'10 KY OL Tate Nichols (Notre Dame Signee)

[vernfootball1]

Yea just saw this hes the man, i hope he turns out to be a ryan clady or joe staley, 2 star te out of hs, and become stud left tackle then 1st round draft pick, and stud lt in nfl

 

[WabashFalcon]

Great get. While he will be a project, we have an OT now. We can go out and still press for James and Henderson... if we get both, one, or none, we at least have added on to the OL.

 

[BGIF]

Nichols Switches Verbal To Make No. 19 :: Blue and Gold Illustrated

1/16 Jason Sapp BlueandGold Freebie

“ND offered and I accepted,” the 6-foot-7, 282-pound prospect reported to BlueandGold.com via text while on his way home from South Bend.

Nichols was previously committed to Stanford, and began to waver on his decision in late December. He initiated the contact with Notre Dame following the hiring of Brian Kelly, and the Irish coaches quickly got into action.

His original plan was to travel West this weekend, but he cancelled and make the drive to Notre Dame instead

 

[NDinL.A.]

I'm not going to be one of those guys that laughs at Michigan for getting 3 stars and then praises ND for getting the same thing. As long as we still go after the big boys, I'll trust the coaches on this one. It's a position of need, so I'm happy we got him. Just got in, and it was nice to come home to a verbal. Truth is, the AP's O-linemen of the year were two four stars, two 3 stars and I believe a 2 star (I'll have to look that up again). So it could turn out to be a great get. Of course, we'd all like to see the 5 stars, but again, just gotta go with the staff here and hope for the best.

I haven't checked out ISD yet, so it'll be interesting to see what Steve has to say about why the verbal came so quickly. It'll also be brutal to hear the idiots who scream that all Kelly will go after are 2 and 3 star guys.

But hey, welcome aboard brother. It's nice of you to go to our farm club for a while (Stanford) and work your way up to the big leagues (Notre Dame) LOL...

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Welcome to the family!

He may be only 2 stars, but he can improve on the little things.

He already has the height and size, and thats one thing you can't really improve on.

 

[IrishInFl]

Yea just saw this hes the man, i hope he turns out to be a ryan clady or joe staley, 2 star te out of hs, and become stud left tackle then 1st round draft pick, and stud lt in nfl

I was thinking more of Jason Smith of Baylor. He went to Baylor originally as a TE and became an OT. He was last year's #2 overall draft pick.

 

[vernfootball1]

I was thinking more of Jason Smith of Baylor. He went to Baylor originally as a TE and became an OT. He was last year's #2 overall draft pick.

Yea that is a good a really good comparison to

 

[BGIF]

IrishIllustrated.com - Nichols makes quick flip

1/16 Jake Brown IrishIllustrated Freebie

Brown's included a YouTube clip of Nichols Senior Highlights. Keep in mind he played TE in HS.

The 6-foot-7, 278-pound prospect from Union, Ky., excelled at tight end for Ryle High School, but most college coaches projected him at offensive tackle for the same reasons he was a standout tight end: athletic ability, good feet and a large frame.

Cleared ND Admissions

“Then I needed to meet with the admissions guy in the morning just to make sure everything was gonna go over smoothly as far as getting into the school, which wasn’t a problem at all. (Saturday) morning I got back to the football facility around 10:30 or 11 and committed to coach Warriner and gave coach Kelly a call and told him I was officially committing.”

Impressed with Basilica

I’m Catholic so it was obviously something that was unbelievable.

On Playing OT

I’ve kind of accepted it. ... At the beginning of the process it was kind of difficult. During the season and stuff I kind of accepted that that was the directions I was gonna have to go. At this point I’ve kind of accepted it and I’ve started to own it a little bit. I’ve kind of gotten into the mode of playing offensive tackle.

 

[vernfootball1]

Just watched that video and i guess there only play is jump ball to nichols, well i guess thats what you do when you have a 6 7 te

 

[phork]

Its not the stars on the recruit that count, its the stars IN the recruit and how he is nurtured to bring those stars out that does.

 

[BGIF]

The last minute so of that youtube video is titled "Blocking". It's tough to pick up as the video is shot from the top of the stands and usually covers the whole field. When they do zoom in the players still appear far away.

