'08 CT DT Masengo Kabongo (Maryland Verbal)

[irishunclebill]

Masengo Kabongo – DT (6-2/275)
Fairfield College Prep (Fairfield, CT)

Combine
Forty: 5.04 Seconds
Bench Reps: N/A
Bench Max: N/A
Squat Max: N/A
Shuttle: N/A
Vertical: N/A
GPA: 3.5

Star Ratings
Rivals.com:
Scout.com:

Rankings & Accolades
-Rivals 100 to Watch for 2008

Statistics
2006
-Defense: 87 Tackles, 27 Tackles for Losses, 10 Sacks

Schools of Interest
Boston College
Clemson
Connecticut
Illinois
Maryland (Solid Verbal)
Michigan
Michigan State
Notre Dame
Purdue

 

[irishunclebill]

Masengo Kabongo

 

[irishunclebill]

Kabongo is a native of the Congo and has been playing Football for only three years. BC was originally his top choice, but he has changed his mind since the departure of Tom O'Brien. Masengo is planning on visiting ND for the Spring Game weekend on April 21.

 

[seniorle]

Awesome, another DT! Looks like he still needs to put on some pounds but he's got a year and a half to work on that.

 

[irishunclebill]

In what should be absolutely no surprise given his background, Kabongo left the B&G game with ND as his favorite, even though he left without an offer. The offer may be forthcoming shortly, or may have to wait until CB makes a recruiting call to Fairfield Prep.

 

[Irishknight1023]

"I liked it a lot and I don't have much doubts that they are my leader"

Looks solid, defensive end for us?

 

[GoshenGipper]

Looks solid, defensive end for us?

Yeah, probably. I would imagine he'll be one of the DL that get offered if E.Johnson, or K.Lewis-Moore don't look like they will be comming to ND.

 

[irishunclebill]

"I liked it a lot and I don't have much doubts that they are my leader"

Looks solid, defensive end for us?

I don't know, hard to tell from his pictures whether he has the physical size required to add 35-40 lbs. to be able to play NG without losing agility. Remember he has only played football for three years, so he has a tremendous upside. His school plays my local high school in the fall, so I should be able to see him in action come September.

 

[IrishCalves]

I don't know, hard to tell from his pictures whether he has the physical size required to add 35-40 lbs. to be able to play NG without losing agility. Remember he has only played football for three years, so he has a tremendous upside. His school plays my local high school in the fall, so I should be able to see him in action come September.

I think the questions from the guys here have been about defensive end. If he stays there, he's probably not going to need to add that kind of weight. Are you saying he looks like, or is being treated as, a nose guard by recruitniks or the coaching staff?

 

[notredomer23]

Imagine if this kid played football for say only 3 years more? he could be one of the top rated dts possibly.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Even though he says we're his leader, I still think he's BC's to lose.

 

[irishunclebill]

I think the questions from the guys here have been about defensive end. If he stays there, he's probably not going to need to add that kind of weight. Are you saying he looks like, or is being treated as, a nose guard by recruitniks or the coaching staff?

Again, not enough info on Kabongo to be sure. He plays DT in High School, and his height would be better suited for NG in college if he can put on the weight, but he apparently is pretty quick, so he could possibly just as easily play one of the DE positions. He probably has not been offered yet because they are still evaluating where he would best fit in the new scheme, but my gut feel is that he is being looked at as an alternative to Brandon Newman if that falls through, no solid info to support that however.

 

[johnnd05]

Even though he says we're his leader, I still think he's BC's to lose.

Why do you say that? (Just wondering.)

 

[irishunclebill]

Why do you say that? (Just wondering.)

Kabongo was originally considered to be a BC lock until they had their coaching change.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Why do you say that? (Just wondering.)

He loved BC, and would have committed if TOB was still there. After the coaching change, he decided to look around to see what else was out there, and people I know who are close to the UConn program still seem to think that he likes BC.

We know he likes "ND type" schools, because BC was his top choice, and I think any offer/visit to ND can be overwhelming. But I still think he'll be with BC.

 

[jiggafini19]

He talks of academics (engineering), atmosphere and tradition more than any other factors.

Consider the comments of Sweat and Beal. This guy becomes a no brainer in my book. He is not your average recruit.

Speaks four languages and his mother is a doctor. He has Ivy League schools looking at him. He is extremely raw to American Football but incredibly athletic for his size.

When he plays, he pretty much stops short of ripping the guy's face off. BC renegged on their offer and the new staff asked for tapes of him. ND had better offer this guy. There is no reason not to. On the field, off of the field he is everything they could ever want. And based on what he said after his visit this past weekend, I'm even more sure of that statement.

With Cwynar in, Newman leaning hard, looking good with Hafis Williams, this would round out a very nice Fantastic Four. All of them can fit into the new defense.

 

[johnnd05]

Thanks for the insight, Jigga. Everything you say seems plausible to me, and I love the fact that we look so good with all these DL guys -- a "Fantastic Four" indeed!

 

[Katzenboyer]

He talks of academics (engineering), atmosphere and tradition more than any other factors.

When he plays, he pretty much stops short of ripping the guy's face off. BC renegged on their offer and the new staff asked for tapes of him. ND had better offer this guy. There is no reason not to. On the field, off of the field he is everything they could ever want. And based on what he said after his visit this past weekend, I'm even more sure of that statement.

I've seen him play, and he's absolutely NOT the player you describe.

The reason BC renegged, in all fairness, is because they had just cleaned house. ALL recruits offers were renegged -- it wasn't because of anything Kabongo has done.

But the knock on him, and something I've agreed with seeing him play last year, is that he's got all the physical attributes in the world, but isn't neccesarily a good football player. Yes, he's new to the sport, I agree. But he's definitely a project, and didn't impress me much at all -- I think the offer would be better suited elsewhere, and a better player could fill the scholarship spot.

