'14 CA TE Tyler Luatua (Back in Blue)

[GoldenToTheGrave]

I think he'd see a lot more reps with Zaire as QB. He's a huge asset when running the option, spread sets not as much.

 

[dad4aa]

Would make sense. There's value in having a blocking tight end we can line up in the backfield, and no one else really fits that bill. Hounshell seems like a good locker room guy, too.

quite the opposite from what I've heard

 

[ulukinatme]

Understandable to say the least. If you told him he would be a fullback used sparingly he would have never came here in the first place. Good for him

I think Durham Smythe will have something to say about the #1 spot, but I agree it should be Alize's. I also believe Luatua knew he would be utilized more as a 6th OL more than a receiving TE when he chose Notre Dame, but he has just battled a depth and bad timing on injuries.

I was going to say, I thought he tweeted something out about enjoying blocking more than receiving. Something along those lines while at a camp. Obviously feelings can change.

Gotta agree with TP. Tyler never pretended to be a big receiving threat. I do remember him scoffing at the idea of TEs being split out prior to his commitment, like it was taboo. He seemed to believe TEs belonged in an old school role next to the tackle or in an H-back role. I don't show that he's ever received a reception, although he may have been thrown to a few times, I don't remember.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Gotta agree with TP. Tyler never pretended to be a big receiving threat. I do remember him scoffing at the idea of TEs being split out prior to his commitment, like it was taboo. He seemed to believe TEs belonged in an old school role next to the tackle or in an H-back role. I don't show that he's ever received a reception, although he may have been thrown to a few times, I don't remember.

No receptions. I do remember a few drops and a few bad passes come his way.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[stlnd01]

quite the opposite from what I've heard

Really? Then why'd he get a fifth year? Seemed like that was the biggest reason to bring him back for 2015.

 

[stlnd01]

Re: Luatua: What is our success rate on players from Southern California? Defining "success" as four years in the program/graduating/contributing on the field.
It seems incredibly low.
Joe Schmidt, yeah, but he was - famously - a walk-on, which is different. Max Redfield, hopefully. Niklas stuck for three years before going pro. Cierre Wood hung in.
But it seems like we lose so many to transfers, etc. I've lived in LA (and in South Bend) and I know it's a long way both geographically and culturally. Especially if you're not Catholic/from a Catholic school. But it's kind of mind-blowing, and it's been that way for awhile.

 

[pkt77242]

Re: Luatua: What is our success rate on players from Southern California? Defining "success" as four years in the program/graduating/contributing on the field.
It seems incredibly low.
Joe Schmidt, yeah, but he was - famously - a walk-on, which is different. Max Redfield, hopefully. Niklas stuck for three years before going pro. Cierre Wood hung in.
But it seems like we lose so many to transfers, etc. I've lived in LA (and in South Bend) and I know it's a long way both geographically and culturally. Especially if you're not Catholic/from a Catholic school. But it's kind of mind-blowing, and it's been that way for awhile.

Honestly I don't know so lets look
2005: None
2006: Konrad Reuland Transferred to Stanford.
2007: Clausen- Left Early
2008: Crist- Graduate Transfer, McDonald-Graduate Transfer Joseph Transferred
2009: Wood: 4 years, Shaq Evans-transferred
2010: Cameron Roberson- injured, Utopo- 5 years
2011: Schmidt- 5 years, Niklas 3 years left early
2012: None
2013: Redfield- Up in the air.
2014: Luatua - up in the air
2015: ESB and CJ Sanders

I did not include Will Yeatman who is from San Diego and transferred. Overall it doesn't look good.

 

[anarin]

Honestly I don't know so lets look
2008: Christ- Graduate Transfer

You mean to tell me we couldn't win a natty with Christ himself on the team? We're forever doomed

 

[ThePiombino]

I'm surprised, yet not surprised at all, all at the same time.

 

[BGIF]

Honestly I don't know so lets look.

...

I did not include Will Yeatman who is from San Diego and transferred. Overall it doesn't look good.

