'23 CA WR Rico Flores (UCLA Transfer)

[Whiskeyjack]

Weis brought in more high end talent on offense but did not recruit at a higher level on both sides of the ball.

Right. This "Weis recruited well and still failed" argument is stupid. Go check out our classes on 247 between 05-09. So many of our top guys transferred or busted because Weis couldn't develop talent outside of offensive skill positions. Nor could he recruit defense consistently enough.

What Freeman is doing now is not remotely comparable to the start of Weis' tenure.

 

[Gold1]

Right. This "Weis recruited well and still failed" argument is stupid. Go check out our classes on 247 between 05-09. So many of our top guys transferred or busted because Weis couldn't develop talent outside of offensive skill positions. Nor could he recruit defense consistently enough.

What Freeman is doing now is not remotely comparable to the start of Weis' tenure.

Agree 100%. Plus the 2004 class was ranked 32nd with just 16 players and the 2005 class was ranked 40th with just 15 players and two 2 stars (rivals). So even with decent offensive recruits Weis had little depth to start and work with. Not a Kelly fan at all but to Kelly’s credit (and Freeman’s last year recruiting and bringing a number of players back), ND has good depth, with the exception of WR, especially on defense and the o-line.

 

[Luckylucci]

There are likely going to be WRs with more athleticism in the room, faster 40s, bigger vertical jumps but Rico would be my pick right now for the most PT as a freshman. His route running is dirt mcgirt. His hands are top notch and his willingness to go up and grab the ball in traffic is coveted by staff.

Hope to see more of him blocking because if he can do that and get in the playbook, this man could be a serious piece towards our natty aspirations.

If I was going to make an ND comparison, he makes me think of TJ Jones a little bit but that's based on memory. TJ seemed like a good route runner (probably not as good as Flores coming out of HS).

I like the TJ Jones comp, that was the first place my mind went when thinking of an ND comp. But, I ultimately settled on Torii Hunter Jr. Though he’ll likely end up a fair amount bigger, they’re both all around, fluid athletes. Like you said, won’t blow you away with any tangible trait but they’re good at everything. Naturals in the way they move, catch, run, etc. Which gives Flores a lot of flexibility to play inside and outside or any of the 3 WR positions if needed. A lot of versatility here and chances for productivity.

In 2016, prior to injury, Torii was off to a good start. Through 8 games he had 38 rec., 512 yds., and 3 TD’s. Over 13 games that’s approx. 62, 846, and 5.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I like the TJ Jones comp, that was the first place my mind went when thinking of an ND comp. But, I ultimately settled on Torii Hunter Jr. Though he’ll likely end up a fair amount bigger, they’re both all around, fluid athletes. Like you said, won’t blow you away with any tangible trait but they’re good at everything. Naturals in the way they move, catch, run, etc. Which gives Flores a lot of flexibility to play inside and outside or any of the 3 WR positions if needed. A lot of versatility here and chances for productivity.

In 2016, prior to injury, Torii was off to a good start. Through 8 games he had 38 rec., 512 yds., and 3 TD’s. Over 13 games that’s approx. 62, 846, and 5.

Another solid comp. I hadn't considered Torii because everytime I think of him, I think of the criminal targeting hit that wasn't called at Texas. I'm still so pissed about that missed call. That was, in essence, a career ending hit and they didn't even throw the flag.

Anyway, Flores just seems so damn polished. I guess a pro comp would be Marvin Harrison but that isn't fair because he was very fast but he didn't make his living running go routes. He was a technician with his routes and ability to screw corners into the ground or freeze them for just a second before hitting his mark.

EDIT: That was a very silly comp. I went back and watched Marvin Harrison highlights and I was way off with my memory. I think I remembered older, close-to-retirement Marvin Harrison. Young MH was a burner so not a good comp at all.

 

[arahop]

“Belly Boy” as you call him won a lot of games at ND.
Charlie, the real Belly Boy, recruited even better than Freeman, and couldn’t win.
I’m holding off on Freeman’s staff until they win. I’ve seen a lot of great recruiters who couldn’t coach.

Weis had a top class and then a bunch ranked 10-15. Freeman will be in the top 10 every year. Last year he closed the number 6 class. This year will be top 3 and next year is a guaranteed top 10. Marcus Freeman has already outrecruited "No Excuses' Charlie, and it's not really close.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

 

[dublinirish]

 

[PutuporShutup]

I 100% understand Del was WR coach, but this doesn't reflect great on Tommy as well, holding his coaches accountable.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I 100% understand Del was WR coach, but this doesn't reflect great on Tommy as well, holding his coaches accountable.

