Who's next to commit? How many slots?

[TerryTate]

Estimates range from 4 to 6 more spots. Lots of talent on the board, we are in a good spot right now.

 

[RDU Irish]

How does that break down when factoring 5th years? I am trying to get a feel for where we draw the line on 5ths. Thanks Tate.

 

[rocket31]

But we won't know until late in the season how he projects

who said otherwise?

Plenty of players stick around in some masters program after getting their degrees for another year.

no they dont.

You could make the same arguement for underclassmen, just take the NFL money, you can always come back to finish your degree. That worked well for Darius Walker. Quinn and Clausen both dropped well below where all the "experts" expected them to get drafted. It has been an eternity since ND players "outperformed" in the draft.

the goal for gray is to just get drafted at this point, its foolish to compare him to a first rounder like quinn or clausen.

What about the team? Maybe we are on pace for NC in 2011

only legitimate reason you provided.

Maybe he is loving life on campus and dating some hot junior.

i am sure he enjoys campus, but according to his twitter he is single as can be. and i highly doubt he would chose a girl over the nfl. thats just nonsense.

Maybe he can focus more on football with a really light 5th year class schedule and dramatically improve his draft stock. Maybe his Combine #s are not ideal and he knows he needs a better college production resume to compensate. I just don't see it as cut and dried as rocket31

you dont get it (obviously). IF he has any draft stock this year, he has to take it, he will already have a degree. his ceiling is 3/4th round and he knows that... like i said, IF he continues to on this pace, he is gone.

 

[TerryTate]

85 Limit

Currently 78 on Scholarship (Including Montana)

11 Seniors

85 - 67 = 18 spots

Potential 5th Years: 9

So, 18 + 9 - # of 5th years + # of people who transfer/leave = Total

I think that's how it works...

 

[Old Man Mike]

If it depends really critically on 5th year carry-overs, I can't see giving up on either Dever [for certain] nor Nuss [who Kelly has described as extremely valuable due to his versatility]. Those great freshman O-linemen we will be bringing in will still need a year of seasoning, and although Nichols and Lombard may well be ready, we lose Stewart and Wenger off the two-deep. Keeping Dever and Nuss, and adding game-ready Lombard and Nichols, still gives us a kick-ass two-deep next year despite a down 2010 class for O-line [i.e. only two]. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Because some of those big boys will be mosying towards the NFL or retirement soon thereafter, I'm for bringing in as much O'line potential as is rational. Therefore, if Richardson wants to come for one of last scholarships, I say jump on it. That would give us a "whole set" [if someone can play center] in Hegarty, Prestwood, Hanratty, Richardson, and Carrico or Springman, depending upon which one moves over to O. That sounds, on paper, like championship line play to me. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For the rest, yes, I desire another DB at least, and another WR at least. If the Atkinsons come, they could be that. But, and here is where I believe I'm in a vast minority: I'd really like to see us get a commit from Shuler. That speed just sounds out of this world, and the guy's an athlete. Percy Harvin? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------And Tuitt....

 

[aaronb]

If it depends really critically on 5th year carry-overs, I can't see giving up on either Dever [for certain] nor Nuss [who Kelly has described as extremely valuable due to his versatility]. Those great freshman O-linemen we will be bringing in will still need a year of seasoning, and although Nichols and Lombard may well be ready, we lose Stewart and Wenger off the two-deep. Keeping Dever and Nuss, and adding game-ready Lombard and Nichols, still gives us a kick-ass two-deep next year despite a down 2010 class for O-line [i.e. only two]. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Because some of those big boys will be mosying towards the NFL or retirement soon thereafter, I'm for bringing in as much O'line potential as is rational. Therefore, if Richardson wants to come for one of last scholarships, I say jump on it. That would give us a "whole set" [if someone can play center] in Hegarty, Prestwood, Hanratty, Richardson, and Carrico or Springman, depending upon which one moves over to O. That sounds, on paper, like championship line play to me. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For the rest, yes, I desire another DB at least, and another WR at least. If the Atkinsons come, they could be that. But, and here is where I believe I'm in a vast minority: I'd really like to see us get a commit from Shuler. That speed just sounds out of this world, and the guy's an athlete. Percy Harvin? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------And Tuitt....

