Who's Next? - 2026 Edition

[Irish8248]

CJs arc of 2-3 years is really dependent on how this year goes. Bottom line he needs 2 years of stats before he's top whatever pick. 1 year won't do it

 

[Dale]

Where was Klubnik projected if he left this year? I think at QB in particular, unless you're a guaranteed first rounder, maybe top 2 rounds, it makes sense to come back for another year between rev share and NIL. The hype around CJ Carr returning for a senior year when he could have left for NFL would be next level.

Probably would have gotten end of R1 convo with Dart. Toss up if he would land there or not. But Klubnik struggled year 1. Clemson lost 4 games. Struggled versus UGA before beating up on a mostly poor schedule to be a riser heading into this year. Struggled versus Louisville, meh versus South Carolina. Texas game was basically his only good game last year against a real D. Like I said there are many boxes Klubnik hasn’t checked, which is why he is back for a fourth year.

Does anyone not think a 2/1 TD/INT with 4 losses would be underwhelming in 2025? Struggling in almost every major game in 2026 would be underwhelming? Just for it to maybe payoff in 2027? That is not the goal to me.

 

[Irish8248]

2/1 TD:INT first year won't bother me too much, depending on how those look. If they lead to Ls then yea. If he stalls drive after drive and we get a close L, yea.

If TAMU just happens to be a lights out defense and he's 1/3 which at the end of the season makes his stats 2:1 vs 2.5:1 then I think there's momentum moving forward.

We need Carr to show he's a legit QB in order to attract legit WRs

 

[Dale]

Drew Allar would I guess be the other comparison that is more palatable where it’s like….I guess he’s good? But I’m not entirely sure sometimes, rest of the team carries the QB somewhat.

 

[Irish du Nord]

I think it’s fair to question Gino’s ability to evaluate talent.

They’re really on the brink of fumbling the bag two cycles in a row at the most important position in football.

His fumbling of the bag last cycle had nothing to do with his eval, though. He recruited the five star guy before his first composite ranking was posted, where he was initially a top 200 guy. Then he rose 100 spots, committed, rose 50 more spots, then went to Auburn for a bag. Not an eval issue, and likely not even on Gino for the recruitment strategy. I bet Freeman, Parker/Denbrock, and recruiting staff had input on going after Knight and sticking with him as long as they did.

And I’m not sure Hebert was a missed eval either at this point.

 

[NDFAN2008]

If CJ is a 3 year starter, this year probably isn’t gonna go very well

My hope would be he is a 2 year starter and then gone. If he starts for 3 years, you’re likely looking at a Klubnik like arc at best, where questions linger compared to expectations

I don't think he will be a 3 year starter I think he starts for 2 years, ND is set up very well to probally have the most talented roster we have had in a long time after this year. If ND makes another run and CJ lights it up I could see him leaving for the draft. On offense we should be good at TE, RB, and our OL should be top 5 again. On defense we should be loaded minus inside but hopefully a few young guys can step up.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Drew Allar would I guess be the other comparison that is more palatable where it’s like….I guess he’s good? But I’m not entirely sure sometimes, rest of the team carries the QB somewhat.

Would people rather have Drew Allar or Sam Hartman? Jack Coan?

 

[allenm5333]

Where was Klubnik projected if he left this year? I think at QB in particular, unless you're a guaranteed first rounder, maybe top 2 rounds, it makes sense to come back for another year between rev share and NIL. The hype around CJ Carr returning for a senior year when he could have left for NFL would be next level.

Exactly. And if we say he plays 3 more seasons, that means he is a senior lol. Ideal scenario is he has a decision to make after 2 years

 

[greyhammer90]

Would people rather have Drew Allar or Sam Hartman? Jack Coan?

Coan over the other two honestly. I think he'd tear it up on this team.

 

[NDpendent]

I just hope ND doesn't get caught flirting with someone before the wedding day and get left alone at the alter

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Freeman and company have gotten nearly everyone else they've wanted this cycle. It's not hard to believe they could flip a QB from Texas. Freeman has made ND cool again.

 

[MacIrish75]

I just hope ND doesn't get caught flirting with someone before the wedding day and get left alone at the alter

We will never get left alone at the altar lol. You’re ND. You should always shoot your shot if you’ve got a legit chance to upgrade and improve the roster.

 

[NDPhilly]

If you don’t think Grubbs can be an above average QB, then it doesn’t really matter if he decommits. Can always backfill through the portal or with another 2026 “body” while we chase a big time 2027 guy.

 

[LifelongFan]

If we really have no one we can just buy the best available QB. If Carr wasn't here we'd have Ewers right now. I don't see the need for Angeli level recruits anymore.

