Best Bets to Sign for 2012

TerryTate

TerryTate

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Freebie on ISD:

Best Bets to Sign with ND

It's very early in the 2012 recruiting process. Numerous new names emerged during the past several days, as ISD reporters discussed the most recent offers being sent to top prospects across the United States. Here are a few names from the list that I believe Notre Dame will be involved with until the end and also a good bet to sign with Notre Dame.

Several more recruits could be added to this list, but I will defer until early June to do a broad-based list of best bets (just not enough information yet, i.e. grades, distance from home concerns, and a preference for Notre Dame are not yet known for several recruits).

Gunner Kiel, QB, 6-4, 205, Columbus, Ind. (East) -- A Notre Dame family legacy recruit (Blair), Kiel earned an offer from Notre Dame and was one of the first signal callers from the class of 2012 to receive such a distinction from the Irish coaching staff. Notre Dame should be considered the favorite, regardless of what Kiel states publicly. Yes, I know, it's very possible that this young man desires to blaze his own path. When that happens I will accept defeat. Until that time I expect Kiel to sign with Notre Dame.

Keith Marshall, RB, 5-11, 190, Raleigh, N.C. (Millbrook) -- One of the most explosive players in the country, Marshall also possesses the academics to pick his school based his efforts inside the classroom. Georgia and Notre Dame are allegedly the front runners for Marshall's signature. With the Bulldogs signing Isaiah Crowell this past signing day, that provides Notre Dame the edge for playing time. I am not nearly as confident that Marshall signs with Notre Dame as Kiel, but I truly like Notre Dame's chances here.

Amara Darboh, WR, 6-2, 190, West Des Moines, Iowa (Dowling Catholic) -- Darboh is no stranger to Notre Dame and plans to take another unofficial visit this spring. His ability to make plays after the catch make him an excellent fit for the Irish offense. Iowa should be the team to watch, but the Hawkeyes will likely slip a little this next season with so many excellent players leaving from this past year's team. That should help Notre Dame to sign Darboh.

Tee Shepard, CB, 6-1, Fresno, Calif. (Central East) -- Notre Dame earned the early lead for Shepard's services, but I sense numerous twists and turns to come about during Shepard's recruitment. Further, I would not be surprised if this young man eventually struggles with the concept of leaving home as compared to playing for the Irish. Yes, that means there could be multiple commitments. It's a guess on my part, but distance from home usually begins such a situation for Notre Dame recruiting.

Ronald Darby, ATH, 5-11, 175, Oxon Hill, Md. (Potomac) -- Notre Dame needs a game breaker for the slot and at running back, but Darby could also be a game breaker at cornerback. Where will he play? Who cares. Just sign him! Great talent that Notre Dame appears to be in good shape with early. Watch out for Virginia if he does not end up in South Bend, Ind.

Note: As a rule, offensive linemen generally commit early. Notre Dame offered several offensive linemen to date, but it's really hard to say which ones will be most likely to commit to the Irish. You can bet your bottom dollar that at least one of the first five verbal commitments will be an offensive lineman, however, and two or three of the first five would not be surprising. Look for several more offers to players from various positions that come to the Notre Dame junior day as well. Since the majority of the players attending will be from the Midwest, a few commitments should be expected within one to two weeks of the event.
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B

BGIF

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I've known Brian Smith for 15 years but I don't know how accurate his predictions have been. Nice nucleus. Now for a brace of OTs.
 
J

johnnykillz

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Wow. I'm excited now. Again. No rest for the recruitniks...
 
N

nsisk157

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I like...

I like...

...what I've seen so far, in terms of 2012's predictions. Right now, since it's very early, I am focused on a pipe dream. Maybe someone with better knowledge than I can shed some light ...

what are the chances of landing Dorial Greene-Beckham?

I remember reading that Oklahoma is the early favorite, but what is that based on?

Quoted? Proximity to Okla? etc?

I think this kid is the Big Fish...
 