Yes, let's look at them "honestly". Geography and culture mentioned by stInd01 weren't really an issue, nor was distance from home. Depth Chart and PT were the prime motivators for most. A few listed here were in school for 4 years. They weren't star players but they contributed. Likewise injuries are not due to geography and culture.

Yeatman and Fauria were due to Res Life issues that isn't unique to California. I can think of a RB and WR both not only from the same state by from the same H.S. that had alcohol/Res Life issues and dealt with them. By the logic presented in this thread perhaps ND should stop recruiting students from that H.S./state.

Revised List adding Taylor Dever and Yeatman, both from CA. Of the players on this list, Shaq Evans is the only one I can think of where "culture" was an issue.

2005: None
2006: Konrad Reuland Transferred to Stanford because the was beaten out by Yeatman, a LAX scholarship player who walked on for football and Ragone. He was 4th on the depth chart behind Carlson, Yeatman and Ragone and Rudolph and Fauria were coming in the sesason. Yeatman transferred because of two stupid alcohol incidents. The second one occured when he was already on probation for the first. Stupidity isn't unique to any state of the union. On the field Yeatman was a solid performer.
2007: Clausen- Left Early. After Starting for 3 years. So did Zorich, Rocket, Bobby Taylor etc, etc, and a handful of guys, this year. They didn't leave because of weather or distance from home. They were prime time playesr and left to pursue an NFL paycheck. Taylor Dever RT Played in 42 games. Two year Starter
2008: Crist- Graduate Transfer, McDonald-Graduate Transfer Joseph Fauria Transferred.
Crist had injuries and head problem. He beat himself out of a position. McDonald was beaten out by younger players. Fauria ran afoul of Res Life and instead of acting like a Notre Dame man he slunk out the back door. Rudolph contributed to his departure.
2009: Wood: 4 years, Shaq Evans-transferred. Wood was multi-year Starter. Shaq had personal issues to be kind.
2010: Cameron Roberson- injured, Utopo- 5 years.
2011: Schmidt- 5 years, Niklas 3 years left early. Niklas was a Starter and left because he was told he would get a big paycheck.
2012: None
2013: Redfield- Up in the air. Redfield has been a starter for 3 years.
2014: Luatua - up in the air. Already beaten out by Alize, and Smythe with more talent coming in.
2015: ESB and CJ Sanders. ESB was injured and great things expected. Sanders is a Special Teams Star.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Now let's do the same thing for Florida recruits.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[johnnycando]

Luatua is the better run blocker on the team imho.

I hope he stays.

I absolutely see his value.

 

[Booslum31]

Luatua is the better run blocker on the team imho.

I hope he stays.

I absolutely see his value.

Yeah...I feel best about third and short when he is on the field. Hope he stays too!

 

[EddytoNow]

I can understand the "I want to play more" reason for transferring, but I hope Luatua stays for his Notre Dame degree.

 

[IrishLion]

Now let's do the same thing for Florida recruits.

2005: Ray Herring ???
2006: Richard Jackson (???), Sam Young (4 years), Dan Wenger (4 years)
2007: Ian Williams (4 years), Armando Allen (4 years), Emeka Nwanko (4 years)
2009: Ben Turk (4 years), Jordan Cowart (4 years), Zeke Motta (4 years)
2010: Lo Wood (4 years + transfer), Spencer Boyd (0 years + transfer), Louis Nix (4 years), Bruce Heggie (Legend)
2011: Aaron Lynch (1 year + transfer), Anthony Rabasa (4 years + transfer)
2012: Justin Ferguson (1 year + transfer)
2013: Mike Heuerman (2 years + medical), Michael Deeb (2 years + medical), Greg Bryant (LOL), Tarean Folston (3 years and still enrolled)
2014: Corey Holmes (2 years and still enrolled)
2015: Dexter Williams (played as frosh), Tevon Coney (played as frosh)
2016: Six (!) total recruits from Florida, three of them enrolling early

 

[woolybug25]

Wow... That is pretty solid stuff from the sunshine state.

