'12 IN QB Gunner Kiel (Cincinnati Transfer)

[TerryTate]

I was told and even read somewhere that we indeed stayed in contact with Gunner. As did other teams. I will try to find it, but I remember Kiel mentioning contact from coaches in an interview following his decommitment. To answer your question of how do I know that "we are all in"?, what other QB is the staff recruiting? The answer is none. We are passing on QB's unless we get Gunner. If we were still pursuing other guys, then I would question it, but we are not. Hence, we are all in.



It has been posted on many boards and blogs that Kelly is personally recruiting Gunner. Eric Hansen (ie paid writer) also stated this in his chat as well.



boom

I guess this is an interpretation of "all in." When I hear "all in," I think Teo. Just because we're not recruiting another QB does not mean we're "all in." Regardless, I am not sure why this is such a big topic. I don't think QB is a necessity. I think the staff is content with Golson/Hendrix/Rees. I think they would happily take Gunner if he decided to commit. Especially because it would help with filling out the rest of the class.

I haven't seen Hansen make the Kelly recruiting a bullet point in some time.

You're referencing this on 11/10:

12:01


Comment From Nashville Bob...
Eric, What is the latest on Filer? Heard he was done for the year....who is our NEXT MAN IN? ISHAQ?....Also any news on Gunner Kiel? Keep up the good work!
12:04


Eric Hansen:
Hi Bob
Filer played some defensive end against Navy and was in the interview room last night talking to reporters, so he's in play. Ishaq hasn't played as much lately -- because of tight games and.or the option. Darius Fleming has been on the field a lot. If the Maryland game is lopsided early, he'll get some opportunities. As far as Kiel, now that he's in play, Brian Kelly is personally handling his recruitment.

From 11/14:

Comment From Mark from Springfield
Eric: Always love the chats. Your coverage of ND is without peer. How are things looking with Kiel?
1:42


Eric Hansen:
Mark, Columbus East plays Cathedral Friday in the semistate of Class 4A. If they win, they'll be in the state finals next weekend. As soon as East's playoff run ends, I think the Kiel situation will become clear. Analyst Tom Lemming things ND has as good as shot as anyone.
1:46


Comment From Guest
Luis (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) - Hi Eric, love your chats! I was wondering if the Gunner Kiel to ND rumor as an early enrollee has been confirmed? All this "non-story-quietness" makes me suspect that he's already decided to enroll at ND in January, and that he's already give rights to one or several journalists to break the story once he enrolls. What are your thoughts?
1:48


Eric Hansen:
Hey Luis, Gracias, buddy. Gunner Kiel's intention -- wherever he ends up -- is to enroll early and participate in spring practice. As far as the rest of our question/theory -- if that's the case, it's definitely not me.

TIFWIW, but I still think the staff has higher priorities. I also don't think Gunner is as much of a "lock" as some of you guys think

 

[Dacian_Irish]

Why do some say that QB is not a priority in this class but if you look we have threads about how Tommy is not the future? The other QB's on the roster are unproven also!

I say QB should be a priority every class, especially now with all the unknowns.

How good is Rees gonna be without Floyd next year.... and possibly Eifert?

 

[IrishLax]

Golson is being redshirted for a reason. I think he is the future - starting with next year.

Staff wasn't even looking until Gunner's recruitment kind of landed in their lap.

Anyways, Gunner is looking all over. Doesn't seem like he's set on ND by any means.

If he goes elsewhere, it wouldn't be Kelly's fault either

Give me a break, TT! A 5'10" 3 QB with accuracy issues is "the future" yet he's running scout team? He's redshirting because he's the youngest QB with (presumably) the least grasp of the playbook between him, Tommy, Dayne, and Andrew. He's the only QB of the 4 who can't help us win right now... and therefor isn't even running our offense in practice.

If Gunner does go elsewhere it is going to be at least mostly on Kelly for not recruiting him hard enough/the right way. There can be a lot of other complicating factors, but the bottom line is Kiel SHOULD be a priority because he will greatly help in landing Nelson Agholor, etc. Kelly would have to be blind to not see that.

