'24 OH S Taebron Bennie-Powell (Notre Dame Signee)

[MacIrish75]

I mean, he does have that hyphenated surname…so we’ve got that going for us.

 

[Luckylucci]

I hope all of the negative comments about him on this thread add fuel to his fire. It's not his fault that Freeman and O'Leary shit their pants this cycle. Take this opportunity and make the most of it, Taebron.

Completely agree.

It’s not the prospect as much as the process to get here that I'm critical of. In fact, like I mentioned, I like him more than another S in the class.
Though, I’d feel much differently about the recruitment if they offered this guy when they offered the rest. They knew of him. Recruited both his teammates, have a great relationship with HC, and he visited last September.

Clearly the present staff is going to lean on the relationship with his HC for this eval. I actually think in times like this, that is a great idea.

But, again, they did that after missing on 4-5 guys in a span of 3-4 weeks. All guys they were confident to land. If we're being honest, we were never supposed to get here.

Below is a very interesting read from Jamie U at ISD talking about this HS coaches recent success of players and the connection to the present staff. It's a premium article but for those with ISD, well worth the time, IMO.

Uyeyama's Scouting Notebook

Looking at the previous camp offers for rising seniors, why getting a recommendation from the right source can mean a lot, and why there's no reason to get caught up in anything good or bad from the Elite 11

irishsportsdaily.com

 

[notredomer23]

Committed

 

[NDMatt91]

I'll be rooting for him that he proves a lot of people, myself included, wrong. I hope fans don't take their frustrations out on him. He seems like a good kid and he did nothing wrong. It's not his fault that O'Leary and Freeman have screwed up Safety recruiting as of right now.

 

[Rizzophil]

I’m a nd homer but just read an article about Lukas van ness on packers

when Iowa recruited him he played LEFT TACKLE in high school. Iowa saw size and traits and he grew into a first round draft pick in 3 years

yes I want five stars but taking a chance isn’t all bad. And if he flops then he will get processed

 

[dublinirish]

I see the point of keeping the HC of a top program in Ohio happy tbf. MF playing the long game

 

[Luckylucci]

I actually think he’ll have a solid floor as a run hit guy in a scheme that will likely be able to accentuate that whether it is at S or not.

But, I can’t help myself but to add.

A class of Johnson, TBP, Ziglar, and Miles?

Or a class of Johnson, TBP, Urlacher, and Andrews?

TBP isn’t the problem. Though the problem is somewhat compounded by what appears to be redundant skill sets.

 

[CanadalovesND]

At worst, he never plays and transfers after he get his degree.

At best, he’s a solid rotational guy.

In the middle, he’s likely a special teamer that will get some game reps. His run-and-hit ability would do well on ST.

 

[NDpendent]

Let's Go TBP!

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Welcome to Notre Dame Taebron!

 

[GrangerIrish24]

neat

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Rock on TBP!!! 🤘🏼💀

 

[PutuporShutup]

I'll be rooting for him that he proves a lot of people, myself included, wrong. I hope fans don't take their frustrations out on him. He seems like a good kid and he did nothing wrong. It's not his fault that O'Leary and Freeman have screwed up Safety recruiting as of right now.

And i hope posters don't take it like we're attacking him personally when we aren't excited with this commitment. Super happy for him and he's lucky to get a scholly to ND, but wish we were recruiting safety much better.

I hope he crushes it, i hope that for every recruit. Just don't expect it with some, this is one.

 

[ColinKSU]

I actually think he’ll have a solid floor as a run hit guy in a scheme that will likely be able to accentuate that whether it is at S or not.

But, I can’t help myself but to add.

A class of Johnson, TBP, Ziglar, and Miles?

Or a class of Johnson, TBP, Urlacher, and Andrews?

TBP isn’t the problem. Though the problem is somewhat compounded by what appears to be redundant skill sets.

Assuming they get Andrews, they’re taking two actual safeties in a class where they needed four, and one is a wide receiver and the other won’t enroll at BYU until 2026.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I'll be rooting for him that he proves a lot of people, myself included, wrong. I hope fans don't take their frustrations out on him. He seems like a good kid and he did nothing wrong. It's not his fault that O'Leary and Freeman have screwed up Safety recruiting as of right now.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Assuming they get Andrews, they’re taking two actual safeties in a class where they needed four, and one is a wide receiver and the other won’t enroll at BYU until 2026.

This made me lol - and cry

 

[IAIrish]

I see the point of keeping the HC of a top program in Ohio happy tbf. MF playing the long game

Freeman has a relationship with that the Lakota hc. Sounds like that coach sent some studs to Cincy when Freeman was there.
I'd have loved to slow play this recruitment to see how he performed at safety senior year, but then you run the risk of other schools getting involved if he blows up.

