'17 IN QB Hunter Johnson (Northwestern Transfer)

[IrishLax]

Let me also add that I respect that Irish YJ knows more about Tennessee than I (or most people posting in this thread) do, and there are metrics to back up the idea that they're going to be a good team this year.

I'm more mystified at their sales job to get a #1 QB who is smart with strong guidance from adults ready to commit to them this early and forgo OVs than I am debating if they could have a breakout year in an easy division. I do think Oklahoma will surprise people this year, and will be a very tough game.

 

[Irish YJ]

ND did beat 5 power 5 teams prior to LSU, 6 if you include Navy.

UT wins were Utah State, Ark State, Chatt, South Carolina, UK & Vandy.
ND wins were Rice, Stanford, Cuse, North Carolina, Purdon't, Navy & Michigan.

Personally, Michigan and USC cancel out, Purdon't and Vandy cancel out, UK and UNC are about equal. After that, you are left with Stanford, Rice, Cuse & Navy versus Utah State, Ark State and Chatt. There is a clear difference there.

Calling Rice, Cuse, Purdue power 5 teams is only in name last year. Cuse and PU had like 2 or 3 wins each. Rice, decent season against crappy comp.

Utah St (10-4, beat ranked BYU, finished the rankings one spot behind LSU) better than the above 3 easily. Ark St, better than 2 of the 3. Chat is laughable but did win the Southern Conf.

We can split hairs, but ND's wins weren't anything to brag about either. If you look at quality of losses, not that much different.

We'll see what happens this year. Happy to eat crow if I'm wrong.

 

[Luckylucci]

If they win this, it's simply about negative recruiting. Everyone is drastically overthinking this. Tennessee has been pounding Johnson that he doesn't "fit" with ND's QBs (i.e. dual threat guys) and that BK/Sanford is going to leave ND before Johnson is done in South Bend. Our response was "well yeah no coach can promise they'll be in the same place for the next 5+ years."

The best thing we can hope for is that this drags out past his current intended announcement date, because I have no doubt we have a far more impressive season than Tennessee.

Tennessee hasn't won more than 7 games in seven straight seasons. Their CEILING is worse than our FLOOR under BK... and most people aren't happy with the seasons where we hit the floor at 8-5. Butch Jones -- despite his rampant oversigning and blue/gray/purple/fuchsia shirting -- has shown minimal improvement from his predecessors, despite playing in one of the easiest divisions in football.

Their pitch right now is all based on promises. If you let the season play out and see Butch is full of hot air, then the decision becomes clear.

Lax, I think this answers your last question. I respect the staffs honesty and the way they handle their business most of the time but sometimes fire needs to be met with fire. We're being neg recruited like crazy all over the place and we seem to always let it happen versus turn it up a bit.

 

[Luckylucci]

Let me add that I share your frustration and it boggles my mind as well.

 

[PANDFAN]

per wiltfong---now a chance he WONT commit prior to his season...family connections w/ nc state/tenn have really made them gain a lot of traction

 

[IrishLax]

per wiltfong---now a chance he WONT commit prior to his season...family connections w/ nc state/tenn have really made them gain a lot of traction

He'd be very smart to take in-season visits. That's really what I'm getting at more than anything, the mind boggling part is that there is no rush for him to commit... he's not a 3 that is going to lose his spot somewhere. He's already taken a bunch of visits, why not take some in season visits as well to get an idea of game day atmosphere, etc.? And see how the teams do?

Committing to Tennessee isn't crazy, it's the 18+ months before NSD that is the crazy part to me.

 

[IrishLion]

BK needs to dust off the tape from 2012 and show Hunter how much under-center he'll use if it's necessary to fit Hunter's skills.

(Unless BK/Sanford are absolutely set in the offense and unwilling to change it. I doubt that would be the case though.)

 

[Ndaccountant]

Calling Rice, Cuse, Purdue power 5 teams is only in name last year. Cuse and PU had like 2 or 3 wins each. Rice, decent season against crappy comp.

Utah St (10-4, beat ranked BYU, finished the rankings one spot behind LSU) better than the above 3 easily. Ark St, better than 2 of the 3. Chat is laughable but did win the Southern Conf.

We can split hairs, but ND's wins weren't anything to brag about either. If you look at quality of losses, not that much different.

We'll see what happens this year. Happy to eat crow if I'm wrong.

we will see. I think UT will be better, but that has more to do with the east being down than them being very good. In all honesty, if they played in the West, they would be lucky to finish .500. But that shouldn't take away from the fact that Butch is moving in the correct direction.

Just one last nit....remember that Hill got hurt in that game. I remember watching it and thinking BYU did a terrible job making sure the crowd and team didn't deflate after that injury.

