Who's Next? - 2026 Edition

[SeekNDestroy]

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 proof do we have that admissions is being more lenient? Is it just a guess based on guys like Deuce Knight with his prolific use of Ebonics or “Norte Dam” Ellis Mcgaskin? Or is it certain requirements? I sure wish we hadn’t run off @Merckxe525 …

 

[MacIrish75]

What proof do we have that admissions is being more lenient? Is it just a guess based on guys like Deuce Knight with his prolific use of Ebonics or “Norte Dam” Ellis Mcgaskin? Or is it certain requirements? I sure wish we hadn’t run off @Merckxe525 …

@Merckxe525 is still around. I’ve seen his handle logged in a few times.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

@Merckxe525 is still around. I’ve seen his handle logged in a few times.

Well, hopefully he sees the bat signals and considers posting again. I know we’d all love to hear what he has to say.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Sir, this is a Chipotle.

I get it! Guacamole is extra!

 

[IrishLion]

Don't get suckered.

MFMF and the staff are on such a heater, that the industry has to generate clicks on the ND boards somehow. Business gonna be slow as fuck between now and NSD once ND hits 5 in a row or whatever ridiculous run they're about to hit in July.

So be prepared for:
- Baseless speculation about certain prospects ND is trying to flip. We've seen this used AGAINST ND so much in the past, but now that ND is solidifying a great class, they're gonna use ND to rile up other fan bases... but it's gonna generate clicks on ND sites, too.
- Baseless speculation about "worst case scenario flip prospects" from the ND class
- Baseless speculation about other programs trying to buy last-minute visits from kids committed to ND

Dia Bell?
Juju. Smith. Schuster.

 

[The Backer]

What proof do we have that admissions is being more lenient? Is it just a guess based on guys like Deuce Knight with his prolific use of Ebonics or “Norte Dam” Ellis Mcgaskin? Or is it certain requirements? I sure wish we hadn’t run off @Merckxe525 …

I don't think "lenient" is the correct term. It's more along the lines of "significantly reduced friction" as well as "more collaborative."

In the Kelly 1.0 days, he would push for guys that were obvious bad fits and then it'd be shockeypikachuface.gif when they bounced out. There was a lot less recruiting staff overall and football wasn't very proactive about pre-screening a lot of guys past admissions. There were tons of times they'd bring in prospects for an OV, only to learn a while later that they couldn't get in "on grades".
In the Kelly 2.0 days, Powlus printed out a list of the top 500 prospects and took a black sharpie through 50-70% of them as unrecruitable, mostly based on vibes.
Bowden annoyed the hell out of the admissions department (aka "ruffled feathers") but he also did a good job of getting pre-screens on prospects, as well as got the department to give a little more leeway. As was pointed out, there's been very little behavioral and academic turnover during the Freeman era, so they're going to continue getting the benefit of the doubt.
Martin is an absolute pro and it seems like he's doing a great job continuing the collab between admissions and football.

Also keep in mind that Marcus Freeman knows what it takes -- he got academc all Big Ten honors.

 

[irishu]

What proof do we have that admissions is being more lenient? Is it just a guess based on guys like Deuce Knight with his prolific use of Ebonics or “Norte Dam” Ellis Mcgaskin? Or is it certain requirements? I sure wish we hadn’t run off @Merckxe525 …

Elijah Hughes, Ty Washington

Never would’ve happened two years ago

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I get it! Guacamole is extra!

Also, please put some pants on.

 

[Irish5Saint]

Elijah Hughes, Ty Washington

Never would’ve happened two years ago

Why are people always using Ty? He didn’t come in as a undergrad. He’s a summer arrival.

 

[irishu]

Why are people always using Ty? He didn’t come in as a undergrad. He’s a summer arrival.

Yeah I suppose you’re right

 

[Katzenboyer]

What proof do we have that admissions is being more lenient? Is it just a guess based on guys like Deuce Knight with his prolific use of Ebonics or “Norte Dam” Ellis Mcgaskin? Or is it certain requirements? I sure wish we hadn’t run off @Merckxe525 …

I do think Merck said that the AD/admissions/administration at ND trusts Freeman far more in evaluating the "borderline" kids than they did with Kelly, or something along those lines.

But ultimately it comes down to trust. I think ND, as a school, trusts that Freeman isn't going to come to them with a kid just for the sake of winning.

