'15 CT TE Chris Clark (Pitt Verbal That Will Stick For Sure)

[IrishLax]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>TE Chris Clark has decommitted from <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23UNC&src=hash">#UNC</a> -- my guess is <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NotreDame&src=hash">#NotreDame</a> will be final destination.</p>— Mike Farrell (@rivalsmike) <a href="https://twitter.com/rivalsmike/statuses/455183931680514048">April 13, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Will be interesting to see how this plays out. I'd put a better chance on whoever does the best pressure recruiting between Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State. All three of those places have guys who are great at the hard sell.

Then again... would be funny if my bold proclamation many moons ago actually came to pass in a round about way. Sooo... come on ND......

 

[Irishnuke]

I give it 3 months until he is committed somewhere else. Then I give that commitment 4 months. I think his final "verbal commitment" count total will be 3 schools.

1 down, 2 to go.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I talked to someone yesterday who knows Clark's recruitment well. His academics (this year) are in worse shape than I even thought, and he'd have a lot to do to qualify.

Now, sometimes these academics risks work out for us (Davaris Daniels for the most part, Tuitt to a lesser degree, etc), but a lot of times they don't (Ferguson, Neal, McKenzie, Kinlaw, EV, Elam, Lynch, etc etc). Throw in his enjoyment of the recruiting process and his very wishy-washy recruitment and decision-making, and I just don't see this ending up well for ND, even if he does sign with us.

As always, I hope I'm wrong and he kills it in the classroom and matures off the field.

 

[rtrn2glory]

anyone who considers his next commitment a solid commitment whether that be an analyst or a member of a message board, imo is blind to what is going on with this recruitment.

based off of nothing i'm going to say a dark horse in this recruitment is mr. franklin in happy valley

 

[ndfi78]

Eh... pass. To many headaches IMO

 

[ShawneeIrish]

I never really say this but I think we are probably better off passing on this guy. Combination of academic problems, the way he is approaching recruiting, an that we have a ton of talent and depth at TE. Also he is not from a bad environment or bad school ao it does not seem like a situation where he gets to a better school and better environment and thrives. If he cannot succeed at a top flight private HS doubt he will at ND either

 

[Calabrese's People]

Everytime i think about clicking on this thread, I have to prepare myself for all sorts of madness.

 

[goldandblue]

I talked to someone yesterday who knows Clark's recruitment well. His academics (this year) are in worse shape than I even thought, and he'd have a lot to do to qualify.

Now, sometimes these academics risks work out for us (Davaris Daniels for the most part, Tuitt to a lesser degree, etc), but a lot of times they don't (Ferguson, Neal, McKenzie, Kinlaw, EV, Elam, Lynch, etc etc). Throw in his enjoyment of the recruiting process and his very wishy-washy recruitment and decision-making, and I just don't see this ending up well for ND, even if he does sign with us.

As always, I hope I'm wrong and he kills it in the classroom and matures off the field.

Kinlaw is not on the team?

 

[Buster Bluth]

Kinlaw is not on the team?

You better sit down for this..

 

[goldandblue]

You better sit down for this..

Lol. I'm sitting...

 

[Buster Bluth]

Kinlaw is not on the team.

 

[goldandblue]

Ha ha.

 

[GBdomer]

Can't wait to see the reaction if he commits to ND. How many people don't want him because you think he might be a head ache. But when he commits he's back to being a Notre Dame man and a RKG

 

[Andy in Sactown]

Can't wait to see the reaction if he commits to ND. How many people don't want him because you think he might be a head ache. But when he commits he's back to being a Notre Dame man and a RKG

I never thought anything disparagingly about the young man when he committed to North Carolina. My concerns are academic in nature. He's clearly a gifted tight end, but isn't this a question of fit; academically and socially?

 

[ThePiombino]

Can't wait to see the reaction if he commits to ND. How many people don't want him because you think he might be a head ache. But when he commits he's back to being a Notre Dame man and a RKG

I promise you that no one who has been following this recruitment at all will be calling him an "RKG", regardless of where he winds up.

 

[dublinirish]

I never thought anything disparagingly about the young man when he committed to North Carolina. My concerns are academic in nature. He's clearly a gifted tight end, but isn't this a question of fit; academically and socially?

haha coachspeak: is this kid a douche?

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Rocket?

 

[Irish#1]

I would love to see the coaches recruiting board so I could see the last few columns on the right that we never know about (GPA, Comments, Red Flags, etc.). We all know the name, height, weight, 40 time, position, hometown, etc.. but it would be great to know exactly what the coaches are thinking.

To be honest, I'm not sure how this is going to turn out. If his grades are that bad, then he probably won't be here. I'm actually a little more hopeful about him on the other issues. When he admits he committed too early, is going to finish this process a little differently and then decommits that tells me he had an adult that has gotten through to him and he is listening. Teenagers usually don't make that type of mature decision on their own given their history implies something else.

 

[Huntr]

Can't wait to see the reaction if he commits to ND. How many people don't want him because you think he might be a head ache. But when he commits he's back to being a Notre Dame man and a RKG

 

[koonja]

I'm on record saying his next commitment will stick. The kid may be all over the map right now, but I like to think he's learned something from his first commitment, and has said he's slowing it down, which is the right move.

I doubt he ends up here, but if he does commit, I assume that means the coaches are comfortably enough with his academics, since they showed last year with McKenzie they won't just take any commitment.

