'25 FL DL Jalen Wiggins (Florida Soft Verbal)

[allenm5333]

That doesn't sound all that positive.

All it means is he wants some of that Deuce money

 

[Katzenboyer]

From the article, it sounds like Wiggins is the only DT guy that ND will pursue. Tim Griffin is no longer a consideration.

I have serious questions why the two "DTs" left on the staff's board currently weigh less than 260 pounds.

We need to bring in war daddies in the middle every single class. I know we have one in Dixon, but we can't keep expecting that we can bring in guys who we expect to "beef up" once they arrive on campus. Sometimes, you just need to be the bigger team, and I'm not seeing that on the DL.

 

[NDFAN2008]

DT recruiting needs to get better I'm tired of us trying to turn DE into DT. Go get a 6'3-6'4 310 lbs guy to clog the middle

 

[lcaps20]

DT recruiting needs to get better I'm tired of us trying to turn DE into DT. Go get a 6'3-6'4 310 lbs guy to clog the middle

Yeah man, it's that easy. I'm sure the coaches have no interest in doing this and aren't pursuing out of sheer ignorance and apathy.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Yeah man, it's that easy. I'm sure the coaches have no interest in doing this and aren't pursuing out of sheer ignorance and apathy.

There's no doubt it's not easy and that those guys don't grow on trees, and that most of the higher-rated specimens don't want to play school. But most of our "true DT recruiting" under this staff has involved attempting to turn larger defensive ends into DTs.

I have no problem with the staff taking chances on guys like Daniel Cage once every class. Sometimes you just need to have beef in there.

 

[NDMatt91]

There's no doubt it's not easy and that those guys don't grow on trees, and that most of the higher-rated specimens don't want to play school. But most of our "true DT recruiting" under this staff has involved attempting to turn larger defensive ends into DTs.

I have no problem with the staff taking chances on guys like Daniel Cage once every class. Sometimes you just need to have beef in there.

I think next year's class (2026) might be a put-up or shut-up year for Washington on the recruiting trail, specifically at DT.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I think next year's class (2026) might be a put-up or shut-up year for Washington on the recruiting trail, specifically at DT.

I don't think we're necessarily in a BAD position. There's depth on the DL (which is obviously being tested by injuries this year), but there's no "true" nose/DT on the roster right now and I think it shows at times when teams run on us.

It's not a necessarily "tough" fix, and Sevillano last year was a good start (as will be adding Dixon in this class). But they'll definitely need to bring in 1-2 interior lineman through the Portal this year, and I'm hoping they try to add another big body to this year's class to really try and beef up the position.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

There's no doubt it's not easy and that those guys don't grow on trees, and that most of the higher-rated specimens don't want to play school. But most of our "true DT recruiting" under this staff has involved attempting to turn larger defensive ends into DTs.

I have no problem with the staff taking chances on guys like Daniel Cage once every class. Sometimes you just need to have beef in there.

Right because no one on this board would bitch about the staff reaching for a 2 star DT just because he weighs 300+.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Right because no one on this board would bitch about the staff reaching for a 2 star DT just because he weighs 300+.

1. Cage wasn't a two-star.

2. The staff should not care one lick what the message boards say.

3. The major programs take guys like this each year. Look at Georgia - they've signed three star jumbo DTs in each of their last three classes. At some point you need to prioritize size.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

I have serious questions why the two "DTs" left on the staff's board currently weigh less than 260 pounds.

We need to bring in war daddies in the middle every single class. I know we have one in Dixon, but we can't keep expecting that we can bring in guys who we expect to "beef up" once they arrive on campus. Sometimes, you just need to be the bigger team, and I'm not seeing that on the DL.

ND also signed Sean Sevillano (sp?) in the most recent class, he definitely fits the bill as a side of beef.

 

[Katzenboyer]

ND also signed Sean Sevillano (sp?) in the most recent class, he definitely fits the bill as a side of beef.

Yes, and Dixon will help too. Like I said above, it's a good start, but I think ND should prioritize adding at least two such guys every class - especially now with the scholarship limits expanding.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

1. Cage wasn't a two-star.

2. The staff should not care one lick what the message boards say.

3. The major programs take guys like this each year. Look at Georgia - they've signed three star jumbo DTs in each of their last three classes. At some point you need to prioritize size.