 

[Irish YJ]

Let me also add that I respect that Irish YJ knows more about Tennessee than I (or most people posting in this thread) do, and there are metrics to back up the idea that they're going to be a good team this year.

I'm more mystified at their sales job to get a #1 QB who is smart with strong guidance from adults ready to commit to them this early and forgo OVs than I am debating if they could have a breakout year in an easy division. I do think Oklahoma will surprise people this year, and will be a very tough game.

ND is very special, and will always be my first and only true love. That said,,,, Neyland is a pretty impressive place as well and the facilities are awesome. Jones is a great sales guy, and a pretty decent coach as well. I have attended 3-4 UT games a year since ND played UT over a decade a go. I saw the fall of Fulmer, the 2009 abomination of Kiffin, and the Dooley debacle.

2009-2012 left UT decimated, and the morale was a bad as can be. In two years, Jones has killed it on the recruiting trail, and has brought excitement back to Knoxville. It may not be apparent in the W/Ls, but I can tell you the eye test tells me this team is on the upward trend, and should surprise people. There is a bounce in their step, they have some depth, and they finally have a decent coach (Dooley was a complete moron and could not recruit at all). I'm not totally sold on Dobbs, but if he matures and improves, UT will be hard to beat. They have RBs, WRs, etc. to surround the guy. The D has improved immensely over the last two seasons.

 

[ACamp1900]

Someone needs to remind this kid that Tennessee cancelled their football program...

 

[Irish YJ]

we will see. I think UT will be better, but that has more to do with the east being down than them being very good. In all honesty, if they played in the West, they would be lucky to finish .500. But that shouldn't take away from the fact that Butch is moving in the correct direction.

Just one last nit....remember that Hill got hurt in that game. I remember watching it and thinking BYU did a terrible job making sure the crowd and team didn't deflate after that injury.

Agree on the BYU game, but USt is still better than the 3 IMO.

 

[Irish YJ]

we will see. I think UT will be better, but that has more to do with the east being down than them being very good. In all honesty, if they played in the West, they would be lucky to finish .500. But that shouldn't take away from the fact that Butch is moving in the correct direction.

Just one last nit....remember that Hill got hurt in that game. I remember watching it and thinking BYU did a terrible job making sure the crowd and team didn't deflate after that injury.

and one last thing.....
The SEC West is not what they used to be. Most (ESPN lol) are predicting UGA to win the SEC, followed by Bama, then UT (tied I believe with Auburn).

I think the SEC overall will be crazy this year and will be entertaining.

 

[Irish Man3]

I'd love for him to push back a decision. Would be good for ND as it seems everything is trending elsewhere currently.

As for TN, I live in Knoxville as well. Whether it's warranted or not, there's a buzz in this college city and sometimes that's all that matters to a kid. This huge fan base is behind this team and their coach 100% right now. I've also lived here long enough to see the bandwagon clear out IN A HURRY.

A delayed decision would be wise for Hunter.

 

[ACamp1900]

I'd love for him to push back a decision. Would be good for ND as it seems everything is trending elsewhere currently.

As for TN, I live in Knoxville as well. Whether it's warranted or not, there's a buzz in this college city and sometimes that's all that matters to a kid. This huge fan base is behind this team and their coach 100% right now. I've also lived here long enough to see the bandwagon clear out IN A HURRY.

A delayed decision would be wise for Hunter.

Yeah UT is still a name cfb program... they have fallen hard but all program do from time to time... have to figure the thing will turn around at some point sooner rather than later...

 

[Irishnuke]

I don't see how it's anything but an epic failure if we don't land this kid.

 

[Irish YJ]

I don't see how it's anything but an epic failure if we don't land this kid.

Agree, even if his dad is a UT fan. Got to keep lock down the state, especially when it comes to 5star QBs.

 

[BobbyMac]

If they win this, it's simply about negative recruiting. Everyone is drastically overthinking this. Tennessee has been pounding Johnson that he doesn't "fit" with ND's QBs (i.e. dual threat guys)

Their pitch right now is all based on promises. If you let the season play out and see Butch is full of hot air, then the decision becomes clear.

That can't be it Lax but IF Jones is using it, The Johnson's would see straight through it. He's got 3 top dual threats currently in the fold in '15 & '16. How do you say, "You aren't like Malik Zaire or Brandon Wimbush!" When you just brought in Sherrion Jones (who can flat out play) and Jauan Jennings who's rated higher in '15 and Jarret Guantanamo the #2 dual threat in '16. As a sales pitch, it makes zero sense... in fact, it makes you look stupid.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Let the dust settle a little bit here lads. I'm 42 years old and would have a hard time not committing to a place like UT right after a visit where they put on the full court press. The women alone!
I believe in BK and Sanford in the end here. They are working this and I'm sure had an idea there would be some excitement coming out of this. Hopefully things calm down and they continue to push the right message.

