'11 CA ATH George Atkinson III (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[NDinL.A.]

I expect GAIII to play as a special teamer this year or redshirt. If I had to guess I think Theo ends up returning punts this year with GAIII and Bennett Jackson returning kickoffs.

GAIII was recruited primarily as a slot receiver, right? Or am I mistaken there? With Theo Riddick entrenched there for two more years + Toma I would expect him to immediately get reps at RB with our severe lack of depth. Whether that sticks long term or not I do not know. I don't really expect DaVaris or George to be able to crack the WR rotation this year, but I could certainly see either or both of them being starters in 2012 if things go right.

Outside receiver, not a slot.

 

[IrishLax]

Outside receiver, not a slot.

That changes a lot, but I still think he is more likely in line for reps at RB if Roberson misses the season.

 

[Ironman8]

Per ISD there is a possibility GAIII moves to RB in wake of depth issues. ND coaches have broached subject w/ him. Full-time switch not out of realm of possibility.

 

[rtrn2glory]

i do not object to this at all.

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Get him up to or around 210 lbs and I think he's a great prospect at RB.

 

[TerryTate]

I'm bummed. Hope it's temporary.

 

[GBdomer]

i want to see him on the outside with Davaris.

 

[Domina Nostra]

In my opinion, George will definitely start his career at RB. We are desperate for depth there and he has the tools to make an excellent spread RB. Plus:

(1) Like Golden Tate, he has to learn both the WR position and the WR play book, so he would be limited in his ability to be a big impact WR as a freshman anyway.
(2) He will be able to run the "GO" whether or not he practices as a receiver.
(3) He won't lose too much ground in his WR development, since Kelly wants all RBs to run the basic routes anyway.

He and Riddick are going to be good friends; they will both be hybrids this year and run some wildcat.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I'm solidly with Terry on this. We only got two receivers for a receiver-rich system last year, and now we are going to shift one?? NERVOUS. I can see why Kelly might want to prep GAIII for a "just-in-case scenario", but as Terry said I really hope that this is temporary.

 

[ryno 24]

He will eventually be a wide receiver so this is not a big deal. Kelly needs to take care of depth issues first

 

[Riddickulous]

I'm bummed. Hope it's temporary.

This.

We need a burner in the receiving corps.

 

[Ironman8]

From Rival's on GAIII's possible position change:

When Notre Dame's freshman class arrives on campus in mid-June, the group figures to get lost a few times around campus. For George Atkinson III, finding his way inside the Irish football program might include a change of position.

Instead of sitting down with Tony Alford to talk about the finer points of route running, the four-star athlete from Livermore, Calif., might be breaking down blitz pick up with Tim Hinton.

After being recruited as a wide receiver by Notre Dame for nearly a year, then signing with the Irish as an heir apparent to Michael Floyd, Atkinson will show up in South Bend on June 19 with the very real possibility of being a running back. West Coast recruiter Mike Denbrock broke that news to Atkinson during a recent recruiting trip to California.

"I think there's a good possibility I'll move to running back," Atkinson said. "I'm going to be ready for that too. I've been doing some running back drills, change of direction stuff. I'm used to it. I'm more comfortable at running back because I played it in high school.

"I kind of saw this coming with their running back situation."

Atkinson averaged 9.7 yards per carry last season, rushing for 1,669 yards and 17 touchdowns to go with 27 catches for 678 yards and six scores. He admitted that moving to the offensive backfield was a shorter path to playing time in South Bend with Cam Roberson almost certainly out for the year with multiple ligament damage, suffered during spring ball.

That leaves the Irish with two scholarship tailbacks in Cierre Wood and Jonas Gray.

"I definitely can't wait to find out what position I'll be playing, what position I'll be competing at," Atkinson said. "I've been conditioning like a receiver, working on getting out of my breaks faster, but I can gain weight for running back too."

