2023 - State of the Recruiting Class

L

lcaps20

Well-known member
Messages
672
Reaction score
1,042
Veritate Duce Progredi said:
Well, given that it's the best class I've seen in about 15+ years of recruiting, I have to at least give it an A-

The sting of missing out on our top safety prospect after losing a top edge hurts but it can't drop it a whole letter grade because it's still the most balanced class and it has more 4+ stars than we've had in a class prior.
Click to expand...
To me losing Bowen and not finding a Vyper replacement for Keeley is what keeps it from being an A-. Can't get there with those losses
 
Veritate Duce Progredi

Veritate Duce Progredi

A man gotta have a code
Messages
9,358
Reaction score
5,352
SouthSideChiDomer said:
This class is good enough to get us in the 12 team playoff and, if guys develop, could have been good enough to get in the four team playoff.

This class will get run off the field when facing the Alabama class.

Good, not great. Not championship worthy. And given that we seemingly have a one way transfer portal, it could end up being a lot less than good.
Click to expand...
You shouldn't watch the games then, sounds like you've already put a ceiling on these guys.
 
S

SouthSideChiDomer

Well-known member
Messages
1,526
Reaction score
614
Veritate Duce Progredi said:
You shouldn't watch the games then, sounds like you've already put a ceiling on these guys.
Click to expand...
Oh fuck off. I've put more blood, sweat, and tears into cheering on this program than most people on this board. I've loved ND my whole life. I will watch the games (and I don't mean just football, literally have the WBB game on right now) because I love it. But it is completely disingenuous to say this is a championship level class or to deny the fact that we have self imposed disadvantages that are making roster building difficult.
 
K

knight2017

Active member
Messages
101
Reaction score
158
A- class. Another class like this or better in '24 and I truly believe we'll be competing for championships. The speed and lack of holes in these Freeman classes are just different. Yeah it's not a top 3-5 class, but getting top 6-8 classes year over year with top 200 athletes at WR and CB, stud QBs, in addition to the guys we normally get on the interior will bring us up a level. The talent will be more spread out too across CFB with NIL - Miami, Oregon, A&M, etc. will take some guys away that would normally sign with Clemson, Bama, and UGA. The difference is those programs won't develop like the blue bloods.

Without NIL I think we are in a better place no doubt, but I still think it's a HUGE leap over the Kelly classes, while keeping the developmental culture.
 
I

indianamouse

Just a simple man
Messages
646
Reaction score
733
SouthSideChiDomer said:
Oh fuck off. I've put more blood, sweat, and tears into cheering on this program than most people on this board. I've loved ND my whole life. I will watch the games (and I don't mean just football, literally have the WBB game on right now) because I love it. But it is completely disingenuous to say this is a championship level class or to deny the fact that we have self imposed disadvantages that are making roster building difficult.
Click to expand...
Yeah, 80% blue chip is nowhere near championship level 🙄
 
IrishSpartan

IrishSpartan

Well-known member
Messages
3,035
Reaction score
2,393
Lost all our sick returners 😭

On another note I hope this new NCAA guy goes death penalty on everyone
 
NDRock

NDRock

Well-known member
Messages
7,489
Reaction score
5,448
Very good class. It does seem like we’re not going to be able to sign the top end 5* kids (except OL &TE) or the big-time transfers so this year’s class is about as good as we can hope for.

Going forward, the best way to compete with NIL may be to sign a shit ton of 4* kids and be a program that relies on development. To do this and compete for championships you’ll need to be okay with processing out kids. Think with our collective’s focus on players already on the team, this is the best path.

Wonder if Freeman and Co. may go down the Kelly path of not even dealing with the Bowens and Keelys of the world. Too much time and effort when it could be focused other places.

All in all, good year for the staff.
 
Free Manera

Free Manera

Well-known member
Messages
2,949
Reaction score
3,547
NDRock said:
Very good class. It does seem like we’re not going to be able to sign the top end 5* kids (except OL &TE) or the big-time transfers so this year’s class is about as good as we can hope for.

Going forward, the best way to compete with NIL may be to sign a shit ton of 4* kids and be a program that relies on development. To do this and compete for championships you’ll need to be okay with processing out kids. Think with our collective’s focus on players already on the team, this is the best path.

Wonder if Freeman and Co. may go down the Kelly path of not even dealing with the Bowens and Keelys of the world. Too much time and effort when it could be focused other places.

All in all, good year for the staff.
Click to expand...

This is basically what Michigan's model is now. However they are hitting the portal hard and often to replace those "processed out" with upgrades.

Therein lies the rub for ND. You really can't be a developmental program anymore because kids down the depth chart aren't going to stick around to develop. When they do leave, you need to be able to replace them with upgrades at positions of need.

ND is in a bad spot right now with roster management because NIL and transfer portal are both impediments rather than tools to the administration.
 