I am not suggesting the staff should care about message boards, I agree w you. I’m pointing out the melt downs we’d be dealing w here w all the bed wetters.

 

[WildMan1]

Yeah man, it's that easy. I'm sure the coaches have no interest in doing this and aren't pursuing out of sheer ignorance and apathy.

Regardless of the coaching staffs efforts, whiffing on the top 50 interior DL at Notre Dame is a massive L..

And the PROGRAM.. not just this staff has been doing it for years now.

Rubio is probably the highest rated DT we’ve recruited in years.. Mills was recruited as a WDE but was also highly regarded & Lacey had medical complications.

Then it goes all the way back to Jayson Ademilola.

Otherwise it’s been mostly out of the top 50 for true DT..

Keanaaina 56, D Hinish 80, Houstan 33, Vernon 43, Sevillano 65 & now Reiff 56, Sulfstead 64 & Dixon 106..

I don’t know if they plan on beefing up Bryce & putting him in the middle but that’s a pretty horrible job of recruiting the interior defensive line imo..

 

[Rocketman84]

Feels like the annual high upside southern dline thar visits in the season gets us excited for a week and then sticks with an sec school

Pretty much, legit speed receivers and high impact DL especially pass rushers seem to avoid us like the plague. If we can change this the sky is the limit.

 

[Rocketman84]

Regardless of the coaching staffs efforts, whiffing on the top 50 interior DL at Notre Dame is a massive L..

And the PROGRAM.. not just this staff has been doing it for years now.

Rubio is probably the highest rated DT we’ve recruited in years.. Mills was recruited as a WDE but was also highly regarded & Lacey had medical complications.

Then it goes all the way back to Jayson Ademilola.

Otherwise it’s been mostly out of the top 50 for true DT..

Keanaaina 56, D Hinish 80, Houstan 33, Vernon 43, Sevillano 65 & now Reiff 56, Sulfstead 64 & Dixon 106..

I don’t know if they plan on beefing up Bryce & putting him in the middle but that’s a pretty horrible job of recruiting the interior defensive line imo..

Vernon im sure was top 20, I remember he was a 5*(Top 10 OVERALL as a Soph), he committed to ND and then the drop down the rankings began.

1. Cage wasn't a two-star.

2. The staff should not care one lick what the message boards say.

3. The major programs take guys like this each year. Look at Georgia - they've signed three star jumbo DTs in each of their last three classes. At some point you need to prioritize size.

Georgia also signs 3 top 10-12 DTs in a cycle....😑😑

 

[Irish#1]

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[NDpendent]

Pretty much, legit speed receivers and high impact DL especially pass rushers seem to avoid us like the plague. If we can change this the sky is the limit.

You did not take me as a guy who is interested in legit speed receivers.

 

[General Colon Bowel]

Regardless of the coaching staffs efforts, whiffing on the top 50 interior DL at Notre Dame is a massive L..

And the PROGRAM.. not just this staff has been doing it for years now.

Rubio is probably the highest rated DT we’ve recruited in years.. Mills was recruited as a WDE but was also highly regarded & Lacey had medical complications.

Then it goes all the way back to Jayson Ademilola.

Otherwise it’s been mostly out of the top 50 for true DT..

Keanaaina 56, D Hinish 80, Houstan 33, Vernon 43, Sevillano 65 & now Reiff 56, Sulfstead 64 & Dixon 106..

I don’t know if they plan on beefing up Bryce & putting him in the middle but that’s a pretty horrible job of recruiting the interior defensive line imo..

Part of the issue with recruiting big nose tackle types is there just aren't a lot of them each class.

If you look at the top 100 DL (all the way into 3*, 87 grade territory) in 247's 2025 rankings, only 30 of them are 285lbs+.

Then you start looking at demographics of those 30 and the pickings look even slimmer - 22 of them are from GA, AL, TX, FL, MS, or TN - the hardest place for ND to pull kids from.

Then you start thinking about who could get past admissions in that group - let's approximate that based on a reported offer from ND or similar academic institution like Duke, NW, Vandy, Stanford, or any Ivy schools. That cuts the list down to 14 of those 30 guys (6 of which ND offered).

