'22 CA WR C.J. Williams (Southern Cal Verbal)

[Dale]

CJ said ND isn’t a place for WRs and he himself is not a Will Fuller or Chase Claypool talent wise.

It’s a weird set of quotes to come back from but hey Rees’ call. I wouldn’t rock any boat of someone like Greathouse or the 2022 class for him but sure he can be depth here instead of depth in Los Angeles at minimum.

 

[BeauBenken]

My post wasnt really directed at LAX just to clarify. Just the overall consensus in here.

Not that I've said anything, but hindsight is a bitch and fickle is the beast.

We have recruited over the spot he left.

If the coaches think he can help, sure, sign him. If not, I won't lose sleep.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

Not that I've said anything, but hindsight is a bitch and fickle is the beast.

We have recruited over the spot he left.

If the coaches think he can help, sure, sign him. If not, I won't lose sleep.

I completely disagree that we recruited over the spot he left, but also completely agree with your last comment if the coaches think he can help. Just dont understand those talking like we somehow have a completely stocked WR room and have no use for him when outside of Smith coming in we probably have less than 1,000 yds total returning between all of our WR and TE combined. If its more than 1000 yds, its not by much.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Its weird how this time last year everybody was losing their shit that he went elsewhere and how could our coaches let this happen, and he was an advanced route runner who would challenge for PT immediately.

Now a year later and nobody wants him because he made very limited contributions to a passing game that far exceeded ours and had dynamic upperclassmen WRs include last years Biletnikoff winner.

Lots of scorned wives in here. It would be foolish to not kick tires and see about getting him here if there is interest. We still have a Sophomore to be class with ONE wide receiver in it, and honestly no true proven production coming back outside of maybe the incoming transfer.

Styles may or may not bounce back, Thomas is trending up but not explosive. Colzie had flashed here and there but who knows if he or thomas take a big step forward. Tobias is still young and unproven although the potential is there. Who knows how the freshman end up, but the odds of all hitting are pretty low. I think we have to throw as much against the wall as possible at WR and see what sticks.

To be fair, a lot of the outrage came from the fact that:

A) He flipped to USC of all places.
B) ND had zero contingency plan for his and Walker's de-commitment.

That being said, most knew going in that CJ was less high ceiling and more high floor. I think he would've benefitted from going somewhere that he could contribute right away. That wasn't going to happen once USC started loading up on transfers.

 

[IrishLax]

Just to put a bow on this I'm going to reiterate what I said a month or so ago -- there is a near 0% chance that someone who acts how he does is going be successful at Notre Dame. The issue is with recruiting someone like CJ in the first place, not that ND ultimately lost his commitment.

^this was my opinion on CJ, but others really liked him. My primary issue was that he lacked elite physical traits and was a hold back. My secondary issue was that he was from the west coast and his general disposition conveyed the reddest of red flags… came across like the kind of kid who would quit the moment he faced any adversity. I never understood why he was even on our recruiting board except Del gonna Del.

 

[rtrn2glory]

We're a hat on the table IMO to drive up the price from UCLA

 

[KPENN]

We're a hat on the table IMO to drive up the price from UCLA

UCLA board on 247 doesn’t think he ends up there, FWIW

 

[NDFAN2008]

What's the depth chart look like next year?
VT TRANSFER Kaleb Smith, Styles, Jaydon Thomas, Colzie, Merriweather, James, Rico, Greathouse, Kaleb Smith Jr. That's roughly 9 guys we could use 1 more and I could see a scenario where Thomas Lines up at TE some next year.

 

[fightingirish26]

What's the depth chart look like next year?
VT TRANSFER Kaleb Smith, Styles, Jaydon Thomas, Colzie, Merriweather, James, Rico, Greathouse, Kaleb Smith Jr. That's roughly 9 guys we could use 1 more and I could see a scenario where Thomas Lines up at TE some next year.

