'12 PA DE Noah Spence (Ohio State Verbal)

[beryirish]

Noah Spence has good visit to Penn State - ESPN


This is up on ESPN. I am not an insider

Says he had a great trip to Penn State. Father said the visit "couldn't have gone any better". He will make his decision around the Under Armour All-American Game.

In addition: Noah and his dad have built a great relationship with his recruiter, Larry Johnson. His dad, Greg, says that he is comfortable handing over his son to him knowing he will be in good hands should he chose to go to PSU.

PSU will likely get one of his officials. His school plays their games on Saturday mornings so when they have their away games on Friday's he will pick those weeks for officials as well as December and January for the remainder.

Also, if it hasn't been states already, his dad played football at NC State and he has been taking Noah there ever since he was 10 years old.

 

[NDdomer2]

In addition: Noah and his dad have built a great relationship with his recruiter, Larry Johnson. His dad, Greg, says that he is comfortable handing over his son to him knowing he will be in good hands should he chose to go to PSU.

Isn't this similar to Ishaq?

 

[beryirish]

Isn't this similar to Ishaq?

Considering the outcome of Ishaq -- it would be nice.

 

[irishandy]

Calling Dr. Diaco for a 4:30 am visit to the Spence's home.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

I can't understand why anyone would ever want to play at State Penn. Their coach is a second mascot who doesn't have any idea who these kids are and their schedule is pathetic.

 

[magogian]

Calling Dr. Diaco for a 4:30 am visit to the Spence's home.

Did something just happen to prompt this?

 

[Buster Bluth]

I can't understand why anyone would ever want to play at State Penn. Their coach is a second mascot who doesn't have any idea who these kids are and their schedule is pathetic.

I'm sure someone named "Ultimate Penn St. Hater" is the unbiased fountain of knowledge when it comes to the Nittany Lions.

Like it or not they are on the lower end of being elite but are still in that discussion.

 

[koonja]

No Access

Anyone?

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

No Access

Anyone?

Says he likes the education ND offers. Interestingly enough, he mentions if he came to ND he would be playing OLB.

USC is after him hard.

 

[beryirish]

Says he likes the education ND offers. Interestingly enough, he mentions if he came to ND he would be playing OLB.

USC is after him hard.

I just don't see that coming to fruition.

 

[NYIrish14]

Says he likes the education ND offers. Interestingly enough, he mentions if he came to ND he would be playing OLB.

USC is after him hard.

Honestly I kind of figured that we were recruiting him as an OLB. He has Florida in his top 7 as well and their installing a 3-4. Just don't see him having the frame for a DE in Diaco's 3-4.

 

[Ricochet]

Well in past interviews he's said that ND is recruiting him as a DE.

Those same interviews he's said he want nothing to do with being a 3-4 OLB so the only thing I can think of is that he's had a change of heart and came to the conclusion that whether he's a 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB that his game isn't going to be all that different as he's going to be a rusher off the edge one way or the other.

 

[irishandy]

Let's win some games and keep recruiting this kid hard.

 

[jason_h537]

ND wants him at OLB. He fits the profile for what they like in a Cat OLB.

 

[Ricochet]

ND wants him at OLB. He fits the profile for what they like in a Cat OLB.

As I said before something has changed because Spence in the past said himself that they are recruiting him as a DE.

Like Aaron Lynch I think he could get there are he's already in 250+ and looks like he can add another 25 to 30 lbs if needed without losing his athleticism.

That said I agree that he projects better as Cat OLB.

A future rotation of Ishaq and Spence at the CAT OLB spot would be awesome and no I didn't forget about Prince btw, I have a bold prediction that when it's all said and done that he's going to end up as the Mike LB and be Te'o's replacement.

 

[jason_h537]

As I said before something has changed because Spence in the past said himself that they are recruiting him as a DE.

I heard posters say this but he was originally recruited at OLB, and his most recent article, he says OLB. Maybe that changed at some point but my understanding was he was always viewed as an OLB

 

[Ricochet]

I heard posters say this but he was originally recruited at OLB, and his most recent article, he says OLB. Maybe that changed at some point but my understanding was he was always viewed as an OLB

The assumption early on was that he was a OLB target for ND but that was from a fans and the guys that run the pay sites and sites like Irish Envy.

However when he spoke about his recruitment in late winter/early spring he said himself that he had no interest in playing OLB in a 3-4 system and that they were recruiting him as DE.

I know that the latest article from isd or blue&gold had him saying that ND was recruiting him as a OLB so I do believe that but from what he said before something must have changed.

I would rather have him as a Cat OLB than as a DE.

The ND staff must of convinced him that in there 3-4 the Cat OLB is more or less the same as a Rush DE in the 4-3.

 

[johnsben]

Is Spence being recruited by Diaco? If he is, I see him being just like Ishaq was last year. Near the beginning of the season no one really thought we had a chance with Ishaq. We thought we were in his top 5-7 teams as lip service only (same as Spence this year). I think the longer this recruitment goes the better for the Irish. Spence will have a lot to think about when Diaco gives him a call after Notre Dame wins a BCS game with a nationally top 10 defense.