Need 2 more DB's IMHO. I'd be OK with skipping WR all together in this cycle. Already have 11 on schollie. Even with Kamara and Floyd leaving. Still too much roster domination from one spot.

 

[RDU Irish]

Thanks Tate. Of course, Rudolph and Floyd could leave as well (PLEASE NOOOO!!!) freeing up a couple more spots.

So we should currently have 27 spots for newbies & 5th years. With a lot of talent on the still on the recruiting board, I think we will be pretty selective with fifth years.

Dever and Gray I would say have a spot held for them IF THEY WANT IT. With solid production this year Ragone, Smith, Nuss, Nwankwo could play into a saved spot. The rest (Ruffer, Paskorz, Walker) look unlikely right now. I think I caught all nine potential 5th year there? Ruffer is interesting since I don't think he is on schollie anyway.

I could see us getting to 8 more spots in this class (4-5 fifth years, plus losing 1-2 more to NFL or transfer).

 

[RDU Irish]

So Rocket - Would you say Gray is gone regardless? If he is good enough to draft he goes, if not we shouldn't want him soaking up a schollie next year. So who do favor for 5th year?

I think Gray will be a very interesting to story to watch develop this year largely because neither of us is right or wrong YET on these points. Foolish to me is treating speculation as a fact.

I really don't understand your dispute on what players do in their 5th year. Are you aware Chris Stewart is in law school? Do you really think fifth year seniors are only there because they were not on pace to graduate? I'm not going to look a bunch up but I am pretty sure graduate work is the norm, not the exception for ND 5th years.

Last year the goal was to just get drafted. This year everyone's job is to help the team win football games. I am pretty sure they aren't running Combine drills every week and projecting themselves against last year's draft board. What info do you have on Gray's measurables other than his recruiting profile from four years ago?

 

[rocket31]

please, for the third time now. IF (key word "IF") he continues on this pace, he will leave for the NFL. it would be silly not too. he will have his degree. he is already receiving national media attention on espn, his stock will continue to rise.

question is: will he continue on this pace? and that remains to be seen...which is why I said "IF"...

 

[IrishInFl]

It's one game. Calm down.

 

[Irish Man3]

Im going with five/six spots give or take. Whatever happens happens but its way to early to speculate on 5th year seniors and so on. My top 5/6 remain close to the same:
Christian French
George Atkinson
Josh Atkinson
Wayne Lyons
Davaris Daniels
Stephon Tuitt
Its not at all that Im not interested in Savon Huggins or Antonio Richardson or some of the other elite talents left in the mix, but Im going off pure need!!
Right about now is when I really start getting interested to see how the 2012 class projects as well. We look to be in line with some elite qb's and some solid talent.

 

[TerryTate]

Im going with five/six spots give or take. Whatever happens happens but its way to early to speculate on 5th year seniors and so on. My top 5/6 remain close to the same:
Christian French
George Atkinson
Josh Atkinson
Wayne Lyons
Davaris Daniels
Stephon Tuitt
Its not at all that Im not interested in Savon Huggins or Antonio Richardson or some of the other elite talents left in the mix, but Im going off pure need!!
Right about now is when I really start getting interested to see how the 2012 class projects as well. We look to be in line with some elite qb's and some solid talent.

Those would be my top 6 and best shots.

 

[dales5050]

please, for the third time now. IF (key word "IF") he continues on this pace, he will leave for the NFL. it would be silly not too. he will have his degree. he is already receiving national media attention on espn, his stock will continue to rise.

question is: will he continue on this pace? and that remains to be seen...which is why I said "IF"...

IF there is an NFL lockout by the owners, I am not sure they leave.