 

[SeekNDestroy]

I do think Merck said that the AD/admissions/administration at ND trusts Freeman far more in evaluating the "borderline" kids than they did with Kelly, or something along those lines.

But ultimately it comes down to trust. I think ND, as a school, trusts that Freeman isn't going to come to them with a kid just for the sake of winning.

It will be interesting to see what happens if we ever get a Randy Moss type recruit. A generational talent that wants to go to ND for football only reasons; clearly not a fit academically or culturally. Would Marcus be able to say no? 🤔

 

[IRISHbluehen]

I do think Merck said that the AD/admissions/administration at ND trusts Freeman far more in evaluating the "borderline" kids than they did with Kelly, or something along those lines.

But ultimately it comes down to trust. I think ND, as a school, trusts that Freeman isn't going to come to them with a kid just for the sake of winning.

I also think whatever favor Kelly could have gathered, he completely demolished when he interviewed with the Eagles after 2012.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Also, please put some pants on.

This place is a nightmare

 

[Domina Nostra]

I do think Merck said that the AD/admissions/administration at ND trusts Freeman far more in evaluating the "borderline" kids than they did with Kelly, or something along those lines.

But ultimately it comes down to trust. I think ND, as a school, trusts that Freeman isn't going to come to them with a kid just for the sake of winning.

There is probably a lot of of that--and I have no particular knowledge here--but my guess is that, in addition to trusting Freeman:

1) The school was a bit anti-football during the Pres. Malloy era and saw the program as in direct tension with ND's academic ambitions: to be an elite ivy-like school. Under Jenkins, ND began transitioning to a more corporate/brand-focued model. During that perod, the football program gained back a lot of favor during as it was clearly a profit center and a driver of the brand. Anecdotally, you can see this transition in the return of the classical architecture.

2) During the same period, higher-ed turned away from strict academics and a score-focused approach and became much more willing to let in kids with different academic profiles. In fact, the elite schools became kind of fixated on making non-sport admission exceptions. So even though the school got harder to get into during that period, it was not adverse to diverging from its typical profile. Doing so was seen as a positive, not a negative, if the kid could hack it. As long as they are recruiting the right kids, the football players are seen as future community leaders more than subpar students.

 

[Dale]

Don't get suckered.

MFMF and the staff are on such a heater, that the industry has to generate clicks on the ND boards somehow. Business gonna be slow as fuck between now and NSD once ND hits 5 in a row or whatever ridiculous run they're about to hit in July.

So be prepared for:
- Baseless speculation about certain prospects ND is trying to flip. We've seen this used AGAINST ND so much in the past, but now that ND is solidifying a great class, they're gonna use ND to rile up other fan bases... but it's gonna generate clicks on ND sites, too.
- Baseless speculation about "worst case scenario flip prospects" from the ND class
- Baseless speculation about other programs trying to buy last-minute visits from kids committed to ND

Dia Bell?
Juju. Smith. Schuster.

How can one poster have such a good take in one thread and bad take in another thread?

 

[Sea Turtle]

There is probably a lot of of that--and I have no particular knowledge here--but my guess is that, in addition to trusting Freeman:

1) The school was a bit anti-football during the Pres. Malloy era and saw the program as in direct tension with ND's academic ambitions: to be an elite ivy-like school. Under Jenkins, ND began transitioning to a more corporate/brand-focued model. During that perod, the football program gained back a lot of favor during as it was clearly a profit center and a driver of the brand. Anecdotally, you can see this transition in the return of the classical architecture.

2) During the same period, higher-ed turned away from strict academics and a score-focused approach and became much more willing to let in kids with different academic profiles. In fact, the elite schools became kind of fixated on making non-sport admission exceptions. So even though the school got harder to get into during that period, it was not adverse to diverging from its typical profile. Doing so was seen as a positive, not a negative, if the kid could hack it. As long as they are recruiting the right kids, the football players are seen as future community leaders more than subpar students.

Man, I don't even want to get started on Malloy, Beauchamp and Wadsworth again.

I've typed out those posts out on here long ago and just thinking about those guys takes the gleam out of my eyes.

 

[SoIll]

@Merckxe525 is still around. I’ve seen his handle logged in a few times.

Talked to him Saturday. He’s still around.

