National Signing Day 2014 -- February 5, 2014

[palinurus]

Did you guys see Dacorious Law sent his LOI in to 3 different schools?

Maybe he didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings.

 

[Emcee77]

Did you guys see Dacorious Law sent his LOI in to 3 different schools?

LOL really?? These wacky guys I'll tell ya

 

[phgreek]

solid class...filled needs...added depth.

I trust Kelly to develop talent...he got a lot of size and athleticism...

folks see stars about now...and worry too much. We got the guys ND needed to get...as we fill needs we'll bounce between 5 and 10 rated classes while Kelly is around...and I'm way happy with it.

 

[palinurus]

I don't see Adoree Jackson as signed on the So Cal website, so I wonder if he has yet to clear compliance, notwithstanding his press conference commitment?

 

[woolybug25]

Miami Recruit Brad Kaaya’s Mother Was an Actress Who Played “Felisha” in Friday | The Big Lead

 

[tussin]

No, I am not on crack. I am just not the butt-hurt asshole you appear to be. I was responding to this, "Like it or not, this is how you win championships."

I strongly believe there is no sure-fire way (or formula that can be rolled out, other than paying for it). The year they beat ND, there was a 1.7 per cent chance that the three teams ahead of ND would lose, sure Alabama was the best team in the country for that one game, but in that one game the difference was Saban, the best prep man in the country.

So this year they were out. And this year they had more number one classes behind them than last year. Last year they made it to the game by the slimmest of margins (circumstances). And the difference in winning it was the coaches game prep, which a statement like that completely devalues.

So my final big point is the playoff system. The year Alabama Stomped us in the NC game, they were healthy again. They were twice the team they were coming down the stretch. Next year there will be the conference championship, a playoff semi-final and the National Championship game, with much less time to nurse key players back to health.

Kelly said he had experience at this at GVSU. He said he would recruit different because of it. Yes Bama's top five player are better, but rate 12 to 23?

Stuff that in your pipe. (Just kidding about the last, but it was a nice flourish, wasn't it?)

You can't actually believe what you're typing. They didn't win only because of game prep. They completely outclassed ND in all aspects (including personnel).

And if you insist on rating the 12 to 23 players in each class, ND has 3 4-stars and 7 3-stars. Bama? All 4-stars.

The proof is in the pudding and elite recruiting is how you win championships. ND is not on Bama's level.

 

[Huntr]

Winning is highly correlated with recruiting.

 

[ThePiombino]

You can't actually believe what you're typing. They didn't win only because of game prep. They completely outclassed ND in all aspects (including personnel).

And if you insist on rating the 12 to 23 players in each class, ND has 3 4-stars and 7 3-stars. Bama? All 4-stars.

The proof is in the pudding and elite recruiting is how you win championships. ND is not on Bama's level.

Thank you for taking the time to type this response. You summed up perfectly what I had neither the time nor patience to say lol

 

[rtrn2glory]

A 3 part behind the scenes look at Bob Diaco's first signing day at UConn

couldn't find the diaco thread....here's an all access look behind signing day with uconn

 

[CanadalovesND]

A 3 part behind the scenes look at Bob Diaco's first signing day at UConn

couldn't find the diaco thread....here's an all access look behind signing day with uconn

That's actually pretty cool. Shows every LOI coming (maybe not every, but most) and the coaches are all pumped up and excited.

Even I got a little into it, perhaps I'll follow UCONN football with Diaco there now

 

[ulukinatme]

Has this been posted yet?

Comedian Jordan Peele Tweets His Favorite Names of National Signing Day | Bleacher Report

Lion King Conway to Eastern Michigan, and Dae'Juan Funderburk to West Virginia just to name a few

They're not Hingle McCringleberry, but what can top that?

 

[Brooklyn]

A 3 part behind the scenes look at Bob Diaco's first signing day at UConn

couldn't find the diaco thread....here's an all access look behind signing day with uconn

It makes a lot of sense when you're in a conference to follow other teams recruits and to specifically match up first and foremost against them. Liked seeing that.

 

[phgreek]

ND is not on Bama's level.