Del was hired by Brian Kelly?

 

[benneboy]

I 100% understand Del was WR coach, but this doesn't reflect great on Tommy as well, holding his coaches accountable.

So does he now get credit for holding Stuckey accountable and forcing him to land Flores?

 

[PigtownIrish]

I also would not consider ND with Del the water receiver coach.

 

[T-Boone]

So does he now get credit for holding Stuckey accountable and forcing him to land Flores?

He has to get a bit but it certainly seems more like Freeman should get the credit. Hopefully for Rees he has seen what is actually possible from these energetic recruiters and he has lifted his own effort.

 

[Irish4life]

Del was hired by Brian Kelly?

Don't forget ELITE recruiter Chip Long.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Don't forget ELITE recruiter Chip Long.

Good thing I'm not a mod; I'd permaban all of the Rees haters.

It's one thing to even be skeptical of him at this point but to actually say he "sucks" makes me question any of those posters' football knowledge.

He was the QB coach/OC who took a middling 3 star Ian Book into a serviceable QB who became the all time winningest QB in ND history. He's only been in the role for 2 years, and was running BK's system with BK's fingerprints all over the call sheet.

If anything, one could argue it's still too early to make a definitive judgement on Rees, but clearly BK and other coaches are big time impressed as they tried to pry him away from Freeman this offseason; BK gave him a BIG TIME raise but he stuck around for some unfinished business at his alma mater.

But I guess us keyboard jockeys know more about a talented OC than head coaches making tens of millions to put together a competent staff.

 

[Huntr]

 

[PutuporShutup]

Del was hired by Brian Kelly?

Bad on Brian too for sure

 

[Irish#1]

Good thing I'm not a mod; I'd permaban all of the Rees haters.

It's one thing to even be skeptical of him at this point but to actually say he "sucks" makes me question any of those posters' football knowledge.

He was the QB coach/OC who took a middling 3 star Ian Book into a serviceable QB who became the all time winningest QB in ND history. He's only been in the role for 2 years, and was running BK's system with BK's fingerprints all over the call sheet.

If anything, one could argue it's still too early to make a definitive judgement on Rees, but clearly BK and other coaches are big time impressed as they tried to pry him away from Freeman this offseason; BK gave him a BIG TIME raise but he stuck around for some unfinished business at his alma mater.

But I guess us keyboard jockeys know more about a talented OC than head coaches making tens of millions to put together a competent staff.

Of course we do. We read online content and forums.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Good thing I'm not a mod; I'd permaban all of the Rees haters.

It's one thing to even be skeptical of him at this point but to actually say he "sucks" makes me question any of those posters' football knowledge.

He was the QB coach/OC who took a middling 3 star Ian Book into a serviceable QB who became the all time winningest QB in ND history. He's only been in the role for 2 years, and was running BK's system with BK's fingerprints all over the call sheet.

If anything, one could argue it's still too early to make a definitive judgement on Rees, but clearly BK and other coaches are big time impressed as they tried to pry him away from Freeman this offseason; BK gave him a BIG TIME raise but he stuck around for some unfinished business at his alma mater.

But I guess us keyboard jockeys know more about a talented OC than head coaches making tens of millions to put together a competent staff.

I love Rees, but I'll never get over the Under the Lights game.
never

 

[Irishdrunk]

Omg Rees is like a Lobster Roll w Mayo.

No thank you

 

[Poirette]

Don't forget ELITE recruiter Chip Long.

Long had worked with Alexander at ASU.
When Chip was hired, he gave a full-throated recommendation of Del, with whom he had driven to work each morning when in Tempe.
Chip nominated, Kelly ratified.

Of course, Kelly owns the hire.

 

[notredomer23]

Rico has 19 catches for 344 yards and 2 touchdowns through 3 games.

 

[stlnd01]

Rico has 19 catches for 344 yards and 2 touchdowns through 3 games.

Don't tell Ohio State.

 

[clashmore_mike]

 

[CanadalovesND]

Good to see that he's locked in.

He put together a nice senior season - 72 receptions for 1,081 yards and 8 TDs. His team, Folsom, just lost to Cooper Flanagan and De La Salle in the regional finals. For those wondering, Flores is enrolling early, so you'll see his silky route running in some practice clips this spring.

 

[clashmore_mike]

I do believe I saw that he broke his foot a couple weeks ago, hopefully he is fully healed by spring ball.

 

[Henges24]

Good to see this. He was a fringe decommit for me. Excited to have him.

 

[Irish#1]

scary bump

 

[dublinirish]

 

[irishff1014]

220 on comp. Outside 247.

 

[GoldenThrone]