'18 NJ OLB Justin Ademilola (Notre Dame Signee)

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Other things have changed so that I’m not sure Elston’s model at ND would work quite as well now. I don’t think another Ade Ogundenji would finish his career at ND.

 

[Luckylucci]

Other things have changed so that I’m not sure Elston’s model at ND would work quite as well now. I don’t think another Ade Ogundenji would finish his career at ND.

I respectfully disagree.

But, Elston's model wasn't just wait until guys are in their 5th years to perform. Okwara and Foskey were breaking out as Sophomores. Well, Washington has 3 stud Sophomore DL. If they breakout next year, the DL will likely be pretty good.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Vyper recruiting this year was weak. The issue that burned them was as obvious as obvious gets: don't count your chickens before they hatch. That's exactly what they did and it cost us . . . AGAIN.

 

[Luckylucci]

Vyper recruiting this year was weak. The issue that burned them was as obvious as obvious gets: don't count your chickens before they hatch. That's exactly what they did and it cost us . . . AGAIN.

Personally, of the things that I think could be on Washington's list this wouldn't be one of them.

1. I don't think they think of the Vyper like we're accustomed too.
2. I think they landed a very good edge rushing prospect in Traore.

I think it's easy to get hungup on positional recruiting but I think between a slimmed down Vernon, Traore, Gobaira, Burnham, JR, and Ford being a guy that I think would look great at Big End in a 3 down front. There is plenty of possible production from the edge of the defense.

 

[stlnd01]

Personally, of the things that I think could be on Washington's list this wouldn't be one of them.

1. I don't think they think of the Vyper like we're accustomed too.
2. I think they landed a very good edge rushing prospect in Traore.

I think it's easy to get hungup on positional recruiting but I think between a slimmed down Vernon, Traore, Gobaira, Burnham, JR, and Ford being a guy that I think would look great at Big End in a 3 down front. There is plenty of possible production from the edge of the defense.

Good point.
Keeley was originally an Elston recruit. I’m sure the new defensive regime would’ve gladly taken him, but the fact that they never really pursued other traditional Vypers beyond Traore might suggest a different approach here. Or just incompetence. 🤷‍♂️

 

[ThePiombino]

The only thing Elston was good at was building a DL room "OK" enough that no one in it thought they deserved to transfer out for more PT. Best DL class we've had over the past 10 years was 2016 and he wasn't even the DL coach at the time.

 

[stlnd01]

The only thing Elston was good at was building a DL room "OK" enough that no one in it thought they deserved to transfer out for more PT. Best DL class we've had over the past 10 years was 2016 and he wasn't even the DL coach at the time.

Seriously? No matter who recruited who, Elston developed a DL room that was year-in, year-out one of the strongest units on the team through the best five seasons we've had in decades. Tillery. Kareem. Julian Okwara, Foskey, Jay Ade. Hinish, MTA, Ogundeje. Those guys became pretty good football players.

 

[Luckylucci]

The only thing Elston was good at was building a DL room "OK" enough that no one in it thought they deserved to transfer out for more PT. Best DL class we've had over the past 10 years was 2016 and he wasn't even the DL coach at the time.

You say this as it a small achievement. He fostered an environment that was team/brotherhood first and got all his guys to "buy-in" to that approach. That's essentially every coaches dream, lol. Which created better than "OK" results.

But to take this one step further, just so we're all on the same page. Elston was responsible for either recruiting and/or developing (and we'll use a 2 year minimum coaching for it to count with a player). Louis Nix, Prince Shembo, KLM, Stephon Tuitt (this is the DL for the regular season #1 ranked defense and undefeated season), Sheldon Day, Romeo Okwara, Julian Okwara, Jerry Tillery, Khalid Kareem, Ade O, Isaiah Foskey, Jayson and Justin Ademilola (Jayson was a HUGE recruiting win), Isaac Rochell, MTA. Not including all of the guys still on the roster that should be starting their ascension, all his guys.

He is directly responsible for both the recruitment and development of 2 of ND's very best DL, all time, in Stephon Tuitt and Isaiah Foskey. Likely would've been 3 if Okwara stayed healthy. He was Julian Okwara's primary recruiter because of his relationship with the family from recruiting Romeo who is also legitimate NFL player at the present.

2 of Elston's recruits and a 3rd he solely coached, finished their careers in ND's top 10 for sacks. Tuitt, Foskey, and Shembo.

If we look at the single season sack leaders list. 6 of the top 15 guys on that list were either coached by Elston during that season or recruited to ND by Elston.

He's one of the very best assistant coaches ND has had recently.

Someone would have to be out of their fucking mind to not realize the insane value Mike Elston brought to the program over a decade of either very good recruiting and/or developing.

 

[ndfanatic78]

Seriously? No matter who recruited who, Elston developed a DL room that was year-in, year-out one of the strongest units on the team through the best five seasons we've had in decades. Tillery. Kareem. Julian Okwara, Foskey, Jay Ade. Hinish, MTA, Ogundeje. Those guys became pretty good football players.

Are people saying Washington isnt developing the guys coming in? I mean he has talent coming in and the majority were ranked higher than the guys listed and are just now becoming upper class men. The only thing I am concerned about the DL is the overall size of the NT/DT's. We have 2 that are 295+ and thats it, but even with that ND has had undersized DL's for years going back to Tillery being the NT at 295/300.