...and never will be in terms of recruiting "Star" power, while Saban is there. You have to recognize Bama as the confluence of a recruiting friendly place and a great coach.

A lot of folks in the SEC can recruit star power...but do they all dominate...actually no. The last couple years they've taken some lumps in bowl games from coaches who can develop their folks and find those that fit their schemes...with ALOT less star power.

I think talent is certainly important, and I don't think you win if you are competing with 3*s vs 5*s all the time...but I do think if you are a team full of 4*s that fit and were developed, you should be able to compete with anyone...

 

[kmoose]

I am just not the butt-hurt asshole you appear to be.

So you are not the butt-hurt kind. Does that make you the average, everyday kind?

 

[connor_in]

Did you guys see Dacorious Law sent his LOI in to 3 different schools?

Isn't that a new show on CBS?

 

[Bogtrotter07]

So you are not the butt-hurt kind. Does that make you the average, everyday kind?

We have had this discussion before. I leave that to you.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

You can't actually believe what you're typing. They didn't win only because of game prep. They completely outclassed ND in all aspects (including personnel).

I routinely type what I don't believe type, type, type. Work, work, work . . .
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/xMOWYGrtY9c" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>


Actually, I made the point that one time after they had the circumstances conspire to overcome their missing the championship on the first go round, they did it in a game that was a marvel of master preparation. Did they have more talent? Did Brian Kelly say that his offensive line was so depleted that he couldn't even practice the way he wanted? This is all a matter of historical record. And the point is these are two programs at different points in their building process. I will go back to my previous point. It isn't all about having who Yahoo, or Rivals say is top talent. It is more about having the right personality, intelligence, skills and etc., the right eleven on the field at a time.

And if you insist on rating the 12 to 23 players in each class, ND has 3 4-stars and 7 3-stars. Bama? All 4-stars.

If I don't agree with all the ratings of ratings systems, why would I capitulate to your assignment of stars to players? Besides the JUCO conversation, their class ends in seven three stars and a two star. Because they over recruit Alabama has three more recruits. I still say ND's bottom thirteen are better players than any thirteen of Alabama's bottom 16. I must apologize at not taking account for the over-signing thing, though.

The proof is in the pudding and elite recruiting is how you win championships. ND is not on Bama's level.

That is like saying the proof is in the pudding, paying players, and over recruiting is how you win championships. The flawed logic of your statements is that without having superior coaching skills in place, you do not draw the attraction of athletes, to create a demand to over sign, to force the effort level up, to produce.

Now for the big ones : did any of you watch Kelly's press conference? Did you watch his comments about physical versus mental (intellectual) preparedness of incoming recruits; or his comments on marketing ND to recruits?

A) The situation is that the game is becoming more sophisticated. Players need to be smarter.

B) He had a brilliant presentation about how he needs to get the story of ND in front of "16 year-old kids." The don't know the Bus or the Rocket. And once he does get that story in front of the kids, their fathers, uncles, and coaches will remember Jerome Bettis or the Rocket. And so it goes . . .

 

[Wild Bill]

Actually, I made the point that one time after they had the circumstances conspire to overcome their missing the championship on the first go round, they did it in a game that was a marvel of master preparation. Did they have more talent? Did Brian Kelly say that his offensive line was so depleted that he couldn't even practice the way he wanted? This is all a matter of historical record. And the point is these are two programs at different points in their building process. I will go back to my previous point. It isn't all about having who Yahoo, or Rivals say is top talent. It is more about having the right personality, intelligence, skills and etc., the right eleven on the field at a time.

Recruiting rankings are far less relevant than "intelligence" and "personality" and lack of depth on the offensive line cost us in the title game. Got it.

 

[palinurus]

A 3 part behind the scenes look at Bob Diaco's first signing day at UConn

couldn't find the diaco thread....here's an all access look behind signing day with uconn

Thanks for posting that. The first installment isn't working but the other two are. Diaco cracks me up. He's there pitching a signee from Naples, Fla., how beautiful it is to have 8-10 inches of snow, lol. I love that guy.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Thanks for posting that. The first installment isn't working but the other two are. Diaco cracks me up. He's there pitching a signee from Naples, Fla., how beautiful it is to have 8-10 inches of snow, lol. I love that guy.