 

[ACamp1900]

Doesn't UT spend more money on recruiting than like any other school in the country?? I remember reading that somewhere within the past year or so

 

[Irish YJ]

the neg recruiting doesn't necessarily have to be negative. could just be fact and data like the below..

UT is much easier academically (true)
UT will do more to have your back and get you through school (kinda true in certain ways)
it's much warmer here (true)
we have hot chicks at UT (true)
our fans are louder, and the stadium atmosphere is better than ND (true)
Knoxville is a great town? (true)

BK's reply
have you seen our gsr
tradition
hot chicks and warm weather are overrated. you'll have both for life once you graduate ND, not just 4 years
blue hairs have to die sometime
who needs a city when you have the grotto

 

[Irish YJ]

Doesn't UT spend more money on recruiting than like any other school in the country?? I remember reading that somewhere within the past year or so

yes they do. and has improved their sitcheeeation.

 

[Cackalacky]

"yall deed int bring that money weedja deedja?"

 

[ThePiombino]

Is signing day for 2017 kids this week?

You're right. Let's just shut down the site until February of '17...

 

[Irish YJ]

"yall deed int bring that money weedja deedja?"

sho deed

 

[irishandy]

We lost on Auston Robertson & Austin Mack for the 2016 class, we can't keep losing kids from our backyard.

We win on the field and we'll win in recruiting.

Losing kids close here in the midwest should not be an option if we want them. Recruit, recruit, and keep recruiting.

Why can UT get 6 visits out of this kid. How many have we had?? From Brownsburg to ND is under 3 hrs.

I trust this staff when it comes to recruiting, but I question them sometimes when it comes to certain recruits.

 

[Domina Nostra]

We lost on Auston Robertson & Austin Mack for the 2016 class, we can't keep losing kids from our backyard.

We win on the field and we'll win in recruiting.

Losing kids close here in the midwest should not be an option if we want them. Recruit, recruit, and keep recruiting.

Why can UT get 6 visits out of this kid. How many have we had?? From Brownsburg to ND is under 3 hrs.

I trust this staff when it comes to recruiting, but I question them sometimes when it comes to certain recruits.

If the kid grew up a UT fan, it is what it is.

 

[md_bennett]

He started camping at ND when he was a freshman. He has been on campus a LOT for us as well. In the end, if he chooses UT over ND, I don't think we can say we were outworked for him. Its just more a product of him liking what they are selling better. He knows both schools very well by this point.

 

[ThePiombino]

He started camping at ND when he was a freshman. He has been on campus a LOT for us as well. In the end, if he chooses UT over ND, I don't think we can say we were outworked for him. Its just more a product of him liking what they are selling better. He knows both schools very well by this point.

I think the staff does get outworked sometimes. That can probably be said for any staff, however.

 

[ndirishfan2005]

I am wondering if he and his family are being scared off by how the Gunner Kiel saga played out. I would be curious as to what Indiana high school coaches think about Kelly's handling of players? He is facing a more favorable depth chart at ND than the Vols as they have two 4 star (Rivals) Freshman primed to run a spread offense in front of him. His main competition is Wimbush who will be a Junior by the time Johnson hits campus. It is an ideal situation for him. It would be huge let down to lose Indiana's top recruits to nearby schools..

 

[BobbyMac]

I am wondering if he and his family are being scared off by how the Gunner Kiel saga played out. I would be curious as to what Indiana high school coaches think about Kelly's handling of players? He is facing a more favorable depth chart at ND than the Vols as they have two 4 star (Rivals) Freshman primed to run a spread offense in front of him. His main competition is Wimbush who will be a Junior by the time Johnson hits campus. It is an ideal situation for him. It would be huge let down to lose Indiana's top recruits to nearby schools..

There will be 3 ahead of him if he goes there. Jones, Jennings and Guarantano plus the '15's #8 ProQB Dormady. If he goes to play at UT he'll be playing for a coach who has CBK and RichRod for mentors. The Rich Rod part means more horizontal passing than CBK, who likes to throw it vertically much more than Rich Rod and his time at ND has been dominated by pro style QB's in TR and EG for proof.... Not Munchie Legaux.

But hey, if I'm #1 in the country I'd be thinking I'd win any QB battle that didn't involve Malik Zaire. Ain't nobody playing besides him until the games is in hand, he graduates of he gets hurt. (Wood was knocked while typing)


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