 

[Irishknight1023]

I think that Geobel kid should get an offer before this guy, but watching his film he looks good but obviously a project which isn't bad because it's not like he's going to be starting as a frosh anyways.

 

[jiggafini19]

I think the offer would be better suited elsewhere, and a better player could fill the scholarship spot.

What defensive tackles are out that who are viable prospects with A) mutual interest in Notre Dame; and B) the ability to qualify?

As far as Kabongo goes, this is the first negative feedback I've seen on the kid. He won't be a secret much longer. His offer list isn't all that impressive now, but we should know a lot more by the end of June.

 

[IrishCalves]

He's a very good prospect, but ND has 7 guys offered at DL. Forston, Hafis Williams, Newman, Kapron Lewis-Moore, Cwynar (committed), Chancey Aghayere, and Omar Hunter. We're probably only targeting 3-4 guys at DL. So to offer Kabongo, or Goebel at this point would probably mean 1 of 2 things:

1. We missed the film on this guy, and/or really misjudged him, and thus we can't afford to let him slip any longer; he's our premiere target.

2. We can't wait any longer for Newman/Hafis/Hunter/etc to decide, so now we're moving on.

 

[Irishknight1023]

Karpon just won't be going to ND, trust me rule him out.

 

[jiggafini19]

Forston, Hafis Williams, Newman, Kapron Lewis-Moore, Cwynar (committed), Chancey Aghayere, and Omar Hunter.

Forston...gotta be Miami. He might not even visit. He's from Miami Northwestern HS in Liberty City, Miami. If you want to play the diversity card, here is your guy.

Hafis: Like our chances here.

Newman: Say when.

Lewis Moore: How about a visit? ND offered first, but he's playing it close to the vest lately.

Aghayere: Texas schools probably on top here. Running out of time on this one. Again, he has to visit. Major long shot.

Omar Hunter: Chasing the Skunk Bears here. Again, lots of ground to make up.

I guess they take 4 DL this year. Cwynar in, Newman is almost there, Hafis Williams is looking pretty good. These other guys are all long shots. I don't think Ethan Johnson leaves Pac 10 country, either.

One more spot and if it is one more offer, my preference is Kabongo over Goebel. And that is coming from a Chicago guy. Goebel is very good. I just happen to think Kabongo would be better for this new defense, but what I think means nothing to Corwin Brown.

 

[IrishCalves]

Cwynar: Committed
Forston: I don't know if its the writer's slant, but I keep reading he's looking forward to visiting ND and USC (maybe wants to go national?).
Lewis-Moore: Has said he'll visit Notre Dame this fall.
Hafis: Odds look good.
Newman: Ditto, plus one perhaps.
Hunter: If its not Michigan, its Georgia.
Aghayere: Low odds as well.
Johnson: Looks like USC then the rest of the pack, but he sounds like he'll visit, so there's a shot (again, could be writer's slant).

My point is, if three look like solid bets (Cwynar, Newman, Hafis), and we only want to bring in 1 extra lineman, you can't write 5 different "long shots" off when its only April by offering a different one who's high on the Irish. I agree with you that if those guys go elsewhere, Kapongo would probably be the best fallback option, even if he is a raw prospect.

 

[Irishknight1023]

Cwynar: Done deal.
Forston: Miami, maybe USC if he waits to close to NSD.
Lewis-Moore: Has said he'll TRY visit Notre Dame this fall, he will not be wearing the blue & gold, quote me on that.
Hafis: Good odds, but don't like how he wants to take all of his officials.
Newman: He will give in within the next month.
Hunter: Michigan, thats it.
Aghayere: Impossiblity
Johnson: Will take all of his Officials, everyone rides him off as USC lock, where do you get that info? because he's not.

I would still like to see Goebel get an offer followed by Kobongo if nessasary,

 

[Katzenboyer]

Johnson: Will take all of his Officials, everyone rides him off as USC lock, where do you get that info? because he's not.

Johnson pretty much flat out said USC was his leader in a Scout article from last week. He'll be tough to pull away from the Trojans.

 

[jiggafini19]

Some of you have gotten pretty high on Goebel pretty fast. He just got an Irish Envy profile on Monday.

Scout has him higher than Cwynar, yes, but Rivals has Cwynar (Top 250) AND Kabongo ( Top 100) higher than Goebel (GG is not in the Rivals Pre Evaluation 250). Cwynar and Goebel currently have more impressive offer lists (One year ago, Tez Wilson was virtually an unknown nationally). Is one recruiting board or the other swaying our feelings here?

Does Goebel fit into the defensive scheme better than Kabongo?

 

[irishunclebill]

As someone previously pointed out, grades also appear to be an issue here, at least according to one of the ND recruiting boards staff.

Just to clarify, I'm talking about Goebel, not Kabongo.

 

[Irishknight1023]

Yeah Katz i read the article over again and i still see nowhere in the article that he declares USC a favorite or even leading in fact he basically talks about ND and USC alot so i don't really know why his favorite is USC to you still?....

http://recruiting.scout.com/2/636205.html

 

[Katzenboyer]

Yeah Katz i read the article over again and i still see nowhere in the article that he declares USC a favorite or even leading in fact he basically talks about ND and USC alot so i don't really know why his favorite is USC to you still?....

http://recruiting.scout.com/2/636205.html

In that article, he has glowing things to say about USC and ND, I agree, and I was wrong to say that he named the Trojans as a leader in that article -- but the fact of the matter is he's been to USC and hasn't been to us, had glowing things to say about the comfort level of LA with him, and he's a West Coaster.

I'm not saying that he's committed...but USC is in the lead right now, and I'm getting this from outside of that Scout article.