'14 FL OT Reilly Gibbons (Stanford Verbal)

[Grahambo]

Yup… i'm really at a point where nothing is worth getting mad about anymore. I mean, the amount of talented kids we passed on this year is immense. Meanwhile, we will end the cycle with a bunch of spots open… as always. lol

It appears that a lot of the defensive side of the ball was due to Diaco so maybe that changes this upcoming cycle.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Nelson: #5 OT
Bars: #10 OT
Mustipher: #12 OG
Byrne: #17 OG


Gibbons: #28 OT

I think Kelly and Co did alright.

 

[Grahambo]

Nelson: #5 OT
Bars: #10 OT
Mustipher: #12 OG
Byrne: #17 OG


Gibbons: #28 OT

I think Kelly and Co did alright.

Add in Tillery and Hoge so far for next year and yes, I agree.

 

[IrishLax]

I'd be more concerned if he was a DL, but not an OL. We've done really well at that position past couple of years with no signs of slowing down this year.

True. We're definitely going to "get ours" I'm not worried about that at all. Just don't want Stanford to keep loading up on talented players.

 

[Ironman8]

If I am a talented OL right now, Stanford has to be the #1 or #2 place I would look at right now. Academics, weather, playing style and development. They got an awful lot going for them.

 

[woolybug25]

While I agree that we have done well on the offensive line recruiting. What would you rather have right now:

- Reilly Gibbons
- Bruce Heggie

One year you stacked at a position, the next you aren't. That's football. Plus, offensive lineman can be occasionally converted to the defensive line. Can someone remind me if we could use some more depth there? I can't remember...

 

[Ironman8]

While I agree that we have done well on the offensive line recruiting. What would you rather have right now:

- Reilly Gibbons
- Bruce Heggie

One year you stacked at a position, the next you aren't. That's football. Plus, offensive lineman can be occasionally converted to the defensive line. Can someone remind me if we could use some more depth there? I can't remember...

I hear what you are saying, but Reilly Gibbons and the OL is really the main position where this argument has no merit in my eyes. That isn't the scenario. The real question is would you rather have:

- 4 or 5 years of Reilly Gibbons
- A fifth year from Bruce Heggie and then an extra OL in '15 rated higher than Gibbons

I want to get the 85 as much as you, but the depth at OL is really great right now. You can't unbalance the roster / classes simply to get to the 85.

If you want to argue and say we should have grabbed Enoch Smith early, I agree with you. I think we absolutely should have. Hopefully that type of thinking will change now with BVG.

But I am more than fine with having Heggie for a 5th and grabbing another very good OL prospect in '15 and passing on Gibbons.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

I think Gibbons is a fine prospect and many coaches do too with his offer list, but I dont think that it was a coincidence ND cooled after Ryan Green went to FSU. Heck, ND never even offered. I do think if they hadnt gotten Nelson or Bars, he would have been one of the next 5 names on the board at OT.

I def get Woolys point about passing on some kids to get to 85. The biggest problem is getting kids to campus their Junior year, or spring/summer before their Senior year. The problem isnt the actual recruitment, recruiting pitches, recruiters (minus one head coach in the AAC), academics, etc. Its just getting kids to experience it more than a big recruiting weekend in the fall.

The kids that come to ND prior to an official, the track record is pretty damn good. ND sells itself, but in a big recruiting weekend, there isnt a lot of time for one-on-one action and taking everything in. The staff does a FANTASTIC job at hosting these weekends, and its absolutely needed.

Take JuJu Smith for example. He has been to Notre Dame one time. It clearly made a huge impression on him, bc out of his top 4...there is one school that doesnt fit and its Notre Dame. He has one memory of ND and that was 4 months ago and will base his decision off that. Now, is it practical for JuJu to get to ND prior to his official? Not really. But, thats where these recruitments are falling off at.

Michiah Quick visited prior to his official and we will see what kind of impact that has. But, its just one huge disadvantage ND is up against with its location and something Im not sure how you fix. But, I bet ND would have landed Gibbons if offered.

 

[woolybug25]

I hear what you are saying, but Reilly Gibbons and the OL is really the main position where this argument has no merit in my eyes. That isn't the scenario. The real question is would you rather have:

- 4 or 5 years of Reilly Gibbons
- A fifth year from Bruce Heggie and then an extra OL in '15 rated higher than Gibbons

I want to get the 85 as much as you, but the depth at OL is really great right now. You can't unbalance the roster / classes simply to get to the 85.

