'08 NC CB/S Robert "R.J." Blanton (Signed LOI to ND)

[GoshenGipper]

Personally, I think it hurts. I think the teams that benefit most are the one's with recruiting bases in their own back yards. Its hard to be in California, Texas, Ohio, and Florida all at once for ND's staff, whereas schools like "the U" drive 20 miles in a day and visit half their wish list (overstating it, but you get my point).

Yes, the official visits often have significant weight with ND recruits, but a lot of times the only way you can get those visits is by showing a kid a lot of "love", something that is now made more difficult, particularly for ND's staff.

Lets not jump off bridges or anything though. Notre Dame has been able to recruit in the past, before the utilization of text messaging. This certainly isn't a straw that'll break this camel's back, and I fully expect the Irish to continue their recruiting success, if not improve on it.

That was my line of thought as well.

 

[Jason Pham]

Personally, I think it hurts. I think the teams that benefit most are the one's with recruiting bases in their own back yards. Its hard to be in California, Texas, Ohio, and Florida all at once for ND's staff, whereas schools like "the U" drive 20 miles in a day and visit half their wish list (overstating it, but you get my point).

Yes, the official visits often have significant weight with ND recruits, but a lot of times the only way you can get those visits is by showing a kid a lot of "love", something that is now made more difficult, particularly for ND's staff.

Lets not jump off bridges or anything though. Notre Dame has been able to recruit in the past, before the utilization of text messaging. This certainly isn't a straw that'll break this camel's back, and I fully expect the Irish to continue their recruiting success, if not improve on it.

That's a good point I didn't take into consideration. It'll be interesting to see how things play out for Notre Dame. I think with our national fan base, we are in just as good of a position as the schools with backyards filled with talent. For most of the recruits that I've talked to or from what they've said about Brown and Weis in interviews, it seems like their in person visits had more of an effect than Brown and Co.'s constant texting. Still, while we've begun opening up a pipeline in Chicago, it's still no Texas, California, or Florida as you pointed out.

 

[MirageSmack]

Instead of texting, maybe we can fly banners over the recruit's football games. Or maybe we could hire the Goodyear Blimp, or maybe buy our own "recruiting blimp". There's no ban against that, is there?

 

[GoshenGipper]

Instead of texting, maybe we can fly banners over the recruit's football games. Or maybe we could hire the Goodyear Blimp, or maybe buy our own "recruiting blimp". There's no ban against that, is there?

Ahh, loop holes. :idea:

 

[Sweeney6083]

good question

 

[marv81s]

how about IM'ing over any of the instant messengers??

 

[IrishCalves]

From what I've read, it prohibits recruitment from coaches via use of video phones, video conferencing, and message boards. Faxes and e-mails are still allowed, but with some restrictions.

The IM angle is pretty interesting, since I pondered that thought privately too, but never heard/read anything about it. Its not as convenient as texting, since you pretty much need a computer at your side to IM, but I could see coaches that have time on their hands, maybe overnight in a hotel or something on the recruiting trail, bust out a laptop and check in on some recruits... I just don't see it being the phenomenon that texting is/was, so who knows. Good question.

 

[RichardRiot]

You can IM on most cell phones.........issue is more that the recruit would need to be connected to have any live discussion...

 

[Katzenboyer]

You'll start seeing myspace and Facebook messages explode.

In two years, people will be writing articles about how Ron Zook posts 4,000 messages on different recruits' walls when he's coaching the University of Southwest Missouri State Technical College.

 

[irishunclebill]

The buzz continues that eman is correct about Blanton, and that RJ is all but official as an ND commit. I have not seen any confirmation, but multiple sources are reporting that Blanton is visiting ND in June just to be certain that he is comfortable with his choice.

I would not call this one a lock by any means, but if Blanton publicly states that he is coming to ND next month, it would look pretty good. Let's hope that his visit is very comfortable.

 

[Irishknight1023]

Blanton will be visiting South Bend on June 18th. He will also be visiting VT on June 9th for a camp. He plans to announce by August at the latest and has no other trips scheduled after ND. His teammates are going to the Michigan camp on the 18th but he will not be going with them, he is going to ND at that time and said he will further discuss things with his parents after the ND visit.......from Rockne on DD. Sounds pretty good to me.

 

[Irishknight1023]

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;...vals-127238&prov=rivals&type=story_recruiting

Rumors continue to persist that Blanton is favoring the Irish. Is that the case?

