'08 CO LB Jon Major (Colorado Verbal)

[Irish Envy]

Jon Major - Linebacker (6-4/220)
Ponderosa HS (Parker, CO)

Combine
Forty: 4.58
Bench Reps: N/A
Bench Max: N/A
Squat Max: N/A
Shuttle: N/A
Vertical: N/A

Star Ratings
Rivals.com: N/A
Scout.com:

Rankings & Accolades
- Rivals.com Class of 2008 100 To Watch

Statistics
2005 - 109 TKL (41 Solo, 5 TFL), 1 INT, 5 BR, 3 FR
2006 - 107 TKL (16 TFL), 1 INT, 6 BR, 3 FF

Schools of Interest:
1. Colorado
2. Michigan
3. Oklahoma
4. Penn State
5. Stanford
6. UCLA
7. Wisconsin
8. Northwestern
9. Washington

Media
N/A

 

[Irish Envy]

 

[Irish Envy]

"I had a great game day visit to South Bend. I had a chance to meet coach Rob Ianello in person as well as coach Charlie Weis. I was very impressed with the school, facilities, coaches and the community in general. The game day atmosphere was incredible."

Major was an unofficial visitor for the Penn State game. Looks like a solid prospect.

 

[Irish Envy]

Major has now picked up an offer from Wisconsin.

 

[Irish Envy]

Ohio State is now getting in on this kid, which I think is a tell tale sign he's going to be a damn good backer. Anyhow, I believe he's heading up to Columbus this weekend for an unofficial visit.

 

[GoshenGipper]

Jon reports a 3.65 GPA, and it looks like just about every big time program in the country will be after him.

 

[seniorle]

I find it really hard to believe that he hasn't been offered yet. He's gonna be a national recruit.

 

[BGIF]

Freebie article at http://michigan.scout.com/2/621137.html

Two dozen offers.

 

[Jason Pham]

Being recruited by Luke Fickell at tOSU and is interested in a return visit.

 

[GoshenGipper]

I wonder if Jon will get some more attention from ND now, especially if Beal, and others go elsewhere in the near future?

 

[jsully84]

I wonder if Jon will get some more attention from ND now, especially if Beal, and others go elsewhere in the near future?

Major is an ILB, ND already has 2 ILB's in this class. I don't expect him to be offered.

 

[goldenlid]

If he can move and hit why not offer him as an OLB. Most of the teams in the NFL that run a 3-4 have big OLB that can run and play ILB if they need them to.

 

[Akron Irish]

I say we give him an offer. Having one too many good linebackers is a problem I'd like to have

 

[IrishCalves]

They probably want to bring in 4, 5 guys tops at LB. They've got 2, and they know Filer and Fleming have to be high, and could commit soon. After that, they're probably gunning for Sabino, Arthur Brown or Shayne Hale. I think throwing out another offer at LB at this juncture is superfluous.

 

[leprechaun4life]

I say go ahead and give an offer to him. He is easily one of the top LBs in the country, and having him would really help out the class. I know the staff probably wants to get some other players first, but they haven't committed so it isn't like anything is for certain. Nobody can be sure how well a player will develop after HS, so I (and most others) would feel a lot more comfortable having an extra 5 "star" LB on campus just in case. Of course, Weis and co. get paid to do this, so they probably have a better idea than I do; maybe they saw something in the film that they don't like etc. In any case, I think we should offer him, and if we get too many LBs, then we could always move the smaller guys to safety, and the bigger guys to DE, and see how it works.

 

[illinoisirish88]

Agree with GD3...we probably feel very good about Filer and Fleming making 4, and from there will simply elephant hunt with Sabino, Hale, & Brown the bigger elephant's in the mind of the staff. The other thing you don't know is how receptive Major is to ND. I think he came on an unofficial visit for a game last year...perhaps he did not enjoy it that much. It takes two to tango.

 

[Katzenboyer]

What's the harm in extending the offer?

I understand we have a lot of LB offers, with more commits coming soon -- but last year, bringing in Paskorz, Neal, Smith, and Nagel, would you have said no if both Donald and Galippo had wanted to be Irish?

You can't have enough talent on the field when it comes to linebackers -- ESPECIALLY in the 3-4.