If you want to argue and say we should have grabbed Enoch Smith early, I agree with you. I think we absolutely should have. Hopefully that type of thinking will change now with BVG.

But I am more than fine with having Heggie for a 5th and grabbing another very good OL prospect in '15 and passing on Gibbons.

Yeah. Definitely on Enoch Smith. That one looks downright silly.

I kind of look at it differently than a 4 years of Gibbons vs 1 year of Heggie. I look at it as maintaining depth. Especially considering our staff is suppose to be recruiting to "Power, Big Skill and Skill". There is no doubt that a guy like Gibbons (and DEFINITELY Enoch) fit into the profile of what we are technically suppose to be recruiting for:

BK: “I have a different way of categorizing as we get to know each other better,” Kelly said. “I recruit power, big skill, and skill. Those are the three categories, those are the only three categories I operate out of. Power, big skill, and skill.

“A power player fits a profile for us. Generally those are you your linemen. Big skill is profiling out, if I could take 20 guys who are tough gentlemen who fit the profile at Notre Dame academically and were 6-foot-4, 215 or 220 pounds, you’d never be able to track who is playing where. ‘I don’t know, he just takes a bunch of those guys and some play defensive end, some play tight end, some are safeties, big skill.’

“Then skill obviously have a specific, specific strength in that particular area, be it ball skills, throwing it, kicking it and I’ve always operated out of those three categories wherever I’ve been and will continue to operate out of those three categories here at Notre Dame.”

So I have a hard time that we continue to recruit to position and try to guess at the beginning of the cycle regarding how many guys we will end up with at NSD. It leads us to miss our roster potential every year.

But the moral of the story is this… I agree with the fact that we really don't need Gibbons as an offensive line recruit. We did pretty well there lately.

 

[Ironman8]

Yeah. Definitely on Enoch Smith. That one looks downright silly.

I kind of look at it differently than a 4 years of Gibbons vs 1 year of Heggie. I look at it as maintaining depth. Especially considering our staff is suppose to be recruiting to "Power, Big Skill and Skill". There is no doubt that a guy like Gibbons (and DEFINITELY Enoch) fit into the profile of what we are technically suppose to be recruiting for:



So I have a hard time that we continue to recruit to position and try to guess at the beginning of the cycle regarding how many guys we will end up with at NSD. It leads us to miss our roster potential every year.

But the moral of the story is this… I agree with the fact that we really don't need Gibbons as an offensive line recruit. We did pretty well there lately.

I think the reason a guy like Gibbons wasn't pursued hard is because the staff didn't think they could use him at DL if we stayed loaded at OL. Guys like Niklas, Matuska, Springman and even Carrico, etc were seen as massive frames that could be put at either side of the line.

TP would know better than I, but I don't think they ever saw Gibbons like that. Hence, why he never got an offer, especially after we landed 4 of the top 6 or 7 OL on our original board.

 

[woolybug25]

I think the reason a guy like Gibbons wasn't pursued hard is because the staff didn't think they could use him at DL if we stayed loaded at OL. Guys like Niklas, Matuska, Springman and even Carrico, etc were seen as massive frames that could be put at either side of the line.

TP would know better than I, but I don't think they ever saw Gibbons like that. Hence, why he never got an offer, especially after we landed 4 of the top 6 or 7 OL on our original board.

Yeah, I suppose I am getting ahead of myself with Gibbons specifically. But rather using him as an example. I feel like we aren't recruiting to the mantra that we supposedly am suppose to be.

Which heh… maybe i'm overanalyzing it. We are about to put together the third top 15 class in a row. So the staff is doing a magnificent job in that regard. That being said, I think the following guys could certainly fit into our roster if we were to end up not adding to this class:

- Schutt
- Hendrix
- Hubbard
- Eric Brown

Not saying those guys are all difference makers, but you never know. Schutt would be a highly ranked DT with a redshirt under his belt (possibly). I think we could have had every one of them at one point too. They certainly would be more impactful than guys like Heggie as well.

All spit ballin' of course.

 

[ThePiombino]

Yeah, I suppose I am getting ahead of myself with Gibbons specifically. But rather using him as an example. I feel like we aren't recruiting to the mantra that we supposedly am suppose to be.

Which heh… maybe i'm overanalyzing it. We are about to put together the third top 15 class in a row. So the staff is doing a magnificent job in that regard. That being said, I think the following guys could certainly fit into our roster if we were to end up not adding to this class:

- Schutt
- Hendrix
- Hubbard
- Eric Brown

Not saying those guys are all difference makers, but you never know. Schutt would be a highly ranked DT with a redshirt under his belt (possibly). I think we could have had every one of them at one point too. They certainly would be more impactful than guys like Heggie as well.

