'09 IN OT Zack Martin (Notre Dame Man)

[irishmarine]

yeah wtf does grizz know. dammit grizz you are apart of every secret society i know of. you know stuff dont fake.

 

[IrishGrizz]

Those comments aren't cleared for this thread. just sayin.......

 

[irishmarine]

oh my bad

 

[IrishGrizz]

Just messin, marine. Like I know stuff. I get any inside info, its from the VC and I have to hold it in there, Not for public consumption because it has not been either verified or it is acurate but given out on the aggreement it will be held quiet until told you can release it. Thats all I was saying.

 

[SoCalDomer]

Top recruit (in Kentucky, Indiana, West Virginia)

Zach Martin, Offensive tackle
Bishop Chatard (Indianapolis)
Verbal Commitment: Notre Dame


The top prospect in these three states plays in trenches and is a versatile big man. Martin will impress you with his ability as both a offensive and defensive lineman. This kid is a workhorse and possesses a great motor. It really seems like his best fit will be on offense. He will need to keep filling out his frame, but Martin could be a good fit at offensive tackle or guard. For a big man, he is a mobile and alert player. In the run game, he is aggressive, plays with good leverage and will use leg drive to push defenders off the ball. Martin's run-blocking skills are good news for Irish fans; Notre Dame currently ranks 109th nationally in rushing offense. Another concern for the Fighting Irish has been protecting the quarterback, and in Martin, they get a prospect who is a solid pass-blocker. He will bend his knees and uses his hands deliver blows to rushers. This is a good pickup for Notre Dame to keep a talented in-state prospect. He still needs to keep physically developing, but between his motor and ability he displays the tools to be a successful college lineman.

free: ESPN - Notre Dame keeps top prospect Martin in state - Football Recruiting

 

[IrishAddiction]

free: ESPN - Notre Dame keeps top prospect Martin in state - Football Recruiting

excellent post SoCal....nice when we can keep the great instate players at ND.

 

[irishmarine]

glad to just hear positive news about some commits

 

[JughedJones]

Bad news about commits?

Bad news about commits?

"glad to just hear positive news about some commits"


Are we hearing bad news? If so please sum it up. I rarely look at the recruiting boards.

I have an ulcer now and I think it is due in large part to Irish football, (status of commitments in particular) thanks.

 

[irishmarine]

i wasnt saying we have been hearing bad news but its always good to hear good news thats all.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I saw Zach Martin at the O.A.R. concert here in Indy tonight. He's horrifyingly huge. Very intimidating. I would not want to be a right end going up against him.

 

[OlympiaIrishFan]

He is a big dude. I also have to say an extremely nice guy off the field. I had the honor of sitting next to his parents on the plane to the Sun Bowl. Super nice people, great people to represent the Irish. And then he flew home with them on the way back. The morning after he got done beating down the DE's from Miami and winning the trophy for best lineman.

I have to say it is great seeing parents and athletes of ND representing the school so well. I have to say the same thing about Ian William's mom. She was super nice as well.

If any other fans have a chance to go to an Irish Bowl Game it is a special thing. SOOOOO many Irish Fans. And they seem to be all really great. Classy, fun, etc.

And beating down the Hurricanes is all good.

Go Irish!!!

 

[pwt3]

Topic #2 -

Few people seem to realize it, but that second-string O-line we saw in the 4th quarter last Saturday could be the starting o-line next season. Not sure people appreciate how precarious the situation is. Golic and Cave are gone. Now that may be it. That'd be ideal.

But Martin and Watt could go. They both seem to me to be good prospects even now, and viable draft guys. If we lost all four, it'd be kind of a disaster, no? The losses of James (RIP), Bullard, Prestwood and co. really would show up in a lack of experience and experienced depth next year. There's a reason we have 5 o-line commits this year (and thank God we do, and that they're all amazing).

What a shame if things got derailed a bit right when Kelly was hitting his stride, because of an entirely new o-line.

So, here's hoping you stay, Mr. Martin. And that Mr Watt stays as well.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Topic #2 -

Few people seem to realize it, but that second-string O-line we saw in the 4th quarter last Saturday could be the starting o-line next season. Not sure people appreciate how precarious the situation is. Golic and Cave are gone. Now that may be it. That'd be ideal.

But Martin and Watt could go. They both seem to me to be good prospects even now, and viable draft guys. If we lost all four, it'd be kind of a disaster, no? The losses of James (RIP), Bullard, Prestwood and co. really would show up in a lack of experience and experienced depth next year. There's a reason we have 5 o-line commits this year (and thank God we do, and that they're all amazing).

What a shame if things got derailed a bit right when Kelly was hitting his stride, because of an entirely new o-line.

So, here's hoping you stay, Mr. Martin. And that Mr Watt stays as well.

I've been thinking about the 2013 oline a lot recently. Cave, Golic and most likely Martin will be gone. I'm pretty confident that Watt will return.

So the line will be pretty green next year, but Watt and Lombard bring a lot of experience.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Video: Notre Dame's Zack Martin - Notre Dame Football Blog - ESPN

 

[pwt3]

2 back wouldn't be great, but it'd be workable, especially if Nicholls is healthy. But if there's one back, that's going to be big trouble. So I hope you're right. And of course ideally, Zach is excited enough about 2013 and another year with his brother that he pulls a Manti. The only two fifth years I really care about are these two. Cierre, Eifert, Carlo would be bonuses.

I'll also say that the early returns on Hiestand are encouraging in this regard, because he'll have a task next year either way. It's also encouraging that the full backup oline performed well last Saturday.