"I don't know how that rumor got around, but I don't even have a top five or anything like that," he stated. "I'm going to definitely take visits during the summer and after that I should have it narrowed in June or July.

------Your stepdad has been ratting you out lol

 

[irishfan81]

I'm really confident he'll be IRISH. He will look good with Walls and McNeil and Gray. I think when its all said and done he's Irish no doubt. I think he might commit very soon. He's gonna be a good one.

 

[GoshenGipper]

Yeah, I wonder if he realizes his step dad is completely outing him. Even down to his moody behavior at times about his recruiting, or his momma's boy traits. LOL

 

[marv81s]

step dad could just be messing with everyone

we'll see

 

[irishunclebill]

Gotta love this headine blurb from my personal favorites, GoBlueWolverine.

Robert Blanton Changing Things Up

By The GoBlueWolverine Staff
GoBlueWolverine.com
Date: May 28, 2007

North Carolina defensive back Robert Blanton has come with his team to the Michigan Summer Camp the past three years. Wolverine fans were hoping he'd be coming in again this summer ... but Robert told GoBlueWolverine Sunday that he has decided to take a different course this June.

AAH! Poor things, don't you just feel terrible for poor GBW and their sorrowful scUM fans.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Is it me, or has Michigan lost a little luster while ND and UF, UT, and even FSU is gaining ( in general)??

 

[Irishknight1023]

Yeah it's pretty funny, everybodies walking all over UM this year in recruiting and if Michigans own scout staff is writing that story and can't slant it then it's just that much greater.

 

[rontdtarchala]

I for one love it...I simply hate those _)(_*&%&$_*()+$%@&())^%*&!!!!!! to the north. Damned skunkbears

 

[seniorle]

Sounds like Blanton had a nice showing at camp this past weekend

http://recruiting.scout.com/2/647138.html

 

[nd1]

I think in my opinion that we really need to get him. I think we need some d-backs and he would be a great one to get.

 

[irishnd31]

I think in my opinion that we really need to get him. I think we need some d-backs and he would be a great one to get.

I hope he commits to ND.

 

[napoleonbuck]

Are you looking to take two safeties in this class?

Also, is Blanton similar to Dan McCarthy in terms of being a free safety(or is he more of a strong safety)?

 

[irishunclebill]

Blanton is being recruited to and will play CB at ND. He is listed as a High School safety, but he plays all positions in the Defensive Backfield, and lines up pretty much wherever he wants to. He will be a very physical CB in college, which is exactly what ND is looking for. Most of the DB's that ND is looking at this year play Safety in HS, Blanton, Slaughter, Leslie, & McCarthy. Only McCarthy is being recruited as a Safety. The only pure HS CB being recruited that ND has a shot at is Jeremy Brown, and he is just as likely to end up as a WR as he is a CB.

 

[nd1]

Blanton is being recruited to and will play CB at ND. He is listed as a High School safety, but he plays all positions in the Defensive Backfield, and lines up pretty much wherever he wants to. He will be a very physical CB in college, which is exactly what ND is looking for. Most of the DB's that ND is looking at this year play Safety in HS, Blanton, Slaughter, Leslie, & McCarthy. Only McCarthy is being recruited as a Safety. The only pure HS CB being recruited that ND has a shot at is Jeremy Brown, and he is just as likely to end up as a WR as he is a CB.

couldn't agree more about nd needing to get the cb's to be physical. I thinnk that whats lacking the nasty physical play. knocking someone block off type of players.

 

[IrishCalves]

I'm tired of seeing slightly built guys like Ted Ginn and Mario Manningham utilize their speed and get free releases vs. our defense. If the guy can play bump and run, he's gold to me, and apparently Corwin's defense. Re-route that small guy, and take away his best asset, that being a full head of steam.

 

[Irishknight1023]

It seems we're in the front running for alomost every DB we're recruiting. Blanton being almost certain. When is the date exactly of when he visits?

 

[IrishCalves]

I believe its June 17th, though it could be any date from then 'til the 21st. I remember seeing an article saying that Blanton would not be tripping to Michigan for a 4th straight camp, due to visiting ND. Somebody will have better specifics than I though.

 

[irishunclebill]

6/18 is the date we have been given.

 

[Irishknight1023]

The countdown begins. He is visiting in about a week now and said he is going to go to ND to get a better feel for the campus and look at some things. He wants to see the different coaching techniques and what we do here. He plans on deciding relatively soon so nothing but good news here. He visited Virginia Tech recently and that hasn't seemed to slow the ND train from swooping in to take another top prospect.