All spit ballin' of course.

I really feel like we'll see less of this now with Diaco gone and BVG in place as DC. I agree with you, however. Passing on Schutt was mind-numbingly ridiculous (in retrospect). Same will likely be said for Enoch. I'm not as concerned with passing on Brown. He would likely be considered a luxury at this point. Hubbard was absurd. I just can't believe the staff couldn't find the time to evaluate him. Again, was that Diaco? I hope so, because if so, that "problem" has been solved. Hendrix is another I'm not worried about. At the time, I think it was the right move to slow play him. Of course now we think we have room, but I would rather save that schollie for a '15 safety with more upside and 1 year less of a logjam in front of him, theoretically making ND that much more attractive to him.

 

[irishog77]

Yeah. Definitely on Enoch Smith. That one looks downright silly.

I kind of look at it differently than a 4 years of Gibbons vs 1 year of Heggie. I look at it as maintaining depth. Especially considering our staff is suppose to be recruiting to "Power, Big Skill and Skill". There is no doubt that a guy like Gibbons (and DEFINITELY Enoch) fit into the profile of what we are technically suppose to be recruiting for:



So I have a hard time that we continue to recruit to position and try to guess at the beginning of the cycle regarding how many guys we will end up with at NSD. It leads us to miss our roster potential every year.

But the moral of the story is this… I agree with the fact that we really don't need Gibbons as an offensive line recruit. We did pretty well there lately.

When BK first talked about this strategy (Skill, Big Skill, and Power), I didn't put much stock in it. Now, after a few years, I put even less stock in it. I definitely think there's something to it and he uses it as a guide or outline of sorts, but I think it was more coach-speak than anything else.

Just my opinion.

 

[woolybug25]

When BK first talked about this strategy (Skill, Big Skill, and Power), I didn't put much stock in it. Now, after a few years, I put even less stock in it. I definitely think there's something to it and he uses it as a guide or outline of sorts, but I think it was more coach-speak than anything else.

Just my opinion.

I agree. The actions just don't matchup with the philosophy. Too bad, imo. I think its a good strategy for how we have to recruit at Notre Dame.

One interesting thing, I wonder if MSU uses this philosophy. When you think about it, they seem to do a better job in recruiting to it then we do. Despite our classes being significantly better then MSU, they have utilized guys recruited simply off of size, motor and/or speed. Then "coached em' up".

I really feel like we'll see less of this now with Diaco gone and BVG in place as DC.

I would argue that this has always been BK's initiative. Diaco actually did a bad job at it, imo. He passed on guys like Schutt and Hubbard simply because he didn't think they fit perfectly into a measurable he wanted for a specific position. If he would have been recruiting to this philosophy, he would have taken both.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Not to state the obvious, but there has been some awesome IQ in this thread, particularly the last string of posts; thanks IM*, ITP. Wooly, Grahm, Buster, and Pio!

 

[ThePiombino]

I would argue that this has always been BK's initiative. Diaco actually did a bad job at it, imo. He passed on guys like Schutt and Hubbard simply because he didn't think they fit perfectly into a measurable he wanted for a specific position. If he would have been recruiting to this philosophy, he would have taken both.

That's exactly my point. I suppose I worded it poorly. What I meant was that we won't see ND passing on these talented kids anymore now BVG has taken over. I'm with you on this.

 

[GBdomer]

If there is one position we can pass kids on it's OL. I think the staff felt really good where they stand with prospects. If Ryan Green was at ND maybe we get Reilly. I really don't understand what you guys are getting so upset about, the kid has played OL for 13 games.

 

[woolybug25]

If there is one position we can pass kids on it's OL. I think the staff felt really good where they stand with prospects. If Ryan Green was at ND maybe we get Reilly. I really don't understand what you guys are getting so upset about, the kid has played OL for 13 games.

You obviously didn't read anything any of us wrote. lol

 

[GBdomer]

You obviously didn't read anything any of us wrote. lol

I read Lax first rant and a couple other posts but no I didn't read them all lol. Sorry if I just added to what some of you said.

 

[woolybug25]

I read Lax first rant and a couple other posts but no I didn't read them all lol. Sorry if I just added to what some of you said.

No worries. We just all agreed that we were ok with this pass. That being said, what we were all frustrated with was the process. One that has been very different than what our coaches tell us they're doing.

