'17 MI LB/RB Antjuan Simmons (Michigan State Verbal)

[jerboski]

had to cancel the scheduled visit to ND this weekend bc of some academic event apparently.

Got a call from new LB coach Chris Patrdige and RB coach Tyrone Wheatley, he'll be unofficially visiting Michigan this weekend.

So he cancelled ours to attend Michigan's?

 

[PANDFAN]

So he cancelled ours to attend Michigan's?

he had a tutoring session and was unable to make it w/ traveling....so he is right next to michigan

 

[drake29]

To say that he's the best and it's not close seems like a stretch IMO. This kid is good, and maybe very good but there's not enough film to evaluate of him at LB to even make that claim.

I feel the exact same way about Hayes this year. How is the kid a 5* prospect on defense when there's so little film to evaluate of him? Because he killed it in camps with no pads on?

We need a little more film on this kid before he can be put into the "can't miss" category in my opinion.

Watch any of his senior highlights and it quickly becomes obvious that Hayes is the most physically dominant player on the field. He takes on would be blockers with authority, shrugs them and makes plays on the ball carrier. He lays kids out, bull rushes bigger OL into the backfield. He's also got elite size for a linebacker and can chase down much smaller players that should be at a great advantage in those camp settings. His biggest question mark is his health. It has nothing to do with his physical ability or physicality on the field.

 

[Henges24]

But this is a little much. Take that elsewhere.

Michigan fans man. You can just smell them when they're close.

 

[Irish Man3]

Watch any of his senior highlights and it quickly becomes obvious that Hayes is the most physically dominant player on the field. He takes on would be blockers with authority, shrugs them and makes plays on the ball carrier. He lays kids out, bull rushes bigger OL into the backfield. He's also got elite size for a linebacker and can chase down much smaller players that should be at a great advantage in those camp settings. His biggest question mark is his health. It has nothing to do with his physical ability or physicality on the field.

He plays mediocre competition at best. He makes plays because he's far more athletic than everyone else on the field. That won't be the case in college and his health is obviously a huge concern. I've watched all the film available on Hayes and I'm not sold. Personal opinion.

 

[drake29]

He plays mediocre competition at best. He makes plays because he's far more athletic than everyone else on the field. That won't be the case in college and his health is obviously a huge concern. I've watched all the film available on Hayes and I'm not sold. Personal opinion.

He was also athletic enough to chase around national recruits in a camp setting. He's not only physical, he's very athletic. Health is a concern - but let's not make it out to be bigger than it is. Back in 2002, Ray Lewis had shoulder surgery. He went on to have a Hall of Fame Career. 14 years ago - medical procedures have come a long way, even since then. Size/aggression/athleticism. He has all three. Time on the field against a bunch of high school boys? Not so much - not a big deal. Certainly not enough to make him a 3 star or low 4 star player. Pretty much everyone who has seen this kid live rave about his ability - and he was good enough for ND to keep recruiting after his commitment to USC.

 

[Irish Man3]

He was also athletic enough to chase around national recruits in a camp setting. He's not only physical, he's very athletic. Health is a concern - but let's not make it out to be bigger than it is. Back in 2002, Ray Lewis had shoulder surgery. He went on to have a Hall of Fame Career. 14 years ago - medical procedures have come a long way, even since then. Size/aggression/athleticism. He has all three. Time on the field against a bunch of high school boys? Not so much - not a big deal. Certainly not enough to make him a 3 star or low 4 star player. Pretty much everyone who has seen this kid live rave about his ability - and he was good enough for ND to keep recruiting after his commitment to USC.

He showed how physical he was in a camp setting without pads?

It's more than just the health that concerns me. He has no definitive position on defense. Most project him to end up at DE. He has little to no experience at the position on the field. If you don't think time on the field is a concern, I completely disagree with you. He needs to learn how to leverage his body, use his hands, and develope more than one pass rushing move. He's not going to be able to drive FBS left tackles into the backfield on a consistent basis.