If you take Gunner the worst thing that can happen is you take one less "filler" piece this year or keep one less 5th year and then he ends up transferring a la Garret Gilbert if things don't work out. The best thing that happens is he goes on to be a 3 year starter and win a Heisman. Easy decision if you ask me.

 

[woolybug25]

I haven't seen Hansen make the Kelly recruiting a bullet point in some time.

Why would he need to continue saying it over and over again? It is widely accepted knowledge at this point.

You're referencing this on 11/10:

Of course I am, that's why I linked it. He is a paid writer.

I am not sure why this is such a big topic. I don't think QB is a necessity. I think the staff is content with Golson/Hendrix/Rees.

Are you content with that? Golson has never played, Hendrix cant beat out Rees, and Rees is simply not playing at a high level. While you may not want people to put all of their eggs in the Gunner basket, I think it is equally silly to put them all in the Golson basket. What if he got hurt in the first game and we are right back to Rees? It is not a necessity to get a QB in this class, but I am WAY more confident with a Golson/Hendrix/Kiel than a Golson/Rees/Hendrix. I believe Kelly feels this way too.

TIFWIW, but I still think the staff has higher priorities. I also don't think Gunner is as much of a "lock" as some of you guys think

So you linked all of those other comments and that led you to think that he is less than a lock? I don't know dude. Most recruitniks, including Hansen and Lemming, think he is gonna end up Irish.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I guess this is an interpretation of "all in." When I hear "all in," I think Teo. Just because we're not recruiting another QB does not mean we're "all in." Regardless, I am not sure why this is such a big topic. I don't think QB is a necessity. I think the staff is content with Golson/Hendrix/Rees. I think they would happily take Gunner if he decided to commit. Especially because it would help with filling out the rest of the class.

I haven't seen Hansen make the Kelly recruiting a bullet point in some time.

You're referencing this on 11/10:



From 11/14:




TIFWIW, but I still think the staff has higher priorities. I also don't think Gunner is as much of a "lock" as some of you guys think

agree with this!

 

[woolybug25]

agree with this!

Seriously... why? What do you guys know that Lemming, Hansen, Fischer, etc don't? Since his decommitment from IU, I haven't seen anybody predict him landing somewhere other than Notre Dame.

He also has visited us more than anywhere else.

 

[rtrn2glory]

just the fact that looking around a lot of high level programs (outside of vandy) he's got that itch to go to the SEC imo...maybe just an itch, but it's there.

 

[koonja]

I guess this is an interpretation of "all in." When I hear "all in," I think Teo. Just because we're not recruiting another QB does not mean we're "all in." Regardless, I am not sure why this is such a big topic. I don't think QB is a necessity. I think the staff is content with Golson/Hendrix/Rees. I think they would happily take Gunner if he decided to commit. Especially because it would help with filling out the rest of the class.

I haven't seen Hansen make the Kelly recruiting a bullet point in some time.

You're referencing this on 11/10:



From 11/14:




TIFWIW, but I still think the staff has higher priorities. I also don't think Gunner is as much of a "lock" as some of you guys think

Sure, and Marshall isn't a Georgia lock

 

[Cali_domer]

Seriously... why? What do you guys know that Lemming, Hansen, Fischer, etc don't? Since his decommitment from IU, I haven't seen anybody predict him landing somewhere other than Notre Dame.

He also has visited us more than anywhere else.

If he was "sold" on ND I think he would have pulled the trigger already. In my mind it seems he still has doubts and is wide open. He still could come here I just don't expect it as much as I once did.

 

[TerryTate]

Seriously... why? What do you guys know that Lemming, Hansen, Fischer, etc don't? Since his decommitment from IU, I haven't seen anybody predict him landing somewhere other than Notre Dame.

He also has visited us more than anywhere else.

Tom Lemming is an ND Homer.

You don't think having Kelly recruiting him is worth repeating? Hansen said it once. No one else has confirmed this. I find that hard to believe. I think that Kelly knows what he has with Golson, and he comfortable with it. He needs a year to adapt to the academics and the offense.

