'14 TX DE Grant Blankenship (Oklahoma Transfer)

[Ironman8]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/CoachBrianKelly">@CoachBrianKelly</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachKerryCooks">@CoachKerryCooks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachMikeElston">@CoachMikeElston</a> Thanks for everything! <a href="https://twitter.com/GrantMostdope">@grantmostdope</a> so proud of you! <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23goirish&src=hash">#goirish</a></p>— The Blankenship's (@yblank) <a href="https://twitter.com/yblank/statuses/430771455874187264">February 4, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[Bubba]

In

 

[Domina Nostra]

My darkhorse recruit. I think the kid will be a force.

 

[ulukinatme]

It is done

 

[Bogtrotter07]

I am so glad I didn't hear that Texas was trying to steal him, too!

Ádh mór! Téigh Gaeilge, Agus Mhuire go deo!

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

My darkhorse recruit. I think the kid will be a force.

 

[clashmore_mike]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>From Texas to South Bend, welcome DL Grant Blankenship to ND
Bio: <a href="http://t.co/Nxc9ey1445">http://t.co/Nxc9ey1445</a>
<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23GoldenArmy14&src=hash">#GoldenArmy14</a></p>— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball/statuses/431076326208856065">February 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[clashmore_mike]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Grant Blankenship's mom shared this photo of him visiting <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> at age 12. He won't be locked out anymore. <a href="http://t.co/2KNAsVA4Dp">pic.twitter.com/2KNAsVA4Dp</a></p>— Tyler James (@TJamesNDI) <a href="https://twitter.com/TJamesNDI/statuses/431077506842492928">February 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
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[GBdomer]

boom my favorite player in this class.

 

[ndfi78]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Grant Blankenship's mom shared this photo of him visiting <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> at age 12. He won't be locked out anymore. <a href="http://t.co/2KNAsVA4Dp">pic.twitter.com/2KNAsVA4Dp</a></p>— Tyler James (@TJamesNDI) <a href="https://twitter.com/TJamesNDI/statuses/431077506842492928">February 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Damn, he does not look 12 in that pic.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Damn, he does not look 12 in that pic.

I know, that's what I looked like around 22!

 

[zelezo vlk]

You could've told me that was a picture from his junior or senior year and I wouldn't have been surprised.

 

[Irishman77]

Kelly seems to light up like a Christmas tree every year at his nsd presser for a few players....this year it was Grant!

This kid will be awesome!

 

[Emcee77]

Kelly seems to light up like a Christmas tree every year at his nsd presser for a few players....this year it was Grant!

This kid will be awesome!

He really gushed about him, didn't he. Seems to think he can contribute immediately if he doesn't get overwhelmed by school (according to Kelly, the ability to adjust to college life is usually the biggest obstacle to getting players on the field early, not their physical development).

 

[Ironman8]

Every single program that saw him in person offered. That has to say something strong.

 

[Irishman77]

He's bigger than ishaq now!

6'6 1/2 and 265

 

[Emcee77]

Every single program that saw him in person offered. That has to say something strong.

Yep. He made a huge impression on Kelly when he camped.

 

[aubeirish]

He really gushed about him, didn't he. Seems to think he can contribute immediately if he doesn't get overwhelmed by school (according to Kelly, the ability to adjust to college life is usually the biggest obstacle to getting players on the field early, not their physical development).

I think he is spot on. A lot of kids are physically ready now, but the mental part is just such a leap from HS to college. There are many things involved in this. Playbook is bigger, the game is faster, the competition is great, the stress of the everyday life of college curriculum, etc...

 

[Emcee77]

Grant told Andrew Owens of BGI that the ND staff hasn't decided yet whether he will play TE or DE. Grant prefers DE but he will play wherever the staff wants him. He just wants to get on the field.

I was just surprised that there is any debate. I wonder if he gets the Niklas treatment ... DL as a freshman, TE after Koyack graduates. I personally want to see him at DL, now and throughout his career, but if Luatua doesn't develop as the physical blocking TE Kelly wants I could see a change.

 

[Irish#1]

RKG

Yeah, I said it!

 

[PerthDomer]

Did Troy Niklas have a clone that was sent to Texas?

 

[ACamp1900]

Either he looked really old for a 12 year old, or he still looks 12. The kid looks exactly the same today... lol

 

[Emcee77]

Did Troy Niklas have a clone that was sent to Texas?

Seriously ... they are athletic twins.

Either he looked really old for a 12 year old, or he still looks 12. The kid looks exactly the same today... lol

LOL. I thought the same thing. I did a double take when I read the caption.

 

[PerthDomer]

Apparently he's an inch taller and 20 lbs heavier than Niklas coming out.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

Apparently he's an inch taller and 20 lbs heavier than Niklas coming out.

An inch shorter than Niklas

 

[Luckylucci]

Grant told Andrew Owens of BGI that the ND staff hasn't decided yet whether he will play TE or DE. Grant prefers DE but he will play wherever the staff wants him. He just wants to get on the field.

I was just surprised that there is any debate. I wonder if he gets the Niklas treatment ... DL as a freshman, TE after Koyack graduates. I personally want to see him at DL, now and throughout his career, but if Luatua doesn't develop as the physical blocking TE Kelly wants I could see a change.

I really want him at DE but the last time Kelly made a switch like this it definitely worked out well. If Kelly and Denbrock are true to there word and play faster that'll probably mean less 12 personnel. With Smythe and Weishar I think we're fine at TE for the long run.

 

[PerthDomer]

An inch shorter than Niklas

Oops. Either way, I think with our TE depth he goes DL. I bet he shows up at 280 lbs...

 

[Me2SouthBend]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p>Grant Blankenship's mom shared this photo of him visiting <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> at age 12. He won't be locked out anymore. <a href="http://t.co/2KNAsVA4Dp">pic.twitter.com/2KNAsVA4Dp</a></p>— Tyler James (@TJamesNDI) <a href="https://twitter.com/TJamesNDI/statuses/431077506842492928">February 5, 2014</a></blockquote>
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Looks like Brad Carrico when he comitted.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Oops. Either way, I think with our TE depth he goes DL. I bet he shows up at 280 lbs...

I think it's more of when you see a kid who can pass rush like that, you keep him at DE, especially if we're doing a lot of 4 man fronts.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

He is a defensive end. That is it, not a tight end. Grant will never play tight end at ND.

Troy Niklas was actually 6'5 1/2" his senior year in high school. So that makes Grant an inch taller than Troy at the same age. They are about the same height now, watch the combine, and see if Troy is actually 6'7" tall.

But the real thing to discuss is, with BVG's system, Grant and Jhonny are the cornerstones. They will prosper under his defensive system. Ishaq will this year, and my end up a first round pick next year as a result of it, but then it will be the twin towers!