And if he ends up at OSU because he doesn't want to try academically, I have no problem with that. He's putting all of his eggs in the NFL basket, and that's not necessarily a bad idea. It's not what I would advice my kid to do, because anything can happen, but it does work out for some people, and he has the size and runs like a dear so it's very possible he ends up in the league. If OSU is the path of least resistance, then maybe a school like that is for him.

 

[Grahambo]

I hope he commits.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Can't wait to see the reaction if he commits to ND. How many people don't want him because you think he might be a head ache. But when he commits he's back to being a Notre Dame man and a RKG

I'm doubting it happens. I'm willing to give the guy a fair shake and say that if he enrolls and lands on campus, then he'll have an opportunity to succeed. Recruits who start out this way, often don't end up at ND. Elijah Hood, McKenzie, Anzalone. Public commitments and decommits just don't play out well.

There are exceptions but even players who were one time committed to another school and ended up at ND, often didn't put on a show about it. They were withdrawn and conflicted.

I haven't read Clark's tweets or read his interviews so maybe my understanding is skewed by what I read here.

 

[arrowryan]

Anna thinks Chris will be committed to Notre Dame by May. RKG!

 

[Buster Bluth]

Last time I checked, having great depth was the prerequisite for taking chances on guys who have high ceilings but aren't perfect ND fits. I have no problem with taking this kid's commitment.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

I'm on record saying his next commitment will stick. The kid may be all over the map right now, but I like to think he's learned something from his first commitment, and has said he's slowing it down, which is the right move.

I doubt he ends up here, but if he does commit, I assume that means the coaches are comfortably enough with his academics, since they showed last year with McKenzie they won't just take any commitment.

And if he ends up at OSU because he doesn't want to try academically, I have no problem with that. He's putting all of his eggs in the NFL basket, and that's not necessarily a bad idea. It's not what I would advice my kid to do, because anything can happen, but it does work out for some people, and he has the size and runs like a dear so it's very possible he ends up in the league. If OSU is the path of least resistance, then maybe a school like that is for him.

What? Seriously, why would it be a good idea for any 17-18 yr. old to put all of his eggs in the "hoping to go to the league" basket? That's a horrible idea. I don't have the numbers but I'm sure they're out there as to what % of kids get to the league coming out of HS. That idea is horrible and there really is no disputing that.

 

[koonja]

What? Seriously, why would it be a good idea for any 17-18 yr. old to put all of his eggs in the "hoping to go to the league" basket? That's a horrible idea. I don't have the numbers but I'm sure they're out there as to what % of kids get to the league coming out of HS. That idea is horrible and there really is no disputing that.

It's not the safest bet, but that's not to say it's a terrible idea. Again, not what I would do and I'd advise against it. It all comes down to what's important to the kid.

Over 50% of small businesses fail. Does that mean anyone who leaves their day job to venture into the entrepreneurial arena is making a horrible choice? No.

If he thinks a state school will allow him to focus on football more, and doesn't really care to get the best possible education his offers allow him, and he's as talented as Clark is, then I understand his choice.

Not what my kid would do, but if you're uber-talented and want to focus on it, I get it. Otherwise, every kid would come to ND. Well, unless of course they were offered by Stanford .

Kind of a moot point, because at ND it's pretty obvious you can maximize your talents on the field if you're a TE and get a great degree.

 

[IrishLax]

I'm fine with taking a flier on virtually anyone at TE. It's one of the few positions where you can afford to do that on this team. If they flame out for any reason, you've got other capable players on the roster and can go get another #1 style guy the next class.

 

[connect the dots]

If no news, send rumors!

If no news, send rumors!

I'm doubting it happens. I'm willing to give the guy a fair shake and say that if he enrolls and lands on campus, then he'll have an opportunity to succeed. Recruits who start out this way, often don't end up at ND. Elijah Hood, McKenzie, Anzalone. Public commitments and decommits just don't play out well.

There are exceptions but even players who were one time committed to another school and ended up at ND, often didn't put on a show about it. They were withdrawn and conflicted.

I haven't read Clark's tweets or read his interviews so maybe my understanding is skewed by what I read here.

My understanding is skewed by what I read here. Most prescient comment I have read today about this board's predilection for conjecture and supposition.

 

[woolybug25]

I'm doubting it happens. I'm willing to give the guy a fair shake and say that if he enrolls and lands on campus, then he'll have an opportunity to succeed. Recruits who start out this way, often don't end up at ND. Elijah Hood, McKenzie, Anzalone. Public commitments and decommits just don't play out well.

There are exceptions but even players who were one time committed to another school and ended up at ND, often didn't put on a show about it. They were withdrawn and conflicted.

I haven't read Clark's tweets or read his interviews so maybe my understanding is skewed by what I read here.

I think sometimes we tend to look at only the kids that didn't work out, but forget about the ones that did (Tuitt, Golson, Bryant, Redfield, etc). The ones that don't end up working out all seem "withdrawn and conflicted" in hindsight, but in reality, they really aren't any different than the ones that stay, imo.

There's always a chance that you can lose the kid later (their decommit shows a tendency for it), but this kid in particular would just be a cherry on top of a fat TE depth chart. He needs us more than we need him.

 

[irishog77]

I said awhile ago that I think the staff could skip this position altogether this cycle.

If they do sign somebody, I'd kind of like to see them sign some kid that is 6'6 and a freak athlete...maybe even some kid that just started playing football or we've never heard of-- take a total flier on an athletic kid and spend 2 or 3 years developing him.