It's just a big challenge for ND to recruit these types of guys. And it's a problem for every school, even without academic restrictions: LSU is taking four 285lb+ guys that are all ranked 65+ at their position. UGA is taking a big man ranked 148th at his position.

If we set our sights on only top 50 guys each class, we're gonna miss some years entirely.

I'm not a fan of recruiting to 105 scholarships, but with the new limits I do think this is one area we should be taking some developmental prospects. At least 2 Dixon type guys a class to increase the chances one of them hits

 

[Crazy Balki]

I have serious questions why the two "DTs" left on the staff's board currently weigh less than 260 pounds.

We need to bring in war daddies in the middle every single class. I know we have one in Dixon, but we can't keep expecting that we can bring in guys who we expect to "beef up" once they arrive on campus. Sometimes, you just need to be the bigger team, and I'm not seeing that on the DL.

Because these guys have the frame to add a lot of weight.

Remember, Armel Mukam was listed around 250 as a senior in HS. He's now over 300 pounds.

A lot of these kids have a lot of growing left to do. If you look at Wiggins, that dude is LONG. He maybe around 260 now, but he can easily put on 40 pounds in a very short time, similar to Mukam.

If you can get your guys to be in the 290-310 range, you'll be more than fine. Issue currently is that ND has more than a few interior DT's who lack the frame to get up to even 290, with guys like Cross and Hinish. That isn't going to be an issue with guys like Wiggins and Joe Reiff. Both are very long players who can easily get up into that desired range.

 

[Rocketman84]

You did not take me as a guy who is interested in legit speed receivers.

Unless we still want to play 70s and early 80s style smash mouth Football, without the DL to compensate on the other side of the ball. We've see how that works out as well as having an abundance of tall possession WRs who DBs dont fear going past 10-15 yds. Im interested in just seeing the team act like its interested in winning a 'chip in the modern era.

 

[CanadalovesND]

IB reported yesterday, and On3 (Blue&Gold) this morning, that Wiggins is confirmed for the FSU game.

It was not finalized until now.

 

[allenm5333]

IB reported yesterday, and On3 (Blue&Gold) this morning, that Wiggins is confirmed for the FSU game.

It was not finalized until now.

Deuce's down payment got returned

 

[NDWarrior]

2025 DL Jalen Wiggins Looking Forward To Checking Notre Dame Out

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Jalen sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders and a very mature young man. He seems like he would be a really good fit at Notre Dame. Fingers crossed he ends up Irish.

 

[ColinKSU]

2025 DL Jalen Wiggins Looking Forward To Checking Notre Dame Out

So this is the 2025 SEC lineman who checks out Notre Dame and then stays with their SEC program?

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The Gators sit 4-4 and have this slate ahead of them. Two of the games are in The Swamp, but assume the best they do is a 2-2 split here. Does that keep Napier in place for another season?

Maybe it won't matter and Wiggins will see enough this weekend to flip...

 

[SDIrishFan]

View attachment 3056873
The Gators sit 4-4 and have this slate ahead of them. Two of the games are in The Swamp, but assume the best they do is a 2-2 split here. Does that keep Napier in place for another season?

Maybe it won't matter and Wiggins will see enough this weekend to flip...

I only see one win in those 4. Maybe if Lagway is healthy for Ole Miss, they have a punchers chance.

 

[CanadalovesND]

View attachment 3056873
The Gators sit 4-4 and have this slate ahead of them. Two of the games are in The Swamp, but assume the best they do is a 2-2 split here. Does that keep Napier in place for another season?

Maybe it won't matter and Wiggins will see enough this weekend to flip...

Napier's buyout would be somewhere in the $25 million range. Not astronomical like a few other coaches on the hotseat, but Florida can easily can that one done.

 

[NDisme]

So this is the 2025 SEC lineman who checks out Notre Dame and then stays with their SEC program?

Bingo! Got to be at least 1 per cycle

 

[Rocketman84]

View attachment 3056873
The Gators sit 4-4 and have this slate ahead of them. Two of the games are in The Swamp, but assume the best they do is a 2-2 split here. Does that keep Napier in place for another season?

Maybe it won't matter and Wiggins will see enough this weekend to flip...

1-3 for them and I think he gets ax''d