'15 LA OT/DT Jerry Tillery (Notre Dame Early Enrollee)

[Domina Nostra]

"Come to LSU and get crushed by everyone while we make sure you get one of the worst educations that the NCAA will approve."

This is not the year we are going to lose a close battle with LSU. They stink and we're good.

 

[GBdomer]

I really want this kid to end up at ND. I really do think in the end he ends up here as well. He's just a kid we don't get, in a recruiting area that we never recruit well. Also ND is his dream school and he has always wanted to end up here. He's been committed for what 16 months? Just a couple visits to LSU? Another One to watch a hell of a game between Ole Miss and Bama. Still wants to visit LSU and I hope he enjoys his visit for the Bama game and we will see him in South Bend for Spring Ball.

 

[BobbyMac]

"Come to LSU and get crushed by everyone while we make sure you get one of the worst educations that the NCAA will approve."

This is not the year we are going to lose a close battle with LSU. They stink and we're good.

Ok... I'll say it. If I'm Tillery, I would definitely notice that ND has at least 4 All Americans who are freshmen (true or RS) at the moment who haven't seen the field. This doesn't include McGlinchey who's a RS freshman and is the next man in at tackle.

When he arrives in SB, the starting tackles will be either 2 Juniors (eligibility) or a Jr and either a RS freshman or RS Soph.

And before he can even sign his LOI, a 5 star from the next class is already committed.

More troubling is the story of Steve Elmer and how he has been converted to a guard. That's fine if it works out for ND and Elmer but on the recruiting side, when you are a top HS LT, you don't wanna be worried that they may move you to G. LT's go early and often in the draft, great guards go later.

There is a serious CBA Tillery has to calculate in order to know what's best for him and his future. The deck is stacked ans some All Americans are going to wither on the bench if they stay at ND

Lot to think about, if he wants a lot of playing time and doesn't want to possibly wait till 2018 to get on the field maybe ND isn't the place for him.

.

 

[irishfan]

When Ed Orgeron was recruiting Joe McKnight to go to Ole Miss, one of his biggest priorities was trying to get McKnight to visit as many schools as possible so he could see that there were options outside of LSU (he actually called Carroll at USC and told him to start recruiting McKnight for this reason). So many people in Louisiana are raised thinking that its LSU or nothing for football.

In a weird way, it could be beneficial for us to have Tillery checking out other schools. Get the LSU mystique out of his head.

 

[OCIrish]

Crusader......where you're projected to play in college, and where you actually end up are sometimes two completely different worlds. Some kids end up switching from offense to defense: see Troy Niklas, and just how that worked out for him!!!! If he's not afraid of competition, then he'll be in South Bend.

 

[BobbyMac]

Crusader......where you're projected to play in college, and where you actually end up are sometimes two completely different worlds. Some kids end up switching from offense to defense: see Troy Niklas, and just how that worked out for him!!!! If he's not afraid of competition, then he'll be in South Bend.

I knew that would be the first thing someone responded to and I agree in 95% of the cases. The one I don't is star OT's. When you are 6-7 315 in high school, there is basically one place for you and it just happens to be 1 of the 2 most financially lucrative positions in football and all of sports for that matter.

.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

More troubling is the story of Steve Elmer and how he has been converted to a guard. That's fine if it works out for ND and Elmer but on the recruiting side, when you are a top HS LT, you don't wanna be worried that they may move you to G. LT's go early and often in the draft, great guards go later.

I don't think this is a real concern for anyone. These kids want to play. If switching to OG gets one of them on the field sooner, they'd be stupid not to do it. No sense in worrying about one's relative draft projection while sitting on the bench.

 

[BobbyMac]

I don't think this is a real concern for anyone. These kids want to play. If switching to OG gets one of them on the field sooner, they'd be stupid not to do it. No sense in worrying about one's relative draft projection while sitting on the bench.

I think it's understandable to worry when you come in as a top 5 player at your position and your position is of the importance of LT. God only makes so many of these 6-6 320lb guys that move like basketball players. I agree with getting on the field, you play the sport because you love to play but if you chose ND because you understand the importance of what an ND degree can do your you over the next 40 years as they say, you can certainly understand what the position of LT can do for you over the next 10.

.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I don't think this is a real concern for anyone. These kids want to play. If switching to OG gets one of them on the field sooner, they'd be stupid not to do it. No sense in worrying about one's relative draft projection while sitting on the bench.

Yeah, I can just imagine the intrigue...

Recruit: "Can you trust the coaches?"