 

[irish4ever]

Wouldn't that be sweet IF the Irish could get Spence to commit? Talking about blown head gaskets; those PSU fans would be totaly distraught! LOL!!!

 

[Riddickulous]

Wouldn't that be sweet IF the Irish could get Spence to commit? Talking about blown head gaskets; those PSU fans would be totaly distraught! LOL!!!

"Diacooooooooooooooo!"

 

[rtrn2glory]

idk why he wouldn't want to be recruited at OLB...if he has any aspirations about going to the NFL playing the Cat will only help his stock, if he's as good as we think he is. with the d line we're starting to pull in this year and last, you'd be mislead to not give us a look realizing you're probably going to be blocked one on one for at least 3 years.

 

[johnsben]

With Kelly's philosophy on recruiting, it doesn't seem like they would pigeon hole him as either a DE or OLB. Sign him and then figure out what's his best position when he gets to ND. His body might decide it for him anyways. If he says he only wants to play DE then Kelly should tell him that he'll give him every opportunity to play DE (and follow through with it). But Spence has got to realize that his body and athletic ability is really what is going to determine his position.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

With Kelly's philosophy on recruiting, it doesn't seem like they would pigeon hole him as either a DE or OLB. Sign him and then figure out what's his best position when he gets to ND. His body might decide it for him anyways. If he says he only wants to play DE then Kelly should tell him that he'll give him every opportunity to play DE (and follow through with it). But Spence has got to realize that his body and athletic ability is really what is going to determine his position.

I agree with this but I would like to note that if Spence is 245 right now then he is likely to outgrow the LB position pretty quickly. Te'o is about as big a linebacker as you can find in the college game (at 255 lbs.) and he weighed in at 225 when being recruited. Obviously, everybody is different in how they grow and develop but if Spence prefers DE then recruit him there, let him start working at that position and see what happens.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I agree with this but I would like to note that if Spence is 245 right now then he is likely to outgrow the LB position pretty quickly. Te'o is about as big a linebacker as you can find in the college game (at 255 lbs.) and he weighed in at 225 when being recruited. Obviously, everybody is different in how they grow and develop but if Spence prefers DE then recruit him there, let him start working at that position and see what happens.

Ishaq is 6'5'' 255 lbs and Niklas is 6'6.5'' 250 lbs. Both have the frame to put on more weight and play DE, but the staff likes them at OLB, so they're keeping them lighter and faster. There's no reason to believe they couldn't do the same with Spence.

 

[GoldenDomer87]

I think we just need to get the kid to sign with us. Then we can worry about where he plays. Hopefully, Jones is in ear about ND and coming here.

 

[Irishman77]

Had a dream a while back that he committed to us in November. November 14th to be exact. I am truly a sick man.

 

[BGIF]

Rankings

Rankings

Rivals dropped him 3 National Slots to 16.
ESPN raised him 1 Position Slot, #16 National up from #32, Rating raised to 98

 

[Ricochet]

There is no question that he could play DE in 3-4 in college at around 275 with his speed and strength but he's ideally suited to being a 3-4 Cat OLB in ND defense IMO.

What people fail to remember is that not all 3-4 defenses are the same and Kelly & Co. is about adaptation, speed and athleticism and the Cat OLB in this system would more or less be no different than being an DE in a 4-3 as the majority of the time.

IMO Spence is the only OLB target that would be an instant impact LB in this class. I have high hopes for David Perkins but he doesn't fit the mold of a 3-4 OLB and he doesn't have the length, height or size to be 255+ and while I think his future is extremely bright it will be undefined at the LB early on.

Romeo has uber upside from a physical stand point and there is no question that he's a Cat OLB but he's extremely raw and very, very young. I expect him to sit his 1st year, then special teams and then as he becomes an upperclassmen will become part of a rotation at the Cat OLB position.

 

[rtrn2glory]

i wouldn't elimiate odenigbo as being an instant impact...yes he's very raw, but with his speed and athleticism he would be a dangerous addition off the edge in a similar role as ishaq this year, and a beast on specialities.

 

[ShakeDown]

What people fail to remember is that not all 3-4 defenses are the same and Kelly & Co. is about adaptation, speed and athleticism and the Cat OLB in this system would more or less be no different than being an DE in a 4-3 as the majority of the time.

Agree 100%.

There are two major variations in the 3-4 scheme, depending on philosophy. The first is the **** LeBeau style 3-4, with players like James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley playing the OLB positions/DE hybrid roles, where more likely than not they are getting after the QB on passing downs. The second is a more pass coverage oriented philosophy. Of course, there are tons of ways coaches tweak the 3-4. It is really rough to say, "I don't want to play OLB in a 3-4" because honestly, depending on how it's coached, there is huge variation in what your job will be.

I haven't read through the entire thread, just bits here and there, but I assume that Noah wants to put his hand in the ground and get after the qb as opposed to dropping back into coverage? I assume that's his aversion to the 3-4. Well at the Cat, I believe we can do that for you Mr. Spence.