'11 CA ATH George Atkinson III (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[jimmymac]

Yeah...I think you need to go back and look at the games he played in. He took it to the house a number of times when it mattered.

haha what? gotta be a joke.... Besides a kick return for a TD in the Michigan St. game his FRESHMEN year, please enlighten me....

 

[TheTurningPoint]

GA3 had a hell of a spring game...hell people compared him to ADRIAN PETERSON. He should have started the next 2 years based off his spring game performance. No wonder he left.

 

[Bluto]

haha what? gotta be a joke.... Besides a kick return for a TD in the Michigan St. game his FRESHMEN year, please enlighten me....

Put ND back in the USC game that same year when it was teetering on a blowout. Scored winning TD against BYU. Took it to the house in third quarter to help ND pull away from ASU last year. Had a couple nice kick returns last year as well. Kid didn't average 7 yards a carry by coincidence. Actually, other than Jonas Grey's long TD against Pitt and Cierre Wood's long TD against Oklahoma he's the only running back of the Kelly era that has never been chased down from behind in the open field.

 

[military_irish]

Put ND back in the USC game that same year when it was teetering on a blowout. Scored winning TD against BYU. Took it to the house in third quarter to help ND pull away from ASU last year. Had a couple nice kick returns last year as well. Kid didn't average 7 yards a carry by coincidence. Actually, other than Jonas Grey's long TD against Pitt and Cierre Wood's long TD against Oklahoma he's the only running back of the Kelly era that has never been chased down from behind in the open field.

Also had an 80 yard run against OU to make it a 7 point game

 

[calvegas04]

Put ND back in the USC game that same year when it was teetering on a blowout. Scored winning TD against BYU. Took it to the house in third quarter to help ND pull away from ASU last year. Had a couple nice kick returns last year as well. Kid didn't average 7 yards a carry by coincidence. Actually, other than Jonas Grey's long TD against Pitt and Cierre Wood's long TD against Oklahoma he's the only running back of the Kelly era that has never been chased down from behind in the open field.

every game you just mentioned Rees was the one calling the shots behind center. There is a reason he is one of the top QB's stat wise in ND history

 

[Bluto]

every game you just mentioned Rees was the one calling the shots behind center. There is a reason he is one of the top QB's stat wise in ND history

I've got no problem with Rees. He did cost ND a number of games however and no he wasn't "calling the plays". It was what is was. Anyhow, saying GA 3 was never a "game changer" is patently false. Was he the "best every down back"? No. Was he a one touch game changer? Yes. Actually he changed the course of and or set the tone for several games with a single play as much as any other offensive player during the three years he was at ND.

 

[ThePiombino]

every game you just mentioned Rees was the one calling the shots behind center. There is a reason he is one of the top QB's stat wise in ND history

Yeah, because ND never had a pass-happy offense before CW...

 

[Irish#1]

I wish George III well in his attempt to stick with an NFL team. But his UDFA status with Oakland, a team his father played for, is an expression of loyalty to his father. George III needs to take this opportunity and give it his best shot. His father's career and name has gotten him an opportunity to compete for a spot on the Raiders roster. Now it is up to George III to prove he belongs. Go get it, George!

I don't know if it was due to loyalty, but given Oakland's track record going back decades, this fits perfect with their modus operandi. Given that he didn't get drafted, just goes to show you that you can't make an NFL team simply on blazing speed. By going undrafted, teams are saying there is a big concern about his ability to contribute in more ways than just KO returns.

 

[TheChosen1]

Adam Schefter‏@AdamSchefter

Raiders signed former Notre Dame RB/KR George Atkinson III, whose father George spent 10 seasons (1968-77) as a safety for Silver and Black.

 

[Mr. McGibblets]

Good to hear.

George will be a wonderful asset to have in the film room for MJD and McFadden. I bet he understands the mental aspect of the game much better.





.

 

[stlnd01]

Adam Schefter‏@AdamSchefter

As a safety? I guess if he's really a KR it doesn't matter what his stated position is, but that's not exactly a ringing endorsement of his hands or RB skills, is it?

 

[Emcee77]

As a safety? I guess if he's really a KR it doesn't matter what his stated position is, but that's not exactly a ringing endorsement of his hands or RB skills, is it?

No, Schefter was just saying that George's dad was a safety.

As for GAIII, I am really rooting for him, but I will be pretty surprised if he makes the team.

 

[#1rish]

As a safety? I guess if he's really a KR it doesn't matter what his stated position is, but that's not exactly a ringing endorsement of his hands or RB skills, is it?

It's saying that his father played as a safety, not that they signed him as one.

 

[stlnd01]

It's saying that his father played as a safety, not that they signed him as one.

Ah. My bad. That did seem odd.