Elmer: "No way, let me tell you how it REALLY is. They said I was going to play tackle, and so that is where I practiced. But they needed someone to come in an play guard early, and asked if wanted to. I said great. I think I did really well, it suits my atributes. Well, then the next year, they moved me back to tackle, just like they said they would. I won the starting job. However, I really started to struggle in the games at that position."

Recruit: "So they benched you?"

Elmer: "No, they kept me in the starting lineup, but moved me inside to try to take pressure off me and help the team."

Recruit: "But you'll never play tackle again?"

Elmer: "No. Next year, when I'm a junior, they said I can try out for tackle again. Can you believe those guys? What a bunch of used car salesmen."

Recruit: "Yeah, I'm going to LSU, where you can trust people."

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I think it's understandable to worry when you come in as a top 5 player at your position and your position is of the importance of LT. God only makes so many of these 6-6 320lb guys that move like basketball players. I agree with getting on the field, you play the sport because you love to play but if you chose ND because you understand the importance of what an ND degree can do your you over the next 40 years as they say, you can certainly understand what the position of LT can do for you over the next 10.

I agree that most blue-chip OT recruits understand the salary differential between OT and OG in the NFL, but fortunately most of them also understand that: (1) nothing is guaranteed; (2) there's still a pretty poor correlation between high school rankings and draft status; and (3) it would be incredibly arrogant to try to dictate positional decisions to a college head coach.

Some kids are understandably attached to playing a certain position. To them, you honestly tell them they'll get a long hard look in that role, but that they'll be expected to do what's best for the team, like everyone else on the roster. If a 6'6'' 320 lb. 17-year-old says that's not good enough, and that he needs a guarantee that he'll only ever play OT, you thank him for his time and move on. Huge red flag.

Which, as I mentioned above, rarely seems to actually happen. But let's go on inventing imaginary problems where none exist. Perhaps some rival coaches are still using Kelly's 2011 purple face to recruit against us!? What are your thoughts on that terrifying possibility?

 

[NDRock]

The kid is supposed to EE, so even if he does flip we would have time to fill his spot.

 

[palinurus]

I don't know the kid personally and am basing this on what I read here and on the scouting sites (and the 10,000 tweets linked here), but this kid seems to have the temperament along the lines of Louis Nix -- big, playful, half-serious guy with talent but wanting to see what life has to offer and likes knocking over trash cans. Like Nix, I think if he joins the Irish, we will be loving him and his lightheartedness, which I doubt he'll leave behind in Louisiana.....He's a big off-the-cuff puppy. I mean this as a good thing.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Do you think having a blue chip QB to protect will help us now?

 

[Henges24]

I'm still confident that he signs with ND in the end. Like mentioned many times above, I believe he's just enjoying the OVs and seeing other schools. No other OL offer has gone out to anyone in awhile. To me, this points out that he told Kelly he's coming and just wants to enjoy the tours and everything else. He seems like a RKG and I believe he is. Everyone go back to forgetting about him and let this one play out on it's own. No need for the high blood pressure in here, men.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Maybe BK is sending him on these visits to recruit for ND

 

[BobbyMac]

I agree that most blue-chip OT recruits understand the salary differential between OT and OG in the NFL, but fortunately most of them also understand that: (1) nothing is guaranteed; (2) there's still a pretty poor correlation between high school rankings and draft status; and (3) it would be incredibly arrogant to try to dictate positional decisions to a college head coach.

Some kids are understandably attached to playing a certain position. To them, you honestly tell them they'll get a long hard look in that role, but that they'll be expected to do what's best for the team, like everyone else on the roster. If a 6'6'' 320 lb. 17-year-old says that's not good enough, and that he needs a guarantee that he'll only ever play OT, you thank him for his time and move on. Huge red flag.

Which, as I mentioned above, rarely seems to actually happen. But let's go on inventing imaginary problems where none exist. Perhaps some rival coaches are still using Kelly's 2011 purple face to recruit against us!? What are your thoughts on that terrifying possibility?

You haven't been around major college coaching and recruiting practices if you think anyone but ESPN and internet writers try and use Kelly's purple face against ND. EVERYBODY does the purple face. I was on one of the nicest DI basketball coach's staff in the country... and he got the purple face Whiskey. Every program in the country is part fraternity hell week and part Marine boot camp. That's my EDUCATED thoughts on that. Anybody using that WEAK ploy is not long for the business and will be proven a fraud first day of camp.

Hey, come out to the ND gamewatch at the Plaza Resort and talk some football and college athletics with me, the real jojoblack and a table full of DI athletes / coaches who've walked the walk. I'm sure you're much nicer and better mannered in person.

.

