'15 CA QB Travis Waller (Oregon Verbal)

[Domina Nostra]

Town just isn't that good. Very solid pocket passer prospect, huge limitations in athletic ability. His #1 overall rating he still has on 247 is an absolute joke and is making me lose (even more) respect for that network. Many of us have been saying for awhile that we're just don't see any wow factor in his game.

Also, in the Elite 11 tryouts which should entirely cater to his abilities, he got passed over again and again and again... finally, he got the very last spot basically by default. By all accounts, for someone with the limitations he has outside of the pocket he doesn't have the arm/accuracy you expect from someone with his lofty rankings. I saw someone compare him recently to Heaps in saying he does everything "pretty good" but has no spectacular facets to his game and you would have no clue he was a 5 watching him without bias.

Thank you. I have been trying to figure out what the heck the buzz about USC offering Waller is all about, and there it is: USC has 2 over-rated QB commits.

But why would Town leave Alabama for USC if USC wasn't truly interested? That sounds a little implausible.

On the other hand, both USC and Oregon seem gun shy on Waller. And USC never offered BB.

Could USC offer Barnett? That would be hilarious.

 

[gkIrish]

So really what are we talking about here? A better Tommy Rees?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

Who is this God you speak of?

 

[zelezo vlk]

Who is this God you speak of?

I heard he once outran a cop.

 

[IrishLion]

So really what are we talking about here? A better Tommy Rees?

Who is this God you speak of?

"I am the Lord thy Rees.

Thou shalt have no other quarterbacks before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven comparison to other quarterbacks."

 

[irishfan]

Ricky Town has a sweet name at least.

 

[Luckylucci]

Town just isn't that good. Very solid pocket passer prospect, huge limitations in athletic ability. His #1 overall rating he still has on 247 is an absolute joke and is making me lose (even more) respect for that network. Many of us have been saying for awhile that we're just don't see any wow factor in his game.

Also, in the Elite 11 tryouts which should entirely cater to his abilities, he got passed over again and again and again... finally, he got the very last spot basically by default. By all accounts, for someone with the limitations he has outside of the pocket he doesn't have the arm/accuracy you expect from someone with his lofty rankings. I saw someone compare him recently to Heaps in saying he does everything "pretty good" but has no spectacular facets to his game and you would have no clue he was a 5 watching him without bias.

Yup, I think the both of us have championed that theme for awhile. I blew off USC getting involved here because I thought there was no way USC would ditch Town and/or Waller goes in behind Town. However, this is really picking up steam. Even TJ at II said that he thinks USC is the biggest hurdle for ND. At this point I'll eat my words and say I wasn't expecting this. Its sounding like USC will offer and try to take Waller and hope that Town gets the hint and chooses to look elsewhere.

 

[Bubbles]

Just don't get the feeling he's that interested in ND.....even if he did commit, I'd just be waiting for him to jump ship once he gets the offer he wanted to start with. JMHO.

 

[IrishLax]

Just don't get the feeling he's that interested in ND.....even if he did commit, I'd just be waiting for him to jump ship once he gets the offer he wanted to start with. JMHO.

I tend to agree, but with a caveat. What I don't understand is that we have not really been that all over him in recruiting. We've got bob Elliot contacting him... why not Denbrock, LaFleur, and Kelly? Why aren't we in full court press mode? Why did Oregon pass on him AGAIN? Makes me wonder if there is more going on here than we know. So maybe he really likes ND, but there are other factors in play? We'll know more if/when he visits.

 

[GBdomer]

No word on him visiting USC

 

[#1rish]

I tend to agree, but with a caveat. What I don't understand is that we have not really been that all over him in recruiting. We've got bob Elliot contacting him... why not Denbrock, LaFleur, and Kelly? Why aren't we in full court press mode? Why did Oregon pass on him AGAIN? Makes me wonder if there is more going on here than we know. So maybe he really likes ND, but there are other factors in play? We'll know more if/when he visits.

247 lists Denbrock and LaFleur as his recruiters.

 

[koonja]

247 lists Denbrock and LaFleur as his recruiters.

And FWIW, I'm pretty sure BK called him with the offer.

I really don't care if we get this guy or not. I think his ratings will scare off 2016 QBs more than his skill level will, and I think 3 young, talented QBs that fit the system is a recipe for transfer.

Great if he comes, but if not, I can make the argument it sets us up better in the future. 2016 QBs >>> Waller IMO.