 

[Rocketman84]

It will be interesting to see what happens if we ever get a Randy Moss type recruit. A generational talent that wants to go to ND for football only reasons; clearly not a fit academically or culturally. Would Marcus be able to say no? 🤔

They don't have to be Moss level generational talent but I think we have a recruit like this on a smaller scale,it will be interesting if he actually sticks or ends up elsewhere.

 

[Ophiocordyceps]

Merck-

I realize that that my handle is a parasitic fungi, but if you were going to come out of the shadows. Could you give us a bat signal if ND decides to engage with Dia?

 

[Domina Nostra]

Man, I don't even want to get started on Malloy, Beauchamp and Wadsworth again.

I've typed out those posts out on here long ago and just thinking about those guys takes the gleam out of my eyes.

I know, I had the same feeling at first, but it also felt nice because it now seems like a sad chapter that is in the rearview mirror.

 

[Irish4life]

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

If Carr gives us about what Hartman gave us in the regular season: 63.5% completion percentage, 24 TDs/8 INTs, 2689 yards, 8.9 YPA, we're going undefeated

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

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

I would've liked to see Sam Hartman with a competent WR crew...it was a tough situation even before the injury bug bit.

 

[arrowryan]

I would've liked to see Sam Hartman with a competent WR crew...it was a tough situation even before the injury bug bit.

Hartman got a bad deal. His receivers were terrible and he might’ve had the worst OC in the country. They should’ve beat OSU by 14+.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

It will be interesting to see what happens if we ever get a Randy Moss type recruit. A generational talent that wants to go to ND for football only reasons; clearly not a fit academically or culturally. Would Marcus be able to say no? 🤔

I sincerely want it to be a quarterback in the mold of Vince Young or Cam Newton on field (minus the obvious baggage off of it). Takes a team and games by the scruff of the neck when necessary and drags everyone over the line to victory.

I feel like for 20 years we could combine the ultimate QB using spare parts of half a dozen guys: Quinn, Jimmy, Kizer, Book, Hartman, Riley Leonard. At some point, I want to have the guy that beats you with his arm and legs, wins a Heisman and goes #1 overall in the draft.

That's the dream.

 

[NDVirginia19]

I sincerely want it to be a quarterback in the mold of Vince Young or Cam Newton on field (minus the obvious baggage off of it). Takes a team and games by the scruff of the neck when necessary and drags everyone over the line to victory.

I feel like for 20 years we could combine the ultimate QB using spare parts of half a dozen guys: Quinn, Jimmy, Kizer, Book, Hartman, Riley Leonard. At some point, I want to have the guy that beats you with his arm and legs, wins a Heisman and goes #1 overall in the draft.

That's the dream.

Well, we already had Tom Brady's Brain in Cam Newton's body with Kizer, what else do you want?

 

[NDVirginia19]

I sincerely want it to be a quarterback in the mold of Vince Young or Cam Newton on field (minus the obvious baggage off of it). Takes a team and games by the scruff of the neck when necessary and drags everyone over the line to victory.

I feel like for 20 years we could combine the ultimate QB using spare parts of half a dozen guys: Quinn, Jimmy, Kizer, Book, Hartman, Riley Leonard. At some point, I want to have the guy that beats you with his arm and legs, wins a Heisman and goes #1 overall in the draft.

That's the dream.

Also I think the only thing we take from Hartman is his hair

 

[IAIrish]

Also I think the only thing we take from Hartman is his hair

That beard tho...

 

[NDFAN2008]

Hartman got a bad deal. His receivers were terrible and he might’ve had the worst OC in the country. They should’ve beat OSU by 14+.

Which is why I question why in the hell didn't we bring in WR's in 2023 to transfer? You would think if guys knew Hartman was coming it would have been easy to convince 2 top guys to come play here?

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I sincerely want it to be a quarterback in the mold of Vince Young or Cam Newton on field (minus the obvious baggage off of it). Takes a team and games by the scruff of the neck when necessary and drags everyone over the line to victory.

I feel like for 20 years we could combine the ultimate QB using spare parts of half a dozen guys: Quinn, Jimmy, Kizer, Book, Hartman, Riley Leonard. At some point, I want to have the guy that beats you with his arm and legs, wins a Heisman and goes #1 overall in the draft.

That's the dream.

Just give me Peyton Manning and I'll be happy