Lemming/Hansen/Fischer(?) think that because logically it makes sense. He went to IU to be with his brother and close to his family. Now that he's opened it up, he's going through the entire process again and looking at all his options.

Look, we can go back and forth with this all day. We're debating hypotheticals. I'm focusing on what we have now vs. what we would have if he committed. Right now, the answer is Golson. The fact that Kiel's doing trips to other schools this close to the EE deadline means that he's exhausting all his options and doing his due diligence. He could very well end up at ND, I just don't think he's sold on it yet.

He's visited us the most because he's potentially interested and we're 2 hrs away.

 

[koonja]

If he was "sold" on ND I think he would have pulled the trigger already. In my mind it seems he still has doubts and is wide open. He still could come here I just don't expect it as much as I once did.

Why? Because he's taking his visits like he said he would once he decommitted?

I don't think he's a lock to ND but they do lead IMO.

 

[Ndaccountant]

What do the last few national champions have in common? They all either had a TOS defense or a game-changing QB, sometimes even both.

2010 - Auburn - Cam Newton
2009 - Bama - Amazing Defense
2008 - Florida - Tebow & Outstanding D
2007 - LSU - Great D with a game managing QB
2006 - Florida - Again, Great D with a senior QB & Tebow spelling him
2005 - Texas - Vince Young
2004 - USC - Great D and Leinart was pretty damn good.

The fact is, I HOPE Gunner is a priority because of all the QB's on the roster at the moment, none of them look to be the game changing QB's like Tebow, Young or Leinart. I know BK is changing the D in South Bend, but my money is that for him to with a MNC, he needs a game changing QB and he knows it.

 

[Cali_domer]

Why? Because he's taking his visits like he said he would once he decommitted?

I don't think he's a lock to ND but they do lead IMO.

Just my opinion on the matter and I hope I am wrong. Just not convinced yet he is coming here.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Just now during the press conference Kelly was asks if Rees would ever "be given the green light to run the ball," and Kelly was speechless and could only smile. It was hilarious and obvious how much Kelly wants a guy who can throw the ball well and run well enough to make his offense actually shine for once.

I can't say if Kelly has confidence in Kiel over Golson, but I think you'd be kidding yourself if you thought that Kelly doesn't want Kiel to be on this team and improve the quarterback play.

What is really awesome is the thought that if Notre Dame has put up 500+ yards in 5/11 games...what will Kelly be able to do when his real offense is installed?

 

[woolybug25]

just the fact that looking around a lot of high level programs (outside of vandy) he's got that itch to go to the SEC imo...maybe just an itch, but it's there.

I get what you are saying, but here is another perspective. He is taking short unofficials to all of these places and is making another final stop at ND before his decision. He not only camped at ND, but has also visited us more than any of the teams left. From my perspective, these short unofficials to the usual suspects look more like due diligence than actual interest.

And to beat a dead horse further, I think that he will pick ND for all of the reasons he picked IU.

- Close to home
- Family connection
- Comfortableness with staff and players
- QB depth

 

[koonja]

Just now during the press conference Kelly was asks if Rees would ever "be given the green light to run the ball," and Kelly was speechless and could only smile. It was hilarious and obvious how much Kelly wants a guy who can throw the ball well and run well enough to make his offense actually shine for once.

I can't say if Kelly has confidence in Kiel over Golson, but I think you'd be kidding yourself if you thought that Kelly doesn't want Kiel to be on this team and improve the quarterback play.

What is really awesome is the thought that if Notre Dame has put up 500+ yards in 5/11 games...what will Kelly be able to do when his real offense is installed?

That sounds so awesome but when you're dead last in red zone offense it doesn't matter much. Ironically, Stanford happens to be the best team in the country as far as red zone offense.

A QB who can run would be huge.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I get what you are saying, but here is another perspective. He is taking short unofficials to all of these places and is making another final stop at ND before his decision. He not only camped at ND, but has also visited us more than any of the teams left. From my perspective, these short unofficials to the usual suspects look more like due diligence than actual interest.

