'15 IN ILB/OLB Asmar Bilal (Notre Dame Signed NLI)

[Irishman77]

Congrats to Bilal on being named scout team player of the year. Can't wait to see him and Barajas next year!

 

[longliveautrydenson]

Congrats to Bilal on being named scout team player of the year. Can't wait to see him and Barajas next year!

Can you imagine if we pull McCulloch and/or Kelly over the next few weeks? The competition at LB would be ridiculous next year.

Sam: Onwalu, Bilal, Kelly
Mike: Morgan, Martini, McCulloch
Will: Coney, Barajas, Hayes
Nickel (against running teams): Tranquill, Perry, DJ Morgan

That's probably not even close to right, but I can't think of any time in my life time that we've had so much talent to work with at LB.

 

[Luckylucci]

He had a very good interview about this where it sounds like he did a great job of keeping everything in perspective while on the scout team and in doing so has really caught the eye of the coaches.

 

[Old Man Mike]

This area is for me our foggiest situation by FAR [even Safety]. And I suppose that almost everyone including the staff sees that.

Soooo.... I'm betting that this group gets the most intense focus from the staff every second allowed. The players MUST realize this too, and some guys are going to dig deeper for these jobs than they thought they were capable. The competition should be ferocious.

That means to me that we're going to have a super-abundance of in-shape powerful athleticism here ... now comes the dreaded cutting edge: WHO is going to both have the werewolf READ/REACT instincts just post-snap, plus the pre-snap football smarts to get their mind into the defensive call? ... we all know about all of that puzzling area of failure on this team.

My assumption is that James Onwualu keeps his spot and blossoms into a recognized player. My second guess is that Martini is going to be hard to keep off the field. If that's true, who wants and who has the instinct to take that other spot? Young Mister Bilal: you'd be fine by me. [but I bet Young Misters Coney and Barajas and, as a godsend, hopefully Morgan will have somethings they want to say about that.] We have the athletes. They'll want it bad. Do any of them have the great werewolf instincts?

 

[dwshade]

Kelly is high on Bilal's future. Likes his instincts, picks things up quickly. Thinks he's going to be a really good player in the coming years.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Bilal, Boykin will get their shots - Notre Dame - Scout

Sources told Irish Illustrated that Smith suffered at least a torn ACL and LCL. A source also told Irish Illustrated that Coney suffered a shoulder dislocation likely to keep him out until fall camp.
That means Notre Dame’s depth chart at Will linebacker was effectively wiped out in the first half by Ohio State. Jarrett Grace replaced Coney in the game, but he’s out of eligibility. While Kelly wouldn’t commit to Bilal’s position within the linebacker corps just yet, it seems there’s a Smith comparison to be made.
“Asmar Bilal is definitely a guy that shows incredible traits at the linebacker position,” Kelly said. “He’s gonna be a guy in time where we’re all gonna look around and go, ‘Wow, he looks a little bit like that No. 9 guy.’”
Bilal was named Scout Team Player of the Year on defense last month.

 

[Irishcop]

Bilal, Boykin will get their shots - Notre Dame - Scout

For the love of God, Coney got injured too...

 

[PANDFAN]

For the love of God, Coney got injured too...

 

[BobbyMac]

That's a nasty dislocation to keep Coney out till the fall. I've had a few of those. Never was shelved more than 6-8 weeks.

Don't be surprised if this is worse than expected.

 

[pkt77242]

That's a nasty dislocation to keep Coney out till the fall. I've had a few of those. Never was shelved more than 6-8 weeks.

Don't be surprised if this is worse than expected.

I was thinking surgery with that timeline.

 

[Luckylucci]

Shoulders and knees are killing ND. Coney was thought of very highly inside the Gug.

 

[stlnd01]

I was thinking surgery with that timeline.

In-season you could probably bring a guy back from a dislocated shoulder within maybe four weeks. But longer term the re-occurrence rate without surgery is very very high. There's no need to rush Coney back just for spring ball. So yeah, surgery and get him right for the season.