 

[stlnd01]

Yes, let's look at them "honestly". Geography and culture mentioned by stInd01 weren't really an issue, nor was distance from home. Depth Chart and PT were the prime motivators for most. A few listed here were in school for 4 years. They weren't star players but they contributed. Likewise injuries are due to geography and culture.

I wouldn't say that geography and culture were the primary reasons in most of the cases you mention, necessarily. If guys are contributing on the field, they tend to stick no matter where they're from (barring academic/disciplinary issues).

But when you're not playing, or hurt, or in trouble with Res Life, I can see how South Bend feels far from home and those winters start to seem awfully long and cold. And maybe you start looking around. That's all.

I don't have time right now to do a full study, but would be curious about the transfer/dropout rate for players from California (and for that matter Florida, Arizona and Vegas), vs. players from Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Chicago.

And I'm certainly not saying we shouldn't recruit Southern California. Of course we should. There's too much talent out there not to. We just need to find the right recruits. Guys who want to be at Notre Dame for Notre Dame, even if things get a little bumpy along the way. Utopu is a good example of a guy who stuck it out and became a contributor. Kona Schwenke (Hawaii, not Cali, but same idea), too.

I don't know exactly how you find/vet those kids (if I did...) But transfers don't really help anyone, and fit matters. I generally think they're doing a better job of this the last few classes, FWIW.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Off he goes according to Loy... Best of luck to him.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Officially gone.

Good thing we don't see TEs anymore.

 

[#1rish]

Best of luck Tyler.

 

[Ndaccountant]

Officially gone.

Good thing we don't see TEs anymore.

I suppose you mean use instead of see.

But honestly, I am right there with you. Our offense was so terrible last year and we had so much experience at TE even after DS went out against UVA. Complete coaching failure. We are so bad at TE, that none of them want to come here anymore.....just look at this recruiting class (but don't look at 2017, as that it doesn't fit this narrative).

 

[fightingirish26]

I suppose you mean use instead of see.

But honestly, I am right there with you. Our offense was so terrible last year and we had so much experience at TE even after DS went out against UVA. Complete coaching failure. We are so bad at TE, that none of them want to come here anymore.....just look at this recruiting class (but don't look at 2017, as that it doesn't fit this narrative).

What? Our offense wasn't terrible by any stretch of the imagination. Alize was the number 1 tight end last year, and Wright and Kmet are both top 5 tight ends next year. I do agree that tight ends should be used a little more, but I think that'll happen next year with Alize stepping up.

 

[rtrn2glory]

we still have 3 really good ones in alize, weishar, and smythe

luatua offered something a little different than them though, that hopefully one of the 3 mentioned will be able to make up.

 

[GoIrish41]

Luatua was a flake during recruiting. This does not surprise me much.

 

[koonja]

Fn California man...

 

[beryirish]

I suppose you mean use instead of see.

But honestly, I am right there with you. Our offense was so terrible last year and we had so much experience at TE even after DS went out against UVA. Complete coaching failure. We are so bad at TE, that none of them want to come here anymore.....just look at this recruiting class (but don't look at 2017, as that it doesn't fit this narrative).

34.2 PPG (33rd of 128)
466.8 Total Offensive YPG

That offense is horrible.

 

[Ndaccountant]

good lord......I thought that my post was so obvious that it didn't need italics, but I guess not.

 

[beryirish]

good lord......I thought that my post was so obvious that it didn't need italics, but I guess not.

The second half I took as italics. The first half seemed sincere.

 

[connor_in]

good lord......I thought that my post was so obvious that it didn't need italics, but I guess not.

Quote from the movie Roxanne:

C.D. Bales: Oh, ho, ho, irony! Oh, no, no, we don't get that here. See, uh, people ski topless here while smoking dope, so irony's not really a, a high priority. We haven't had any irony here since about, uh, '83, when I was the only practitioner of it. And I stopped because I was tired of being stared at.

 

[BeatSC]

Kids not going to go pro and should be evaluating whether or not a ND degree or a BYU degree will serve him best. Seemed like a FB playing TE. Good blocker for sure but a dead give away for what was coming next for play calling. Would love to see ND recruit a couple of FB's and run a few RB run sets to help with short yardage.