 

[Ricochet]

What's the harm in extending the offer?

I understand we have a lot of LB offers, with more commits coming soon -- but last year, bringing in Paskorz, Neal, Smith, and Nagel, would you have said no if both Donald and Galippo had wanted to be Irish?

You can't have enough talent on the field when it comes to linebackers -- ESPECIALLY in the 3-4.

I agree and with the switch to the 3-4 as well as not getting the amount of LB's they wanted in last years recruiting class the depth at LB isn't very good IMO. I would to see them bring in 4 ILB and 2 OLB and even if they get what they want at LB and Brown and/or Hale wanted to come to ND you take them regardless, you don't pass up talent like that. As much as I like the current LB commits they are nowhere near the talent of those 2.

 

[johnnd05]

What's the harm in extending the offer?

Umm ... either you fill up too many spots to fill your needs at other positions and end up with a logjam at LB down the line, or you alienate the kids you've already offered and into whose recruiting you've already put a lot of work. CB has made it clear that he's going after guys that fit his schemes, and that he (obviously) doesn't care about star ratings:

Who rates players? Who makes guys 'five stars'? What does a 'five star' mean? Where did these rules come from? Is it standard? I mean, really, is it? You don't know. That's why you got to give guys a chance. I will tell you this: win, lose or draw, the guys that WE bring in here, in my mind, THEY'RE the best players. Because I think I can teach them to do the right thing. The guys coming here, I BELIEVE in them. And they're going to be the best. I don't care about some guy who's 'five star' and got a hundred thousand offers. Give me the dudes that want to play! That's what I want. Give me all the dudes that want to play. That's what I want more than anything else.

(link.) There may well be reasons why we've gone after the guys we have, and haven't offered Major. Let's trust the staff on this, huh folks?

 

[Katzenboyer]

Umm ... either you fill up too many spots to fill your needs at other positions and end up with a logjam at LB down the line, or you alienate the kids you've already offered and into whose recruiting you've already put a lot of work.

Ummm -- if a guy gets in a tiff over the fact that we offer another linebacker, then I don't want him here. Is he not expecting competition when he comes to ND? The job isn't going to be handed to him.

As for the logjam, that's a problem I'd love to have. The Patriots constantly use 4 and 5 man rotations every year at all LB spots. If some good players can't get in because the players ahead of them are better? So be it.

And we have plenty of schollies to offer. If we take 5 or 6 linebackers, some people make it out that it's the end of the world, and that we won't be able to offer any other players at another position. This is bunk. College football teams don't follow a formula -- and it's evident by the Crist recruiting. Weis said that he wasn't going to take a QB in this class, yet a talented QB could very well commit to us on Thursday. Does this mean Weis was a liar? No, it means that an opportunity to add depth to a position with a quality player presented itself, and he will be more than willing to take it if Crist does commit. Same think for Major.

As for the star ratings, what does it have to do with your argument? OK, so CB doesn't care about star ratings, that's fine. But Major is a linebacker who's right up there with Brown and Hale in terms of talent, and if he has the grades, why not offer him? It doesn't have anything to do with his star ratings, but it DOES have something to do with the fact that he's rated as one of the top linebackers in the country this year.

 

[Irishknight1023]

We have alot of offers out there, and i also recall turning Mustain away because of commitments from DJ and Frazer. The QB spot filled up 2 years ago and now if the LB spot fills up we can't take anymore, and please try and remember how many scholarships we can accually give this year, we're not Florida or South Carolina where we can take thirty something players. We value our word and academic institution and don't revoke scholarships year to year because we are not a football factory who has players say "THE UNIVERSITY OF LSU."

 

[illinoisirish88]

What's the harm in extending the offer?

I understand we have a lot of LB offers, with more commits coming soon -- but last year, bringing in Paskorz, Neal, Smith, and Nagel, would you have said no if both Donald and Galippo had wanted to be Irish?

You can't have enough talent on the field when it comes to linebackers -- ESPECIALLY in the 3-4.

Smith would have never had an offer if Donald came and Galippo was off the board real early in the process too, so pretty hard to tell. I doubt we would take 6 at LB this year under any circumstance. Even if we got 4 lined up and Brown and say a Beal wanted to come...inevitably their commitment and getting to 6 verbals will cause one of the first 4 to bail.