I guess Salerno is your tenth but yeah

 

[IrishLion]

Styles may or may not bounce back, Thomas is trending up but not explosive. Colzie had flashed here and there but who knows if he or thomas take a big step forward. Tobias is still young and unproven although the potential is there.

What's the depth chart look like next year?
VT TRANSFER Kaleb Smith, Styles, Jaydon Thomas, Colzie, Merriweather, James, Rico, Greathouse, Kaleb Smith Jr. That's roughly 9 guys we could use 1 more and I could see a scenario where Thomas Lines up at TE some next year.

Thomas is a unique type of weapon that ND hasn't really had. He's in the mold of Boykin and Claypool in terms of being a big body at WR, but he's an even more willing and capable blocker than those guys. They're asking him to lead on split-zone and end-around looks, which is absolutely wild when you're talking about a guy that plays like a legit WR.

The first instinct when considering his skillset is to compare him to the TE's that trended towards being receivers in ND's offense... but he's even unique in that sense, because he's a WR first, who just so happens to be an outstanding lead blocker in the box.

I'm already anxious to see how Tommy builds off of what we saw in the bowl game, particularly when it comes to using Thomas as a potential #1 option. He's not a burner or an elite athlete necessarily, but he can still be a #1 option because of how unique his skill set is. You can line him up anywhere, knowing that eventually defenses are going to see on film that they need to account for him as a lead blocker, a play-action threat, a receiver that can beat your best corner on a deep crosser, or even as a guy that can catch a whip route in the flat on an RPO and turn it into a 20-yard gain by being fast enough to get the edge.

TL;DR
I'm officially declaring myself the conductor of the Jayden Thomas hype train. He's ND's #1 WR.

 

[CoachB]

Thomas is a unique type of weapon that ND hasn't really had. He's in the mold of Boykin and Claypool in terms of being a big body at WR, but he's an even more willing and capable blocker than those guys. They're asking him to lead on split-zone and end-around looks, which is absolutely wild when you're talking about a guy that plays like a legit WR.

The first instinct when considering his skillset is to compare him to the TE's that trended towards being receivers in ND's offense... but he's even unique in that sense, because he's a WR first, who just so happens to be an outstanding lead blocker in the box.

I'm already anxious to see how Tommy builds off of what we saw in the bowl game, particularly when it comes to using Thomas as a potential #1 option. He's not a burner or an elite athlete necessarily, but he can still be a #1 option because of how unique his skill set is. You can line him up anywhere, knowing that eventually defenses are going to see on film that they need to account for him as a lead blocker, a play-action threat, a receiver that can beat your best corner on a deep crosser, or even as a guy that can catch a whip route in the flat on an RPO and turn it into a 20-yard gain by being fast enough to get the edge.

TL;DR
I'm officially declaring myself the conductor of the Jayden Thomas hype train. He's ND's #1 WR.

Agree. Great analysis! He is a stud! Can I hop on the train?

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Agree. Great analysis! He is a stud! Can I hop on the train?

As long as it's not an LSU Train, Ill jump on too.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I like the idea of Thomas getting reps at TE. Looks to be a good enough blocker on the perimeter. Could be an H-back option. Prolly more dangerous at that spot than flexed out at WR.

 

[Dale]

I like the idea of Thomas getting reps at TE. Looks to be a good enough blocker on the perimeter. Could be an H-back option. Prolly more dangerous at that spot than flexed out at WR.

He already has been, a lot. That’s the beauty of his versatility like Lion said. He can line up anywhere and be an asset in the passing and run game. It doesn’t need to be labeled something different.

 

[allenm5333]

I like the idea of Thomas getting reps at TE. Looks to be a good enough blocker on the perimeter. Could be an H-back option. Prolly more dangerous at that spot than flexed out at WR.

He is not a TE. He plays big for a WR. But that is vastly different than being an actual TE

 

[CanadalovesND]

He is not a TE. He plays big for a WR. But that is vastly different than being an actual TE

If his role/usage is nearly identical to what ND asks their TEs to do, is he not essentially a TE?

