2023 - State of the Recruiting Class

[Luckylucci]

So, it does not appear we have an entry for Boubacar Traore on the '23 list. what is the 411 on that.

I noticed that the other day as well when I was going to post his ISD interview. Sounds like a he’s become a big target for Elston and Freeman.

 

[BrownerandFry]

One other thing if Rhett declares on Saturday, as we anticipate.

That would mean all of the players in the 2023 class would be at LEAST four stars..

Blue Chip ratio, over all classes, is the most reliable predictor of talent level.

 

[NDIrish88]

Jaxon Howard commiting soon. Any one know who?
https://twitter.com/11JaxonHoward/status/1468424767124512772?t=LUHjVzM4gRHQjgimdLj4wA&s=19

 

[BobbyMac]

Jaxon Howard commiting soon. Any one know who?
https://twitter.com/11JaxonHoward/status/1468424767124512772?t=LUHjVzM4gRHQjgimdLj4wA&s=19

Not a single prediction has been made on the sites.

Could it be Stanford? They just got a monster commit from David Bailey last weekend.

 

[BrownerandFry]

Notre Dame has seven commitments so far for '23.

Each of the 7 is rated four stars or better on both Rivals and 247.

At various times, on various sites, the following players have been rated 5 star

Brenan Vernon
Drayk Bowen
Keon Keeley.

This appears to be the most outsanding start to a recruiting class in this millenium.

It's different now.

 

[arrowryan]

The whole 2022 classis signed, sealed, and delivered before 11am. We now move on to 2023.

Receivers have to be the top priority, right? And a QB too, obviously. I’m confident they get their QB(s) in the spring.

 

[IrishLax]

Next year is going to get weird. A&M and Texas were ahead of the curve this year with NIL promises to recruits. Next year most schools will have caught up. Kiffin is 100% correct that many players will now be picking whichever school simply offers them the most money. It’s no longer going to be about fit, academics, winning a championship, or even NFL development for a lot of guys… it’ll be about “I can make a million dollars over 4 years at School X and School Y is only offering me $600k.”

I’m not saying CFB is dead, but unless there is a tremendous amount of legislation passed this off-season it’s going to be unrecognizable by 2024. People should buckle up now that Freeman being a “great recruiter” may mean jack shit if other schools are putting cash on the table that ND can’t or won’t match.

 

[Riddickulous]

The whole 2022 classis signed, sealed, and delivered before 11am. We now move on to 2023.

Receivers have to be the top priority, right? And a QB too, obviously. I’m confident they get their QB(s) in the spring.

Closing strong on the DB class is high on that list of priorities, too.

 

[NDFAN2008]

My only concern with this class in 2023 is there isn't a lot of good fit or depth at the WR position that says oh yeah he is a ND kid.

 

[Huntr]

See: this thing with Travis Hunter.

This is the game, now. If ND doesn't want to take part, they'll get left behind very quickly.

 

[Dale]

I expected Jackson State would become transfer central, surprised a recruit is willing to risk in part his NFL Draft position here. NIL I’m sure will be touted but this type of move feels like we’ll I'm bound to be a first rounder anyways or even I could transfer anywhere later anyways. I thought, and I know Zach Evans was rumored, transferring to Jackson State as a Junior right before your draft eligible but after you’ve shown some college ability makes more sense

 

[IrishLax]

I expected Jackson State would become transfer central, surprised a recruit is willing to risk in part his NFL Draft position here. NIL I’m sure will be touted but this type of move feels like we’ll I'm bound to be a first rounder anyways or even I could transfer anywhere later anyways. I thought, and I know Zach Evans was rumored, transferring to Jackson State as a Junior right before your draft eligible but after you’ve shown some college ability makes more sense

Yup, it reads as “I’m guaranteed to go to the NFL and can get coached by Deion Sanders. If I don’t like it and want to play big time football then I can just transfer wherever.”

 

[Free Manera]

Next year is going to get weird. A&M and Texas were ahead of the curve this year with NIL promises to recruits. Next year most schools will have caught up. Kiffin is 100% correct that many players will now be picking whichever school simply offers them the most money. It’s no longer going to be about fit, academics, winning a championship, or even NFL development for a lot of guys… it’ll be about “I can make a million dollars over 4 years at School X and School Y is only offering me $600k.”

I’m not saying CFB is dead, but unless there is a tremendous amount of legislation passed this off-season it’s going to be unrecognizable by 2024. People should buckle up now that Freeman being a “great recruiter” may mean jack shit if other schools are putting cash on the table that ND can’t or won’t match.

I actually don't totally understand what the Texas schools are doing. Do they just have like a booster outreach where they are soliciting funding for players and then acting as an intermediary? The school can't technically pay and since it's legal now I don't know why you would risk it.

But if it's simply reaching out to the alumni/booster network and connecting them with players, I don't really see that being contrary to ND's ethics.

 

[rtrn2glory]

So is it crazy to think that we should sign 5-6 receivers in this class??

