'25 NV WR Derek Meadows (Alabama Verbal)

[NDPhilly]

If we have the year we should have, we’ll be able to flip a talented WR later in the cycle, but we just can’t whiff on all 3 of Meadows, Hines, and Robinson.

 

[INLaw]

There is nothing he has done in a competitive football game to sniff a 5 star. He is a 5 star because he makes the sites money by playing the game. If you are torn to death between bama, dawgs, and corn dogs do to $$$ and hoes god bless you. Hell that is what half the five star battles are every year. But if you don’t know pretty early on if your Notre Dame kid or a bayou corn doggy then I got nothing for ya.

 

[notredomer23]

l

There is nothing he has done in a competitive football game to sniff a 5 star. He is a 5 star because he makes the sites money by playing the game. If you are torn to death between bama, dawgs, and corn dogs do to $$$ and hoes god bless you. Hell that is what half the five star battles are every year. But if you don’t know pretty early on if your Notre Dame kid or a bayou corn doggy then I got nothing for ya.

At this point it’s more about perception of winning this battle than how good he actually is IMO. I actually think he’s most likely a bust… big time project with insane athletic potential but zero proven ability in pads… no reason to be getting the money thrown at him that he is from ND or other school.

Tbh if ND is slinging money like I know they are id rather Robinson, NOB, and Faraimo

 

[INLaw]

l


At this point it’s more about perception of winning this battle than how good he actually is IMO. I actually think he’s most likely a bust… big time project with insane athletic potential but zero proven ability in pads… no reason to be getting the money thrown at him that he is from ND or other school.

Tbh if ND is slinging money like I know they are id rather Robinson, NOB, and Faraimo

All of that

 

[NDpendent]

Like ISD and IB both reported, regardless of who he picks the other teams will be working on a flip throughout the season until NSD. If he is looking for money there will be more desperate teams with large payouts at that time.

Need to clean the board and hopefully RL balls out this fall and make NDs offense more attractive to some other WRs.

 

[IA4irish]

Someone brought up Jordan Johnson. I wonder how much NIL money we would’ve wasted on him if it was legal that year.

I bring that up because I wouldn’t get in a bidding war over a player with a little over 300 yards receiving last year

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Save the NiL for kids that WANT to be here and transfers. There's plenty of 4-5 stars that want Notre Dame, but the money was a tipping point in the past (Keeley, etc). Spend it on them.

 

[allenm5333]

Someone brought up Jordan Johnson. I wonder how much NIL money we would’ve wasted on him if it was legal that year.

I bring that up because I wouldn’t get in a bidding war over a player with a little over 300 yards receiving last year

I am very curious what our portal activity next year looks like. We have had to "budget" for qbs the last 2 years. Can we allocate some of that $ to a dude next year? Imagine if we could get someone like Addison at WR...

 

[PutuporShutup]

Someone brought up Jordan Johnson. I wonder how much NIL money we would’ve wasted on him if it was legal that year.

I bring that up because I wouldn’t get in a bidding war over a player with a little over 300 yards receiving last year

The issue is we’ve missed on all our other top wr recruits as well, this is the second batch we’re whiffing on

 

[BobbyMac]

I'm a production guy matters 99% of the time but we need to accept why he's being rated so high and that the production will come. I read a comment by someone familiar with BG that the ball went to him 18 times all season. In those opportunities, he had 15 rec, (8 TD's, 400 yards @ 26+ ypc) and a throwing TD on a trick play.

In case you missed it or for the people reading this while lurking:

Bishop Gorman's QB was a 4 year starter going back to Covid and signed with Hawaii. Their top receiver signed with Washington and their number two receiver (listed at TE) signed with The U. They played varsity at BG for 3 & 4 years respectively.
They had a clique, which is natural in this situation.

This season, Meadows will be playing with a QB he's come up with named Melvin Spicer, who is a low 3* prospect. He'll share the ball with '26 Jett Washington (Kobe's nephew) who I think wants to play WR over Safety. Also in Meadows' class is a possession receiver named Brandon Gaea who has actually the #3 receiver last year in yardage (about 40 more than Meadows) but 10 yds less per catch and 3 TD's on ten more receptions.