Our problem at LB is more of a quality issue than numbers. We have Nagel, Paz, Neal, & Brian Smith from last class. Toryan Smith, Mo Richardson, Kallen Wade & John Ryan in the prior class. Quinn and Kevin Washington the prior. Mix in little Poz and McDonald and we have a dozen kids already with at least 3 years of eligibility. Mix in a Filer and a Fleming and I'm as happy as can be with LB.

 

[Katzenboyer]

We have alot of offers out there, and i also recall turning Mustain away because of commitments from DJ and Frazer. The QB spot filled up 2 years ago and now if the LB spot fills up we can't take anymore, and please try and remember how many scholarships we can accually give this year, we're not Florida or South Carolina where we can take thirty something players. We value our word and academic institution and don't revoke scholarships year to year because we are not a football factory who has players say "THE UNIVERSITY OF LSU."

Entirely different cases. One QB is on the field at a time. 4 LBs are on the field at once.

Taking 3 QBs in one class is the equivalent of taking 12 LBs. That's why we said no to Mustain.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Smith would have never had an offer if Donald came and Galippo was off the board real early in the process too, so pretty hard to tell. I doubt we would take 6 at LB this year under any circumstance. Even if we got 4 lined up and Brown and say a Beal wanted to come...inevitably their commitment and getting to 6 verbals will cause one of the first 4 to bail.

Our problem at LB is more of a quality issue than numbers. We have Nagel, Paz, Neal, & Brian Smith from last class. Toryan Smith, Mo Richardson, Kallen Wade & John Ryan in the prior class. Quinn and Kevin Washington the prior. Mix in little Poz and McDonald and we have a dozen kids already with at least 3 years of eligibility. Mix in a Filer and a Fleming and I'm as happy as can be with LB.

I used that as a hypothetical. Would any of you have said no to Donald and Galippo if they pulled a Greg Little on us on signing day? I don't think so.

As for the quality, I agree. And Jon Major, from the looks of it, is a quality linebacker.

I'm not saying it wouldn't create a lot of competition. I'm saying -- what's the point of NOT offering a quality LB when it's the area on the defense that NEEDS the most quality?

 

[IrishCalves]

Then you run into the possibility of having more guys than you want, which would bump other areas of need within a recruiting. We have two slots open, maybe three, and we have 5 offers to fill them, which is definitely a sufficient number. Plus, it could scare a guy away who was previously high on the Irish. It would seem like double talk to a recruit who was offered early and was told, "You're our guy", only to see another LB offered after him at the same position. Thats just me though, and I do see your point.

 

[leprechaun4life]

I'm with Katzenboyer. Right now we have two LB, with possibly a third in Filer, and Fleming being recruited as a DE/OLB. Both of them are reportedly high on ND, but they have not verbally committed, and even more importantly (evident last year) they have not signed their LOI. So, that leaves one maybe two spots open for LBs. Beal isn't a lock for ND, Brown will take his time with the process, and who knows about Hale (Sweat will be left out of this conversation b/c he is all over the place)

So, what happens if Beal, Brown, and Hale all decide to go elsewhere, then we are left in the same boat as last year, except LeGrand (this year's Brian Smith) has apparently committed to Rutgers. Why don't we give Major an offer? Just because he is given an offer doesn't mean he is destined to commit. If he does commit, I wouldn't mind an extra LB at the expense of losing an OL. Face it, not many of the big recruits have panned out on defense yet (looking at you Vernaglia), so lets give Major an offer and let the chips fall where they may.

However, the coaches know how to recruit and they probably have more inside info than I do (I hope thats the case), so I'm sure they have a good reason to refrain from offering Major. I just don't want to be left in the dust if our main LB targets don't pan out, or decide to go elsewhere.

 

[johnnd05]

(I know I'm repeating some of what's been said above, and I really don't want this to turn into a big pissing match, but it's MY pissing match, dammit -- I started it! So here goes.)

