'14 MO DE Jonathan Bonner (Notre Dame Signee)

[dwshade]

Wiltfong has said many times in the past that he believes Kelly and his staff has one of the best eyes for talent. Basically if they offer a guy and accept a commitment, he believes there is something there. Almost like blind faith.

I think part of it is attributable to his time at schools like Central Michigan and Cincinnati where these are the type kids he recruited. High 4 stars and 5 stars were out of the question at those places so he spent a lot of time evaluating the lesser ranked kids. As a result he knows what to look for in terms of athleticism, development, and potential. I love some of the under the radar kids in this FR. class who have huge upsides.

 

[PANDFAN]

I think part of it is attributable to his time at schools like Central Michigan and Cincinnati where these are the type kids he recruited. High 4 stars and 5 stars were out of the question at those places so he spent a lot of time evaluating the lesser ranked kids. As a result he knows what to look for in terms of athleticism, development, and potential. I love some of the under the radar kids in this FR. class who have huge upsides.

good point

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I think part of it is attributable to his time at schools like Central Michigan and Cincinnati where these are the type kids he recruited. High 4 stars and 5 stars were out of the question at those places so he spent a lot of time evaluating the lesser ranked kids. As a result he knows what to look for in terms of athleticism, development, and potential. I love some of the under the radar kids in this FR. class who have huge upsides.

I'm quoting this for others. Great point, I had never truly thought about that. Many coaches have to work their way up but Kelly has certainly learned to search for prospects under the radar.

 

[BobbyMac]

Don't take this the wrong way but there will be some defections in this group. Prediction #1... Williams becomes the next Justin Tuck or he's at Western Mich. after 2 years. If Blankenship and Trumbetti stay at DE... Hill or Bonner will leave. If Blankenship slides inside one of the DT's transfers from '13-'14-'15.

 

[Luckylucci]

Don't take this the wrong way but there will be some defections in this group. Prediction #1... Williams becomes the next Justin Tuck or he's at Western Mich. after 2 years. If Blankenship and Trumbetti stay at DE... Hill or Bonner will leave. If Blankenship slides inside one of the DT's transfers from '13-'14-'15.

Is this something else that you picked up at Buffalo Wild Wings, because I can't wait to hear more.

 

[BobbyMac]

I think part of it is attributable to his time at schools like Central Michigan and Cincinnati where these are the type kids he recruited. High 4 stars and 5 stars were out of the question at those places so he spent a lot of time evaluating the lesser ranked kids. As a result he knows what to look for in terms of athleticism, development, and potential. I love some of the under the radar kids in this FR. class who have huge upsides.

Don't forget Grand Valley State into this equation... He's had tip his game a notch at each stop. He's had as much success doing at each stop as anybody in history. He's led 3 out of 4 schools to undefeated regular season records... Played for and won national championships. He knows what he needs for his system... I think it took time at ND to adjust to the academic req's of his recruits cuz this is the first place he couldn't take just anyone he wanted regardless of scholastic aptitude.

 

[DomeX2 eNVy]

Every 3* Kelly finds turns out to be a hidden gem. It's ridiculous.

You're Riddickulous

 

[Irish#1]

Don't take this the wrong way but there will be some defections in this group. Prediction #1... Williams becomes the next Justin Tuck or he's at Western Mich. after 2 years. If Blankenship and Trumbetti stay at DE... Hill or Bonner will leave. If Blankenship slides inside one of the DT's transfers from '13-'14-'15.

Pass it around, I want some.

 

[ColinKSU]

Every 3* Kelly finds turns out to be a hidden gem. It's ridiculous.

I honestly don't believe Kelly's hit/miss ratio with 3* players is any better or worse than any other major school coach. Who are all these All-Americans that Kelly discovered at Notre Dame?

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Is this something else that you picked up at Buffalo Wild Wings, because I can't wait to hear more.

LOL!

 

[irishog77]

I honestly don't believe Kelly's hit/miss ratio with 3* players is any better or worse than any other major school coach. Who are all these All-Americans that Kelly discovered at Notre Dame?

^ This.

We should also maybe at least wait until all these freshmen bad ass 3-stars players play a minimum of one game in their career....or at the very least, suit up and participate in at least one practice in their college career before we sing a bunch of praise on them and Kelly.