They use 3 rotating white dots to isolate the player/action. In some cases they key on Nichols at TE while in other it appears they keye downfield or to one side of the field or the other where the play is headed. I found it hard to follow the blocking portion of the clip. It appears that on a number of occasions Nichols lined up in the interior not as a TE. I didn't read in any of the freebie articles out today that he has played OT or OG.


Wabash can you take a look and see what you can pick out.

 

[WabashFalcon]

The last minute so of that youtube video is titled "Blocking". It's tough to pick up as the video is shot from the top of the stands and usually covers the whole field. When they do zoom in the players still appear far away.

They use 3 rotating white dots to isolate the player/action. In some cases they key on Nichols at TE while in other it appears they keye downfield or to one side of the field or the other where the play is headed. I found it hard to follow the blocking portion of the clip. It appears that on a number of occasions Nichols lined up in the interior not as a TE. I didn't read in any of the freebie articles out today that he has played OT or OG.


Wabash can you take a look and see what you can pick out.

This is coming from stream of conciousness... I do this as I watch tape.

First... Bullshit on not having and End Zone shot.

He's high in his stance.
He's high off the ball.
Makes the crackback... not bad at the point of attack.
He's strong... but his blocking form is too high right now.
I like his feet. They don't stop on first contact. Good leg drive and foot push.
I like his hands. Good punch, fights to get his hands inside the box.
This is more "watch me freaking crackback on kids film"... so, yes, legit highlight film. But's it is easy to crack a kid that doesn't see you on your tracks.
He's using his upper body strength well.

All in all... he needs to improve on his form. He is too high in his blocking posture. Needs to become a natural knee-bender... not stand up face mask to face mask.

Now to be a OT at the next level, he needs to become a hell of a pass blocker. Didn't see any of that on the film. That, and I didn't see him block in space that much. Would love to see him do a bit more of the aformentioned types of blocks.

Bottom line... he's a strong kid. That being said, he's going to be a 2-3 project.

 

[BGIF]

This is coming from stream of conciousness... I do this as I watch tape.

First... Bullshit on not having and End Zone shot.

He's high in his stance.
He's high off the ball.
Makes the crackback... not bad at the point of attack.
He's strong... but his blocking form is too high right now.
I like his feet. They don't stop on first contact. Good leg drive and foot push.
I like his hands. Good punch, fights to get his hands inside the box.
This is more "watch me freaking crackback on kids film"... so, yes, legit highlight film. But's it is easy to crack a kid that doesn't see you on your tracks.
He's using his upper body strength well.

All in all... he needs to improve on his form. He is too high in his blocking posture. Needs to become a natural knee-bender... not stand up face mask to face mask.

Now to be a OT at the next level, he needs to become a hell of a pass blocker. Didn't see any of that on the film. That, and I didn't see him block in space that much. Would love to see him do a bit more of the aformentioned types of blocks.

Bottom line... he's a strong kid. That being said, he's going to be a 2-3 project.

Thanks for the evaluation.

Nichols isn't the answer for the immediate need at LT but he is a sorely needed OL. We need 4 in this class. Now we have 2.

 

[NDinL.A.]

This is coming from stream of conciousness... I do this as I watch tape.

First... Bullshit on not having and End Zone shot.

He's high in his stance.
He's high off the ball.
Makes the crackback... not bad at the point of attack.
He's strong... but his blocking form is too high right now.
I like his feet. They don't stop on first contact. Good leg drive and foot push.
I like his hands. Good punch, fights to get his hands inside the box.
This is more "watch me freaking crackback on kids film"... so, yes, legit highlight film. But's it is easy to crack a kid that doesn't see you on your tracks.
He's using his upper body strength well.

All in all... he needs to improve on his form. He is too high in his blocking posture. Needs to become a natural knee-bender... not stand up face mask to face mask.

Now to be a OT at the next level, he needs to become a hell of a pass blocker. Didn't see any of that on the film. That, and I didn't see him block in space that much. Would love to see him do a bit more of the aformentioned types of blocks.

Bottom line... he's a strong kid. That being said, he's going to be a 2-3 project.