And to beat a dead horse further, I think that he will pick ND for all of the reasons he picked IU.

- Close to home
- Family connection
- Comfortableness with staff and players
- QB depth

hope you're right...but as i've said before this is far from a done deal imo

 

[woolybug25]

hope you're right...but as i've said before this is far from a done deal imo

Ok, no matter how many experts I quote or facts I provide, I don't think I am going to scratch the "itch" that you and TT have, and that's fine. Time will ultimately prove or disprove my sentiments.

The funny thing is that damn near everyone is saying that KMarshall is a LOCK for UGA for way less commentary than what I have provided for Gunner. I guess rumors of a private conversation over eggs and random tweets are better evidence than actions of a recruit or opinions of people that follow recruiting for a living. Go figure.

I personally think that all of these short unofficials show that he is close to a decision. Can you really imagine a kid that has said and shown through his actions that he prefers to stay close to home, randomly pick a team like LSU after a short unofficial visit? He would come home, pack his bags and immedietly move a thousand miles away? All after spending a couple hours with the coaches and players? He is early enrolling, which means January. I cant fathom a recruit that has been so deliberate in his process picking a school after less than a day of exposure to them.

 

[TerryTate]

Just playing devil's advocate here. You don't need to take it personally. Tempering expectations will prevent a meltdown that I'll just have to deal with later.


You've inferred things differently than I have. We read different writers. Not a big deal

 

[woolybug25]

Just playing devil's advocate here. You don't need to take it personally. Tempering expectations will prevent a meltdown that I'll just have to deal with later.


You've inferred things differently than I have. We read different writers. Not a big deal

I'm not taking it personally, i'm just very confident in this because of very concrete facts. I could be totally wrong, and I am fine with that. But I do take solace in the fact that most recruiting experts agree with me on this.

I think the LSU stop is indeed good evidence of my theory though. I just don't see him moving 1,000 miles away from home to a school he spent less than a day at. If he suddenly announced that he wasn't going to EE, then I would be worried. But it just doesn't seem logical for a recruit so hell bent on staying close to home (he committed to IU for god sakes) to pick up his entire life and move to a school far away from home all in the matter of a couple weeks. He has spent a lot of time with ND players, verbal commitments and coaching staff building relationships. It would be crazy if he was able to build those type of relationships over the course of a short unofficial.

 

[koonja]

I'm not taking it personally, i'm just very confident in this because of very concrete facts. I could be totally wrong, and I am fine with that. But I do take solace in the fact that most recruiting experts agree with me on this.

I think the LSU stop is indeed good evidence of my theory though. I just don't see him moving 1,000 miles away from home to a school he spent less than a day at. If he suddenly announced that he wasn't going to EE, then I would be worried. But it just doesn't seem logical for a recruit so hell bent on staying close to home (he committed to IU for god sakes) to pick up his entire life and move to a school far away from home all in the matter of a couple weeks. He has spent a lot of time with ND players, verbal commitments and coaching staff building relationships. It would be crazy if he was able to build those type of relationships over the course of a short unofficial.

Would you be? Lol, jk.

 

[woolybug25]

Would you be? Lol, jk.

It's hard to have a internet meltdown if I am curled up in the fetal position crying in a corner. lol

 

[Domina Nostra]

Give me a break, TT! A 5'10" 3 QB with accuracy issues is "the future" yet he's running scout team? He's redshirting because he's the youngest QB with (presumably) the least grasp of the playbook between him, Tommy, Dayne, and Andrew. He's the only QB of the 4 who can't help us win right now... and therefor isn't even running our offense in practice.

Accuracy issues? Golson is on the bench because:

(a) Like you said, "he's the youngest QB with (presumably) the least grasp of the playbook between him";
(b) We are 12-2 with Rees, so it is hard to justify switching into re-building mode (its only after USC that people saw the BCS as impossible)
(b) Playing Hendrix occasionally costs you nothing, he's a Soph. His playing does not suggest Kelly sees him as more effective (more of an "answer") than Golson this year or next;
(b) Golson will benefit from a year of getting academically stable, like Daniels;
(c) Golson will benefit from getting bigger and stronger

The big thing that changed in QB recruiting from the pre-season is the Dayne Crist situation. I think the expectation was that we would have Dayne this year and next, Tommy backing up this year, with the other guys phasing in. With no Dayne, the depth chart looks a whole lot different.

