'11 NY OLB Ishaq Williams (Signed ND LOI-EE)

[IrishLax]

Will reportedly be at ND on Monday for the start of summer school per his father...

 

[NDohio]

That's encouraging.

 

[irishfan]

Awesome if true. Hope he brings it and his relationship with BK isn't demolished. BK never really threw anything complimentary his way in press conferences the past year...

 

[jerboski]

Will reportedly be at ND on Monday for the start of summer school per his father...

Wow, that is alot better news than I was expecting to read

 

[irishff1014]

Will reportedly be at ND on Monday for the start of summer school per his father...

Didn't see that coming

 

[IrishLax]

I don't think that means necessarily that he's going to be part of the football team, but it's very good in and of itself to see him back in school working towards a degree.

 

[ulukinatme]

If he's on campus and taking classes, why wouldn't he be part of the football team? He could essentially play as a walk on if he's paying his own way and wouldn't go against scholarship numbers.

 

[Irish YJ]

YES!

 

[NDinL.A.]

If he's on campus and taking classes, why wouldn't he be part of the football team? He could essentially play as a walk on if he's paying his own way and wouldn't go against scholarship numbers.

From everything I've read throughout the USC sanctions, he would count against the numbers. If you're a recruited athlete, even if you pay your own way, you'd still count against the numbers. USC fans were begging players whose families had $$$ to give up their schollies and pay their own way (like Matt Barkley) so they could add players, but it doesn't work that way. If it did, state schools in the SEC would especially be taking advantage of it.

I've said since January that I HIGHLY doubt Ishaq will be eligible to play this fall, and nothing has made me change my mind since. I don't even really hope that I'm wrong in this case bc he never showed me much as a player and after an entire year off I'm not sure he would help us much this year. Just my opinion...I know a lot of people disagree. But if he was a 3 star out of h.s., with his stats and his demeanor here his entire 3 years, would people still be pining for him?

Really good for him though if he's coming back to school. Great decision for him personally.

 

[Irish YJ]

Could it be that it wouldn't work for USC because they were under penalty?

What number are we officially at right now? I'd prefer taking him back even if he counted.

 

[Emcee77]

From everything I've read throughout the USC sanctions, he would count against the numbers. If you're a recruited athlete, even if you pay your own way, you'd still count against the numbers.

Yeah, I think that's right. And "recruited" has a defined meaning within the NCAA rules. A recruited athlete has to have received certain benefits and had certain contact with the school during the recruiting process. I think an official visit, for example, is one thing that triggers "recruited" status; not sure off the top of my head what the other requirements are. But the upshot is that, although our PWOs don't qualify as "recruited," Ishaq certainly would, so he would count against the 85.

 

[Fbolt]

I just don't get the Ishaq dislike.

I for one, want him to return. In a big way. Numbers wise on DL, he can help. The ability for him to play in a system where he would have the best opportunity to succeed is a bonus. I want this kid to be successful.

 

[johnnycando]

At our current rate, and on par with random injury attrition/transfers, him counting against our numbers would not hurt.

 

[irishfan]

Our DEs are pretty pathetic right now (and were last year) and are our worst position group IMO. I'd love to have him back. I don't see any way he isn't a backup rotating in at the worst.

 

[Irish Insanity]

Could it be that it wouldn't work for USC because they were under penalty?

What number are we officially at right now? I'd prefer taking him back even if he counted.

USC was not only under sanctions but their players would willingly give up a scholarship without reason just to help the #s. We would be in a completely different situation. We suspended a player who would then be returning after time away. Would it be the same being he wasn't under scholarship the prior season due to discipline?

 

[Irish YJ]

Our DEs are pretty pathetic right now (and were last year) and are our worst position group IMO. I'd love to have him back. I don't see any way he isn't a backup rotating in at the worst.

from a pass rushing perspective yes. not in all dimensions though.

 

[ulukinatme]

Our DEs are pretty pathetic right now (and were last year) and are our worst position group IMO. I'd love to have him back. I don't see any way he isn't a backup rotating in at the worst.

Yeah, Trumbetti can be good and has a bright future, and there's a few others that will grow into the position, but it feels like we're asking a bunch of linebackers in some cases to play DE. It's all those CATs that Diaco recruited. On the flip side Ishaaq was a true DE that was recruited as a linebacker and didn't fit the position. If he's in good shape there's a possibility he could start over the rest of what we currently have. Not saying he would be or will be phenomenal or anything, but it's the position he should have been playing all along as a 4-3 DE.

 

[Luckylucci]

Our DEs are pretty pathetic right now (and were last year) and are our worst position group IMO. I'd love to have him back. I don't see any way he isn't a backup rotating in at the worst.