Atkinson said he's up to 196 pounds and hopes to hit 205 before he arrives. The former U.S. Army All-American plans to wear No. 4 or No. 8, with his twin brother Josh Atkinson set for No. 43. The pair has been following Paul Longo's strength and conditioning program all off-season, with the past month including 350-yard sprints. The reps started with three 350-yard sprints with a three-minute break between each one. Each sprint had to be completed in 55 seconds. Now the Atkinsons are working on five 350-yard sprints in the same time with the same breaks.

"You need a little bit more of a break I think," Atkinson laughed. "The first time I did the three, I did it, but I was huffing and puffing. I couldn't make the fifth one the first time, my last one was like 56 seconds."

Atkinson said he's kept in touch with teammates in his class, notably Stephon Tuitt. Previews of life as a Notre Dame student-athlete have made it to California from the early enrollees with promises that the academic prestige will test the incoming freshmen, although the gear from the football program is a nice perk.

It's tough for Atkinson to believe his college career is barely a month away and he called it a "dream" to finally be moving on after signing with Notre Dame over offers from USC, Miami, Alabama and Oregon. He doesn't expect that he'll be the last top prospect from California to call South Bend home, with Tee Shepard already in the commitment column and Deontay Greenberry potentially next.

"A year from now everybody's going to want to come," Atkinson said. "Everybody in this class is coming in with that mindset, we're going to go to the BCS or a national championship. If anybody thinks less, they don't need to be out there, you know what I'm saying? That's everybody's goal."

 

[koonja]

I love the selfless attitude and that he's willing to sacrifice one year of reps at WR to help this year with the depth at RB. I can't imagine it's permanent either. I don't think BK's looking for 6'2" runningbacks.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I understand the need, but I won't be happy about the switch if and when it happens.

As OMM and Riddickulous alluded to, WRs are critical to Kelly's spread, and we need GAIII's speed at the X.

I hope he doesn't suffer the same stuttered development that Riddick endured.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Thanks for the read Ironman

i like the move personally...as a freshman WR his contribution would be minimal at best. maybe 20 catches a few TD's and then KOR duties possibly. At RB he could come in more comfortable with the position and ready to contribute with less mental haul besides blitz pick up and other basics...this will allow him to play fast and potentially crack the 3 deep. Plus it gives Cam Mac and Gray some competition for the #2 and 3 spots. Before yesterday they were walking in knowing they were no lower than 3 on the depth chart, now they got a little work cut out for them.

Would have REALLY been nice of George and Josh made it in for spring ball, but it is what it is.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I don't think people need to stress out about him being moved to RB. This reminds me a lot of Greg Little. Remember he was brought in as an Athlete/WR, begin his frosh season as a WR, but out of need moved to RB and started. So I could def see that happening here, which is cool. You have to get your best athletes on the field at the same time.

 

[jason_h537]

We are scary thin at TB and Jonas has been on and off his entire career. Cierre can only take so many carries and McDaniel is not the answer (he should redshirt). GA3 played RB in high school. Let him take a few carries there. We have him for 4 years, he can move outside later if needed.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

We are scary thin at TB and Jonas has been on and off his entire career. Cierre can only take so many carries and McDaniel is not the answer (he should redshirt). GA3 played RB in high school. Let him take a few carries there. We have him for 4 years, he can move outside later if needed.

Couldn't have said it better myself...

GA3 will be a perfect RB for the no back formations.

He'll move outside after this year.

 

[rtrn2glory]

We are scary thin at TB and Jonas has been on and off his entire career. Cierre can only take so many carries and McDaniel is not the answer (he should redshirt). GA3 played RB in high school. Let him take a few carries there. We have him for 4 years, he can move outside later if needed.

should redshirt, but he will probably be forced into action as well due to depth or a guy or two getting banged up...sad thing is even with GA3 in there we're still scary thin at RB.

 

[gmnysdad]

I actuallt think he will see a lot of reps at RB this year. I also believe that DaVaris get to play a lot. I just feel that our receiving corp lacks that explosiveness, and think that those 2 can provide immediate help.