 

[Emcee77]

I'll be thrilled if Martin and Watt stay. "Disaster" is probably too strong a word to use about losing them, but I'll definitely be a little worried about depth if we lose them. It would look something like this:

1s: Nichols/Stanley, N. Martin, Hegarty, Hanratty, Lombard.
2s: Stanley/Nichols, Bivin, Harrell, Montelus, Elmer
(McGlinchey and McGovern redshirt) (Heggie is a non-factor).

While I'm pretty confident in that starting five, you can see the lack of experienced O-linemen, especially at the interior spots (Bivin is out of position at guard in my two-deep above; I've heard that of our four tackles in the incoming class he is best suited to fill in at guard). Lombard gives us flexibility because he can play guard as well. If a guard goes down, Lombard might slide over to allow us to put another experienced player out there, depending on how ready to play Harrell and the true frosh are. Losing Martin and Watt is definitely a little scary.

 

[IrishGlory]

Topic #2 -

Few people seem to realize it, but that second-string O-line we saw in the 4th quarter last Saturday could be the starting o-line next season. Not sure people appreciate how precarious the situation is. Golic and Cave are gone. Now that may be it. That'd be ideal.

But Martin and Watt could go. They both seem to me to be good prospects even now, and viable draft guys. If we lost all four, it'd be kind of a disaster, no? The losses of James (RIP), Bullard, Prestwood and co. really would show up in a lack of experience and experienced depth next year. There's a reason we have 5 o-line commits this year (and thank God we do, and that they're all amazing).

What a shame if things got derailed a bit right when Kelly was hitting his stride, because of an entirely new o-line.

So, here's hoping you stay, Mr. Martin. And that Mr Watt stays as well.

Am I the only one who gets nervous when these threads get bumped??? I always expect the worst (injury). SMH!!!!!

 

[Axl Rose]

I think Zach comes back for his 5th year for 3 reasons.

1-A chance for him and his brother to start on the line together.

2-ND has a chance to be really great next year.

3-I don't think he has the ideal length to be a high NFL draft pick, so why not come back another year.

 

[DCIrish]

I think there is a good chance Martin comes back. He is good, but he is not an elite LT prospect. Probably would go in the 3rd of 4th rd if he left after this year.

 

[pwt3]

Hope you're right, cause he's an elite college olineman.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I am assuming that any player that will be drafted is gone and can be pleasantly surprised if/when they come back.

 

[Old Man Mike]

If Zach leaves but Watt stays, then we are more than OK.

Stanley// Watt// Hegarty// NMartin// Lombard will still be an elite talented line. Nichols and Harrell and Hanratty can be the "three" usual line subs teams actually use, and the frosh may redshirt.

If both ZMart and Watt go, we need to manufacture a guard out of somewhere. Does the Staff go with Nichols [OT] plus a Lombard shift?, or Hanratty?, or bring up a talent-ready Montelus or Biven? That's a little dicier, but hardly a suicidal state-of-affairs given a four man loss.

I don't like to replace four either, but Biven, Montelus, and Elmer make the prospect a lot less scary... It DOES show however that no matter how enticing all those flashy "skill" boys are out there, one day you wake up and find that you've really screwed up by not recruiting the extra earth-mover. WHEN WE HAVE A "LOOSE" SCHOLARSHIP, WE SHOULD SPEND IT ON A BIG. Lord, I get tired saying that......

 

[pwt3]

Nichols was in the mix to be a starter this year; if he's healthy, hard to see him not starting next year.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

3-I don't think he has the ideal length to be a high NFL draft pick, so why not come back another year.

I think there is a good chance Martin comes back. He is good, but he is not an elite LT prospect. Probably would go in the 3rd of 4th rd if he left after this year.

This. Martin is great, but he doesn't have the prototypical size that most NFL teams will be looking for in an early-round draft pick. 3rd or 4th sounds about right to me, in which case he's likely to make the same choice Eifert and Floyd made when faced with such a draft grade.

 

[elboricua]

This. Martin is great, but he doesn't have the prototypical size that most NFL teams will be looking for in an early-round draft pick. 3rd or 4th sounds about right to me, in which case he's likely to make the same choice Eifert and Floyd made when faced with such a draft grade.

Yeah but remember, unlike them, he'll have his degree. So it won't be the same choice. Also, to the above poster, if Watt stays(which he will most likely) then that is not an elite line. No way. I don't even know if this one is. But if it is, it's because there are 2 elite players(Martin and Cave) and Watt is close. Much of next year will depend on Hegarty's growth. The whole offense will depend on that really.

 

[Old Man Mike]

That has every sign that it will be an elite line. Just because it's one year away is no reason to give it a poor prognosis. Watt and Lombard will have proven it; NMartin was a breath away from starting this year and has wowed coaches for months; Stanley has boggled their minds already with his readiness and his ranking was elite; Hegarty was one of the highest rated tackles coming out, with a reputation for the best feet in the class.

I'll shrug my shoulders and "understand" personal preferences for pessimistic evaluations of ND personnel prior to them actually entering the NFL, but given the talent, the already existing coaches' commentaries on these guys, and the quality of the coaching staff, I'll remain elsewhere with my own predictions.

 

[Riddickulous]

Pete Sampson says he is leaning towards returning for a fifth year.

 

[IrishLax]

Pete Sampson says he is leaning towards returning for a fifth year.

Right now I think you see... of guys who could realistically opt to leave early... Martin, Watt, and Nix come back.

Cierre is gone almost certainly unless he gets a horrid draft grade.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Pete Sampson says he is leaning towards returning for a fifth year.

Yay!

 

[Old Man Mike]

Boy I hope so.