 

[GBdomer]

No worries. We just all agreed that we were ok with this pass. That being said, what we were all frustrated with was the process. One that has been very different than what our coaches tell us they're doing.

I somewhat see what you are saying with that. Can you tell me some prospects you wish we went after? I think you are seeing the staff thinking they can go out and swing for the fences early in the process instead of taking guys like Echon Smith, Reilly Gibbons, Tommy Schutt, Jarrett Grace old teammate I can't think his name.

I also think a lot of that was Diaco being stubborn as fuck, but I think you take those kids and worry about the top guys later. A lot of the top guys don't decide to later. I think recruiting under Brian Kelly has been an solid B+. Last years class if Vanderdoes is on campus I don't think I would have traded it with any team in the country. I think BVG there will be more offers out to guys who Diaco wouldn't offer because they wouldn't fit his scheme. BK has gotten absolute studs and players with an edge they might not all be here now but of course he has probably has "missed" on some prospects but every coach does. But sometimes it bites you in the ass and I still think Brian Kelly would want a do over with prospects. I really wanted Danny Mattingly last year and we basically just let him walk.

 

[ryno 24]

I dont have a problem with the way kelly recruits, or even Diaco. He knew what made his defense tick. Especially on the D-line. He has the same high standards for the O-line. He has a profile for outside linebackers and corners that we did not have a problem with. You can always improvise when you big fast prospects that are versatile which kelly likes to get.

 

[STLDomer]

OSU, Louisville and Cincy have offered his little brother Dillan Gibbons already

2017 prospect

 

[rtrn2glory]

OSU, Louisville and Cincy have offered his little brother Dillan Gibbons already

2017 prospect

dude is a monster for a fricking freshman in high school!! wow

forgot stanford got reilly down the stretch....dang it!

 

[dublinirish]

Jeez yeah when did Reilly commit to stanford? i thought he was all SEC..

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I somewhat see what you are saying with that. Can you tell me some prospects you wish we went after? I think you are seeing the staff thinking they can go out and swing for the fences early in the process instead of taking guys like Echon Smith, Reilly Gibbons, Tommy Schutt, Jarrett Grace old teammate I can't think his name.

I also think a lot of that was Diaco being stubborn as fuck, but I think you take those kids and worry about the top guys later. A lot of the top guys don't decide to later. I think recruiting under Brian Kelly has been an solid B+. Last years class if Vanderdoes is on campus I don't think I would have traded it with any team in the country. I think BVG there will be more offers out to guys who Diaco wouldn't offer because they wouldn't fit his scheme. BK has gotten absolute studs and players with an edge they might not all be here now but of course he has probably has "missed" on some prospects but every coach does. But sometimes it bites you in the ass and I still think Brian Kelly would want a do over with prospects. I really wanted Danny Mattingly last year and we basically just let him walk.

I don't necessarily disagree with your position but given what Kelly inherited, I would probably say he's earned a better grade than a B+ but that's contingent on how many As I'd hand out. I'd probably look to give out 15 As for the top 15 teams over the last 4-5 years, as that would fit well with the bell curve and because there is a limited supply of top-level talent, a bell curve would be expected.

Kelly's classes on avg have ranked:

2011 - top 10
2012 - top 20
2013 - top 5/6
2014 - top 10
2015 - tbd

There is inherent attrition with every class so I don't know if it should be counted against Kelly and his staff. If you'd argue it should be, then I'd say they've gotten progressively better and defining the key players who are likely to succeed at ND.

Given the numbers above, and giving each class even weight (not weighting by number of players signed), then Kelly & Co. would appear to be in the top 12-14 of all FBS schools recruiting.

I'd give them at least an A- and keeping in mind what they were handed with a depleted roster in key areas, I'm guessing they'll continue to ascend and even out somewhere in the top 10.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>OT Reilly Gibbons a one time <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Miami?src=hash">#Miami</a> commit, signed w/ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Stanford?src=hash">#Stanford</a> is transferring back to USF after one semester (FREE) <a href="http://t.co/3NeMrTqXpP">http://t.co/3NeMrTqXpP</a></p>— Josh Newberg (@joshnewberg247) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshnewberg247/status/518078883862962176">October 3, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Looks like Hiestand got this one right. Regardless, Gibbons desperately wanted to come to ND, so I wish him well.

 

[yankeeND]

Looks like Hiestand got this one right. Regardless, Gibbons desperately wanted to come to ND, so I wish him well.

Yeah I was disappoints only because he got what ND is about. Wish him all the best!

 

[CHIDomer9]

Play for championships and you don't have to take kids who "desperately wanted to come to ND."