Rockin’Irish

Rockin’Irish

Hearing Impaired
Messages
3,245
Reaction score
2,510
A very good class for 2023! A bit of a disappointing finish but being that NIL is still so new and unpredictable, that isn’t totally unexpected. I believe we’ll see the staff make some adjustments to mitigate the disappointments but now there will almost always be flips either for money or other unforeseen reasons. Keeley and Bowen appear to be centered around money with Edwards change of direction completely unpredictable. There may be other factors behind the scenes that we’ll never really know. Hopefully the transfer portal will bring us a few key additions to strengthen the roster.
 
TNUtoNotreDame

TNUtoNotreDame

Voted must gracious poster for seven years running
Messages
3,130
Reaction score
2,973
Not a great class, but good in this environment. Not that much of an upgrade over a BK class. NIL is killing us.
 
NDRock

NDRock

Well-known member
Messages
7,489
Reaction score
5,448
Free Manera said:
This is basically what Michigan's model is now. However they are hitting the portal hard and often to replace those "processed out" with upgrades.

Therein lies the rub for ND. You really can't be a developmental program anymore because kids down the depth chart aren't going to stick around to develop. When they do leave, you need to be able to replace them with upgrades at positions of need.

ND is in a bad spot right now with roster management because NIL and transfer portal are both impediments rather than tools to the administration.
Click to expand...
I think kids will stay if they are being taken care of (ND’s collective) and they are in line for playing time. It’s the kids who realize they don’t have a shot who will leave or be processed out. That’s actually good.

You’ll definitely get some who take off but that’s why it’s important to keep taking big numbers of quality guys (4* types). I also think ND will get veteran transfers like they have. Would rather the staff take two 4* safeties than deal with a flake like Bowen. You know where it’s headed.
 
Free Manera

Free Manera

Well-known member
Messages
2,949
Reaction score
3,547
NDRock said:
I think kids will stay if they are being taken care of (ND’s collective) and they are in line for playing time. It’s the kids who realize they don’t have a shot who will leave or be processed out. That’s actually good.

You’ll definitely get some who take off but that’s why it’s important to keep taking big numbers of quality guys (4* types). I also think ND will get veteran transfers like they have. Would rather the staff take two 4* safeties than deal with a flake like Bowen. You know where it’s headed.
Click to expand...

Yeah I guess I'm just not sold on ND improving enough through the portal for it to be a net positive. ND is going to lose 8-12 guys to transfer every year. This year will be pretty representative I think - they are supposedly going to lose a bunch after the bowl game this year in addition to the ones already out the door.

Ideally, guys down your depth chart leave because there are dudes ahead of them. Then you replace those guys with dude transfers to fill spots where you don't have dudes, leading to dudes everywhere.

I don't think you can maximize the roster in this fashion by taking only graduate transfers because frankly, if they are graduates and still playing in college, it means they may not be draftable NFL players. ND needs more of those.
 
N

notredomer23

Staph Member
Messages
17,637
Reaction score
17,563
Disagree about the Kelly class comparisons outside of ranking alone.

I'd take the overall skill talent in this class over any Kelly class. Greathouse, James, Flores, Smith, and Love is a better offensive skill group than Kelly ever recruited. Micah Bell and Christian Gray at corner is an elite tandem that ND hasn't had in some time. Now they get it in back to back years? Definition of stacking talent. The rug pull on Bowen sucks but I don't see much of a difference between Shuler, Hillman, and Minich compared to any Kelly safety class sans Hamilton or Redfield.

Outside of skill positions, Bowen, Zinter, and Ausberry are better than any class Kelly recruited at LB outside of the Jaylon Smith class.
QB is better than the standard Kelly class
The only positions equal or below Kelly level would be TE and the lines.
 
NDRock

NDRock

Well-known member
Messages
7,489
Reaction score
5,448
Free Manera said:
Yeah I guess I'm just not sold on ND improving enough through the portal for it to be a net positive. ND is going to lose 8-12 guys to transfer every year. This year will be pretty representative I think - they are supposedly going to lose a bunch after the bowl game this year in addition to the ones already out the door.

Ideally, guys down your depth chart leave because there are dudes ahead of them. Then you replace those guys with dude transfers to fill spots where you don't have dudes, leading to dudes everywhere.

I don't think you can maximize the roster in this fashion by taking only graduate transfers because frankly, if they are graduates and still playing in college, it means they may not be draftable NFL players. ND needs more of those.
Click to expand...
It really depends on what 8-12 they lose. If you’re signing 25-30 every class and losing the lower end of your roster, you may be fine.

I just know if you’re not shelling out money to get the big boys, you better take care of the players on your team as well as oversign your ass off. Not sure what other option they have with their current NIL philosophy.
 
Domina Nostra

Domina Nostra

Well-known member
Messages
6,251
Reaction score
1,388
Very good class. Well-balanced, lots of high-ceilings. This will help ND going forward. I would have like to have seen one more stud on both sides of the line.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top