'11 IA ATH Christian French (Oregon Verbal)

[BGIF]

ATHLETE
Cedar Rapids, IA Kennedy HS

Ht: 6-6
Wt: 229
40: 4.4
Bench: 265
Squat: 320
Vertical: 37
GPA: 3.2
Test: June

STATS
'09: 54 Tackles, 7 forced fumbles,; 1 punt return 46 yds (7 Games)

RANKING
Rivals: , #13 ATH, Rating 5.8, National #91, Rivals 100
Scout: , #17 TE
ESPN: , #30 ATH, Grade 79

OFFERS
Iowa
Iowa St
Kansas
Kansas St
Louisville
Missouri
Nebraska
Notre Dame
Oregon
A&M
Wisconsin

ND RECRUITER: Chuck Martin

DECISION SCHEDULE:

From ESPN:

French is a freak of an athlete and sticks out like a sore thumb against this level of competition. He has terrific measurables on a tall frame with long arms and room for significant strength development. He plays just about everywhere, he is that good of an athlete,

 

[BGIF]

Interesting kid, 6-6 220 37 inch leap and supposedly Randy Moss speed. Plays basketball and runs track, 100m and 4x relays.

Rivals lists his time as 4.4, Scout 4.5, and there are comments about sub 4.4. I haven't found a Combine time nor any 100m track times so far.

He only played in 7 football games last fall (didn't come across mention of any injury) making 54 tackles. He also played RB (4 carrries, 5.5 ypc) and WR. One report said he had no catches, another said he averaged 25 ypc (which may be a polite way of saying he only had one catch. Don't Know.)

Rivals lists him as an ATH.
Scout has his as their #19 TE but I don't know if he's even lined up at TE.
ESPN has him as an ATH.
Blue & Gold lists him as an OLB. (He's got some filling out to do for a college 3-4 OLB.)

Only half a dozen regional offers (IA, ISU, KU, MU, ND, WIS) so far BUT he's on the Rivals 250 To Watch AND the Scout 150 Watch List.


I saw an internet post saying he only started playing football as a sophomore followed by a poster claiming that 's wrong he played youth football.

Not much hard data so far.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I didn't even know there wasn't a thread on this kid. My bad, 'cause there is info out there on him.

He was at ND's Junior Day, and he loved his experience there, according to his dad. He got his offer that day, as the coaches wanted to size him up in person. Coach Kelly made time to visit with him personally.

He played pretty much everything for his high school team, including mostly safety on defense. Coach Martin told him he wants him to play outside LB for ND.

He claims he runs a 4.37 forty (!!!). Who knows if that is true or not but regardless, the kid is a true athlete and I think he's gonna blow up on the scene this year. I'd love to get him at ND.

Per ISD, he is looking for good academics, a good atmosphere, and a comfortable feeling with both the coaches and the players. He has no announcement timetable. The good news is that he's trying to make a return for the spring game, and as of right now, if the schedule permits, he and his dad are going to come. Driving down from Iowa twice in a month to check out the program shows legit interest on his part...

 

[ryno 24]

This kid sounds amazing and like an ND guy I could see him on offense as A wide reciever tight end highbrid or at safety

The kid is an athlete

 

[BGIF]

Another prospect that got a visit by the coaching staff.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Per Nebraska's Scout writer, he just received a Nebraska offer.

ND has put a high priority on French as they see him as a great athlete with huge upside. He just ran the 100 in 10.7, which is pretty damn sick. French said every school is recruiting him as a tight end except for ND, who sees him as an outside linebacker (but they told him he could switch over to offense once he got on campus). He prefers to play on offense, but will play defense if that is what his coaches in college think he's better at.

Things he's looking for in a college: academics and a place that could set him up for life after football, team unity, relationship w/ coaches, and a big-time football atmosphere.

He's in no rush to make a decision - probably late fall/early winter.

 

[TerryTate]

ISD Article on French

Notre Dame Football - French Finds Football Again

 

[BGIF]

Update

Update

RANKING
Rivals: , #12 ATH, Rating 5.8, National #84, 250 To Watch
Scout: , #20 TE
ESPN: , #26 ATH, Grade 79, 150 Watch List

Since the last profile update he's added offers from KSU, LOU, Nebraska, Oregon, and A&M.

 

[nd1]

over on isd his father said the two of them could visit sometime next week. already been to nd junior day in march. nd thinks he can grow into playing atoutside linerbacker but other schools see him as tightend or receiver.

it says he has no favorites.

 

[IrishInFl]

If he really is as fast as he claims, by all means I would like to try him at WR. Like another version of Calvin Johnson.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

If he really is as fast as he claims, by all means I would like to try him at WR. Like another version of Calvin Johnson.

