'11 CA DE/OT Troy Niklas (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[IrishLax]

A lot of o-lineman and d-lineman are not naturally 300 lbs. Look at Mark Schlareth (sp?), granted there are some big boys that play but i think most bulk up to play and that is not healthy. There was a story in SI (i will try to find the link) of an o-lineman who played around 300, after trying out for the NFL for a few years and realized it was not gonna happen for him he dropped below 200. Now that is a unique example but clearly most these guys put on a lot of weight to play.

Guy should've gone on the biggest loser and made some easy money. Sheesh.

 

[jason_h537]

Oregon Ducks Jeff Kendall, Cole Linehan work to lose game bodies - George Dohrmann - SI.com

Here is one and this is not the article i was referring to

 

[choo choo]

this kid would be a great cherry on top of a seriously bitchin class

 

[irish4ever]

OT was better for Andy Heck than TE. Heck lettered as a Freshman #2 TE in '85 under Faust. He did the same the next year under Holtz. He was the Starting TE in '87. Then Holtz moved him to LT as a Senior and he anchored a National Championship team. He was a consensus All-American at OT and was a First Round Draft Pick. Played 12 years in the NFL and is now the Jaguars OLine Coach.

I remember those days! Andy was sure one heck of a good lineman!

 

[Shamrocks and Shenanigans]

I remember those days! Andy was sure one heck of a good lineman!

Very nice play.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Didn't know if this was posted yet...

@hansensouthbend: "The Orange Co. Register is reporting 2-way lineman Troy Niklas of Servite High in Anaheim, Calif., has narrowed his choices to ND & USC."

 

[rtrn2glory]

yep reported last night, but thanks for the help!!

 

[Irish Fam]

has niklas revealed a date for his decision?

 

[RyCo1983]

has niklas revealed a date for his decision?

NSD IIRC

 

[InKellyITrust]

Are we recruiting Niklas as a OT, DE or long snapper?

 

[IrishLax]

Are we recruiting Niklas as a OT, DE or long snapper?

QB. We're really shallow at that position.

 

[InKellyITrust]

QB. We're really shallow at that position.

Is he a good fit for the spread or more of a pocket passer?

 

[johnnykillz]

QB. We're really shallow at that position.

 

[billyboettcher]

So I have a question/concern. This kid is a darn good player and so is a kid like Hounshell. We also have solid kids like Carrico and Springmann. I know some could move to offense but if i'm one of these kids seeing up to 6 guys for two positions I'm probably not too excited about it. From a fan standpoint and from a coach standpoint it is awesome to have depth like this but I wonder what goes through one of these kids minds seeing that you're probably not as good as Lynch or Tuitt and you will at best be a sub to give these guys rest and at worse never see the field.

Also a guy like Rabasa is a star in his own right but is already penciled in behind Ishaq at the Cat position. any chance he could mover over to ILB? It just feels like such a waste to have two studs projected at the same spot for ~4 years.

Having said all that, this is an awesome problem to have.

 

[InKellyITrust]

So I have a question/concern. This kid is a darn good player and so is a kid like Hounshell. We also have solid kids like Carrico and Springmann. I know some could move to offense but if i'm one of these kids seeing up to 6 guys for two positions I'm probably not too excited about it. From a fan standpoint and from a coach standpoint it is awesome to have depth like this but I wonder what goes through one of these kids minds seeing that you're probably not as good as Lynch or Tuitt and you will at best be a sub to give these guys rest and at worse never see the field.

Also a guy like Rabasa is a star in his own right but is already penciled in behind Ishaq at the Cat position. any chance he could mover over to ILB? It just feels like such a waste to have two studs projected at the same spot for ~4 years.

Having said all that, this is an awesome problem to have.

You really bring up a great point. Some of these guys are probably 2-3 years away from seeing the field. I'm sure that Kelly & company have a better idea how to get all of this talent on the field all at once. The nice thing about depth especially on defense is that everyone will be ready to go in the 4th quarter while the offensive linemen have been playing the entire game.

 

[billyboettcher]

You really bring up a great point. Some of these guys are probably 2-3 years away from seeing the field. I'm sure that Kelly & company have a better idea how to get all of this talent on the field all at once. The nice thing about depth especially on defense is that everyone will be ready to go in the 4th quarter while the offensive linemen have been playing the entire game.

I do like that idea. As a D3 o-lineman myself I always thought I had an inherent advantage over d-linemen because i didn't have to chase anyone and if I do well then the drive extends and they get tired/demoralized because their goal is 3 plays. but having extra guys ready to sub in certainly foils my plan.