If he ends up at LB, I still believe time on the field is crutial. Knowing your fill, reading the guards and pulling TE/HB/OT. Training your eyes and diagnosing plays takes reps, something he has little of.

I'm not saying the kid won't be a special player, but I'm not at all convinced he's a can't miss recruit. Lack of film at the position he'll end up at concerns me. The fear of the unknown I suppose.

 

[mtnd15]

I don't mind the presence of a skunkbear around these parts. Any Midwesterner can relate to that acceptance.The caddish faux elitism. A gaudy house built on sand. The Potempkin career of Bo swelling in your chests.

But this is a little much. Take that elsewhere.

Lol what a great post

 

[Irishman77]

Christian McCollum said on power hour we love him at LB and we got a very good shot here. When he camped here we put him at LB and covered the running backs very well.

 

[TomHaverford]

Christian McCollum said on power hour we love him at LB and we got a very good shot here. When he camped here we put him at LB and covered the running backs very well.

there's no doubt he's very athletic for a LB. Most kids that are 6'0/6'1 and 195 lbs and playing LB do tend to be pretty athletic for the position.

I think the big question for him is can he get to 230-240 in college and maintain that athleticism. If he can, he could wind up being a real star. Great instincts and explosion on tape. Realize his competition isn't the greatest, but nonetheless he dominates what he goes up against and he is very impressive on tape.

If he was like 6'3, 215-220 right now like Jaylon Smith was in high school, he'd probably be blowing up with offers and be rated damn near 5* status instead of as a 3*.

 

[dublinirish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Ann Arbor Pioneer 2017 RB/LB Antjuan Simmons was offered by Oregon, his 38th offer <a href="https://t.co/MG3nbJM8md">https://t.co/MG3nbJM8md</a> <a href="https://t.co/MiL4yFFJ2G">pic.twitter.com/MiL4yFFJ2G</a></p>— The D Zone (@TheD_Zone) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheD_Zone/status/699993347042230273">February 17, 2016</a></blockquote>
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[Bogtrotter07]

there's no doubt he's very athletic for a LB. Most kids that are 6'0/6'1 and 195 lbs and playing LB do tend to be pretty athletic for the position.

I think the big question for him is can he get to 230-240 in college and maintain that athleticism. If he can, he could wind up being a real star. Great instincts and explosion on tape. Realize his competition isn't the greatest, but nonetheless he dominates what he goes up against and he is very impressive on tape.

If he was like 6'3, 215-220 right now like Jaylon Smith was in high school, he'd probably be blowing up with offers and be rated damn near 5* status instead of as a 3*.

Why 230-240? Onwualu is 220 or so. 4-3 linebackers don't need to be as heavy, but need to be mobile. Just watch most of the SEC schools, especially LSU!

220, at a true 6'1, with good strength acquired from a college conditioning program, and I could see a Tyler Matakevich. Maybe you remember how everyone on this site lusted after him, particularly after the game on Halloween last year?

 

[Luckylucci]

Why 230-240? Onwualu is 220 or so. 4-3 linebackers don't need to be as heavy, but need to be mobile. Just watch most of the SEC schools, especially LSU!

220, at a true 6'1, with good strength acquired from a college conditioning program, and I could see a Tyler Matakevich. Maybe you remember how everyone on this site lusted after him, particularly after the game on Halloween last year?

JO weighed in at 232 this year and Matakevich is 235, so right in that wheel house that Haverford described.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

JO weighed in at 232 this year and Matakevich is 235, so right in that wheel house that Haverford described.

Ali Highsmith - 6' - 220lbs
Bradie James -6'2" - 242lbs at combine, but played under 230 until his last season at LSU.