 

[STLDomer]

Just don't get the feeling he's that interested in ND.....even if he did commit, I'd just be waiting for him to jump ship once he gets the offer he wanted to start with. JMHO.

To be fair, he hasn't even visited yet so I wouldn't expect him to really be in love with ND.

 

[ThePiombino]

Great if he comes, but if not, I can make the argument it sets us up better in the future. 2016 QBs >>> Waller IMO.

Have we learned nothing from recent history about not properly recruiting the QB position?

 

[koonja]

Have we learned nothing from recent history about not properly recruiting the QB position?

And if Waller comes to ND and pushes Kizer out, while also scaring off a 2016 QB because of Waller's very high rankings?

An argument can be made for both sides, IMO.

 

[Irish#1]

The speculation is rampant. Time to step back and take a deep breath.

 

[ThePiombino]

And if Waller comes to ND and pushes Kizer out, while also scaring off a 2016 QB because of Waller's very high rankings?

An argument can be made for both sides, IMO.

Then we recruit a kid who ISN'T afraid of competition in '16. I would rather lose out on a kid afraid of competing for the job ahead of time rather than after he's enrolled.

 

[Irish2155]

He's one hell of an athlete, no doubting that. Worst case scenario he runs the scout during Navy week. Best case, Tony Rice. It's a win, win.

 

[BeauBenken]

And if Waller comes to ND and pushes Kizer out, while also scaring off a 2016 QB because of Waller's very high rankings?

An argument can be made for both sides, IMO.

And if we don't take a 2015 QB or get a 2016 QB and Malik transfers?

Hey...I can make arguments based on ifs and buts too!

 

[koonja]

And if we don't take a 2015 QB or get a 2016 QB and Malik transfers?

Hey...I can make arguments based on ifs and buts too!

Yeah, but your ifs and buts are extremely unlikely.

Do you really think Malik is the transfer-type, after all of his 'I'm not afraid of anything' tweets? Not to mention the fact that a transfer after the 2014 season would do him absolutely zero good in terms of seeing the field faster, even if Golson stays all 5 years? There's almost no chance Malik transfers due to playing time. If he wanted to do that, he would have had to do it already.

And do you really think with the success we've had in recruiting QBs (spare BK's first year) that we couldn't land one in 2016 with:

1) A gaping hole at future QB on the roster and
2) Finally having a successful offensive season (assuming this is our best offensive year under Kelly, which I don't think is a stretch)?

 

[NCND]

Yeah, but your ifs and buts are extremely unlikely.

Do you really think Malik is the transfer-type, after all of his 'I'm not afraid of anything' tweets?

And do you really think with the success we've had in recruiting QBs (spare BK's first year) that we couldn't land one in 2016 with:

1) A gaping hole at future QB on the roster and
2) Finally having a successful offensive season (assuming this is our best offensive year under Kelly, which I don't think is a stretch)?

Let's be honest here.. do u really think Zaire is gonna sit two years waiting? I would love him to, but I really doubt it.

 

[koonja]

Let's be honest here.. do u really think Zaire is gonna sit two years waiting? I would love him to, but I really doubt it.

He's playing this year.

So let's say he transfers in 2015 (Golson's final year). Malik wouldn't be elegible until the beginning of 2016, which is the same season we'd be starting without Golson.

There's no incentive for him to transfer, unless he did it before the 2014 season.

 

[BeauBenken]

Yeah, but your ifs and buts are extremely unlikely.

Do you really think Malik is the transfer-type, after all of his 'I'm not afraid of anything' tweets? Not to mention the fact that a transfer after the 2014 season would do him absolutely zero good in terms of seeing the field faster, even if Golson stays all 5 years? There's almost no chance Malik transfers due to playing time. If he wanted to do that, he would have had to do it already.

And do you really think with the success we've had in recruiting QBs (spare BK's first year) that we couldn't land one in 2016 with:

1) A gaping hole at future QB on the roster and
2) Finally having a successful offensive season (assuming this is our best offensive year under Kelly, which I don't think is a stretch)?

What part of your argument makes it impossible for us to pick up a stud 2017 QB?

I'm not saying that you can't miss on a QB this year and be fine, but when you can sign a good player, you sign a good player. You don't turn down a good player for one a year later.

And no, I don't think Malik is transferring, but I also think if you want to worry about particular recruits so much that you're going to make potentially gaping holes in your depth chart, you're silly.

(Koon, you can also replace Malik with Deshone in my 'what if' situation, what would you do then?)

 

[Luckylucci]

What part of your argument makes it impossible for us to pick up a stud 2017 QB?

