'23 FL DE Keon Keeley (Prodigal Son)

[notredomer23]

Damn, IF he would enter the portal and come home to roost, where the heck are they going to fit everyone? I lost track but the Irish have to be well above 90 for next season as of now.

ND is at 88 but there are a few that will transfer after Spring and a couple that will be done with football. My guess is if they don't add anymore pieces to the roster, they'd be at 82. Plenty of room for someone like Keeley.

 

[Lberry]

Damn, IF he would enter the portal and come home to roost, where the heck are they going to fit everyone? I lost track but the Irish have to be well above 90 for next season as of now.

I bet we're under 85 to kick off in A&M.

Clarence Lewis
Kenny Minchey/Angelli
KK Smith
Micah Bell
Chance Tucker
Preston Zinter
Ben Minich
Junior T
Chris Tarek
Ty Chan

Not suggesting there's any rumors here or that I want them gone, but none of these going out would surprise me.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I'm leaving this to Freeman, Golden and Washington to decide on. I don't really care at this juncture. He had shoulder surgery about a year ago. That in mind, we know what ND has to offer him in the short and long term. Up to him if he's given a second bite at the apple and chooses to take it.

 

[dublinirish]

Damn, IF he would enter the portal and come home to roost, where the heck are they going to fit everyone? I lost track but the Irish have to be well above 90 for next season as of now.

this would never ever happen and its rarely ever been a problem for any big program

 

[DomerInHappyValley]

Ohio State Fans probably did the same. If a kid is truly that salty about Twitter responses, he’ll need to toughen up. Especially if he has aspirations of being a professional athlete.

Kevin Durant says otherwise.

 

[NDFAN2008]

All you saying Keon should come

I bet we're under 85 to kick off in A&M.

Clarence Lewis
Kenny Minchey/Angelli
KK Smith
Micah Bell
Chance Tucker
Preston Zinter
Ben Minich
Junior T
Chris Tarek
Ty Chan

Not suggesting there's any rumors here or that I want them gone, but none of these going out would surprise me.

KK SMITH Makes Zero Sense,
Bell Makes Zero Sense
Zinter Makes Zero Sense
Minich makes Zero Sense
Junior T makes Zero Sense

 

[SeekNDestroy]

All you saying Keon should come

KK SMITH Makes Zero Sense,
Bell Makes Zero Sense
Zinter Makes Zero Sense
Minich makes Zero Sense
Junior T makes Zero Sense

Not necessarily. Who would have thought Rico would leave after the season he had (I know his position coach left, but still)?

Personally, it wouldn’t shock me at all if Junior leaves. I expect him to be beaten out by multiple guys in his class and the freshman class.

 

[Lberry]

All you saying Keon should come

KK SMITH Makes Zero Sense,
Bell Makes Zero Sense
Zinter Makes Zero Sense
Minich makes Zero Sense
Junior T makes Zero Sense

All transfers make zero sense until they do. None of these guys have played while others in their class have, besides JR, and he's produced nothing and Gobaira is back, along with a transfer in from Duke. Some are being recruited over.

 

[stlnd01]

Maybe I’m old-fashioned in this portal-centric era, but speculating transfers on our roster by name with not even any smoke is kinda gross.

 

[a mike]

All you saying Keon should come

KK SMITH Makes Zero Sense,
Bell Makes Zero Sense
Zinter Makes Zero Sense
Minich makes Zero Sense
Junior T makes Zero Sense

Junior T -- I just don't see it personally for him, so think he could/should potentially move on. Maybe he'll be okay for PT in a backup capacity if Burnham moves over to strong side end and Bothelo continues to be plagued by injury. But he will have a lot of talented players coming up behind him either way in the following seasons

Zinter -- Staff seems to have shifted on their desired traits for linebackers since he was recruited. Also, there's essentially only two starting spots for linebackers now and he's in with some very talented players. So for those two reasons I could see him moving on. Guess he could move to vyper or potentially strong side end--but he'd probably run into similar problems as mentioned above for Junior T

Staff generally seems to have been going very hard on edge guys in the 2025 class for awhile now, which would indicate they don't really like what they got there currently except probably Traroe

Agree its too early to tell on the other three you have listed

Jamie U seems to think Bell has the potential to make a heck of a nickel

Smith at least has some raw speed with Brown shows he can develop

Minich just way too early to tell. But will probably have a pretty good idea post-Spring

 

[Lberry]

Maybe I’m old-fashioned in this portal-centric era, but speculating transfers on our roster by name with not even any smoke is kinda gross.