 

[IAIrish]

Also- I'd say Elko, Stoops and Nard know a how to identify safety talent.
The fact that those coaches offered TBP gives some assurance.
Not justifying the board or how it came to be, but it's something.

 

[dublinirish]

his teammate, a 2027 QB

 

[BoredIrish]

The narrative is that the staff screwed up and got stuck taking TBP. Any chance they had TBP in mind the entire time and consciously turned down the others in favor of him?

I have heard nothing to suggest this theory... except it does make more rational sense than the prevalent "shit show" theory.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Cool beans


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

The narrative is that the staff screwed up and got stuck taking TBP. Any chance they had TBP in mind the entire time and consciously turned down the others in favor of him?

I have heard nothing to suggest this theory... except it does make more rational sense than the prevalent "shit show" theory.

In general that theory would make more sense.

The counter argument is that there is basically no film on him playing the safety position. So he might be a good take but not somebody whose addition would cause ND to decide (in conjunction with Urlacher and Johnson) that the safety position is all wrapped up.

 

[Reaper97]

Freeman has a relationship with that the Lakota hc. Sounds like that coach sent some studs to Cincy when Freeman was there.
I'd have loved to slow play this recruitment to see how he performed at safety senior year, but then you run the risk of other schools getting involved if he blows up.

Yeah, on the ISD podcast yesterday they named like a half a dozen kids that coach sent to D1 who all panned out.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Yeah, on the ISD podcast yesterday they named like a half a dozen kids that coach sent to D1 who all panned out.

Average recruiting ranking of those players mentioned was around 1,900, as well.

 

[Grahambo]

Some guys are slower to develop but if you know, you know. Not everyone is a plug and play.

Time will dictate.

Welcome aboard!

 

[IrishLion]

If you’re a college coach that’s trying to get creative with expanding the board, and resort to leaning on your trusted high school coaching contacts to give you the outlook on a guy you can’t necessarily project on your own yet…

Tom Bolden giving you the scoop on Cincy kids is probably as good as that situation gets, particularly with Freeman’s history in Cincy.

Kerry Coombs and Tom Bolden could open their own Greater Cincinnati scouting service and make boatloads of money, probably.

 

[NDFAN420]

Completely agree.

They knew of him. Recruited both his teammates, have a great relationship with HC, and he visited last September.

Clearly the present staff is going to lean on the relationship with his HC for this eval. I actually think in times like this, that is a great idea.

Below is a very interesting read from Jamie U at ISD talking about this HS coaches recent success of players and the connection to the present staff. It's a premium article but for those with ISD, well worth the time, IMO.

Uyeyama's Scouting Notebook

Looking at the previous camp offers for rising seniors, why getting a recommendation from the right source can mean a lot, and why there's no reason to get caught up in anything good or bad from the Elite 11

irishsportsdaily.com

Your post and reading earlier today about his teammates (Minich and Malik Hartford) made me think that this is a school where you'd want the HC to owe you a favor on a 5* down the road.

 

[Irishdrunk]

The narrative is that the staff screwed up and got stuck taking TBP. Any chance they had TBP in mind the entire time and consciously turned down the others in favor of him?

I have heard nothing to suggest this theory... except it does make more rational sense than the prevalent "shit show" theory.

LOL how does the staff screw up and got "stuck taking" TBP??? Sounds like they went to a bad used car dealership....

 

[PutuporShutup]

LOL how does the staff screw up and got "stuck taking" TBP??? Sounds like they went to a bad used car dealership....

Yep, there’s absolutely no way you can spin this in a positive fashion. A not very athletic player that’s never played the position and did bad in a recent camp at nd…… but his hs coach says he WILL be awesome

 

[Crazy Balki]

Yep, there’s absolutely no way you can spin this in a positive fashion. A not very athletic player that’s never played the position and did bad in a recent camp at nd…… but his hs coach says he WILL be awesome

I mean there is no objective evidence to indicate any of that is true.

By the measures they got at camp, he is actually quite athletic and fast for a guy with his length, being nearly 6'2 and 190. He also, by many accounts, performed well at the recent camp. You're making assumptions based on what amounts to like 20 seconds of clips, when in reality, they worked him for a lot longer before coming to the decision.

The reality is that he is a project, but one with the upside due to his combination of length, speed and ability to make open field tackles.

Bolden has the track record of funneling high level D1 talent into programs, so he has the credibility to back up that claim.

I also highly doubt TBP has never played safety. He's seen playing a little bit of it in his junior film. We just need to see a lot more of it.

I'm concerned about how this safety class is reliant on athletic projects, rather than established good safety prospects, but it was with these longer, athletic projects that he build an elite secondary at Cincinnati with Sauce, Bryant, Wiggins and Forrest. So not only does Bolden have the credibility, but Freeman does as well, because he's coached up a lot of raw athletes into some of the best DB's in the country.