'11 NY OLB Ishaq Williams (Signed ND LOI-EE)

[IrishLax]

According to the Miami boards last night and this morning, Miami is suddenly a real player here. Apparently he was a Miami fan growing up, but either he wasn't interested in them or they didn't recruit him hard (I forget).

Anyway, Golden called him right away and said that he'd be recruiting him hard, and this morning he visited Ishaq and his pops and his high school. Supposedly the meeting went very well and they were impressed by Golden. So while Penn State is fading badly, Miami seems to be gaining fast. It looks like it will be Syracuse and ND to the end, with Miami as a sudden (and troubling) darkhorse. The good news is that they came very late to the party, and ND has been there since the jump, so I'd say we are still in a very good spot, but man, this recruiting circus can drive you nuts!

Miami fans can be as delusional as they want. They don't fill their stadium, have **** facilities, and no recruiting class. Unless we get torched by them in the bowl game I have no concern here.

 

[TerryTate]

Bowl game will lead Ishaq to us.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Unfortunately Miami is one of those schools that recruits all by itself, much like ND, but if they come calling usually most recruits will atleast listen and this seems to be no different.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

I think we sit well with Ishaq if for nothing else, ND is starting to find it's identity on the football field and it looks like we are only going to get better and better. Miami has just lost their coach and just hired a new one, so it will take them some time to see what kind of direction their program will be heading. I also like the fact that we have been persistent in his recruiting from the very start. I really hope we land this kid.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Two weeks from tomorrow for decision day!!

Course anymore everybody's decision day isn't until Feb., so regardless of who he picks at the all star game i'll be holding my breath till then.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Two weeks from tomorrow for decision day!!

Course anymore everybody's decision day isn't until Feb., so regardless of who he picks at the all star game i'll be holding my breath till then.

Actually you don't have to hold your breath till NSD. He will be an EE, so a week after the all star game he will be reporting to classes at which ever school he chooses

 

[CanadianIrish]

I think the fact that he's an EE is promising, as it means he's serious academically. Miami and Syracuse can't compete with an ND education.

 

[rtrn2glory]

EE doesn't necessarily mean a kid's serious about academics...He could be serious about playing early.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

EE doesn't necessarily mean a kid's serious about academics...He could be serious about playing early.

This is true, but again once he announces at the allstar game there is no changing his commitment since he is an EE.

 

[calvegas04]

He told Miami no thanks, it is down to ND,PSU,SU

 

[Irish4Life09]

He told Miami no thanks, it is down to ND,PSU,SU

Ummm....link?

 

[NDinL.A.]

Ummm....link?

It's true...can't link to premium info.

 

[NewEnglandGuy]

How true is it that he cancelled his OV to Penn St and they did an in home visit instead?

 

[IrishLax]

How true is it that he cancelled his OV to Penn St and they did an in home visit instead?

Very true from what I've heard from my lil bro at Penn State. I think there is at least an 80% chance we get this guy.

 

[Irish Man3]

It just says that Miami got into it to late to make a difference. He is set to announce on January 8th. As much as I think he is Irish, Syracuse still scares me. He says in his interview on ISD that he likes a different school everyday and after each of his visits he liked that school the most. He is very interested in the final three schools on his list. He also said that his parents have not tried to push him to Syracuse, they actually wont even tell him what school they like the most. They want him to make his own decision. I think thats good parenting opposed to what we heard about Denzel Perryman's situation.

 

[TerryTate]

Lincoln All-American cuts list to three - m.NYPOST.com

 

[NDty9]

Man, that article made me super confident , then super nervous!.... The things that were said about Cuse scare me quite a bit

 

[jonesman]

If Ishaq picks the Cuse, I think he is gonna find himself dissapointed in a couple years. With TCU moving to the Big East, folks like Syracuse are virtually guaranteed of not winning the Big East.

If I am Ishaq, I am looking really hard at the Syracuse roster. How will I do with the talent around me. At Syracuse, there really is NO talent around him.

Hopefully, he also looked at who Syracuse beat. They had wins against some really really week D-2 teams like Colgate.

As for recruiting, Syracuse has ZERO 4 stars this year and had ONE in 2010. Being a big fish in a small pond is fun until its the 3 quarter of a game against a team like TCU and they are just running you over like roadkill.

Talented players want to play with other talented players. Let's hope Ishaq recognizes that.

 

[Irish Man3]

If Ishaq picks the Cuse, I think he is gonna find himself dissapointed in a couple years. With TCU moving to the Big East, folks like Syracuse are virtually guaranteed of not winning the Big East.

If I am Ishaq, I am looking really hard at the Syracuse roster. How will I do with the talent around me. At Syracuse, there really is NO talent around him.

