'11 NC OLB/DE Ben Councell (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[BirdmanND06]

We need big time defensive ends to solidify the defense for the future.

If Councell is going to play LB, will Utopo and Shembo be molded into DE's?

I like the athleticism of all these guys, but I'd like to have a player or two learn DE right away. We've got Filer and Fleming as hybrid's right now anyway.

All of those players will be LBs. We do need one (or two) more DEs in this class, however.

 

[BGIF]

Update

Update

RANKING
Rivals: , #23 WDE, Rating 5.6
Scout: , #28 OLB
ESPN: , #37, OLB Grade 78

A couple of hours ago Councell was a No Star, #142 DE with a Grade of 45 (not evaluated). Now his verbal to ND has gotten ESPN to upgrade him to 3 Star, #37 OLB with a grade of 78.

Coincidental upgrade or rush to judgement to catch up with the announcement?

Don't they realize that in 2 years (if Longo doesn't bulk him up) he will break Bolt's record?

 

[NewEnglandGuy]

Great get. Welcome Ben!

We need another linebacker (French)
a couple DEs (Lynch being one)
and some DBs (Lyons)

If that falls into place, home run?

 

[Rocket89]

Just seems like we have 20 linebackers and very few defensive ends.

I hope if Johnson or KLM get hurt Nwankwo, Hafis and Newman can step up.

 

[ryno 24]

congrats Ben

 

[TerryTate]

Just seems like we have 20 linebackers and very few defensive ends.

I hope if Johnson or KLM get hurt Nwankwo, Hafis and Newman can step up.

Springmann & Carrico so far.

No need to get the panties in a bunch

 

[rocket31]

Just seems like we have 20 linebackers and very few defensive ends.

I hope if Johnson or KLM get hurt Nwankwo, Hafis and Newman can step up.

a "few" defensive ends is all we needed.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Just seems like we have 20 linebackers and very few defensive ends.

I hope if Johnson or KLM get hurt Nwankwo, Hafis and Newman can step up.

Don't forget about Cwynar. Stockton can step in there too if need be, and Shwenke and Heggie are on campus now too. We have 2 defensive ends already committed, and could end up with one of the best in the nation in Aaron Lynch. If he don't get Lynch, there are other guys we have a shot at, most notably Troy Niklas out of Servite High in CA. We definitely need to recruit better DEs, but the staff has started to address that, which is key.

Now, as for LBs, in a 3-4, you better have plenty of very good LBs or you're in some serious trouble. Many coaches feel that the OLB in a 3-4 is the most important position in that defense. We have 3 LBs committed (compared to 2 DEs), so it's not like we're over-recruiting this position. And we are getting big athletes at this spot, which is what this defense needs.

If we keep recruiting well on the defensive side of the ball, the wins will follow...

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Nice pickup...very underrated

 

[DirtySecret]

A little teaser of him in action

Ben Councell attacks the football - Rivals.com Video

 

[johnnykillz]

Holy X-Mas in June!:awesomewo

I am so excited we got this speed demon big guy. He and Ben Koyack have some rediculous speed for the size.

As aforementioned, this kid is probably not 4.4 40 speed, but with that type of fudge, I guarantee he is fast!

Welcome to the family Big Ben! Go Irish!

 

[PatsandBostonfan1975]

starting to take shape

starting to take shape

loving the defense . this is how you build championships !!!!!!!!!!

 

[johnnykillz]

I couldn't agree more. Great looking defense coming together.

I can't imagine the pain they'll inflict in the offenses minds and bodys in a few short years.

 

[KPENN]

A little teaser of him in action

Ben Councell attacks the football - Rivals.com Video

Nice. I like his game he might not be 4.4 forty fast, but he's still really damn fast. I like his game.

 

[WabashFalcon]

I hate that 4.4 track crap. Name one instance on the football field when a kid will be:
1. Running a straight line.
2. Without any threat or interference from another player.
3. Without the ball in his hand.
4. Without having to take correct angles.
5. From a sprinter's stance.
6. Finishing with a lean.

I love this kid's speed IN PADS. The kid is quick. Football quick. That I like.

 

[NDinL.A.]

