'07 KS LB Brian Smith (Signed LOI to Notre Dame)

[grantphilly]

thats fu@#ing great

 

[FleaFlicker]

i'VE TYPICALLY BEEN ON THE nd BANDWAGON ABOUT HOW THEY HAVE BEEN RECRUITING, BUT NOT RECRUITING THIS GUY HARD WAS A huge MISTAKE (sorry caps).

Honestly, if you watch his tape, the guy is just a great LB. Guess what ND you NEED LB's!!! Guess what else? Back in May and June he said that Notre Dame was a huge favorite. If we would have offered him, he'd be here no problem. I really hope that ND pulls him out of Iowa, because if they don't, this was a huge mistake on their part. The guy would be a perfect 3-4 outside LB. He has great closing speed and hits hard. He doesn't drag guys down, he stops them and drives them the other direction...

 

[jgrnd07]

I am with you Flea...I have no clue why this kid did not get an offer! He is a ND guy...thought that is the most important factor in recruiting! Get the guys here that want to be here!

 

[FleaFlicker]

I am with you Flea...I have no clue why this kid did not get an offer! He is a ND guy...thought that is the most important factor in recruiting! Get the guys here that want to be here!

And he is a fricking beast!

All that being said... the fact that he is coming to ND on an official is just great for us. I have to believe that ND will pull out all the stops for this guy, especially knowing how much he will be needed at this point. I really think adding him to the class will help with some of the defensive worried people are having.

If you guys haven't looked at film of him, I really think you should. Maybe the level of his competition is an issue. but he flat out dominates it. He had 126 tackles this year, 14 TFL, 9 sacks, 2 FR. And again, he is a very sure tackler, which is perhaps his best asset. He isn't one of those guys that just hits people, but sometimes doesn't wrap up, he is a very strong tackler with great drive in his legs. And deceiving speed. One clip has him chase down a RB from like 5-10 yards back.

 

[irishunclebill]

And he is a fricking beast!

All that being said... the fact that he is coming to ND on an official is just great for us. I have to believe that ND will pull out all the stops for this guy, especially knowing how much he will be needed at this point. I really think adding him to the class will help with some of the defensive worried people are having.

If you guys haven't looked at film of him, I really think you should. Maybe the level of his competition is an issue. but he flat out dominates it. He had 126 tackles this year, 14 TFL, 9 sacks, 2 FR. And again, he is a very sure tackler, which is perhaps his best asset. He isn't one of those guys that just hits people, but sometimes doesn't wrap up, he is a very strong tackler with great drive in his legs. And deceiving speed. One clip has him chase down a RB from like 5-10 yards back.

His senior year was impressive, that is the reason why he moved up the recruiting boards in the past few months. The point I made earlier, and which I believe you agree is that even before his monster senior year, as a 3 star legacy LB, with a strong desire to go to ND. he should have been offered a scholarship more than a year ago.

 

[RyanS]

I am with you Flea. I can't figure out for the life of me why this guy wasn't offerred.

When I look at the guys that we had a great chance of landing that went offerless (Colasanti, Dailey, Smith) I am clueless as to why they didn't get offered....

 

[RyanS]

I am not sure I agree with you on the legacy aspect of recruiting unclebill. There is no reason to offer a kid a schollie if you don't think he fits in your system....or if he isn't in the top few guys on your list for that position. Brian Smith is clearly a guy that we need, and should have been offered a schollie, but not because his dad played for us....or because he really wanted to come to ND.

 

[irishunclebill]

I am not sure I agree with you on the legacy aspect of recruiting unclebill. There is no reason to offer a kid a schollie if you don't think he fits in your system....or if he isn't in the top few guys on your list for that position. Brian Smith is clearly a guy that we need, and should have been offered a schollie, but not because his dad played for us....or because he really wanted to come to ND.

Ryan read my earlier post, I said only if you need him at the position. This kid is a LB, a high priority need for ND even if we had successfully recruited Donald & Edwards, since we have no depth at that position. My example was that the 3 star legacy would not have made sense for QB this year, or because of this year's WR recruiting, for that position next year, but I can not think of a single position on D where ND has an abundance of talent or depth. So basically I think we are in agreement.

 

[FleaFlicker]

I think the main thing that Weis needs to figure out... Is that you have to have a back-up plan. I'd rather have a sure solid defensive class, which includes some elite commits and some very good ones, than a slim chance at a elite defensive class and a decent chance at an average or sub-average class.

Weiss put all his chips on the best guys in the country, and not many chips on the second or third best guys. Well... when all of those "best guys" decide to go elsewhere, because they have every option avaiable, you simply miss the boat.

If you've got 10 4-star defenders waiting in the wings to snatch a schollie from you if the 5-star guy doesn't commit... by all means... go for the 5-star. But when you have a 1/4 shot at a 5-star, and are going after 5 or 6 of them, there is a good shot you will end up fairly empty handed, and we should be much more prepared for that.

 

[leprechaun4life]

I was under the impression that Smith was not offered because Minter did not feel he would fit well into the system. Minter decided not to give him a schollie, is that not true?

 

[FleaFlicker]

I was under the impression that Smith was not offered because Minter did not feel he would fit well into the system. Minter decided not to give him a schollie, is that not true?

Perhaps, my assessment of where we need to improve in recruiting has more to do with the staff, than Weiss. I can see CB doing some great defensive recruiting next year.

 

[RyanS]

That is what I heard as well.

From what I understand, all offeres are approved by CW, but the coach involved in the recruiting of the player has the initial choice of passing on the guy or approaching Weis to get the approval....Basically, if the coach likes the guy he passes the info on to CW. If he doesn't, then CW doesn't get his info.