I think he may want to play offense instead of defense. French is a players that could blow up in his senior year and get a ton of offers.

 

[BirdmanND06]

I think he may want to play offense instead of defense. French is a players that could blow up in his senior year and get a ton of offers.

The general feeling on weather he will come to ND or not seems to come down to if he wants to play O or D. ND wants him to play OLB, while Iowa (his other leader at the moment) wants him as a WR. We shall see...

 

[IrishInFl]

Just think of the match up problems with French if he were to play WR. 6'6" with speed? Vertical and red zone threat? Yes please. Besides, LB is looking pretty solid for this class.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Just think of the match up problems with French if he were to play WR. 6'6" with speed? Vertical and red zone threat? Yes please. Besides, LB is looking pretty solid for this class.

Jonathon Baldwin

 

[TerryTate]

On campus today for a visit with his father

 

[NDinL.A.]

This is a huge recruit for ND. Big, super fast, athletic...just the kind of athlete ND has missed out on in the past on the defensive side of the ball. Most schools are recruiting him as a WR, but ND is recruiting him as an OLB. Don't look at the stars with him (3 stars on one site is considered ridiculous by many coaches who have seen his film)...his upside is what ND fans will love.

I think Lynch is the more important recruit - not only b/c of his great talent, but also his position and location, which would give Kelly and ND recruiting a big boost - but French would be a huge addition as well. This trip with his dad could go a long way towards landing him. (Nobody wins over parents like ND.) He's expected to take visits, so don't expect a commit. But hopefully they come away highly impressed and put ND as his leader...

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Coaches are going to have to blow him away on this visit. Sounds to me like he wants to play offense. Also, he might want to see how we do this season before committing.

 

[Ben E.]

this guy could be a lawrence taylor type OLB! dont be afraid of the darkside christian, its alot more fun on defense!

 

[mokpra37]

I agree. It is a lot more fun on defense.

However, a 6'6" WR with 4.4. speed would really stretch the field. How are his hands? If we did see him come as a WR, that could get us a young man who can work into M. Floyd's spot eventually.

Let's say the following come to ND:

DE A. Lynch
DE/OLB A. Rabasa

At that point, there would be some flexibility in moving French to the WR spot. Having said that, he could make an amazing outside lineback with size, great speed and leaping ability.

 

[Irish.Ca]

Get the talent, place them later. Just like with Theo, you have to find ways to get all of your best talent on the field.

 

[SoInIrishFan]

Any word on how the visit went?

 

[aubeirish]

The word is that it went well. His dad apparently loved the place.

 

[irishandy]

According to irishsportsdaily.com the headline of this story: French Family Has "Amazing" Visit To ND. I am not a member so I cannot read the full story.

 

[SoInIrishFan]

Irish Illustrated and ISD have stories, but I'm not a member of them either. Are they worth the cost? This kid is an amazing athlete.

 

[TerryTate]

According to II - He loved the campus and his visit. Would have liked to meet Kelly, but he's still on vacation. He met with Chuck Martin, Alford, and Dave Peloquin. No commitment timeline mentioned.

His father loved the academic prestige of ND:

"You can sell your program however you want to if you're Notre Dame, Iowa, Texas or USC, but if there's nothing to help my son get his education, that's my focus. He's a good athlete, but if he gets injured the first day what does he have to fall back on?"

 

[SoInIrishFan]

I like his father already! Hope the nut doesn't fall far from the tree! Thank you for the info.

 

[irishandy]

Education first, athletics second.

 

[DaLastFarleyite]

Any news on French? This guy intrigues me. Any timetable set for his decision?

I would think that with the defensive commits we've gotten, we should be able to give him a shot on offense.

 

[JDAtlanta]

Randy Moss

Randy Moss

I agree. It is a lot more fun on defense.

However, a 6'6" WR with 4.4. speed would really stretch the field. How are his hands? If we did see him come as a WR, that could get us a young man who can work into M. Floyd's spot eventually.

Let's say the following come to ND:

DE A. Lynch
DE/OLB A. Rabasa

At that point, there would be some flexibility in moving French to the WR spot. Having said that, he could make an amazing outside lineback with size, great speed and leaping ability.

with a good GPA. I'll take 4.

 

[Irish Man3]

II is reporting that Christian looked impressive in his season opener despite his teams lousy performance. He had double digit tackles at a new position on defense. IMO I would love to land this guy more than anyone else on our radar. At this point I dont care if its on offense or defense. I just want to get him on campus and go from there.