If you go to the UCONN Athletics youtube page, you can see all six.

Haha, ya, and then's he telling that Florida RB "I can already feel our rushing yards going up just by talking to you". Lol gotta love Diaco.

 

[RDU Irish]

Yahoo Sports: Rivals.com Ranking - Rivals.com junior college postseason top 100 2014

JUCO top 100 - Seems OL and DL are no brainers to give kids two years to develop before using up some schollies. Bama and FSU agree (Bama 2 DL, one OL, FSU two monster OL).

SEC count (remember this is only the top 100 JUCOs)

Bama - 3
Arkansas - 1
Auburn - 4
Georgia - 1
Kentucky - 2
Ole Miss - 5 (including Tee)
Miss St - 3
Mizzou - 1
So Car - 2
Tennessee - 4
TAMU - 3
29 in total, almost 1/3rd of the top 100 that have "committed" are SEC bound. Or 20 of the top 50 if I am counting right. Pretty much a holding pen/feeder system for these schools.

13 of the 100 are still undeclared (including Jordan Prestwood) so SEC still has a few more to add no doubt.

Others to note - Arizona State with 6, Arizona with 3 makes that state very disproportionately active in this space.

Interesting to consider the ability to re-pick from the litter two years later. How many would be recruits as seniors wash out in JC or just don't develop? Thus saving not only the two years of less or non-productive schollie on the transfer but not "wasting" any time on some kids that you would not have wanted in hindsight.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Recruiting rankings are far less relevant than "intelligence" and "personality" and lack of depth on the offensive line cost us in the title game. Got it.

Character more than personality.

That is a big part.

The problem in '12 was also that for Kelly's system to work his team has to be more than a one trick pony. They have to be able to do different things in a given situation at a high level for four quarters.

If there is any veracity to what I say, for Kelly to win big, there needs to be about seventy players to contribute. (Which if it starts to happen would encourage more better recruits to sign.) Is this accurate? Yesterday Kelly said that he takes a depth chart to a recruit to show him how he fits in if he thinks the guy has a shot at the two deep. If not he says, "You better come prepared to play!" Which is what he says. And it is what Kelly does. He plays everybody at some time that can help. See?

 

[RDU Irish]

14 of the top 25

8 of the top 10

SEC putting in the work. Love to see how many of these CCs are feeding the same schools year in and year out. Then take it a step further and see how those programs are funded.

 

[palinurus]

<script height="390px" width="693px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#pbid=MDYzZmYzZjIwNTA0YjI4Y2YyM2JmNTgw&ec=pjZ2Zqazohnc7QJE_RVBP6xtEpbSQWfn"></script>

 

[NDBoiler]

not RKG's?
Big Skill?


You know I wouldn't mind shopping down Alabama's aisle

I hear ya, but then you might as well through academic standards out the window.

 

[irishog77]

I hear ya, but then you might as well through academic standards out the window.

We clearly have here, anyway.

grin:

 

[palinurus]

From ESPN, Matt Fortuna

Kelly, Irish get class they need

By Matt Fortuna

Brian Kelly spoke like Brian Kelly for much of his Wednesday press conference, touting the distinctions of his program by stressing 40-year life decisions (not four) and by mentioning the different (though not necessarily better) shopping aisle that is Notre Dame football.

For the first time in what felt like a long time, the fifth-year Irish coach enjoyed a relatively drama-free signing day. His 22 verbal commitments going into the day all delivered on their word without any extracurriculars, and he even added an early-morning surprise from four-star defensive tackle Daniel Cage, giving the Irish their second win over Michigan State since September and further beefing up a class that finished with more linemen (12) than every other position combined (11).

Brian Kelly
This may not have been Notre Dame's highest-ranked recruiting class, but fifth-year coach Brian Kelly has developed a recruiting identity for the Irish.
But Kelly hit on another theme rather decisively early on, one that struck his program fairly hard in the weeks following last season's 9-4 campaign: the pros, and where they fit into the plans of his program.