Hopefully, he also looked at who Syracuse beat. They had wins against some really really week D-2 teams like Colgate.

As for recruiting, Syracuse has ZERO 4 stars this year and had ONE in 2010. Being a big fish in a small pond is fun until its the 3 quarter of a game against a team like TCU and they are just running you over like roadkill.

Talented players want to play with other talented players. Let's hope Ishaq recognizes that.

He is a pretty smart kid and I think he will make the right decision. The article makes me think that Ishaq might have committed to ND after his last visit had he not gone to Syracuse right after. I think Syracuse has made a good case for themselves but in the end, it's just not enough. I also think out showing in the bowl game will put the final touch on things. I think Ishaq is the closest thing we have to a done deal out of the remaining prospects.

 

[IrishLax]

If Ishaq picks the Cuse, I think he is gonna find himself dissapointed in a couple years. With TCU moving to the Big East, folks like Syracuse are virtually guaranteed of not winning the Big East.

If I am Ishaq, I am looking really hard at the Syracuse roster. How will I do with the talent around me. At Syracuse, there really is NO talent around him.

Hopefully, he also looked at who Syracuse beat. They had wins against some really really week D-2 teams like Colgate.

As for recruiting, Syracuse has ZERO 4 stars this year and had ONE in 2010. Being a big fish in a small pond is fun until its the 3 quarter of a game against a team like TCU and they are just running you over like roadkill.

Talented players want to play with other talented players. Let's hope Ishaq recognizes that.

This is exactly why I think he goes to Notre Dame. It is just an all-around better school in football, academics, facilities, talent, etc. The big trump card is comfort, and if he truly likes the 'Cuse coaching staff or the institution as a whole better, I think that is the only thing that can keep him from being Irish.

 

[CanadianIrish]

That article gives me some confidence. He was ready to commit to ND, but "liked" Syracuse too. If he wants a family environment Kelly and Diaco should go build a snow fort on his front lawn tonight and pelt him with snowballs when he leaves the house.

Lock this kid up, he's the next Justin Tuck.

 

[jonesman]

I think dad would like Syracuse, but Ishaq would like ND. We will just have to see.

 

[Irish Man3]

I think dad would like Syracuse, but Ishaq would like ND. We will just have to see.

He said his parents haven't pressured him either way. They wont even tell him what school they like the most. I think thats solid parenting. Maybe his parents understand what kind of an opportunity ND is for their son? Should be interesting over the next few weeks.

 

[jmurphy75]

Just because his parents went there doesn't mean they automatically want their son to go there. What do you think his parents would've done if they had the opportunity to go to ND over Cuse? I think they are great parents for letting him make his own unbiased opinion and fully supporting him in it.

 

[Irish Rogue]

I have a strong inclination that he picks ND. Judging by what he says about the ND pipeline,
post graduation speaks volumes.

ND will have two distinct advantages on SU in the strong nationwide connections in the business world, and the better oportunity to play in the NFL. With him having excellent grades, I would think he would be the better fit at ND.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Be careful not to count on Penn State. For some reason they just know how to recruit over there and although he didn't take an official the dad talked quite highly of them in the article. They're program isn't too far from ours and they've been reeling in type flight recruits recently too. Wouldn't surprise me at all if he chooses Penn State, hope he doesn't, but wouldn't surprise me.

 

[kjk184]

Be careful not to count on Penn State. For some reason they just know how to recruit over there and although he didn't take an official the dad talked quite highly of them in the article. They're program isn't too far from ours and they've been reeling in type flight recruits recently too. Wouldn't surprise me at all if he chooses Penn State, hope he doesn't, but wouldn't surprise me.

Starting to hear more rumblings of Paterno retiring after the bowl game. They don't have much of a recruiting class now. If Joe leaves I don't see any way that they land someone like Ishaq.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Starting to hear more rumblings of Paterno retiring after the bowl game. They don't have much of a recruiting class now. If Joe leaves I don't see any way that they land someone like Ishaq.

Some Penn State recruit on ESPN the other day just said Joe Pa said he's planning on coaching 5 more years...I've yet to hear the retirement rumors. coaches there no how to get good players there and then put them in the league, which I'm sure that makes them very appealing.

 

[IrishLax]

I heard an interview with Joe Pa awhile ago where he said he tells everyone he has "at least 4 more years" left in him for recruiting purposes.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Just because his parents went there doesn't mean they automatically want their son to go there. What do you think his parents would've done if they had the opportunity to go to ND over Cuse? I think they are great parents for letting him make his own unbiased opinion and fully supporting him in it.

I would assume that his parents would want what was best for him, Notre Dame or Syracuse, regardless of where they went. In fact, it sounds to me like the the parents actually favor ND.

Nonetheless, he has said they have not told him one way or the other which they favor.