 

[leprechaun4life]

I think we can look forward to better defensive recruiting next year. Brown was a recruiting coordinator at UVA, so he knows what he is doing. IMO, the recruiting will be more organized and the good, but not great, players will be looked at more seriously. Guys like Smith etc. will not be pushed to the side like this year. On offense, I think Weis continues to go with the elite or nothing approach, since it has yet to fail (on offense). I also like the potential Powlus can have in the recruiting, which may help keep offensive prospect like Benn etc.

 

[MightyK]

I am with you Flea. I can't figure out for the life of me why this guy wasn't offerred.

When I look at the guys that we had a great chance of landing that went offerless (Colasanti, Dailey, Smith) I am clueless as to why they didn't get offered....

Maybe there is something I don't understand, but there seems to be enough uncertainty involved in recruiting to answer that question.

To me, there can't be anything worse than not being able to honor an offer, and pressuring offerees into decisions isn't the greatest practice in the world either. With that in mind, the best ND can do is extend offers based on their perceived expectation of commitments.

Couple this with finding out about guys late, reevaluating guys who's early reports change (e.g. Dever), and changed expectation of commitments (how many guys have backed out?) and it is a wonder it goes as well as it does.

I would be shocked if ND's recruiters don't explain this situation to the people waiting for offers, and I doubt the recruits get so turned off by having to wait that they would not entertain the offer when it comes around as long as they've been handled fairly all along.

The process isn't perfect, but nothing in life is, and they're going to have to deal with it at some point. It would be nice to have the opportunity presented in the best way, but once you have the opportunity, does it really matter how it came around?

 

[KingAdrock99]

Maybe there is something I don't understand, but there seems to be enough uncertainty involved in recruiting to answer that question.

To me, there can't be anything worse than not being able to honor an offer, and pressuring offerees into decisions isn't the greatest practice in the world either. With that in mind, the best ND can do is extend offers based on their perceived expectation of commitments.

Couple this with finding out about guys late, reevaluating guys who's early reports change (e.g. Dever), and changed expectation of commitments (how many guys have backed out?) and it is a wonder it goes as well as it does.

I would be shocked if ND's recruiters don't explain this situation to the people waiting for offers, and I doubt the recruits get so turned off by having to wait that they would not entertain the offer when it comes around as long as they've been handled fairly all along.

The process isn't perfect, but nothing in life is, and they're going to have to deal with it at some point. It would be nice to have the opportunity presented in the best way, but once you have the opportunity, does it really matter how it came around?

I'm sure they tell the guys that are on the top of their list of guys they haven't offered to yet that they are interested in them and will make an offer, should this other guy not accept.

 

[brownkj002]

A poster on hawkeye nation is saying that Iowa has pulled BS offer. They are also talking about this on ndnation. Let's see if this has some legs to it.

 

[FleaFlicker]

A poster on hawkeye nation is saying that Iowa has pulled BS offer. They are also talking about this on ndnation. Let's see if this has some legs to it.

It would be awesome if it did Smith would be a virtual lock for ND if they do.

 

[iloveirish_12]

when is this going to go down if he is going to go to ND or not.

 

[ptrigger]

i thought i read one post that said he will make his decision on Wed after he visits this weekend

 

[I Am Irish]

NDNation and Iowa boards are saying his scolly offer has been pulled because he is visiting ND

 

[nd1]

when is this going to go down if he is going to go to ND or not.

hopefully soon. It would be great to get this kid this late in recruiting.

 

[NDismylife21]

Maybe they are just setting up for the excuse, "We didn't even want him. It's not like he had a scholarship offer or anything..." Awesome news. Looks like with just shored up our LBers a little better.

 

[iloveirish_12]

If we do get him, next we need to steal Nick Wood from Washington.

 

[IrishDon103]

Word is Nick Wood told Polian no.

I'm also hearing rumors that Brian Smith committed to Weis over the phone recently...it sounds legit but keep in mind this all stemmed from one guy who claims to know a friend a Brian's....so it could very well be true, but it could be another "Some guy who knows a friend of a cousin of this guy whose friends with the recruit's brother" kind of things.

 

[Junkhead]

Word is Nick Wood told Polian no.

I'm also hearing rumors that Brian Smith committed to Weis over the phone recently...it sounds legit but keep in mind this all stemmed from one guy who claims to know a friend a Brian's....so it could very well be true, but it could be another "Some guy who knows a friend of a cousin of this guy whose friends with the recruit's brother" kind of things.

I don't mind the rumors....if they are positive!

 

[laxkid23]

Well isn't he supposed to decide by tomorrow anyway.

 

[IowaTD]

Iowa recieved a verbal commitment from Glenville, Ohio LB Bruce Davis today. He had just gotten a scholly earlier in the afternoon. Smith is as good as gone.

 

[leprechaun4life]

Why the hell would Iowa pull his schollarship. That is kinda low. Its like saying 'we were just kidding when we offered, you probably would have been riding the pine your entire career. Na na na na na

 

[Pete]

Why the hell would Iowa pull his schollarship. That is kinda low. Its like saying 'we were just kidding when we offered, you probably would have been riding the pine your entire career. Na na na na na

You can make an argument for both sides. Iowa isn't the only school that has this policy.

 

[IowaTD]

Why the hell would Iowa pull his schollarship. That is kinda low. Its like saying 'we were just kidding when we offered, you probably would have been riding the pine your entire career. Na na na na na

They pulled his scholarship because he wanted to go to Notre Dame. They needed the scholly to give to someone who was going to actually play at Iowa, hence the offer to Bruce Davis today.