"When we were having this opportunity to recruit a young man, they had to have a passion for wanting to get a degree from Notre Dame and winning a national championship," he said. "If they want to come here just to hang their hat to play football and go to the NFL, we passed on some pretty good players because I don't want guys to come here and not finish their degree. I want guys to come to Notre Dame, get their degree, help us win a national championship and be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. That's what I want, if that's what they want."

No, this is likely not a coincidence in light of the early NFL departures of Stephon Tuitt, Troy Niklas and George Atkinson III, the first Irish underclassmen in the Kelly era to leave school without their degrees since Kyle Rudolph back in Year 1. And this does not exactly vibe smoothly with the program's "Pot of Gold" initiative that made headlines recently when Notre Dame sent packages to recruits containing 477 letters -- one for every draft pick to come out of Notre Dame.

But Kelly was deliberate from the get-go. He was cocksure. His was a seasoned voice speaking after four years at one place, having weathered the sleeplessness that accompanies a national title game appearance, four underclassman departures, and a number of defections and suspensions in what is quickly turning into a long Irish tenure.

And on a day when positivity and hyperbole reigned across the college football world, Kelly allowed for some genuine self-evaluation. He said he had to do a better job of educating his players on the NFL. He conceded that he had not initially cast a wide enough net when evaluating prospects on the defensive line, the unit that took the biggest hit after the 2013 season. He might have cut the sales job short for the sake of simply coaching his football team, comfortable and confident in what he wants and what it takes to win big at Notre Dame.

This Irish recruiting class, ranked 11th by ESPN RecruitingNation, is not his best. It's not nearly as good as last year's, which was ranked fourth before losing a top-10 player in the country. Nor is it as good as consecutive ninth-ranked classes in 2012 and 2011, which ended up seeing five of its top players move on to different schools.

The ranking mattered little to Kelly or his staff. They had already taken their third Irish team to a perfect regular season two years ago with somewhat of a hodgepodge cast of characters still finding their way on their respective sides of the ball. They likely believe that, if not for a gross academic oversight by Everett Golson, they could have been bound for potentially bigger and better things this past fall.

So what if this year's haul lacks a five-star phenom. So what if it features eight three-star prospects.

"I just was a little bit too narrow-focused on where we were with our defensive line, and I needed to just be a little bit more -- I needed to change my view of how we recruited defensive linemen and open it up a little bit more," Kelly said. "It was strictly a decision that I needed to make. We did it a little late, and we were fortunate that we were able to get two very quality defensive linemen late in the cycle here, but we've made that adjustment in our profile."

The adjustment paid dividends through the signing day fax from Cage and through a trio of three-star newcomers who committed in the previous three months: Jhonathon Williams (November), Kolin Hill (December) and Peter Mokwuah (January).

These were hardly highly sought-after prospects, at least by Notre Dame's usual standards. There probably isn't a Tuitt walking through that door. But Kelly has learned better than to allow a departure like that one change a season's outlook, showing enough faith in his player-development process -- and in an oh-so-close-to-being-filled roster, now at 84 scholarships -- to secure a foundation for years to come.

"I think if you really boil it down, it's about the front seven and the offensive line," he said. "Yeah, there's some great skill players that I'll talk about, but you're winning up front, and building that depth in the front seven and the offensive line really stands out in this class, and then having some really good players across the board for us."

If that's not going to jump out on brochures, so be it. Notre Dame has an identity, and its leaders show enough resolve to push the envelope with a class that's smaller in stars but tailored in fit.

 

[PANDFAN]

From ESPN, Matt Fortuna

Kelly, Irish get class they need

By Matt Fortuna

Brian Kelly spoke like Brian Kelly for much of his Wednesday press conference, touting the distinctions of his program by stressing 40-year life decisions (not four) and by mentioning the different (though not necessarily better) shopping aisle that is Notre Dame football.

For the first time in what felt like a long time, the fifth-year Irish coach enjoyed a relatively drama-free signing day. His 22 verbal commitments going into the day all delivered on their word without any extracurriculars, and he even added an early-morning surprise from four-star defensive tackle Daniel Cage, giving the Irish their second win over Michigan State since September and further beefing up a class that finished with more linemen (12) than every other position combined (11).

