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

[IrishBlood81]

Take from USC? Troy was committed to SC?

 

[BeauBenken]

No, I think it's more just, we beat them out for Troy.

 

[Veer option]

I am happy about this snag.

 

[irishff1014]

I can't wait to get his letter but untill we do we need to not get our hopes up.

 

[IrishBlood81]

I can't wait to get his letter but untill we do we need to not get our hopes up.

I thought we already had it?

 

[BeauBenken]

We do...

 

[IrishBlood81]

We do...

Yup! Don't know what he was sayin' but we do!

Faxes in: Tuitt official, Niklas (too), Rabasa, and Atkinson | Inside the Irish

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

What a great day for our Irish! Congrats Troy!

 

[irishff1014]

I meant ot say that we had it but he wasn't going to announce untill later. I am at work and was tryingto do to many things at once sorry guys. Glad that he is on board.

 

[RyCo1983]

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slept in on a snow day to some very heartwarming news!

 

[IrishBlood81]

I meant ot say that we had it but he wasn't going to announce untill later. I am at work and was tryingto do to many things at once sorry guys. Glad that he is on board.

Alls forgiven! Hes on board and we're cool! #GoIrish

 

[irishandy]

Welcome to the ND family Troy!! What a nice surprise. Anytime ND can take a recruit away from USC that is fantastic; great news!!

 

[A Pac]

Welcome to Irish Nation Troy! What a way to put a stamp on this great recruiting class!

 

[rikkitikki08]

Quote Mike Denbrock:" I think it was important for Notre Dame to re-establish itself in the catholic high schools of Southern California. There is not a better poster child for a Notre Dame player than Troy Niklas and turned into a perfect fit. It is also nice to best USC in anything."

Best line ever

 

[IrishBlood81]

Quote Mike Denbrock:" I think it was important for Notre Dame to re-establish itself in the catholic high schools of Southern California. There is not a better poster child for a Notre Dame player than Troy Niklas and turned into a perfect fit. It is also nice to best USC in anything."

Best line ever

haha so true!!


So are we recruiting Niklas as a OT?

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

I am very pleasantly surprised by this! Welcome aboard Troy!!

 

[bert2834]

Welcome to the team Troy!

A very welcome surprise!

 

[zbikowski88]

Congrats to Troy, does this mean we have a better chance with Joe Schmidt as a walk on?

 

[TDHeysus]

congrats Troy on a great life decision

 

[The Polish Irishman]

South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football recruiting: Irish stacked up well for Niklas

Notre Dame football recruiting: Irish stacked up well for Niklas
By JIM MEENAN
Tribune Staff Writer

Five factors were assessed by Anaheim Servite's Troy Niklas as the California lineman made his final decision on college.

How Notre Dame fared there played a major role in his deciding to be Irish. So were the thoughts of Niklas' confidant and weightlifting coach, Scot Prohaska.

And of course, the thoughts of his parents.

But there was one other guy who was also in the picture and played a major role — Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o.

“He definitely inspired me to go to Notre Dame,” Niklas said Wednesday. “I had a couple really good talks with him. And he kind of explained to me some pretty eye-opening things.

“He was very honest with me about Notre Dame and what it had to offer, what it didn't have to offer, and how it's not going to be easy.”

Niklas came to his decision Monday evening, his father, Don, said.

Father and son went over categories such as academics, athletics, coaching staff and players, spiritual life of athletes and the campus, and connections after he graduates.

“Notre Dame did a good job of picking off all the subsets within those categories,” Don said.

In the end, the fact that Notre Dame, a Catholic school, matched up well with Servite, also a Catholic school, was huge.

“I liked the fact that it was a Catholic school, the Catholic virtues, even though I am not Catholic,” Troy Niklas said. “The virtues are right on.

“I felt like it was the best fit for me. I could go away to school and become my own man. Just the people there, the education.”

His visit, last weekend, also helped sell him.

“It went really well,” Niklas said. “I got to talk to the coaches and really kind of bond with the players.