Really, pathetic is the word you come up with. Trumbetti, Blankenship, Rochelle, and Okwara have have a combined 7 seasons of experience. What exactly did you expect from the two true freshman and a sophomore? With that said, Rochelle played really well at SDE on early downs but is out of position rushing out there and Trumbetti has one heck of a season. Young and inexperienced would be substantially better words. Now if we don't start seeing progress then we can go there but the progress is pretty clear. With Trumbetti having some real promise at DE and Rochelle at DT.

 

[stlnd01]

I just don't get the Ishaq dislike.

I for one, want him to return. In a big way. Numbers wise on DL, he can help. The ability for him to play in a system where he would have the best opportunity to succeed is a bonus. I want this kid to be successful.

I don't get it either. There's really no downside to having him on the team. We're unlikely to top 85 scholarships at this point. He's essentially a one-year rental. Worst case he's quality depth at a position of need. Best case he's a highly-talented pass rusher with a lot to prove. Why not?

 

[Irishman77]

i would like to see how many third and longs we had per game and how that stacks up against other power 5 teams.

My point is it was VERY rare when we were in a favorable football down on third down. Also when Schmidt went down that changed our back 7.

Rochelle really needs to stay inside with Day. Trumbetti and Okwara hopefully have another second to get home with the improved depth at LB and adding Russell.

 

[irishfan]

Really, pathetic is the word you come up with. Trumbetti, Blankenship, Rochelle, and Okwara have have a combined 7 seasons of experience. What exactly did you expect from the two true freshman and a sophomore? With that said, Rochelle played really well at SDE on early downs but is out of position rushing out there and Trumbetti has one heck of a season. Young and inexperienced would be substantially better words. Now if we don't start seeing progress then we can go there but the progress is pretty clear. With Trumbetti having some real promise at DE and Rochelle at DT.

Fair. Had a long day at work so "pathetic" wasn't the best choice there. However, I do think they are by far our worst position group and any chance we have of somehow making the playoffs rides on us being able to get pressure bringing just 4 guys...something that I don't think we're capable of doing.

 

[Big23Head]

From everything I've read throughout the USC sanctions, he would count against the numbers. If you're a recruited athlete, even if you pay your own way, you'd still count against the numbers. USC fans were begging players whose families had $$$ to give up their schollies and pay their own way (like Matt Barkley) so they could add players, but it doesn't work that way. If it did, state schools in the SEC would especially be taking advantage of it.

I've said since January that I HIGHLY doubt Ishaq will be eligible to play this fall, and nothing has made me change my mind since. I don't even really hope that I'm wrong in this case bc he never showed me much as a player and after an entire year off I'm not sure he would help us much this year. Just my opinion...I know a lot of people disagree. But if he was a 3 star out of h.s., with his stats and his demeanor here his entire 3 years, would people still be pining for him?

Really good for him though if he's coming back to school. Great decision for him personally.

I believe this is true as well however, I was wondering if this case is possibly different because Ishaq was removed from school and had to re-apply for admission. Does that terminate his "recruited/scholarship" level in the eyes of the NCAA and then he could in fact return as a walk on? If other schools wanted to "take advantage" they would have to get kids kicked out of school on purpose then re-admitted to boost numbers. Just curious. I ask because I believe other kids have been booted from a school then walked on at another a year later but I may be completely wrong.

 

[Irish YJ]

Fair. Had a long day at work so "pathetic" wasn't the best choice there. However, I do think they are by far our worst position group and any chance we have of somehow making the playoffs rides on us being able to get pressure bringing just 4 guys...something that I don't think we're capable of doing.

One would think another year in BVG's system, and another with BVG at ND (remember he was pretty much a rookie too), the improved depth at LB, and hopefully improved play from our DBs, should translate into more interesting play from the DEs.

It will be very interesting to see how the D progresses this year. It would not surprise me if we found a rush this year. I also could see the LBs opening up a bit. Wouldn't mind seeing some stunting with Jaylon rushing the QB.

 

[ACamp1900]

I just don't get the Ishaq dislike.

I for one, want him to return. In a big way. Numbers wise on DL, he can help. The ability for him to play in a system where he would have the best opportunity to succeed is a bonus. I want this kid to be successful.

Our DEs are pretty pathetic right now (and were last year) and are our worst position group IMO. I'd love to have him back. I don't see any way he isn't a backup rotating in at the worst.

I'm with this basic thinking... Our front seven in general needs any help it can get...

 

[Irish YJ]

I'm with this basic thinking... Our front seven in general needs any help it can get...

Basic is good.

 

[Irish#1]

With a year of experience, I think Trumbetti is going to make a big leap this year.

 

[ACamp1900]

Basic is good.

I'm a simple man....

 

[Irish YJ]

I'm a simple man....

Me too. Big fan of K.I.S.S.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

Welcomed news.. was hoping for this outcome.

 

[NDPhilly]

Even if he never lives up to the hype, he's a 6'6" 270lb athletic DE and god knows we could use depth along the DL after last season.