Brian Kelly
This may not have been Notre Dame's highest-ranked recruiting class, but fifth-year coach Brian Kelly has developed a recruiting identity for the Irish.
But Kelly hit on another theme rather decisively early on, one that struck his program fairly hard in the weeks following last season's 9-4 campaign: the pros, and where they fit into the plans of his program.

"When we were having this opportunity to recruit a young man, they had to have a passion for wanting to get a degree from Notre Dame and winning a national championship," he said. "If they want to come here just to hang their hat to play football and go to the NFL, we passed on some pretty good players because I don't want guys to come here and not finish their degree. I want guys to come to Notre Dame, get their degree, help us win a national championship and be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. That's what I want, if that's what they want."

No, this is likely not a coincidence in light of the early NFL departures of Stephon Tuitt, Troy Niklas and George Atkinson III, the first Irish underclassmen in the Kelly era to leave school without their degrees since Kyle Rudolph back in Year 1. And this does not exactly vibe smoothly with the program's "Pot of Gold" initiative that made headlines recently when Notre Dame sent packages to recruits containing 477 letters -- one for every draft pick to come out of Notre Dame.

But Kelly was deliberate from the get-go. He was cocksure. His was a seasoned voice speaking after four years at one place, having weathered the sleeplessness that accompanies a national title game appearance, four underclassman departures, and a number of defections and suspensions in what is quickly turning into a long Irish tenure.

And on a day when positivity and hyperbole reigned across the college football world, Kelly allowed for some genuine self-evaluation. He said he had to do a better job of educating his players on the NFL. He conceded that he had not initially cast a wide enough net when evaluating prospects on the defensive line, the unit that took the biggest hit after the 2013 season. He might have cut the sales job short for the sake of simply coaching his football team, comfortable and confident in what he wants and what it takes to win big at Notre Dame.

This Irish recruiting class, ranked 11th by ESPN RecruitingNation, is not his best. It's not nearly as good as last year's, which was ranked fourth before losing a top-10 player in the country. Nor is it as good as consecutive ninth-ranked classes in 2012 and 2011, which ended up seeing five of its top players move on to different schools.

The ranking mattered little to Kelly or his staff. They had already taken their third Irish team to a perfect regular season two years ago with somewhat of a hodgepodge cast of characters still finding their way on their respective sides of the ball. They likely believe that, if not for a gross academic oversight by Everett Golson, they could have been bound for potentially bigger and better things this past fall.

So what if this year's haul lacks a five-star phenom. So what if it features eight three-star prospects.

"I just was a little bit too narrow-focused on where we were with our defensive line, and I needed to just be a little bit more -- I needed to change my view of how we recruited defensive linemen and open it up a little bit more," Kelly said. "It was strictly a decision that I needed to make. We did it a little late, and we were fortunate that we were able to get two very quality defensive linemen late in the cycle here, but we've made that adjustment in our profile."

The adjustment paid dividends through the signing day fax from Cage and through a trio of three-star newcomers who committed in the previous three months: Jhonathon Williams (November), Kolin Hill (December) and Peter Mokwuah (January).

These were hardly highly sought-after prospects, at least by Notre Dame's usual standards. There probably isn't a Tuitt walking through that door. But Kelly has learned better than to allow a departure like that one change a season's outlook, showing enough faith in his player-development process -- and in an oh-so-close-to-being-filled roster, now at 84 scholarships -- to secure a foundation for years to come.

"I think if you really boil it down, it's about the front seven and the offensive line," he said. "Yeah, there's some great skill players that I'll talk about, but you're winning up front, and building that depth in the front seven and the offensive line really stands out in this class, and then having some really good players across the board for us."

If that's not going to jump out on brochures, so be it. Notre Dame has an identity, and its leaders show enough resolve to push the envelope with a class that's smaller in stars but tailored in fit.

 

[Bishop2b5]

We clearly have here, anyway.

grin:

I saw that too and had to laugh at the irony of it.

 

[#1rish]

The signee list on the right sidebar has Bonner listed twice, the one listing him from OH should be Daniel Cage.