 

[ulukinatme]

I think George's dad may have filled his head with some garbage over the years. He seemed to take more advice from his father and less from the coaches. He probably made the right move by entering the draft, even if he wasn't drafted. I can't imagine he would have improved his stock much by staying on another year. His best bet probably would have been transferring to a smaller school and trying to generate more carries/stats.

 

[stlnd01]

I think George's dad may have filled his head with some garbage over the years. He seemed to take more advice from his father and less from the coaches. He probably made the right move by entering the draft, even if he wasn't drafted. I can't imagine he would have improved his stock much by staying on another year. His best bet probably would have been transferring to a smaller school and trying to generate more carries/stats.

We saw how transferring worked out for the Montana boys. Though Atkinson is probably more talented then either of them.

In general I think it's good that we get so many kids whose fathers were pro athletes - I take it as a sign they understand the game doesn't last forever and their kid should get a meaningful degree. But it sure can get weird some times.

 

[ulukinatme]

We saw how transferring worked out for the Montana boys. Though Atkinson is probably more talented then either of them.

In general I think it's good that we get so many kids whose fathers were pro athletes - I take it as a sign they understand the game doesn't last forever and their kid should get a meaningful degree. But it sure can get weird some times.

Yeah, thats two totally different animals there. George had oodles of athletic talent, but he didn't have technique and failed to change his running style. He had the big play ability, but it was feast or famine with him, and a running back has to have some consistency to be successful. The Montana boys, on the other hand, didn't have the same athletic gifts, but they still had a former Pro for a dad who was probably filling their heads with nonsense.

 

[Emcee77]

Nick was a legitimately promising prospect, and he had his moments last year for Tulane. Nate had no business playing D-I football.

 

[nd1989]

One rush for 4 yards on Friday against GB, targeted once for a pass but missed.. Not sure he's going to make the team....

 

[PANDFAN]

One rush for 4 yards on Friday against GB, targeted once for a pass but missed.. Not sure he's going to make the team....

had a 2 point conversion if not mistaken

 

[nd1989]

had a 2 point conversion if not mistaken

Was that his one run? We that's a bright sport at least! looks like it was with a minute left or so..

 

[dublinirish]

had a 2 point conversion if not mistaken

yeah i saw that he had a 2 point conversion on a draw play. The announcers mentoined his old man every play GA3 was in lol

 

[PANDFAN]

Was that his one run? We that's a bright sport at least! looks like it was with a minute left or so..

RB George Atkinson III scored on a two-point conversion attempt late in the fourth quarter,

 

[ulukinatme]

If GAIII doesn't make it, he only has himself to blame. He had every opportunity to make the most of his 3rd year. He started off as "the guy" and by mid season or before he was giving up carries to Cam. He really needed another season to hone his game, but I think he felt he and his father knew better than the coaches. He just didn't seem to take direction well.

 

[Booslum31]

Has he had the chance to return any kicks? Not too many opportunities to do that in the NFL with the kickers sending them through the end-zone. Just haven't been following GAIII

 

[BobbyMac]

If GAIII doesn't make it, he only has himself to blame. He had every opportunity to make the most of his 3rd year. He started off as "the guy" and by mid season or before he was giving up carries to Cam. He really needed another season to hone his game, but I think he felt he and his father knew better than the coaches. He just didn't seem to take direction well.

The only thing lost was a free year of education. He wasn't gonna get any carries to speak of with the 3 headed monster in the backfield. He may have gotten some special play packages but he isn't a real running back and you aren't gonna change that leopard's spots.

He should have just accepted that his only value in the NFL was at KR and specialized at that in South Bend. He's good at it, or at least was.

At to top it off, the punishment and how it was handled during bowl season last year was the final nail in the coffin. Time for him to move along. If he doesn't stick in the NFL, he will get a shot in Canada as a specialist there.

Question regarding him not getting his degree...

Will ND pick up him finishing his degree? Some schools do to help their grad rates. Anybody know ND's policy on this?

.

 

[Buster Bluth]

If GAIII doesn't make it, he only has himself to blame. He had every opportunity to make the most of his 3rd year. He started off as "the guy" and by mid season or before he was giving up carries to Cam. He really needed another season to hone his game, but I think he felt he and his father knew better than the coaches. He just didn't seem to take direction well.

I think Amir Carlisle started off as "the guy" in 2013 and tanked even harder than Atkinson.

 

[nd1989]

Has he had the chance to return any kicks? Not too many opportunities to do that in the NFL with the kickers sending them through the end-zone. Just haven't been following GAIII

I thought the same thing, but I didn't see any chances for him. Frankly, I don't know what's going on in Oakland with him.

 

[dublinirish]

he didnt have any in the packers-raiders game i watched

 

[Huntr]

He's probably going to be put on their practice squad. If not tomorrow when they have to be at 75 man rosters, then by Saturday when the final 53 is set.