 

[The Backer]

If you don’t think Grubbs can be an above average QB, then it doesn’t really matter if he decommits. Can always backfill through the portal or with another 2026 “body” while we chase a big time 2027 guy.

The issue I can kind of see is if they are bear-ish on Hebert after seeing him in Spring Ball. Grubbs is the composite #11 QB in his class, so he isn't a total slouch. There's a good drop-off from a Grubbs to a Hebert type.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Due to my obsessive love for Kobe Bean Bryant, my hatred for Raja Bell will not allow this. Sorry boys, I’m vetoing this.

 

[Rocketman84]

295.83(took out Grubbs)

That with the 3 WRs, Golden, Reddish and with or without Jacobson?

 

[KPENN]

That with the 3 WRs, Golden, Reddish and with or without Jacobson?

It’s with those 5. I didn’t include Jacobson, kinda forgot about him

 

[Rocketman84]

Where was Klubnik projected if he left this year? I think at QB in particular, unless you're a guaranteed first rounder, maybe top 2 rounds, it makes sense to come back for another year between rev share and NIL. The hype around CJ Carr returning for a senior year when he could have left for NFL would be next level.

Klubnik had a great year and had a late 1st grade on him the difference with another year is that he will probably go Top 5 and ESPN recently released a mock with him going #1. Always outliers to a situation but he was ready to go already but he seems to want to be the top pick.

 

[tussin]

Can someone explain why we are so good at recruiting now? Is it really as simple as winning takes care of everything? Was admissions and NIL bag dropping just a bunch of excuses for laziness of past staffs?

 

[CanadalovesND]

Can someone explain why we are so good at recruiting now? Is it really as simple as winning takes care of everything? Was admissions and NIL bag dropping just a bunch of excuses for laziness of past staffs?

Winning. The culture. The holistic approach to student-athlete development. NIL is much improved, but ND still isn't going to be the highest bidder.

Freeman and Co. sell the football program extremely well. And the University itself is going to speak volumes to most kids seriously considering ND.

 

[IRISHbluehen]

Can someone explain why we are so good at recruiting now? Is it really as simple as winning takes care of everything? Was admissions and NIL bag dropping just a bunch of excuses for laziness of past staffs?

I think its a combo.
ND definitely upped how competitive they are in NIL, we definitely aren't outbidding everyone else though.
Marcus Freeman is a dynamic personality that people want to play for.
Playoff/NC run shows proof of concept. Not just we WILL play championship level football at some point.
Recruiting staff/back office are all on the same page as the coaching staff.
I also think more and more big-time athletes are cognizant that life after football is a reality that needs to be thought about.

 

[Dale]

If you take the 2023 class and add Moore, Keeley and Bowen, subtract Minchey you get a 294. This class with pending commits is a 291.

So I don’t think it’s ridiculous to say it’s Freeman and culture and chance at a Natty still. That really hasn’t changed. The money certainly helps close the high end though.

 

[NDFAN2008]

If you take the 2023 class and add Moore, Keeley and Bowen, subtract Minchey you get a 294. This class with pending commits is a 291.

So I don’t think it’s ridiculous to say it’s Freeman and culture and chance at a Natty still. That really hasn’t changed. The money certainly helps close the high end though.

The upgraded facilities have to be factoring into this as well I would think?

 

[irishu]

Bevacqua is definitely more lenient with NIL than Swarbrick was, and seems to be willing to push on admissions too

Plus everything else that others are mentioning

 

[irishu]

Savvy Jack was ready for retirement

 

[NDFAN2008]

Bevacqua is definitely more lenient with NIL than Swarbrick was, and seems to be willing to push on admissions too

Plus everything else that others are mentioning

What's crazy is we have had 1 kid I've known off who couldn't get in under Freeman that was the kid who went to Michigan 2 years ago. Remember all the academic suspensions under Kelly, we haven't had 1 academic suspension that I know of under Freeman.

 

[pumpdog20]

Would people rather have Drew Allar or Sam Hartman? Jack Coan?

Allar couldn't complete one pass to a WR in the semi final game... I think he's easily #3 on this list.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

His fumbling of the bag last cycle had nothing to do with his eval, though. He recruited the five star guy before his first composite ranking was posted, where he was initially a top 200 guy. Then he rose 100 spots, committed, rose 50 more spots, then went to Auburn for a bag. Not an eval issue, and likely not even on Gino for the recruitment strategy. I bet Freeman, Parker/Denbrock, and recruiting staff had input on going after Knight and sticking with him as long as they did.

And I’m not sure Hebert was a missed eval either at this point.

Bingo.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Due to my obsessive love for Kobe Bean Bryant, my hatred for Raja Bell will not allow this. Sorry boys, I’m vetoing this.

Sir, this is a Chipotle.