If any of the aformentioned have enough time to search for themselves on an IE thread that isn't even theirs, I'll raise the anty and predict they actually transfer.

was merely saying we'll be under 85 no problem, let's not pretend it's more than it is. It's the off season and it's an actual scenario the team is facing.

 

[PANDFAN]

Maybe I’m old-fashioned in this portal-centric era, but speculating transfers on our roster by name with not even any smoke is kinda gross.

I've never understood this take... this is a message board to discuss ND... they offered an opinion of who they thought "could" and even stated NO smoke... hell, we have posters here posting some of the dumbest takes (but they're entitled to their opinion) I've ever read but that's ok and posters speak all the time about suggesting players should switch positions... so is that gross? Because they are all just opinions.. ND fans are soft AF

 

[stlnd01]

I've never understood this take... this is a message board to discuss ND... they offered an opinion of who they thought "could" and even stated NO smoke... hell, we have posters here posting some of the dumbest takes (but they're entitled to their opinion) I've ever read but that's ok and posters speak all the time about suggesting players should switch positions... so is that gross? Because they are all just opinions.. ND fans are soft AF

Sure. Yes. Everyone's entitled to their opinions. And I'm entitled to my opinion that it's gross to rampantly speculate about a major life choice of a 19-year-old you know very little about based on, I dunno, vibes? Especially when talking about a program that preaches "four for 40" and that a lot of recruits choose for the degree and stay at least long enough to earn it.

Of course guys will transfer/medical/whatever. They always do. And we'll be under 85 by Opening Day just like we always are. But naming names - especially when it's freshmen who've been here a minute, just because they haven't played much yet - rubs me the wrong way. Sorry if that bothers you.

 

[laughingirish90]

If true, we should be in a good spot with him.

remember the uncle or who ever that was pushing him away from ND due to money.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Junior T -- I just don't see it personally for him, so think he could/should potentially move on. Maybe he'll be okay for PT in a backup capacity if Burnham moves over to strong side end and Bothelo continues to be plagued by injury. But he will have a lot of talented players coming up behind him either way in the following seasons

Zinter -- Staff seems to have shifted on their desired traits for linebackers since he was recruited. Also, there's essentially only two starting spots for linebackers now and he's in with some very talented players. So for those two reasons I could see him moving on. Guess he could move to vyper or potentially strong side end--but he'd probably run into similar problems as mentioned above for Junior T

Staff generally seems to have been going very hard on edge guys in the 2025 class for awhile now, which would indicate they don't really like what they got there currently except probably Traroe

Agree its too early to tell on the other three you have listed

Jamie U seems to think Bell has the potential to make a heck of a nickel

Smith at least has some raw speed with Brown shows he can develop

Minich just way too early to tell. But will probably have a pretty good idea post-Spring

With Zinter, the idea seemed to always be that he was a LB who would likely grow into a Vyper.

Zinter is better suited to make that transition than Junior was. Junior always felt like a legit old-school LB. But Zinter is more of an athlete and is longer and rangier. Not super long or rangy, but more so than Junior.

I can't imagine Minich leaves this spring. He isn't starting most likely, but the numbers at safety aren't good still, so he may still end up in the two-deep. Right now, it's Watts, Heard, Shuler and Minich. And Urlacher is the only early enrolling safety, so I unless Urlacher has a miraculous spring, he's probably locked into the 2-deep.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I got laughed at for a couple weeks ago for my question on the IB podcast "should ND reach out to Keon with Bama looking for a DE in the portal"
With the response that it's not happening and Keon is staying put... Jokes on those clowns.