 

[stlnd01]

But I guess my dream of Bilal as a nasty-ass stong safety is probably on the shelf for now.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Reviewing the Redshirts: LB Asmar Bilal <a href="https://t.co/fIpeZm63OQ">https://t.co/fIpeZm63OQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/nHPPKGer9d">pic.twitter.com/nHPPKGer9d</a></p>— One Foot Down (@OneFootDown) <a href="https://twitter.com/OneFootDown/status/704282505235533824">February 29, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Every once in a while a recruit comes around who isn't a top 10 can't miss prospect who you just know is destined for great things. Bilal is that player in my eyes. He was probably my favorite recruit from the 2015 class, earned Indianapolis Player of the Year honors as a senior, and just finished his redshirt season as the Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year.

Bilal is a local product, seems like a great cultural fit, and I've been as impressed with him in front of the media as anyone in his class. When Brian Kelly spoke to the media prior to the bowl game he mentioned that Bilal was mature for his age and very physical. I think he's got future captain potential, for sure.

Size has been an issue for Bilal as he was listed at 215 pounds last August and was already sporting a toned and muscular physique as a freshman. Think Jaylon Smith's body as a freshman but an inch shorter and 15 pounds lighter. There's hope he can get up to 230 but much more than that probably isn't in the cards.

As such, Bilal isn't playing middle linebacker for the Irish. When Kelly spoke about him in December he said he's either at the strong-side or weak-side positions. This is where things can get interesting. Both Greer Martini and Te'von Coney are out for the spring with injuries. If you assume James Onwualu continues with the firs-team at SAM there might be a huge opportunity for Bilal to move to WILL and spend all spring being a starter for a bit.

I wouldn't be surprised if Bilal hangs on to that hypothetical starting position when fall camp begins but admittedly I'm about as bullish on him as you can be. If he's moved to weak-side the competition between him and a returning Coney for that position will be absolutely phenomenal to watch.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Let's say he does hold on, (I can see Greer moved to the middle, just a gut feeling,) which would help.

Has there ever been a time in modern history where ND's linebacker corps (starting three) have been as light?

 

[BobbyMac]

Mykelti Williams was the 2015 lndy POTY.

 

[anarin]

Mykelti Williams was the 2015 lndy POTY.

2014 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Indiana Football Team | | USA Today High School Sports

 

[GBdomer]

So who is rushing the passer? Martini? Honestly no disrespect to 17 but that position could be upgraded. James is solid and been a good starter but that position is missing some flash.

 

[BobbyMac]

2014 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Indiana Football Team | | USA Today High School Sports

Confusing. The AFI gave it to AB while the Star gave it to MW... while using the insurance company as the sponsor of the team.

American Family Insurance ALL-USA Central Indiana HS football Super Team

Williams' production and reputation helped to earn him the Star's Super Team Player of the Year. The team is selected by the Star, with input from Central Indiana coaches.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

So who is rushing the passer? Martini? Honestly no disrespect to 17 but that position could be upgraded. James is solid and been a good starter but that position is missing some flash.

Same could be said for your posting. Quality starter.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

So who is rushing the passer? Martini? Honestly no disrespect to 17 but that position could be upgraded. James is solid and been a good starter but that position is missing some flash.

I don't know how good Bilal's pass rush moves are one way or another, but I imagine with Bilal's closing speed if he gets a lane on a a zone blitz he will rack up sacks.

 

[BobbyMac]

Same could be said for your posting. Quality starter.

TP with an AM zinger!

 

[GBdomer]

Same could be said for your posting. Quality starter.

nevermind

 

[BeauBenken]

nevermind

Aw man, since you guys know each other, I was hoping for a quality zing back.

 

[GBdomer]

Aw man, since you guys know each other, I was hoping for a quality zing back.

I was told to chill out and not attack other posters =). You missed my zingggggggg, but I didn't feel like getting a PM

 

[johnnycando]

Aw man, since you guys know each other, I was hoping for a quality zing back.

They're homies!?

That explains a lot.

Bros.

 

[BobbyMac]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a> LB Asmar Bilal “has great potential” according to his position coach: <a href="https://t.co/6G0WEeFimK">https://t.co/6G0WEeFimK</a> (FREE) <a href="https://t.co/DqLOB6tSVN">pic.twitter.com/DqLOB6tSVN</a></p>— Irish247 (@NotreDame247) <a href="https://twitter.com/NotreDame247/status/722488648168579078">April 19, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Will be a good battle this spring between him and Coney.


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[tko]

Will be a good battle this spring between him and Coney.


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Or in Fall Camp with Coney still recovering

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Or in Fall Camp with Coney still recovering

Lmao yes meant fall camp. Haha I'm an idiot.