IrishLax

IrishLax

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In my opinion, for this class we need elite offensive playmakers more than anything. It's great to see we're in good position for a guy like Marshall and I'm intrigued to see how things turn out at QB and with guys like Green-Beckham. I will be incredibly stoked if we can add 2 top ten WRs to go along with a top five RB and QB.

Of all the offensive positions, the one I am least concerned about is QB where we should have pretty good depth going forward and have a host of talented QB prospects as potential gets in this class. The fact that we haven't even offerred a guy like Zeke Pike really says the staff feels comfortable about where we stand with other recruits at the moment.
 
rikkitikki08

rikkitikki08

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Sweet zues beard if we do indeed land Keith Marshall then this might be the greatest group of recruiters ever.
 
Irish Man3

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Very nice list. ND could really put themselves in good position with these guys and more elite talent with a solid season on the field. One guy I heard a lot about early that I thought we were in good shape for was Noah Spence.

This seems a little more of a wish list than anything else. It should be exciting to see what the staff does with limited numbers this year. Florida only signed 17 or 18 this year and managed a top 10 class (ESPN). I hope ND can follow in similar rankings with what looks to be about 20 spots this year.
 
ACamp1900

ACamp1900

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IrishLax said:
In my opinion, for this class we need elite offensive playmakers more than anything. It's great to see we're in good position for a guy like Marshall and I'm intrigued to see how things turn out at QB and with guys like Green-Beckham. I will be incredibly stoked if we can add 2 top ten WRs to go along with a top five RB and QB.

Of all the offensive positions, the one I am least concerned about is QB where we should have pretty good depth going forward and have a host of talented QB prospects as potential gets in this class. The fact that we haven't even offerred a guy like Zeke Pike really says the staff feels comfortable about where we stand with other recruits at the moment.
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sounds like THE GUY of this upsoming class... I read somewhere that we may be in a good spot with him also... he's friends with Zeke Motta
 
IrishInFl

IrishInFl

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I'd like to add Noah Spence to the list, but that almost seems greedy with the pass rushing talent we just got. 22 sacks is pretty good.
 
Old Man Mike

Old Man Mike

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NOSE TACKLE: Coach Kelly!! Take two and call me in the morning...both of us will be better.
 
GoldenIsThyFame

GoldenIsThyFame

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Brian I now expect these predictions to occur. Thank you for planting the seed in my brain.
 
jason_h537

jason_h537

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Tee Shepard and Keith Marshall would be huge pick ups and i really want both in this class. Don't know much about Darboh yet.

I really like Gunner but i wonder how he would fit into Kelly's system. He is more in the mold of a Dayne Crist. Big kid, Strong arm, who can move but is not gonna be a game changer with his legs.
 
aubeirish

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The thing about Kelly is that he adjusts to the type of quarterback he has. Not one style is necessary to play for him.
 
Old Man Mike

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You know my prejudices: start in the front and start in the middle. I'd like Schutt AND either Goldman or Boyette. It was really nice to have Ian and Sean with Hafis backing up, and it will be really nice to have Sean and Louis with Hafis backing up to anchor the D. Tommy Schutt should not be our only guy at NT. Give him a big mean root-hog buddy to alternate with, and no one will test our middle.

Also, I recall the words of that article about "bag men". The source was asked what position tended to have the most instances of illegal bag-men activities. He said: Oh, easy---Defensive line. Everyone knows that these guys are the rarest and the most important to grab. Well, we grabbed the ends this year; we need to grab the middle next year.

Regarding the O-Line, we seem to have the tackles figured out [though you have to keep getting the big boys]. A lot of the getting-of-guards seems simpler in this modern spread---sometimes just moving a high school tackle with great strength but less foot-quickness over there. But I'm still looking for Jeff Faine or Maurkice Pouncey. Where's my killer center to replace Braxton?? [he'll be just fine as long as we've got him---overwhelming power and a bad attitude]. Maybe Nick Martin can do it, but how about a center "on purpose" in the recruiting?? Doesn't absolutely have to have played there in HS, just that Geniuses Kelly and Warriner see him there.
 
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