 

[irishog77]

Ok, no matter how many experts I quote or facts I provide, I don't think I am going to scratch the "itch" that you and TT have, and that's fine. Time will ultimately prove or disprove my sentiments.

The funny thing is that damn near everyone is saying that KMarshall is a LOCK for UGA for way less commentary than what I have provided for Gunner. I guess rumors of a private conversation over eggs and random tweets are better evidence than actions of a recruit or opinions of people that follow recruiting for a living. Go figure.

I personally think that all of these short unofficials show that he is close to a decision. Can you really imagine a kid that has said and shown through his actions that he prefers to stay close to home, randomly pick a team like LSU after a short unofficial visit? He would come home, pack his bags and immedietly move a thousand miles away? All after spending a couple hours with the coaches and players? He is early enrolling, which means January. I cant fathom a recruit that has been so deliberate in his process picking a school after less than a day of exposure to them.

Good point about Marshall and Kiel, wooly.

 

[WhoDeyIrish]

Gunner might be one of our most important recruits we have had to land in a long time.

 

[connor_in]

I think that Kelly knows what he has with Golson, and he comfortable with it. He needs a year to adapt to the academics and the offense.

Look, we can go back and forth with this all day. We're debating hypotheticals. I'm focusing on what we have now vs. what we would have if he committed. Right now, the answer is Golson. .

Personally, I have no idea or guess on what Gunner does...but this part from TT's post made me remember (and maybe someone can confirm this), I thought at some point Kelly said something to the effect of focusing on the defense first and developing that, and living with what he can do on offense for now until he can focus on that. This could be interpreted as letting Golson mature and adapt to college life and then try to turn things over to him next year. Also, remember when Gunner went IU and Mauk was still looking but focused elsewhere, people (recruiting experts) were saying that ND wasn't really looking hard for a QB this time around.

 

[koonja]

Personally, I have no idea or guess on what Gunner does...but this part from TT's post made me remember (and maybe someone can confirm this), I thought at some point Kelly said something to the effect of focusing on the defense first and developing that, and living with what he can do on offense for now until he can focus on that. This could be interpreted as letting Golson mature and adapt to college life and then try to turn things over to him next year. Also, remember when Gunner went IU and Mauk was still looking but focused elsewhere, people (recruiting experts) were saying that ND wasn't really looking hard for a QB this time around.

I believe his quote was "I can manufacture offense but I need to recruit defense".

 

[connor_in]

Gunner might be one of our most important recruits we have had to land in a long time.

Please don't take this as trying to be snotty, that's not how I mean it, but...what about the Lynch, Tuitt, Williams, Nicklas,etc defensive hual from last year to rebuild (basically immediately) a defense that desparately needed it

 

[GBdomer]

Told you Wooly.

 

[woolybug25]

Personally, I have no idea or guess on what Gunner does...but this part from TT's post made me remember (and maybe someone can confirm this), I thought at some point Kelly said something to the effect of focusing on the defense first and developing that, and living with what he can do on offense for now until he can focus on that. This could be interpreted as letting Golson mature and adapt to college life and then try to turn things over to him next year. Also, remember when Gunner went IU and Mauk was still looking but focused elsewhere, people (recruiting experts) were saying that ND wasn't really looking hard for a QB this time around.

No. Maty Mauk committed to Missouri (July 7th) before Gunner committed to IU (July 27th). Many speculated that Mauk committed to Missouri because our staff was passing on him in lue of our staff going Gunner or bust. Once Gunner committed to IU, the staff no longer focused on any QB's (although they kept in touch with Gunner). Now that he is in play, we are back in the business of trying to land him. If he were to commit elsewhere, we would be back to getting a QB next class.