planning OVs to everywhere but ND. Whatever magic Alford has worked since then is just... I don't even know the words for it.

Again, maybe you're right, because you can't really trust even what you're getting directly from McKenzie to accurate... or to still be the 'truth' a day later. Maybe he's always been locked in to ND, but I do know ND coaches felt like they got the rug pulled out from under them a little bit here, so they certainly don't think he was or is all-Irish.

As I said before, why put in the time and effort on the academics to qualify for ND if you really didn't want to go there? He could have taken the lessor path and simply committed where the entrance qualifications we less rigid.

He had work to do to qualify for anywhere, so he was going to have to try to improve his academic standing no matter whether he wanted to go to Ole Miss or Notre Dame or Arkansas State. I don't think you can take the late effort as an indication that he wants to be Irish... I think it's that he wants to play college ball, period.

 

[Grahambo]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>2014 WR Isaiah McKenzie talks <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Florida&src=hash">#Florida</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23OleMiss&src=hash">#OleMiss</a> visits & previews this weekend's trip back to <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> (Premium) <a href="http://t.co/xqln69iQm4">http://t.co/xqln69iQm4</a></p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/statuses/428183439976574977">January 28, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Raved about Ole Miss. Treadwell was his host who he really likes.

Said Ole Miss and UF visits were similar but Ole Miss was 1% better and that he liked them just a bit more then UF.

Sounds like Alford tried getting him to commit during his visit but he held off and Alford respected that.

He wants to get back up to ND and see what its like with school in session and actually get to hangout with the players. Said he didn't get to really do that last time. Said he wants to see how he fits in with the 'ND family'.

Alford will check in with him on Thursday then he flies up on Friday.

 

[wizards8507]

Raved about Ole Miss. Treadwell was his host who he really likes.

Said Ole Miss and UF visits were similar but Ole Miss was 1% better and that he liked them just a bit more then UF.

Sounds like Alford tried getting him to commit during his visit but he held off and Alford respected that.

He wants to get back up to ND and see what its like with school in session and actually get to hangout with the players. Said he didn't get to really do that last time. Said he wants to see how he fits in with the 'ND family'.

Alford will check in with him on Thursday then he flies up on Friday.

Did he use the term "ND family"? If so, that feels like a good sign.

 

[Grahambo]

Did he use the term "ND family"? If so, that feels like a good sign.

Yes he did. He said he wants to see how he would fit in the ND family. Basically, his trip is to see ND when there are people there. LOL. Also wants to hang out with the team.

My guess is its between Ole Miss (since he said he liked Ole Miss just a bit more then UF and ND). I still think ND hangs on.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Cya.

If he liked Ole Miss that much, going to the Grove might have secured it. He loved the visit.

 

[Emcee77]

I won't say I know this as a "fact" to be true, but based on what Loy said to me 3 weeks ago I really do not believe this to be the case. He was directly quoting what McKenzie said to him, and then on top of that there were a number of corroborating sources in other places that backed up what was being said. The issue throughout this recruitment is that McKenzie has been... inconsistent... in what he tells people. It's a red flag, but it also just is what it is and you have to accept it at this point. If he had always favored ND though, he would've stuck by his "commitment" after they told him he was a take rather than alerting media outlets that he was "decommitting" and planning OVs to everywhere but ND. Whatever magic Alford has worked since then is just... I don't even know the words for it.

Again, maybe you're right, because you can't really trust even what you're getting directly from McKenzie to accurate... or to still be the 'truth' a day later. Maybe he's always been locked in to ND, but I do know ND coaches felt like they got the rug pulled out from under them a little bit here, so they certainly don't think he was or is all-Irish.

I can't help but feel now that he was trolling everyone ... like, maybe he always wanted ND, but he really enjoyed and needed the validation he got by becoming a true national recruit after the UA game, as if it were payoff for working so hard and proving all the doubters wrong, and he wanted to take those visits and enjoy that limelight for a bit, so he played the role of an uncommitted guy even though he never really lost his love for ND. JMHO.

 

[#1rish]

He's coming to ND. I can feel it.

 

[Booslum31]

Very true. But he so obviously favors Ole Miss over UF, and I really didn't think he would rave about Ole Miss that much. That goddamn Grove is so awesome.

Hopefully the players rally this weekend and do work.

This. And i think it would also be a good idea if Blake did some work on him as well.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

This. And i think it would also be a good idea if Blake did some work on him as well.

Yeah. Although I can't recall any instance where a junior commit recruits a senior prospect. Would kind of be weird.

 

[arrowryan]

Cya.

If he liked Ole Miss that much, going to the Grove might have secured it. He loved the visit.

Very true. But he so obviously favors Ole Miss over UF, and I really didn't think he would rave about Ole Miss that much. That goddamn Grove is so awesome.
Hopefully the players rally this weekend and do work.

If IM commits to Ole Mi$$ because of a popular tailgating spot, he probably wasn't fit for Notre Dame in the first place.

 

[Irish#1]

I won't say I know this as a "fact" to be true, but based on what Loy said to me 3 weeks ago I really do not believe this to be the case. He was directly quoting what McKenzie said to him, and then on top of that there were a number of corroborating sources in other places that backed up what was being said. The issue throughout this recruitment is that McKenzie has been... inconsistent... in what he tells people. It's a red flag, but it also just is what it is and you have to accept it at this point. If he had always favored ND though, he would've stuck by his "commitment" after they told him he was a take rather than alerting media outlets that he was "decommitting" and planning OVs to everywhere but ND. Whatever magic Alford has worked since then is just... I don't even know the words for it.

Again, maybe you're right, because you can't really trust even what you're getting directly from McKenzie to accurate... or to still be the 'truth' a day later. Maybe he's always been locked in to ND, but I do know ND coaches felt like they got the rug pulled out from under them a little bit here, so they certainly don't think he was or is all-Irish.



He had work to do to qualify for anywhere, so he was going to have to try to improve his academic standing no matter whether he wanted to go to Ole Miss or Notre Dame or Arkansas State. I don't think you can take the late effort as an indication that he wants to be Irish... I think it's that he wants to play college ball, period.

I thought he wanted to commit, but the staff told him to hold off because of his academics? Pretty sure that's in this thread about a mile back.

I don't disagree that he had some work to do to get accepted by most schools. I was just saying ND told him he had to be at a certain level to qualify. I am assuming ND's requirements were higher than most, so if he wasn't favoring ND why put in the extra effort for ND above the effort required for other schools?

Having said that, I don't doubt what you've been told either. You just never know with these kids until they actually sign.

 

[IrishLax]

I thought he wanted to commit, but the staff told him to hold off because of his academics? Pretty sure that's in this thread about a mile back.

He "committed" but it was not accepted by the staff. He continued to tell people he was committed and that's where he wanted to go if he could make it with his academics. He kept that stance all the way up until he actually got his academic house in order, and ND calls to tell him he's a take and congratulations... and he goes "nah, I'm actually going to look around now at these other offers." And then gives multiple interviews using the word "decommit" to describe his status.

I'm very interested to see how this plays out. Wouldn't be shocked to see him at any of the three schools for a myriad of different reasons.

 

[Ironman8]

South Carolina offered.

They are trying to get him to OV there this weekend instead of ND, but it doesn't look like that is going to happen.

 

[Cpnd1]

@RyanBartow: #AAVIP: 4-star ATH Isaiah McKenzie gives a leader & more scoop Latest on 4-star McKenzie @LukeStampini @TomLoy247 #NotreDame #Florida #Ole Miss