 

[NCDomer]

So I have a question/concern. This kid is a darn good player and so is a kid like Hounshell. We also have solid kids like Carrico and Springmann. I know some could move to offense but if i'm one of these kids seeing up to 6 guys for two positions I'm probably not too excited about it. From a fan standpoint and from a coach standpoint it is awesome to have depth like this but I wonder what goes through one of these kids minds seeing that you're probably not as good as Lynch or Tuitt and you will at best be a sub to give these guys rest and at worse never see the field.

Also a guy like Rabasa is a star in his own right but is already penciled in behind Ishaq at the Cat position. any chance he could mover over to ILB? It just feels like such a waste to have two studs projected at the same spot for ~4 years.

Having said all that, this is an awesome problem to have.

I'd like to think that these kids are smart enough to realize that they likely won't make it to the NFL. If you can't work your way onto the starting lineup in college (even on a good team), why would you think you'll be playing on Sundays? The only people who should even have a reasonable expectation of that are 5-star recruits, and we all know that doesn't happen. Thus, smart players decide to go to great academic schools (not all encourage the academic part as much for athletes) and apply themselves in the classroom. Even star athletes should go this route and consider their education an insurance policy.

With that said, our real rivals for these wise kids comes down to a few schools: Stanford, Cal, UCLA, USC, UM, UNC, and BC. These are the only ones with similar academics to help them if football doesn't pan out and have big enough football programs to ensure they're not undervalued when drafted. I like our chances.

 

[IrishLax]

Anyone with insight on how his visit might be going? I'm assuming he is in South Bend for only today and tomorrow. Really want this kid... 4* across the board with versatility and the frame to develop into an impact player at a number of positions.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Anyone with insight on how his visit might be going? I'm assuming he is in South Bend for only today and tomorrow. Really want this kid... 4* across the board with versatility and the frame to develop into an impact player at a number of positions.

The media can't talk to him until he leaves campus. He just got there last last night so it'd be impossible for anyone to know this early in his visit.

And anyways, he RARELY talks to the media so we won't hear anything from him most likely. He didn't say a word to SC's media after their visit, and he rarely if ever talks to ND's media.

I personally think he stays closer to home, but we'll see. He is an ND-type kid from what people say around here, but the pull to stay home is apparently great from family (but those are just rumors). We'll see...

 

[Ironman8]

The media can't talk to him until he leaves campus. He just got there last last night so it'd be impossible for anyone to know this early in his visit.

And anyways, he RARELY talks to the media so we won't hear anything from him most likely. He didn't say a word to SC's media after their visit, and he rarely if ever talks to ND's media.

I personally think he stays closer to home, but we'll see. He is an ND-type kid from what people say around here, but the pull to stay home is apparently great from family (but those are just rumors). We'll see...

I really think it would have been Stanford had he been accepted. I have no concrete basis for this but I just have a good feeling about him being Irish.

 

[SLCIRISH]

I believe SC has signed 2 or 3 jc linemen, who are already in school, if he goes there, I bet they redshirt him, maybe the same if he signs with ND.

 

[Irish4Life09]

Take this rumor for what it is.but I just got a twitter update from a notre dame fan saying Niklas won't be signing with the irish.but who knows.

 

[rocket31]

some guy was spamming DD this morning saying that niklas told the USC coaches last night, so who knows.....

 

[NDfanatic333]

Take this rumor for what it is.but I just got a twitter update from a notre dame fan saying Niklas won't be signing with the irish.but who knows.

I saw the same thing this morning.

ND Recruiting Guru (@RightKindaGuy) 2/1/11 10:29am: "4 star Troy Niklas will NOT be committing to #NotreDame."

 

[RyCo1983]

some guy was spamming DD this morning saying that niklas told the USC coaches last night, so who knows.....

Sounds like a Trojan fan being a douche to me haha...
Wait...aren't they all?

 

[SLCIRISH]

I watched a video awhile back on the Orange County Register, and he sounded like he was in love with the Kiffins.

 

[SLCIRISH]

Its old news but very enlightening....

 

[irishtrinity]

i saw a video saying he had a lot of ppl pushing for ND i hope he comes here.. usc is getting to mant good players

 

[irishtrinity]

Video: Troy Niklas discusses USC, Notre Dame - USC - The Orange County Register

check it out

 

[Irish2015]

any news on the eve of his decision?