I'm not saying that you can't miss on a QB this year and be fine, but when you can sign a good player, you sign a good player. You don't turn down a good player for one a year later.

This is the most important part of this conversation. If we can sign a top tier QB we will. If we can't it probably makes sense to pass or at least wait and see how the fall plays out.

 

[koonja]

What part of your argument makes it impossible for us to pick up a stud 2017 QB?

I'm not saying that you can't miss on a QB this year and be fine, but when you can sign a good player, you sign a good player. You don't turn down a good player for one a year later.

And no, I don't think Malik is transferring, but I also think if you want to worry about particular recruits so much that you're going to make potentially gaping holes in your depth chart, you're silly.

(Koon, you can also replace Malik with Deshone in my 'what if' situation, what would you do then?)

None, but we're very high on the list of two elite 2016 QBs already, and Michigan and OSU both have their 2016 QB I believe, so some of our main competition would already be out of the way for 2016 QBs.

If we can get Malik Henry (know more after this weekend), IMO and probably the staff's, he's better than Waller.

When Waller (or 2016 QB) wouldn't be playing until 2018-ish anyways (assuming Malik starts over him with Kizer backing Malik up), I'd be fine with them passing in this class.

I see your point and I'm fine if they add Waller, but I think they're in a position to skip 2015 and really go after a 2016 one early.

You're right, though, if Kizer decided to transfer, we'd be in trouble. But I think getting Waller who's probably a little better than Kizer (although who really knows), would make Kizer more likely to transfer than if we left 2015 QB spot open.

 

[BeauBenken]

This is the most important part of this conversation. If we can sign a top tier QB we will. If we can't it probably makes sense to pass or at least wait and see how the fall plays out.

Even if they aren't top tier, we can sign guys who aren't necessarily scary additions to the depth chart, but they add more depth. Someone has to be Evan Sharpley, right?

 

[BeauBenken]

None, but we're very high on the list of two elite 2016 QBs already, and Michigan and OSU both have their 2016 QB I believe, so some of our main competition would already be out of the way for 2016 QBs.

If we can get Malik Henry (know more after this weekend), IMO and probably the staff's, he's better than Waller.

When Waller (or 2016 QB) wouldn't be playing until 2018-ish anyways (assuming Malik starts over him with Kizer backing Malik up), I'd be fine with them passing in this class.

I see your point and I'm fine if they add Waller, but I think they're in a position to skip 2015 and really go after a 2016 one early.

You're right, though, if Kizer decided to transfer, we'd be in trouble.

What do you think about adding a lowly rated project guy or something though? Quarterback is a scary position to simply skip on.

 

[Irish2155]

Even if they aren't top tier, we can sign guys who aren't necessarily scary additions to the depth chart, but they add more depth. Someone has to be Evan Sharpley, right?

Of course, every team needs a first baseman.

 

[Irishnuke]

Yeah, but your ifs and buts are extremely unlikely.

Do you really think Malik is the transfer-type, after all of his 'I'm not afraid of anything' tweets? Not to mention the fact that a transfer after the 2014 season would do him absolutely zero good in terms of seeing the field faster, even if Golson stays all 5 years? There's almost no chance Malik transfers due to playing time. If he wanted to do that, he would have had to do it already.

And do you really think with the success we've had in recruiting QBs (spare BK's first year) that we couldn't land one in 2016 with:

1) A gaping hole at future QB on the roster and
2) Finally having a successful offensive season (assuming this is our best offensive year under Kelly, which I don't think is a stretch)?

Did you really think Golson was the cheating type? Did you think Mahone was the racist, bar fighter type? Did you think (insert name of transfer, decommit, or kicked off team player) was the (insert negative quality) type? We should know better than to assume that these guys are all saints or that they're all willing to sit on the bench and wait their turn.

 

[koonja]

Did you really think Golson was the cheating type? Did you think Mahone was the racist, bar fighter type? Did you think (insert name of transfer, decommit, or kicked off team player) was the (insert negative quality) type? We should know better than to assume that these guys are all saints or that they're all willing to sit on the bench and wait their turn.

That's basically irrelevant for Malik transferring.

Tell me how Zaire plays for ND in 2014, and transfers in 2015 with the intent of seeing the field sooner? He'd have to sit out 2015, which is golsons final possible year anyways.

 

[GreenSox04]

waller wants in you absolutely take him 11 times out of 10 regardless of how high we are on Eason/Henry/Pass

if waller goes elsewhere then i can live with holding out for 16, very very very nervously.