Reps Wabash. Thanks for that. And for what it's worth, the coach who's paid to evaluate talent on ISD is excited about the commit and said a lot of the same things Wabash said. And that guy is spot-on on a lot of recruits...

 

[IrishAddiction]

Agreed, excellent evaluation Wabash. I can take it when kids are projects, especially at such a position of need as OT.

That being said, Welcome to the family Tate. We havent gone wrong in the past fews seasons with the name Tate, so make us proud.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I've been exchanging emails with a Stanford grad. Here is what he said about Nichols:

As to Nichols.... for what it's worth... one of our posters on our subscription site, a former Stanford offensive lineman who likes to view tape, loved the tape on Nichols a long time ago. Thought he had great potential as an OT. So, we think you got a good one. Not sure why we cooled on him. Perhaps we had other pressing needs? Don't know. Our commit list shows 4 OT. But at least one, perhaps 2 will slide inside.

This guy wouldn't blow shit up my nose, so I believe what he said. Perhaps Stanford did cool on him with all those O-linemen (that's not but Nicholls was saying, but whatever), but the important thing is that a former O-lineman really liked his tape. That's encouraging...

 

[bert2834]

Welcome to the team Tate!!

 

[sportallyr]

Lose a Tate, gain a Tate. Welcome to the team Tate Nichols. I actually wouldn't mind it if he stayed at TE. We could use a really good blocking TE to compliment Rudolph's excellent pass catching skills. Maybe he'll gain weight and become a tackle, but he could also stay where he's at (or lose a few lbs) and be very useful as a TE in my opinion.

 

[PapaIrish37]

Good to see the number of commits growing and not shrinking. Good to see Warriner was involved in this and was the first to get the word from Tate. Thanks to Wabash for a great review. I think it is better to have athletic that needs to put on pounds than a 5 star lard bucket out of high school that never quite develops the speed, quickness and agility needed to compete at the next level.

Welcome aboard Tate! Glad to have you with the Irish.

 

[NDinNM]

Scout now has him as the #73 OT and has him as a 3 star

 

[irishmarine]

And that's just off of potential. Love the commit and with the way try seem to develope talent could ve a good LT

 

[WabashFalcon]

Wha wha wha? A recruit that WENT UP after he committed to us?


Looks out window, sees a man on a black horse followed by three more.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[BGIF]

Scout now has him as the #73 OT and has him as a 3 star

Now he's up to #71!

At this rate by NSD he'll be ...

 

[irishandy]

Nice pick up by the Irish, now if they can only add Henderson and Stone.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Lose a Tate, gain a Tate.

Hope he doesn't hesi tate.

Shut up tko.

Nice post Wabash. I hope you are coaching.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Gained a Star from Rivals, now list at at 3 Star and #62 OT with a 5.6 Ranking

 

[SoJerseyIrish]

Gained a Star from Rivals, now list at at 3 Star and #62 OT with a 5.6 Ranking

It's the ND effect........LOL....

 

[WabashFalcon]

It's the ND effect........LOL....

No... it's the freaking anti-Irish effect. I've NEVER seen this happen...

 

[SoJerseyIrish]

No... it's the freaking anti-Irish effect. I've NEVER seen this happen...

It's the herd mentality with Recruiting Rankings, these services can only cover so many kids at one time, it would take 100's of people to cover all of the kids out there and offer full in depth reviews.......and lets be honest, if you can offer valuable in depth reviews of HS kids you should be working for a College, not toiling away on the Internet.......but I digress.......if Florida or Bama offered this kid he would have shot up too, so it's not just a ND effect, it is more of a big name school effect.....fairly common in the recruiting realm.

Also keep in mind that when a big school like a ND offers a kid, there is more interest by the fans and more incentive to evaluate the kid b/c it will lead to more hits on a website which = more $$$$$. The subscription fees to these websites are just one facet of the revenue stream, there is a lot of money in the advertising side and if you throw ND out there it will lead to more website hits which means you can charge more for advertising.

 

[49er-Irish]

Coach Kelly just stated in his press conference that Tate was 6'7" and weighed in at 292 lbs during his official visit. Hell yeah.

So much for any questions about how much weight he can put on.