 

[yankeeND]

When Boner got offered last year, it was reported that he was unblockable at the camp. Looking at his measurable a compared to the athleticism being reported (35" ventricle) no wonder he was a must get. This kid should really be a good one for us! I try to temper my enthusiasm when it comes to stuff like this. I remember when Steve Filer was on the team and the video that was posted showing him jump out of a pool and land flat footed on the concrete. That's amazing, but it never translated to the field. With Bonner it's reported against competition, and he dominated. That's the kind of report that makes me optimistic and feel much better about the future of our DL!

 

[Classic Irish]

(35" ventricle)

So you're saying he plays with a LOT of heart.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I honestly don't believe Kelly's hit/miss ratio with 3* players is any better or worse than any other major school coach. Who are all these All-Americans that Kelly discovered at Notre Dame?

The kids that Kelly evaluates and signs as 3-stars, often get bumped up because they get a lot of national scrutiny once they sign with ND. But examples of undervalued talent that Kelly identified are:

A few examples from the last few classes are Onuwaulu, Corey Robinson, Justin Brent, Blankenship, McGovern, Byrne, Tranquil…

 

[STLDomer]

The kids that Kelly evaluates and signs as 3-stars, often get bumped up because they get a lot of national scrutiny once they sign with ND. But examples of undervalued talent that Kelly identified are:

A few examples from the last few classes are Onuwaulu, Corey Robinson, Justin Brent, Blankenship, McGovern, Byrne, Tranquil…

But to the point others none of these guys have proven anything. There just 3 star guys we have signed except maybe Robinson. Also half them had offers from other big time programs.

 

[BobbyMac]

Pass it around, I want some.

Time for a sig bet?

4 DE's in the same class... I will stand by my assertion that one leaves.

As far as a DT leaving if Blankenship slides over... I may pull back on that one now that Cage and/or Mokuwuah will get more minutes this year with Springmann's early retirement.

Still don't know about Matuska if he gets behind the class of '15 players...

 

[yankeeND]

(35" ventricle)

So you're saying he plays with a LOT of heart.

Haha, I gotta start proof reading my work. The auto correct on iPhone is atrocious.

 

[tko]

When Boner got offered last year, it was reported that he was unblockable at the camp. Looking at his measurable a compared to the athleticism being reported (35" ventricle) no wonder he was a must get. This kid should really be a good one for us! I try to temper my enthusiasm when it comes to stuff like this. I remember when Steve Filer was on the team and the video that was posted showing him jump out of a pool and land flat footed on the concrete. That's amazing, but it never translated to the field. With Bonner it's reported against competition, and he dominated. That's the kind of report that makes me optimistic and feel much better about the future of our DL!

I have major wood.

 

[yankeeND]

I have major wood.

I was having Groin Pains

 

[IrishLax]

Kelly has only had 2 classes where guys are even entering their junior/senior years, so the discussion is kind of silly on the surface.

'11: of his composite mid-to-low 3 stars, most of them have had bad luck with injuries. Schmidt, Farley, Hanratty, McDaniel, and Martin have all outperformed their ranking. As bad as Farley was last year playing hurt, his mediocre play in '12 as a RS frosh first year DB on a national championship team was certainly better than an 83 rating and #880 overall.

Brown, Atkinson, and Rabasa have not contributed significantly.

'12: the only mid (below an 88)-to-low 3 star players on scholarship are Brown, Okwara, Harrell, Baratti, Turner. Jury is still out on Brown/Turner. Okwara is overperforming with his early contributions as someone who wasn't even 18 yet. Baratti got the injury bug. Harrell is not contributing.

No one has a clue what the '13/'14 guys will do yet. What's really interesting in the whole 3-star debate are the number of guys Kelly picked up who were lowly rated at the time and then shot up rankings over the course of a season. I don't know how you classify them. But that indicates an eye for talent.

 

[Grahambo]

Kelly has only had 2 classes where guys are even entering their junior/senior years, so the discussion is kind of silly on the surface.