Some other things to consider about Meadows expected production:

BG lost their top two RB's to Michigan and K State. Their top returning RB this season is probably an FCS to low level G5 prospect and they had a Soph transfer in from TX that is already getting offers.

The big wrench in his production is will they pass it enough? Gorman has the best offensive line in the country. They have SIX OL's in the Class of '25, 5 of which are P4 prospects. They are committed to TN, OR, Miami, ASU, Hawaii & the sixth guy has six P4 offers too.
These guys led the way to 11 ypc last season, they don't have to pass against anyone outside of Mater Dei and maybe Saint Thomas Aquinas.

I think he'll show what the hype is about and cement himself as at least a Top 10 WR in the class. I'm trying to arrange my schedule to attend the Mater Dei game in CA. That will be a huge test for him.

 

[irishandy]

ND needs to win and win big in 2024.

That's why this era is a game changer for this sport- does ND land Clausen, Floyd, Rudolph, Te'o, Smith, etc. if they were part of the NIL era?

If I am reading right Freeman/Brown/Denbrock have been in contact with Meadows more this week to give him something to think about & push back his date? They've been after this kid since his sophomore year, they should've have always kept in contact with him, and Meadows should know what ND has to offer.

In the past few NFL drafts LSU has produced successful WR's, that's a great sell for LSU.

I think winning on the field will help ND win on the recruiting trail.

 

[Blazers46]

ND needs to win and win big in 2024.

That's why this era is a game changer for this sport- does ND land Clausen, Floyd, Rudolph, Te'o, Smith, etc. if they were part of the NIL era?

If I am reading right Freeman/Brown/Denbrock have been in contact with Meadows more this week to give him something to think about & push back his date? They've been after this kid since his sophomore year, they should've have always kept in contact with him, and Meadows should know what ND has to offer.

In the past few NFL drafts LSU has produced successful WR's, that's a great sell for LSU.

I think winning on the field will help ND win on the recruiting trail.

True but the 2024 season doesn’t matter for Meadows or anyone else choosing before September. I think ND sees a bump when we beat AM. This is a game ND always plays well in but loses close.

 

[irishandy]

True but the 2024 season doesn’t matter for Meadows or anyone else choosing before September. I think ND sees a bump when we beat AM. This is a game ND always plays well in but loses close.

I think the whole season does matter, I agree ND needs to set the tone with A&M, and close to win this game (a big win would be better than a close game). If this board has a top 5 or 10 list of what needs to happen this season, one of mine will be ND needs to have a receiver over 1,000 yards or a couple with 700-800 yards. Mitchell had over 1,000 yards at FIU.

 

[PutuporShutup]

I think the whole season does matter, I agree ND needs to set the tone with A&M, and close to win this game (a big win would be better than a close game). If this board has a top 5 or 10 list of what needs to happen this season, one of mine will be ND needs to have a receiver over 1,000 yards or a couple with 700-800 yards. Mitchell had over 1,000 yards at FIU.

We have depth not studs at wr so I expect to have about 4 wrs between 400-700 yards. Would be shocked if anyone has over 800 especially if faison and greathouse splitting time at slot. Sprinkle in 2-3 other wrs with 100-300

 

[irishandy]

We have depth not studs at wr so I expect to have about 4 wrs between 400-700 yards. Would be shocked if anyone has over 800 especially if faison and greathouse splitting time at slot. Sprinkle in 2-3 other wrs with 100-300

Give me 1 WR with 1,000 yards this season, the depth is great to have, but ND needs someone to step up to be a #1 and turn into a stud. LSU had 2 1,000 WR's last season with the same OC we have. ND doesn't have a Malik Nabers, but I'd like to see one of our WR's turn out to be a Brian Thomas.

 

[GoIrish41]

We have depth not studs at wr so I expect to have about 4 wrs between 400-700 yards. Would be shocked if anyone has over 800 especially if faison and greathouse splitting time at slot. Sprinkle in 2-3 other wrs with 100-300

A big part of the production at receiver is that we’ve had sub-par QB play for over a decade. If the qb can’t get the receiver the ball (or is afraid to pull the trigger) there isn’t going to be much production. Recruits will be interested when they see a productive passing attack. Right now, what does ND have to sell besides LSU’s results from last year’s Denbrock-led squad?