I hate that 4.4 track crap. Name one instance on the football field when a kid will be:
1. Running a straight line.
2. Without any threat or interference from another player.
3. Without the ball in his hand.
4. Without having to take correct angles.
5. From a sprinter's stance.
6. Finishing with a lean.

I love this kid's speed IN PADS. The kid is quick. Football quick. That I like.

Exactly Wabash. Don't forget the guy that runs a 4.38 with his head completely down!!!

 

[NewEnglandGuy]

OLB needs to be a position of strength in the coming years. That means at least 2 guys every year for the depth to be considered "a strength". As we all know that this postion is currently NOT deep. So now we are looking at probably 3 guys.

As far as DEs go, look for us to pick up 2 more. I could possibly see us grabbing 3 more if we miss at all OTs and move Carrico to offense (leaving Springmann as the lone signee). Perhaps a combo of Lynch, Wujciak, and Niklas...

 

[Irish.Ca]

Ben, welcome to the new LB U. Feel free to bring a friend and pick up the phone, call Huggins and Lynch!

 

[IHateMarkMay]

Third week of the season is tomorrow night. They played the first week and had a week off. Kid lives half an hour away from me. I read the write up the day after their first game and there was no mention of him. However, I found this today. He had 15.5 tackles and leads his conference in tackles. I'll let you know how tomorrow night goes if I can grab the paper on Saturday.

 

[TinyT]

Just read that Councell took a trip to South Carolina for an unofficial visit this past weekend. The children are getting restless!!!

From247sports.com, via Blue and Gold

 

[mgriff]

Oh goodness.

 

[CanadianIrish]

This recruiting class is on the verge of totally falling apart.

 

[Polish Leppy 22]

We should ask Nebraska fans what they felt like right before they fired Callahan a few years back. Coming on this board every day expecting bad news sucks.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

We should ask Nebraska fans what they felt like right before they fired Callahan a few years back. Coming on this board every day expecting bad news sucks.

I hear you. I am beginning to expect bad news every time I get on here. Either finding out we lost a prized recruit.., (biggest nightmare became a reality for me when we lost Lynch) or finding out about someone being injured and out for the year, or just the impending doom kind of threads that ties all the bad together and just paints a gloomy picture.

 

[TerryTate]

He was going to take this trip for a while. He said he was still firm to ND, but he wanted to go see a good football game. I'm actually not too worried about Councell decommitting. There are others that I'm much more wary of.

 

[mgriff]

He was going to take this trip for a while. He said he was still firm to ND, but he wanted to go see a good football game. I'm actually not too worried about Councell decommitting. There are others that I'm much more wary of.

Yea, no offense to Ben, he's a great football player am I'm thrilled we got him, but I'm more worried about our big DE recruit and some speed players. This is ****ing terrible.

 

[IlovethehireofCoachKelly]

Yea, no offense to Ben, he's a great football player am I'm thrilled we got him, but I'm more worried about our big DE recruit and some speed players. This is ****ing terrible.

You should worried because he is big, and faster than any of our other DE or Linebackers. So your comment kinda didn't make a whole lot of sense.

 

[TerryTate]

Yea, no offense to Ben, he's a great football player am I'm thrilled we got him, but I'm more worried about our big DE recruit and some speed players. This is ****ing terrible.

My intention was not to say it wouldn't hurt to lose him. It would hurt a lot. I was trying to convey my confidence in his verbal commitment.

 

[mgriff]

You should worried because he is big, and faster than any of our other DE or Linebackers. So your comment kinda didn't make a whole lot of sense.

Well maybe you should work on your comprehension then. We have other outside linebacker prospects at this point with a ton of athletic ability--see Steve Filer. Being big and fast is not the sole component to being a good football player, but I felt I should use a current scholarship athlete as an example to counter your position. We also have other outside linebackers on the roster which makes me much more concerned with our thin areas, particularly on the D-Line and secondary, which is why I am more concerned with those areas at this point. I'm sorry if you're not perceptive enough to pick up on these things, but that is really not my responsibility.

 

[mgriff]

My intention was not to say it wouldn't hurt to lose him. It would hurt a lot. I was trying to convey my confidence in his verbal commitment.

I'm not saying that either, just saying that I'm more worried about the thinner areas of our roster.