 

[Me2SouthBend]

What's the depth chart look like next year?
VT TRANSFER Kaleb Smith, Styles, Jaydon Thomas, Colzie, Merriweather, James, Rico, Greathouse, Kaleb Smith Jr. That's roughly 9 guys we could use 1 more and I could see a scenario where Thomas Lines up at TE some next year.

Jason Garret said Thomas is a TE already.

 

[rtrn2glory]

He doesn't have to be in line with his hand on the ground TE, but if he were the H-back that you can move in motion and bring across the field on naked boot action and bluff zone across action, I believe he'd be very effective at that

 

[rtrn2glory]

Jason Garret said Thomas is a TE already.

RG3 calls GT counter and Power Read inside zone too.

 

[Dale]

If we move Thomas to TE people are gonna say we should split him outside like he’s a WR lol.

The fascination with “moving” positions always entertains me.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

If we move Thomas to TE people are gonna say we should split him outside like he’s a WR lol.

The fascination with “moving” positions always entertains me.

He lines up as a boundary WR plenty, doesn't he?

 

[IrishLion]

If we move Thomas to TE people are gonna say we should split him outside like he’s a WR lol.

WR - Kaleb Smith/Tobias Merriweather
WR - Lorenzo Styles
LT - Joe Alt
LG - Andrew Kristofic
C - Zeke Correll
RG - Billy Schrauth/Rocco Spindler
RT - Blake Fisher
TE - Mitchell Evans
RB - Logan Diggs/Audric Estime
QB - Sam Hartman/Tyler Buchner
CHESS PIECE - Jayden Thomas

 

[Armyirish47]

If we move Thomas to TE people are gonna say we should split him outside like he’s a WR lol.

The fascination with “moving” positions always entertains me.

Just label his position as "Anquan Boldin" and be done with it. It is his destiny.

 

[CanadalovesND]

He lines up as a boundary WR plenty, doesn't he?

According to PFF, 73% of his snaps this season were from the slot.

 

[rtrn2glory]

WR - Kaleb Smith/Tobias Merriweather
WR - Lorenzo Styles
LT - Joe Alt
LG - Andrew Kristofic
C - Zeke Correll
RG - Billy Schrauth/Rocco Spindler
RT - Black Fisher
TE - Mitchell Evans
RB - Logan Diggs/Audric Estime
QB - Sam Hartman/Tyler Buchner
CHESS PIECE - Jayden Thomas

Could throw Tyree in as a "chess piece" as well with the ability to move him between RB and Slot with Styles?

 

[IrishLion]

Could throw Tyree in as a "chess piece" as well with the ability to move him between RB and Slot with Styles?

We can do that...

The eventual progression is just Tommy Rees transitioning to 11 Chess Pieces, of course. Reminiscent of Diaco's 11-Cat defense.

 

[317Irish]

WR - Kaleb Smith/Tobias Merriweather
WR - Lorenzo Styles
LT - Joe Alt
LG - Andrew Kristofic
C - Zeke Correll
RG - Billy Schrauth/Rocco Spindler
RT - Blake Fisher
TE - Mitchell Evans
RB - Logan Diggs/Audric Estime
QB - Sam Hartman/Tyler Buchner
CHESS PIECE - Jayden Thomas

FIFY

 

[irishnd31]

FIFY

Could you also fix White Alt at LT?

 

[StPaul_Irish]

WR - Kaleb Smith/Tobias Merriweather
WR - Lorenzo Styles
LT - Joe Alt
LG - Andrew Kristofic
C - Zeke Correll
RG - Billy Schrauth/Rocco Spindler
RT - "Coffee Black" Fisher
TE - Mitchell Evans
RB - Logan Diggs/Audric Estime
QB - Sam Hartman/Tyler Buchner
CHESS PIECE - Jayden Thomas

REALLY FIFY.... Make this a thing

In all honesty, I "Logan Digg" this line up

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Personally, I want zero part of this guy coming to ND. It would be a very short stint if he did and a massive waste of everyone's time. No thanks. Bone for Tuna, C.J.