It's not just about the number of guys we take at LB -- the "logjam" issue -- but also about the total number of scholarships we have to offer. (That's why taking three QB's is NOT the same as taking twelve LB's.) Unlike some programs we don't take 25, 30 guys in a year -- it's going to be 18-21. Do we really want to fill a third of those spots with LB's? I don't think so -- and with two in the fold and at least two that seem pretty high on us, I suspect that, or maybe one more, is just about as high as Brown and Weis want to go; after all, it's on the defensive line that we're especially hurting. (That Fleming* is a DE/LB is beside the point -- that's just what it IS to be an OLB in a 3-4, right?)

As to the point about not wanting guys who are worried about competition, I have to disagree with you here somewhat. (Though only 'somewhat' because we obviously don't want a kid who cares only about PT and not about winning. They can go to Illinois -- zing!) Of course a kid wants to feel like he's going to have a chance to play, and that's going to be a factor in his decision. I can promise you that playing time is a topic of discussion between the coaches and the recruits, and that the staff has given some indication to the kids they are recruiting of how many guys they're looking to take at their positions. If this is so, then to go ahead and stock up at a position just because the talent turns out to be there would be dishonest -- fine for Florida, but not for us.

Ultimately, though, my position rests on the fact that the coaching staff hasn't seen fit to offer Major. They had other guys they wanted to go after more, for whatever reason. And I think they know more about football and about what they need for their defense -- and about what ND needs in the dorms and the classrooms! -- than you, me, or the guys at Scout/Rivals/ESPN.



(Okay, I'm done pissing.)

 

[Freeman Ara]

Personally I think you take as many guys at LB this year as you can. Its so deep and talented this year and that one spot, and we are lacking in depth at that position I think you take as many as you can. And I don't understand why you guys don't think we'll take a full class this year, if we do it just means fewer 5th years stick around down the road and you balance it out with later recruiting classes. We need not only quality but depth at so many positions on defense that we have to recruit heavy now and slim down in the next few years so that the classes are more balanced. With 60 offers out already and more to come after the evaluation period I just don't see us not taking a full class. And if guys start committing early thats not necessarily a bad thing. I mean these guys have offers because the staff feels like they can play, so let them come. This will add pressure to guys like Brown or Beal to make a decision earlier too. Weis did this with Mustain and this is exactly how he'll do it this year. He might hold 1-2 spots for guys but not forever, so hey you guys want to come play here get on board now or its your loss.

 

[johnnd05]

Personally I think you take as many guys at LB this year as you can. Its so deep and talented this year and that one spot, and we are lacking in depth at that position I think you take as many as you can. And I don't understand why you guys don't think we'll take a full class this year, if we do it just means fewer 5th years stick around down the road and you balance it out with later recruiting classes. We need not only quality but depth at so many positions on defense that we have to recruit heavy now and slim down in the next few years so that the classes are more balanced. With 60 offers out already and more to come after the evaluation period I just don't see us not taking a full class. And if guys start committing early thats not necessarily a bad thing. I mean these guys have offers because the staff feels like they can play, so let them come. This will add pressure to guys like Brown or Beal to make a decision earlier too. Weis did this with Mustain and this is exactly how he'll do it this year. He might hold 1-2 spots for guys but not forever, so hey you guys want to come play here get on board now or its your loss.

I agree with most of what you say, though "as many guys at LB as you can" is obviously absurd if you take it to the extreme (I'll play, coach -- just give me a scholarship! ... for that matter my son could probably wiggle his way to a couple of tackles as well). But 18-21 offers IS a full class if you figure 85 scholarships total, at least a half-dozen fifth-years, and a typically high retention rate. So 4-5 LB's seems like the pretty clear maximum to me; if Brown, Beal, etc. know our limit and see things filling up that should be sufficient pressure for them.

 

[Irishknight1023]

It is accually not possible to take a full class, we arent going to take 10 LB's this year because its a deep year...Major doesn't have an offer because its a "deep year". I look at his offers and don't see any from USC, Florida, or schools like that...they must be seeing what our coaches are. Yes he looks good in his 2 minute "Highlight" film, but coaches study game film which consists of taking plays off and desire and other things, just because we lost out in the last couple years on LB's doesn't mean we can just take half of our entire class with LB's because guys on the internet want more depth (Which isn't that bad to begin with.) If he gets offered he gets offered, let it go.