Actually, I am not sure how a lockout would effect the draft, so I guess I hope it means they would not leave.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Originally Posted by Irish Man3
Im going with five/six spots give or take. Whatever happens happens but its way to early to speculate on 5th year seniors and so on. My top 5/6 remain close to the same:
Christian French
George Atkinson
Josh Atkinson
Wayne Lyons
Davaris Daniels
Stephon Tuitt
Its not at all that Im not interested in Savon Huggins or Antonio Richardson or some of the other elite talents left in the mix, but Im going off pure need!!
Right about now is when I really start getting interested to see how the 2012 class projects as well. We look to be in line with some elite qb's and some solid talent.

Those would be my top 6 and best shots.

Ishaq Williams - gotta; he's scarry!

Play the run like a lineman, cover like a db; really!

 

[Irish Man3]

Ishaq Williams - gotta; he's scarry!

Play the run like a lineman, cover like a db; really!

Again I was going on need and who I thought we had a real good shot with. While Ishaq is an amazing athlete and a potential game changer, it really doesnt kill us if we dont land him. We have a pretty solid class already at the position we are recruiting him for with Rabasa and Burton. Please dont get me wrong, I would love to see Ishaq in an Irish uniform but if it comes down to him or Tuitt, or him or Lynch, I take the other two.

 

[NewEnglandGuy]

Here are my hunches for the weekend (prediction is a strong word)

1. Atkinson brothers commit

2. Aldridge commits

3. and we beat michigan

as far as other guys on our list, I think Ishaq goes Bama, Huggins stays in Jersey, and Richardson has us running at the bottom of his favorites.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Here are my hunches for the weekend (prediction is a strong word)

1. Atkinson brothers commit

2. Aldridge commits

3. and we beat michigan

Aldridge isn't coming.

 

[Irish.Ca]

I think one of our other young QB's transfers as well, just a hunch bc we have so many and we're going to get a great one in next years class.

I think Floyd and Rudolph stay as well because I think the owners/players mess it up next year in the NFL too. Maybe Keanu will get his big shot to play a la The Replacements.

 

[NDinMemphis]

So after the game today, how do you all think the recruits will react to it? Positive, Negative, or indifferent?

 

[The Polish Irishman]

The atkinsons were seen doing push ups in the student section

 

[irishmarine]

If they look at the depth chart and see how thin we are at their respected positions hopefully they jump on board. I see promise in this team and the coaching staff. Then again I threw my phone through a window today so maybe I'm just trying to e positive...

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

any word on the recruits?

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

On another site....there is a paid article that says "hayes expects big news".....hmmmmmm??????!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[military_irish]

On another site....there is a paid article that says "hayes expects big news".....hmmmmmm??????!!!!!!!!!!!!

if your talking about Justice Hayes, then i am assuming the article has to do with his wrist, because they thought he may have broken it, but from what Dirty Secret posted in Hayes' thread, it's not believed to be broken

but i'm not sure what article you are talking about, so i could be way off, just trying to help

 

[NDFANnSouthWest]

Thank you MI....seems like the atmosphere was electirc at ND for the game....and we have not heard anything yet....

 

[The Polish Irishman]

any word on the recruits?

Probably will not know anything until later today maybe tomorrow. I don't expect much.

 

[DirtySecret]

if your talking about Justice Hayes, then i am assuming the article has to do with his wrist, because they thought he may have broken it, but from what Dirty Secret posted in Hayes' thread, it's not believed to be broken

but i'm not sure what article you are talking about, so i could be way off, just trying to help

I talked to him last night on facebook. His hands is in a splint and he's been icing it down. He says his finger a really fat but it's not broken..

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Update from Jarret Grace on Facebook:

Jarrett Rkg Grace:
"so yesterday....pretty much one of the best days ever, hanging with the justice league and my other brothers. despite the loss i think we will have a few more RKGs soon."

 

[Irish Man3]

Stephon Tuitt was "very impressed" by his visit to South Bend.
http://www.irishsportsdaily.com/blogs/coach-ds-blog/3239-irish-impress-tuitt

We were his first visit so its nothing to get crazy excited aboout but we put ourselves in good shape. His mother also enjoyed the visit as did highschool teammate Kendarious Whitehead.

 

[jason_h537]

Sounds like our committed players expect a verbal out of this weekend. Thats what i have been reading