 

[rtrn2glory]

plus with all of the empty sets we want to run it will allow George to take reps at receiver as well.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

I definitely see him being used in the two back formations with Cierre with one on either side of the QB. This would allow Theo to remain in the slot and be a threat for the quick pass off the play fake.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I definitely see him being used in the two back formations with Cierre with one on either side of the QB. This would allow Theo to remain in the slot and be a threat for the quick pass off the play fake.

And if you have Golson or Hendrix in the game we run that little fake zone read and hit Theo up the hash wide open that scUM ran against us after Rees threw that pick on the flea flicker...that was a nice play and it was wide frickin open.

 

[Veer option]

I think GA III getting some reps at RB will be good for the offense. Also with his height and speed he could be a little tricky for a LB to cover on the swing or shovel passes.

 

[BGIF]

I think GA III getting some reps at RB will be good for the offense. Also with his height and speed he could be a little tricky for a LB to cover on the swing or shovel passes.

He also can line up on one play as a RB and the next as WR. With Eifert at TE and Atkinson at RB, and 3 WRs (Floyd, Jones, Riddick) on the field, ND actually has 5 Wides on the field. Typically a defense shuttles in Nickel and Dime defenders to counter when an Offense makes substitutions. They won't have that opportunity if Atkinson's already in the game at RB than comes out of the huddle in a wide set.

He won't be a polished receiver obviously but split him wide and think of Tate as a freshman. Fly to the goal line.

I also like splitting him and Eifert wide or sending him in motion toward Eifert wide. Hit Atkinson and left Eifert do the blocking or pump fake to Atkinson and then hit Eifert after he's "missed" his block.

 

[Veer option]

He also can line up on one play as a RB and the next as WR. With Eifert at TE and Atkinson at RB, and 3 WRs (Floyd, Jones, Riddick) on the field, ND actually has 5 Wides on the field. Typically a defense shuttles in Nickel and Dime defenders to counter when an Offense makes substitutions. They won't have that opportunity if Atkinson's already in the game at RB than comes out of the huddle in a wide set.

He won't be a polished receiver obviously but split him wide and think of Tate as a freshman. Fly to the goal line.

I also like splitting him and Eifert wide or sending him in motion toward Eifert wide. Hit Atkinson and left Eifert do the blocking or pump fake to Atkinson and then hit Eifert after he's "missed" his block.

Oregon does the same thing with Lamichael James, it has worked out quite well for them.

 

[johnnykillz]

He also can line up on one play as a RB and the next as WR. With Eifert at TE and Atkinson at RB, and 3 WRs (Floyd, Jones, Riddick) on the field, ND actually has 5 Wides on the field. Typically a defense shuttles in Nickel and Dime defenders to counter when an Offense makes substitutions. They won't have that opportunity if Atkinson's already in the game at RB than comes out of the huddle in a wide set.

He won't be a polished receiver obviously but split him wide and think of Tate as a freshman. Fly to the goal line.

I also like splitting him and Eifert wide or sending him in motion toward Eifert wide. Hit Atkinson and left Eifert do the blocking or pump fake to Atkinson and then hit Eifert after he's "missed" his block.

Nice call BGIF.

Troublesome offense to plan for given those circumstances.

Sounds like our opponents better have HIGHLY athletic LBs.

 

[neoroks32]

honestly i rather see him at safety because thats where he was lights out during the under armor all american game i think

 

[BGIF]

honestly i rather see him at safety because thats where he was lights out during the under armor all american game i think

A valid point but apparently Kelly's assessment of TEAM needs has RB, at least for now, as the immediate need.

 

[Rhode Irish]

The last few comments on this thread highlight the value and luxury of having an athlete like GAIII that can do a number of things for you, depending on your needs. Where ever he ends up, I'm pretty optimistic that he will be put in a position that he can handle and will therefore excel.