Before his Junior football season, when he broke into the roster at linebacker, James Onwualu was listed on every roster, at 220lbs. Was that one of the reasons his performance improved? Maybe. I still think that was the fact that he got a lot more comfortable playing a position he never had before he moved into the starting lineup on 2014. His weight took a big jump after last off season, before his third year in the program. This is much like what happened to Bradie James

My point is, you can take a kid that is 205 as a Junior in high school, and extrapolate that he would easily be 220 by his second or third year, and be able to play. Especially one that has more experience at the positon, and is as quick to the ball and changing direction as anyone I have seen.

Others must feel this way as he has what? Thirty-eight D1 offers?

So I am not trying to argue about ten pounds. I am just saying that it is no reason to decline taking a shot at a superior athlete, if you are anyone besides Jim Harbaugh.

 

[Luckylucci]

Ali Highsmith - 6' - 220lbs
Bradie James -6'2" - 242lbs at combine, but played under 230 until his last season at LSU.

Before his Junior football season, when he broke into the roster at linebacker, James Onwualu was listed on every roster, at 220lbs. Was that one of the reasons his performance improved? Maybe. I still think that was the fact that he got a lot more comfortable playing a position he never had before he moved into the starting lineup on 2014. His weight took a big jump after last off season, before his third year in the program. This is much like what happened to Bradie James

My point is, you can take a kid that is 205 as a Junior in high school, and extrapolate that he would easily be 220 by his second or third year, and be able to play. Especially one that has more experience at the positon, and is as quick to the ball and changing direction as anyone I have seen.

Others must feel this way as he has what? Thirty-eight D1 offers?

So I am not trying to argue about ten pounds. I am just saying that it is no reason to decline taking a shot at a superior athlete, if you are anyone besides Jim Harbaugh.[/QUOTE]

I was simply pointing out that your original examples were of two players in his designated range, therefore using other examples for your point was probably warranted.

At no point has Haverford said he wouldn't take this kid. He said that the question around him is can he get big enough. That's a real concern but not one that he said would stop him from recruiting him. He's simply pointing out the reason that the kid isn't a 5 star. In his own words he said that if he was bigger he'd be a 5 star. That's not a knock on the kid, more so the reality of the situation.

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a> LB target Antjuan Simmons announces commitment to Ohio State. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Buckeyes?src=hash">#Buckeyes</a> <a href="https://t.co/rOrBZAyZYV">https://t.co/rOrBZAyZYV</a></p>— Jake Brown (@Jake_Brown) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jake_Brown/status/704698984472944641">March 1, 2016</a></blockquote>
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[fightingirish26]

I don't like ohio state very much

 

[gkIrish]

I don't like ohio state very much

 

[dublinirish]

BALLS.

Had really high hopes for this kid. He's gonna be a stud at OSU

 

[GBdomer]

No comment

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Simply put Ohio State is kicking our ass in recruiting right now.

 

[ColinKSU]

Simply put Ohio State is kicking our ass in recruiting right now.

And on the field. I assume they're looking into other ways to embarrass Notre Dame.

 

[drake29]

 

[IrishLax]

Everyone still happy we played Ohio State instead of Iowa in the bowl game?

 

[gkIrish]

Everyone still happy we played Ohio State instead of Iowa in the bowl game?

People said that? Smh...same people who think we should play a top 20 team every week.

 

[ThePiombino]

lololol and one by one, ND's "killer 2017 class" commits to other schools...

 

[ThePiombino]

Everyone still happy we played Ohio State instead of Iowa in the bowl game?

Nope, was praying for Iowa all along. Boring win >>> exciting loss...and it didn't even wind up being exciting.

 

[fightingirish26]

lololol and one by one, ND's "killer 2017 class" commits to ohio state...

fixed

 

[koonja]

lololol and one by one, ND's "killer 2017 class" commits to other schools...

Yeah but 2018 will be bananas.

 

[OCIrish]

People said that? Smh...same people who think we should play a top 20 team every week.

And just one reason we should play tougher teams in the regular season........so as not to have our asses handed to us in the bowl game, but I digress........bring on the Merchant Marines next season