 

[irishog77]

You haven't been around major college coaching and recruiting practices if you think anyone but ESPN and internet writers try and use Kelly's purple face against ND. EVERYBODY does the purple face. I was on one of the nicest DI basketball coach's staff in the country... and he got the purple face Whiskey. Every program in the country is part fraternity hell week and part Marine boot camp. That's my EDUCATED thoughts on that. Anybody using that WEAK ploy is not long for the business and will be proven a fraud first day of camp.

Hey, come out to the ND gamewatch at the Plaza Resort and talk some football and college athletics with me, the real jojoblack and a table full of DI athletes / coaches who've walked the walk. I'm sure you're much nicer and better mannered in person.

.

I'm sure Whiskey is champing at the bit to sit at a table of DI athletes. He won't even do a panty drop-- he won't be wearing them to begin with.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

You haven't been around major college coaching and recruiting practices if you think anyone but ESPN and internet writers try and use Kelly's purple face against ND. EVERYBODY does the purple face. I was on one of the nicest DI basketball coach's staff in the country... and he got the purple face Whiskey. Every program in the country is part fraternity hell week and part Marine boot camp. That's my EDUCATED thoughts on that. Anybody using that WEAK ploy is not long for the business and will be proven a fraud first day of camp.

That's why I proposed it as an example of an imaginary problem.

Hey, come out to the ND gamewatch at the Plaza Resort and talk some football and college athletics with me, the real jojoblack and a table full of DI athletes / coaches who've walked the walk. I'm sure you're much nicer and better mannered in person.

I met Imani Zaire at an ND Club of Phoenix luncheon at the Old Spaghetti Factory several months ago. Were you there? Regardless, I apologize for the tone of my last response. What was intended as sarcasm probably came across as snark.

I'm sure Whiskey is champing at the bit to sit at a table of DI athletes. He won't even do a panty drop-- he won't be wearing them to begin with.

 

[Emcee77]

I normally roll my eyes when someone suggests that "ND will be just fine without [4 recruit who's wavering]", but that's truly the case here. No reason to get worked up about this anymore. We've got Kraemer in the fold, and Eichenberg in the wings.

If Jerry ends up signing his NLOI, great. If not, there are a line of 4 and 5 OTs chomping at the bit to play for Hiestand.

I agree. I don't know if there has ever been a better prospect that I honestly haven't really cared about. I just don't think he is a need in the '15 class. I'd love to get him, but if not ... best of luck elsewhere.

 

[condoms SUCk]

He gone

In second thought, not really sure the italics are needed.

 

[calvegas04]

I think he is irish... not really worried

 

[PANDFAN]

#268 overall in espn's 300

 

[Ironman8]

Per ISD Intel, apparently one other staff in the SEC (not LSU) that is trying to flip Jerry is under the impression Jerry is going to stick with ND (I assume it is Texas A&M).

ND visited him this week, and he said he is just having fun by taking visits (I would too, but it is concerning for fans). He is also getting everything in line to enroll early at ND.

 

[dublinirish]

Per ISD Intel, apparently one other staff in the SEC (not LSU) that is trying to flip Jerry is under the impression Jerry is going to stick with ND (I assume it is Texas A&M).

ND visited him this week, and he said he is just having fun by taking visits (I would too, but it is concerning for fans). He is also getting everything in line to enroll early at ND.

Ole Miss i would have said is more likely?

 

[koonja]

Lots of people say he wouldn't be a big loss because of what's ahead of (and potentially behind) him, but I'd love to get Tillery and if he decommits, I'm not shaking it off as 'meh'. Athletic, 6'6", 330 pounds and the SEC is all over him? And it gives us more credibility in Louisianna. Glad to hear this is trending up for the Irish.

 

[arrowryan]

I really hope he is at Notre Dame taking classes in January. Having Nelson and Tillery as our two future tackles is pretty exciting to think about

 

[OCIrish]

I really hope he is at Notre Dame taking classes in January. Having Nelson and Tillery as our two future tackles is pretty exciting to think about

Arrow, I have to agree with you!!! I think the combination of both Tillery and Nelson could be quite good, and dominant!!!

 

[GBdomer]

All these people who pegged him as "Gone or " I don't even consider him a commit anymore" Will go on by saying I knew it all along, welcome to the ND fam Tillery lol

 

[ThePiombino]

All these people who pegged him as "Gone or " I don't even consider him a commit anymore" Will go on by saying I knew it all along, welcome to the ND fam Tillery lol

No we won't.

 

[GBdomer]

No we won't.

Ok, glad you speak for everybody else. Just voicing my opinion thank you for taking the stand.