“I had a really good feeling about how I could just fit right in with all these guys, and they would take care of me and I would take care of them.

“That's the kind of stuff we do at Servite. That was pretty much a big deciding factor right there, too.”

Still, even his dad was surprised at his choice. USC had been a dream of his son's since he attended a camp there his sophomore year, Don said. And USC coaches, he added, did a great job recruiting him.

But Don also cited the similarities of Notre Dame and Servite, comparing the Priory system at Servite, where the students are divided into eight groups, and Notre Dame's dorms.

Troy Niklas serves as a prior, or leader of one of those groups of 112 students.

Notre Dame is getting a special talent, with great character, Servite coach Troy Thomas said.

Thomas said Niklas has played offensive tackle, tight end, defensive end, nose guard and defensive tackle at Servite, sacrificing the perfecting of technique in the process.

“Offensively, he has a huge growth potential,” Thomas said. “He is pretty much a raw athlete running around that likes to hit people.

“He has not played a lot of offensive line. He's very athletic, very fast, loves contact, loves trapping and pulling.”

He came to Servite known more for his basketball skills, and starts on the varsity.

“I think he's real got soft hands,” Thomas said. “He could really grow into (tight end), too.

“Defensively, he's got those long arms and uses them well. He's got a lot of strength and power behind that body, and he has worked hard in the weight room and is a very tough kid. He just exudes football.”

He played hurt, too, though a concussion his junior year cost him major playing time.

According to Thomas, doctors said then he may have had other concussions in the past.

“He made it through this year with no problems,” Thomas said. “I don't foresee it being an issue at all.

“Notre Dame is getting a great kid, very highly motivated, that has a huge upside to him no matter where they play him.”

 

[BGIF]

South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football recruiting: Irish stacked up well for Niklas

WOW!

Informative piece. Thanks TPI!

But there was one other guy who was also in the picture and played a major role — Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o.

“He definitely inspired me to go to Notre Dame,” Niklas said Wednesday. “I had a couple really good talks with him. And he kind of explained to me some pretty eye-opening things.

“He was very honest with me about Notre Dame and what it had to offer, what it didn't have to offer, and how it's not going to be easy.”

This is Notre Dame.


And for those fans still concerned about Te'o going on a mission. He IS on a mission. Every day. Every way.

 

[JDAtlanta]

You're right

You're right

WOW!

Informative piece. Thanks TPI!








This is Notre Dame.


And for those fans still concerned about Te'o going on a mission. He IS on a mission. Every day. Every way.

What a great kid!

 

[Ironman8]

Link to a Scout video on his decision:

Scout.com: Niklas Talks Irish

I really think in a couple of years this kid is going to be a stud OT for us.

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

I'm liking that ESPN still has him as a TE so his "stock" and rating are lower.. they had a little bit of time to, you know, recognize he's not going to be playing TE at the next level.. Nevertheless, I love Niklas as a prospect.. if he can put on around 30-40 pounds (like 15 or so muscle) I think he's going to be a nice player.. very excited about him being on the OL (hopefully) because if he's on the defensive side of the ball he might not reach his true potential with all the depth and remarkably skilled players we have on the DL

 

[irishff1014]

I do believe he is a gamer.

 

[koonja]

Has the coaching staff said whether or not he wants to play DE or O-line? Or which they want him to play?

 

[Ironman8]

Awesome video blog of his whole signing day. Really gives great insight into what a great kid Niklas really is. Excited to have him.

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[JughedJones]

Has the coaching staff said whether or not he wants to play DE or O-line? Or which they want him to play?

BK was pretty definite at the presser when he said that Troy will be on D for at least the foreseeable future.

 

[TerryTate]

The great thing about Kelly was that he often referred to Carrico, Springmann, Hounshell, and Niklas in the same sentiment. They are big athletic guys that will find the spot where they can get on the field the fastest. They will get their shot at DE and then the staff will develop the players at their respective positions once they've been established. They won't wither away on the depth chart, that's one thing I'm confident in.

 

[BeauBenken]

Ironman, NICE find!