 

[Rocketman84]

Give me 1 WR with 1,000 yards this season, the depth is great to have, but ND needs someone to step up to be a #1 and turn into a stud. LSU had 2 1,000 WR's last season with the same OC we have. ND doesn't have a Malik Nabers, but I'd like to see one of our WR's turn out to be a Brian Thomas.

Well, Brian Thomas was a better deep threat and led the NCAA in TDs so I'd gladly take that!

 

[Rocketman84]

5* WR Caleb Cunningham to 'Bama

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

A big part of the production at receiver is that we’ve had sub-par QB play for over a decade. If the qb can’t get the receiver the ball (or is afraid to pull the trigger) there isn’t going to be much production. Recruits will be interested when they see a productive passing attack. Right now, what does ND have to sell besides LSU’s results from last year’s Denbrock-led squad?

A typically-dominant OL, a perennially top 10-20 defense, strong running attack to set up the pass, incredible TEs who keep the defense honest, and now several highly rated QBs who can deal it.

Feels like literally all we need are one-two truly high caliber WRs to take the leap, and we’ll be a Tier 1 program competing for national championships.

 

[GoIrish41]

A typically-dominant OL, a perennially top 10-20 defense, strong running attack to set up the pass, incredible TEs who keep the defense honest, and now several highly rated QBs who can deal it.

Feels like literally all we need are one-two truly high caliber WRs to take the leap, and we’ll be a Tier 1 program competing for national champions.

Agreed. Although I think we have a few high-caliber young receivers. Greathouse is probably going to be the man this year — Williams and Gilbert are both studs. Get these guys going and I believe they will prime the recruiting pump.

 

[NDQuebec]

A big part of the production at receiver is that we’ve had sub-par QB play for over a decade. If the qb can’t get the receiver the ball (or is afraid to pull the trigger) there isn’t going to be much production. Recruits will be interested when they see a productive passing attack. Right now, what does ND have to sell besides LSU’s results from last year’s Denbrock-led squad?

You are spot on about QB play for the last decade. What I can't understand is why can't ND sell Denbrock, Brown, and, most importantly, Carr and Knight?

 

[GoIrish41]

You are spot on about QB play for the last decade. What I can't understand is why can't ND sell Denbrock, Brown, and, most importantly, Carr and Knight?

None of them coached or played at ND last year. Hope is harder to sell than production. Convert that hope to production on Saturdays and you’ve got something.

 

[NDPhilly]

Loy just posted an update if anyone wants to share

 

[notredomer23]

Loy just posted an update if anyone wants to share

Lot of nothing we didn’t already know other than emphasizing his CB remains on ND, which is pretty telling IMO given how folks like him and Wiltfong will change it on a whim

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

ND leads again, a couple more calls for each school though. Comes down to the wire (past the wire likely)

 

[NDPhilly]

Lot of nothing we didn’t already know other than emphasizing his CB remains on ND, which is pretty telling IMO given how folks like him and Wiltfong will change it on a whim

Keeping the max number of fans invested in order to drive clicks / views. Business is business.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Seems like ND is playing ball now you aren't going to outbid ND I will tell you that much if they really want Meadows they will get him

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Seems like ND is playing ball now you aren't going to outbid ND I will tell you that much if they really want Meadows they will get him

We don't now that to be true.
AND if Meadows were to get paid, he'd be the first example of a 5 star that ND outbid the competition for.

 

[NDFAN2008]

We don't now that to be true.
AND if Meadows were to get paid, he'd be the first example of a 5 star that ND outbid the competition for.

Remember there's a new AD and new president

 

[NDPhilly]

We are almost surely the most desperate of his top teams to sign a quality WR lmao. This is the time to shell out $$$. We also need to keep Deuce happy, who very easily could be looking for a better supporting cast if we whiff on our remaining 3 (really 2) targets.