They also said there was no chance that Denbrock was leaving LSU for ND when the Parker news broke.

 

[Rocketman84]

Jimmy Clausen was #1 overall no?

I mean Clausen #1, Smith #2 and Te'o #2 were ALL Top 3 recruits in the past 15 years. Before that we've had a few #1 recruits

All you saying Keon should come

KK SMITH Makes Zero Sense,
Bell Makes Zero Sense
Zinter Makes Zero Sense
Minich makes Zero Sense
Junior T makes Zero Sense

💯

 

[Chicago Domer]

One of the biggest questions is whether or not he’s willing to play school after going to Bama and not having to?

 

[jprue24]

Zinter was the scout team player of the year...

edit - 'a' scout team poty. 1 of 4.

 

[Irish#1]

remember the uncle or who ever that was pushing him away from ND due to money.

Yep, but I wonder after the initial recruitment how much influence they would still have given Keon has went through the experience and knows what it's all about?

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Maybe I’m old-fashioned in this portal-centric era, but speculating transfers on our roster by name with not even any smoke is kinda gross.

It's the end of an era. The game is gone.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

If money was the only reason Keon didn't end up at ND coming out of high school (because ND doesn't - and shouldn't - pay high school recruits), what are the chances that ND sways him as a transfer portal recruit (which they DO pay)? I'm not saying they'd be at the top of the list money-wise, but ND transfers are getting NIL not to mention the "base pay" from FUND. If Keon jumps in the portal, I think ND has as good as chance as anyone....unless he's adamant about staying in the SEC. Just a random thought.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

If money was the only reason Keon didn't end up at ND coming out of high school (because ND doesn't - and shouldn't - pay high school recruits), what are the chances that ND sways him as a transfer portal recruit (which they DO pay)? I'm not saying they'd be at the top of the list money-wise, but ND transfers are getting NIL not to mention the "base pay" from FUND. If Keon jumps in the portal, I think ND has as good as chance as anyone....unless he's adamant about staying in the SEC. Just a random thought.

allegedly it wasn't a "money issue" more DL NFL success at Bama was allegedly the reason

 

[BleedBlueGold]

allegedly it wasn't a "money issue" more DL NFL success at Bama was allegedly the reason

Not a totally invalid position to take. Bama has been the gold standard for awhile in terms of NFL talent and championships etc. I never faulted the kid for going there. The story about his family getting in his ear and driving him away from ND for money is what I was referring to. And I'm just a random dude, so I don't even know how much of that is true or internet fodder.

 

[allenm5333]

allegedly it wasn't a "money issue" more DL NFL success at Bama was allegedly the reason

Correct. Bama was bringing enough $ to the table now AND could point to what he would make.

 

[Katzenboyer]

allegedly it wasn't a "money issue" more DL NFL success at Bama was allegedly the reason

That's the "cover" story. Keeley flipped to Bama because he had an uncle that wanted to get a big NIL payday, and ND wouldn't play that game.

This isn't sour grapes because what Bama did is completely above board now. But numerous insiders said that if the choice was KK's, he'd be at ND, but the family pressure got to him.

 

[WildMan1]

Idk if Loy is being wink wink or we should take it at face value, but he expects Keeley to enter the portal, and ND is going to try to land him

Lawd if you listenin 🙏🏻

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

That's the "cover" story. Keeley flipped to Bama because he had an uncle that wanted to get a big NIL payday, and ND wouldn't play that game.

This isn't sour grapes because what Bama did is completely above board now. But numerous insiders said that if the choice was KK's, he'd be at ND, but the family pressure got to him.

you see how many times I used allegedly in my post? I'm aware its sketchy at best....probably both were the factors. Not one or the other.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Surprised he hasn't transfered yet but I'm not sure hes better than Bryant coming in

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Lawd if you listenin

Twitter rumblings point to Georgia, which is on par, and makes sense for a guy of his pedigree. I wouldn’t hold my breath, but let’s light a candle just in case.


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