2023 - State of the Recruiting Class

Jiggafini19Deux

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The staff did the work in their first full year together. Wherever they end up "ranked" doesn't really matter to me personally. Never has. They addressed a ton of needs. Yeah, it's probably a more talented collective than any Kelly class, but that doesn't matter either. The big picture situation and the environment of the sport changing so dramatically being what it is, they did a tremendous job. Probably learned some tough lessons the hard way, but that comes with a young staff. They seem to be off to a good start with 2024, too.

This isn't to say everything is perfect and more can't be done; and yeah, it would have been great to have added some of these other guys to come with it all. Having been involved with some signing days at a lower level, I choose to celebrate today rather than lament who didn't come and what didn't happen. It's a beginning and not an end. Maybe some other additions yet to come.

Culture matters. Team building matters. Having dudes that will run through a brick wall for their teammates and not a dollar still matters. Marcus Freeman is the most vested head coach this program has had since Lou Holtz. They can get this right and continue to tweak it along the way.
 

Domina Nostra

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  • Ranking, it is very similar to a Kelly class--to me, that is a pure function of NIL taking away Freeman's advantages
  • I agree with most that it seems more balanced, and hits a lot of needs
  • It missed on Vyper
In any event, we won't really know until they actually play. Ratings are one thing, performance is another. We have a true Sophomore All-American LT on the team, who was a consensus 3-star. We've had a bunch of 5-stars fizzle over the years. Time will tell.
 

phillyirish

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I know NIL really lowered the ceiling on Freeman’s recruiting abilities, but you have to think at least unofficially he was promoted to save last years class (as many here argued was a necessity) and to be an elite recruiter going forward.

Welp it looks like at best, ND recruiting maintains the status quo. Which isn’t awful, but isn’t going to get us to the next level.
 

Jimmy3Putt

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It’s a very good class! We will be more than fine if they keep signing 25 four stars every year and asking the guys that aren’t developing to move along. Within three or four years of doing that ND will be loaded so long as the quarterbacks work out.
 

Dale

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Freeman a bit rattled IMO. Stumbled over his words a bit.


He probably also hasn’t slept much regardless to be fair lol
 

Dale

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Says earlier the better to get kids committed. In the end still harder to decommit than commit.
 

Dale

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Freeman with a laugh at Prister’s term acquisition fee
 

ThePiombino

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hmm white flag stuff here on the NIL front

Surely there's a smarter, more diplomatic way to say it, no? "If all you care about is NIL, this isn't the place for you. If you want to play elite football, get an elite degree, and make some NIL money while doing it, this is the place to be."
 

notredomer23

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Prister asking about acquisition fees.

Freeman "we don't speak to that. Is it a part of recruiting, yeah?"
 

Dale

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If you come here for NIL and don’t get instant gratification it’ll be tough to stay here

Pointing out many kids will end up redshirting in the end.
 
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