 

[Riddickulous]

So is it crazy to think that we should sign 5-6 receivers in this class??

More than 3, at least.

 

[Armyirish47]

So is it crazy to think that we should sign 5-6 receivers in this class??

Not crazy but I don't think that's a recipe for sustained success either because no way that many receivers stay for an extended period, and even if they did you have a different roster balance issue present itself.

 

[SouthSideChiDomer]

I actually don't totally understand what the Texas schools are doing. Do they just have like a booster outreach where they are soliciting funding for players and then acting as an intermediary? The school can't technically pay and since it's legal now I don't know why you would risk it.

But if it's simply reaching out to the alumni/booster network and connecting them with players, I don't really see that being contrary to ND's ethics.

I don't think the schools are supposed to be involved at all except for making sure things pass compliance. And NIL deals aren't supposed to be used as recruiting inducements.

Also, the Texas deal specifically isn't really NIL, it's basically pay-to-play. Its not based on any sort of fair market value for using their name, image, or likeness, but is instead basically a salary every player gets, which in itself then acts as a recruiting inducement.

If ND really wanted to play this game, all they would have to do is spin off the Rockne Athletic Fund so its a separate entity. That's kind of the equivalent of the Texas fund, though that is a new entity with a sole purpose instead of an already operating one.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

The Texas deal is pretty clearly against the meagre rules that exist. They're daring the NCAA to do something about it.

The SEC can form their own league with blackjack and hookers. I don't want anything to do with it.

But deep down at its core, the problem is that there is no minor league football.

 

[Dale]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/thorku/status/1471166894543712265?s=21[/TWEET]

 

[Riddickulous]

Imagine being FSU right now. Yikes.

Honestly though the #1 recruit spurning literally every major program for an HBCU rocks.

 

[Irishnuke]

This is getting so f’n weird.

 

[General Colon Bowel]

My only concern with this class in 2023 is there isn't a lot of good fit or depth at the WR position that says oh yeah he is a ND kid.

I'd say we have a 50/50 shot for Tate. Malik Elzy also seems like a good fit who is strongly considering ND. But I'm in agreement on the depth part - I'd like to see us really trending well for way more 23 WRs. We could take a class of 5 if we wanted

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I think the NIL is going to have MAJOR blowbacks on many programs. It's going to create serious tension in locker rooms with a lot of unintended consequences and trickle down effects. Ive come full circle on it. Short term this will hurt recruiting. However, long term I can see a program like ND that sticks to a college football model having a lot of appeal to the guys it appealed to in the first place. This is not good for college football as a whole and shit is going to get out of hand quickly.

 

[irishog77]

Seems like signing 5 or 6 WR's in one cycle sets the roster up for further problems down the road.

 

[Riddickulous]

I think the NIL is going to have MAJOR blowbacks on many programs. It's going to create serious tension in locker rooms with a lot of unintended consequences and trickle down effects. Ive come full circle on it. Short term this will hurt recruiting. However, long term I can see a program like ND that sticks to a college football model having a lot of appeal to the guys it appealed to in the first place. This is not good for college football as a whole and shit is going to get out of hand quickly.

I think NIL + an ND degree has a lot of potential as a recruiting pitch if done correctly.

 

[irishff1014]

Next year is going to get weird. A&M and Texas were ahead of the curve this year with NIL promises to recruits. Next year most schools will have caught up. Kiffin is 100% correct that many players will now be picking whichever school simply offers them the most money. It’s no longer going to be about fit, academics, winning a championship, or even NFL development for a lot of guys… it’ll be about “I can make a million dollars over 4 years at School X and School Y is only offering me $600k.”

I’m not saying CFB is dead, but unless there is a tremendous amount of legislation passed this off-season it’s going to be unrecognizable by 2024. People should buckle up now that Freeman being a “great recruiter” may mean jack shit if other schools are putting cash on the table that ND can’t or won’t match.

I made a comment the other day that i think Freeman was a perfect hire for ND and he was going to do fabulous job here. He has brought more excitement then Kelly ever did but with these NIL deals going out i don't know it's possible if we can even win another national championship. No way ND is going to allow these students to collect 1 million dollars.

 

[irishff1014]

I think the NIL is going to have MAJOR blowbacks on many programs. It's going to create serious tension in locker rooms with a lot of unintended consequences and trickle down effects. Ive come full circle on it. Short term this will hurt recruiting. However, long term I can see a program like ND that sticks to a college football model having a lot of appeal to the guys it appealed to in the first place. This is not good for college football as a whole and shit is going to get out of hand quickly.

Money is the root of all evil.

 

[irishff1014]

Seems like signing 5 or 6 WR's in one cycle sets the roster up for further problems down the road.

! would say 4 probably.

 

[IrishTusker]

Money is the root of all evil.

Love of money.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Seems like signing 5 or 6 WR's in one cycle sets the roster up for further problems down the road.

Possibly yes I agree....Maybe sign 4, with 1-2 swing athletes that can play WR or DB??