'11: of his composite mid-to-low 3 stars, most of them have had bad luck with injuries. Schmidt, Farley, Hanratty, McDaniel, and Martin have all outperformed their ranking. As bad as Farley was last year playing hurt, his mediocre play in '12 as a RS frosh first year DB on a national championship team was certainly better than an 83 rating and #880 overall.

Brown, Atkinson, and Rabasa have not contributed significantly.

'12: the only mid (below an 88)-to-low 3 star players on scholarship are Brown, Okwara, Harrell, Baratti, Turner. Jury is still out on Brown/Turner. Okwara is overperforming with his early contributions as someone who wasn't even 18 yet. Baratti got the injury bug. Harrell is not contributing.

No one has a clue what the '13/'14 guys will do yet. What's really interesting in the whole 3-star debate are the number of guys Kelly picked up who were lowly rated at the time and then shot up rankings over the course of a season. I don't know how you classify them. But that indicates an eye for talent.

I admit I'm lazy so, of all these guys, how many ended up with offers from coaches like Saban?

I remember listening/reading from some who pegged BK as the perfect guy for ND because of his ability to scout low ranked talent and coach them up. (Outside of his PR ability)

 

[koonja]

I still think the IE-generated mystery-injury-excuse of Farley tackling, 2013 version is funny.

BK never mentioned it, no one on the team mentioned it, it was never reported that Farley missed time, practice nor had a surgery.

He's just a bad tackler, lol.

 

[NCND]

I still think the IE-generated mystery-injury-excuse of Farley tackling, 2013 version is funny.

BK never mentioned it, no one on the team mentioned it, it was never reported that Farley missed time, practice nor had a surgery.

He's just a bad tackler, lol.

Agree 100 with this post. I couldn't f'n believe how he just squatted when that Stanford RB ran in for that TD.

 

[Irish YJ]

Kelly said good things about freshman cornerback Nick Watkins, and he expects the long and smooth freshman coverman to supply some more depth at a position that’s a strength already. The emergence of Cage and Mokwuah should help up front. And if there’s an under-the-radar freshman that could do big things its Jonathan Bonner.

Kelly raved about the unique athlete — who checked in on the fall roster at an eyebrow-raising 6-foot-3, 269 pounds… as a linebacker.

“It’s going to be fun to watch him, because his numbers, his physical prowess really stood out in our testing and he’s had a really good summer,” Kelly said. “Big kid, athletic, strong. We are going to find out in the first week where that kind of shakes out.”

 

[Bogtrotter07]

6'3", 269lbs., with a thirty five inch vertical jump, and a speed rating that puts him between a hiccup and lightening!

 

[Crazy Balki]

The kids that Kelly evaluates and signs as 3-stars, often get bumped up because they get a lot of national scrutiny once they sign with ND. But examples of undervalued talent that Kelly identified are:

A few examples from the last few classes are Onuwaulu, Corey Robinson, Justin Brent, Blankenship, McGovern, Byrne, Tranquil…

This. Not many players that have contributed just yet at this point. There just seems to be a huge difference between the 3-stars they get now, compared to the 3-stars they got in the first 2-3 years. The 3-stars in '14 class, pretty much all have very high ceilings. Guys like Hill, Bonner, Cage, Mokwuah, and even Trumbetti (3-star on Rivals for some stupid reason) are good examples.

 

[arrowryan]

I know these guys haven't played a down yet, but this is just another example of why I will never question who the staff does/doesn't offer.

 

[NDJimmy]

I have a vague recollection of reading somewhere during preseason practice (sorry, I can't recall the source), wherein Kelly praised Mr Bonner as being on the verge of cracking the 2-deep.

Does anyone have recent information on his status?

 

[dublinirish]

I have a vague recollection of reading somewhere during preseason practice (sorry, I can't recall the source), wherein Kelly praised Mr Bonner as being on the verge of cracking the 2-deep.

Does anyone have recent information on his status?

i think the consensus is that BK talked up Bonner and put him in the 2 deep to motivate upperclassmen on the DL to step up their game in camp. Haven't heard anything but I'm guessing at this point he will most likely save a year of eligibility

 

[NDPhilly]

Kelly does the same thing every year it seems with some of the unheralded freshman in that he pumps them up to possibly motivate upperclassmen.