Not trying to take away anything from what Elston did at all. He did an amazing job developing/ identifying lesser ranked talent.

 

[MacIrish75]

December 28: 2 Ademilolas
January 6: 0 Ademilolas

We are officially Ademilolaless

 

[Dale]

December 28: 2 Ademilolas
January 6: 0 Ademilolas

We are officially Ademilolaless

They get reborn into the Smith twins soon.

 

[GATTACA!]

They get reborn into the Smith twins soon.

Mr and Mr Smith

 

[stlnd01]

Are people saying Washington isnt developing the guys coming in? I mean he has talent coming in and the majority were ranked higher than the guys listed and are just now becoming upper class men. The only thing I am concerned about the DL is the overall size of the NT/DT's. We have 2 that are 295+ and thats it, but even with that ND has had undersized DL's for years going back to Tillery being the NT at 295/300.

Not trying to take away anything from what Elston did at all. He did an amazing job developing/ identifying lesser ranked talent.

I was just replying to a comment that "The only thing Elston was good at was building a DL room "OK" enough that no one in it thought they deserved to transfer out for more PT."
Which vastly undersells what he did.

As for Washington, TBD.

 

[NDFAN2008]

We aren't lacking bodies for DL/DE it's the lack of game experience next year is gonna key on the Current Freshman Class and incoming freshman coming in making an impact. Tyson Ford needs to have a big spring

 

[Luckylucci]

We aren't lacking bodies for DL/DE it's the lack of game experience next year is gonna key on the Current Freshman Class and incoming freshman coming in making an impact. Tyson Ford needs to have a big spring

Tyson Ford is the guy I'm watching as well. At, 6'4 and 275 lbs. he's what I would say is a perfect fit for Big End in the 3 man front. That can then play 3T in a 4 man front.

 

[zelezo vlk]

They get reborn into the Smith twins soon.

From your lips to God's ears

Sent from my SM-J337U using Tapatalk

 

[NDFAN2008]

Tyson Ford is the guy I'm watching as well. At, 6'4 and 275 lbs. he's what I would say is a perfect fit for Big End in the 3 man front. That can then play 3T in a 4 man front.

Sophmore Jason ONye needs to get going this guy is built like a brick shit house.
I think Josh Burnham, Tyson Ford, Aiden Gobaira are all guys that should be getting playing time next year Burnham and Gobaira should be good pass rushers, I think Freshman Brenan Vernon is another guy who can contribute day one. Traore and Houston are guys that could play as Freshmn as well, Houston has the size.
Nolan Ziegler is a guy who has the height and could be a vyper as well I think

 

[ThePiombino]

Seriously? No matter who recruited who, Elston developed a DL room that was year-in, year-out one of the strongest units on the team through the best five seasons we've had in decades. Tillery. Kareem. Julian Okwara, Foskey, Jay Ade. Hinish, MTA, Ogundeje. Those guys became pretty good football players.

You say this as it a small achievement. He fostered an environment that was team/brotherhood first and got all his guys to "buy-in" to that approach. That's essentially every coaches dream, lol. Which created better than "OK" results.

But to take this one step further, just so we're all on the same page. Elston was responsible for either recruiting and/or developing (and we'll use a 2 year minimum coaching for it to count with a player). Louis Nix, Prince Shembo, KLM, Stephon Tuitt (this is the DL for the regular season #1 ranked defense and undefeated season), Sheldon Day, Romeo Okwara, Julian Okwara, Jerry Tillery, Khalid Kareem, Ade O, Isaiah Foskey, Jayson and Justin Ademilola (Jayson was a HUGE recruiting win), Isaac Rochell, MTA. Not including all of the guys still on the roster that should be starting their ascension, all his guys.

He is directly responsible for both the recruitment and development of 2 of ND's very best DL, all time, in Stephon Tuitt and Isaiah Foskey. Likely would've been 3 if Okwara stayed healthy. He was Julian Okwara's primary recruiter because of his relationship with the family from recruiting Romeo who is also legitimate NFL player at the present.

2 of Elston's recruits and a 3rd he solely coached, finished their careers in ND's top 10 for sacks. Tuitt, Foskey, and Shembo.

If we look at the single season sack leaders list. 6 of the top 15 guys on that list were either coached by Elston during that season or recruited to ND by Elston.

He's one of the very best assistant coaches ND has had recently.

Someone would have to be out of their fucking mind to not realize the insane value Mike Elston brought to the program over a decade of either very good recruiting and/or developing.

I was just replying to a comment that "The only thing Elston was good at was building a DL room "OK" enough that no one in it thought they deserved to transfer out for more PT."
Which vastly undersells what he did.

As for Washington, TBD.

I'll give credit when/where it's due. Elston did build incredible culture and he was a pretty dang good developer of talent -- he knew how to get the most out of his players. However, I think he got lazy with his recruiting. And I don't mean lazy in terms of effort. I mean more along the lines of leaning on certain profiles a little too much and never really going big game hunting. I liken it to Clark Lea's recruiting. Both did great things on the field, but could they have done better on the trail? Hell yes!