'12 VA OLB Ken Ekanem (Virginia Tech Signee)

[koonja]

I wouldn't worry about the whole mom-distance thing. He laughed when he was saying it, and what mom would want their kid to travel far away? Still happens.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

NM. Philly posted the other finalists.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Pros: Notre Dame first to come to mind when asked who he is considering.....says it's the most prestigious school in the nation....wants to go to the NFL but be set for life so wants a meaningful degree...wants to major in business....doesn't mind redshirting but would like to play early...set first official to ND


Cons MOM is a little concerned on the distance topic but hopefully if she goes with him on the OV it will change everything.

good quick summary...thanks bra

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Also says that he wants to major in Business in case he isn't able to make it in the NFL, wants to be set for life. Yes young man, ND is the right place for you.

As the #1 undergrad business program in the nation, 30y ROI for graduates of ND's Mendoza College of Business is significantly higher than ND's overall 30y ROI. I haven't been able to find exact figures for it yet, unfortunately, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was 2-3x greater.

Whiskey, have you set this man up with the information he needs to make an informed decision? ND vs. VT, Pitt, Oregon, UNC with the ROI, Grad rate spreadsheet please.

Ask and you shall receive.

What follows is a brief comparison of the value offered by ND, VT, Pitt, UO, and UNC to their black football players.

Graduation Success Rate for Black Football Players:
ND- 100% (1st in BCS*)
VT- 76% (10th in BCS)
UNC- 68% (19th in BCS)
UVA- 60% (31st in BCS)
Pitt- 56% (38th in BCS)
UO- 51% (52nd in BCS)

30 year Return for Graduates:
ND- $1,623,900 (2nd in BCS)
UVA- $1,190,000 (9th in BCS)
VT- $1,178,600 (11th in BCS)
Pitt- $785,300 (47th in BCS)
UNC- $777,100 (49th in BCS)
UO- $666,500 (65th in BCS)

Expected 30 year Return for Black Football Players:
ND- $1,623,900 (1st in BCS)
VT- $895,763 (8th in BCS)
UVA- $714,000 (13th in BCS)
UNC- $528,428 (32nd in BCS)
Pitt- $439,768 (48th in BCS)
UO- $339,915 (63rd in BCS)

ND offers ~2x more value than VT, ~2.5x more than value than UVA, ~3x more value than UNC, ~4x more value than Pitt and ~5x more value than UO to black athletes.

*Rankings compare only schools with football programs in AQ conferences and schools that have made recent BCS appearances. There are a total of 70 schools ranked, so 35th is the median.

Sources:
Degree Value
Graduation Success Rate
Full BCS Rankings for the Above Data

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

VT is actually very respectable in all those categories.

 

[beryirish]

VT is actually very respectable in all those categories.

QUIET YOU!!!!!

 

[IrishLax]

Also says that he wants to major in Business in case he isn't able to make it in the NFL, wants to be set for life. Yes young man, ND is the right place for you. Whiskey, have you set this man up with the information he needs to make an informed decision? ND vs. VT, Pitt, Oregon, UNC with the ROI, Grad rate spreadsheet please.

Unless UVa filled up and stopped recruiting him I don't believe those 5 finalists for a second. Said he wants to major in business... ND is #1 but UVa is also top 5 undergrad business school. I'm telling you all that literally everyone I know said UVa over Tech for this guy... but oh well, it's very possible that UVa with their 24 commits is full at his position.

So looks like jason was right and it'll be a Tech vs. ND battle. In that case, I could easily see us winning.

 

[Old Man Mike]

VT's a good school, but it makes a lot of its hay, moneywise, due to its technical/engineering-type programs, which VERY few football players engage in [when my brother played there were only two on the whole team]. Notre Dame probably wallops VT when it comes to comparing business schools, as VT wasn't built on that type of curriculum.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I added UVA for Lax. Their 60% GSR rate for black football players brings down their Expected 30y ROI quite a bit.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Using Payscale's methodology, the 30y Football ROI for players enrolled in the Mendoza College of Business is $3,171,810.

But Whiskey, if schools are allowed to cherry pick the majors with the highest starting salaries, then couldn't they all show a competitive ROI?

GREAT question! Glad you asked. This brings us to OMM's point above about how many football players are actually enrolled in those majors. Fields of study with high starting salaries tend to be significantly more rigorous than most, so football players at most schools understandably tend to avoid them.

But not at ND. Our our 85 scholarship players, 24 are freshman who aren't allowed to declare a major yet. Of the remaining 61, 17 are sophomores who remain undecided, which leaves 44 scholarship players with declared majors.

Of the 44 with declared majors, 17 are in the Mendoza College of Business, which doesn't include our 6 5Ys who are listed only as "Graduate Students". I know for a fact that at least two of those guys are in the business school as well, which means roughly half of our scholarship players with declared majors are in the nation's #1 undergrad business program.

But I'm sure all those Michigan players majoring in Kinesiology and General Studies are getting a great education too! #AMIRITE

Of special note is Sean Cwynar, who despite not being a 5Y, has already graduated and is working on his MBA. Average starting salary for Notre Dame MBAs is $95,000, which would put his 30y ROI at over $6 million. Cwynar is unlikely to get drafted, but by choosing ND and working his as$ off in business school, he'll end up making far more money than most draftees.

Hendrix is Science Pre-professional (premed); that's a seriously rigorous course of study. Kid's a baller.

 

[ndfi78]

That's it, I'm taking my one-year old to the field next week so we can start working on his blocking. Need to get him a scholly to ND.

 

[koonja]

BGI_JasonSapp Jason Sapp
From last night ~ Four-star OLB Ken Ekanem hosting #NotreDame today, still scheduled for Irish official visit (VIP) bit.ly/tfQBOD

Four-star set to host Charley Molnar on Dec. 5

 

[m-araim]

ken got injured about first or second play of the game in the state finals and was out. talked to his mom; he is definitely not going to UVa. The good omen he got injured so it must be ND

 

[aubeirish]

What kind of injury are we talking about here?

 

[m-araim]

I think he twisted his ankle

 

[Grahambo]

Washington Post is reporting that he hurt his knee and that Ken say's he believes it is a torn meniscus but will be further evaluated.

Centreville football falls in Virginia AAA Division 6 final to Oscar Smith, 47-21 - The Washington Post

Researching it sounds like anything from simple rest to minor surgery will heal it and it takes about 2-3 months. I could be WAY off in my research so don't shoot me.

 

[aubeirish]

Hopefully it's just a twisted ankle.

 

[koonja]

http://www.irishsportsdaily.com/rec...all-recruiting/6129-ekanem-still-set-for-trip

 

[PLACforever]

http://www.irishsportsdaily.com/rec...all-recruiting/6129-ekanem-still-set-for-trip

Disappointed I couldn't pay for ISD premium with vBucks... care to summarize?

 

[koonja]

Disappointed I couldn't pay for ISD premium with vBucks... care to summarize?

I'm not a member either but my guess is he's an ND lock.

 

[NYIrish14]

Centreville’s Ken Ekanem excels despite father’s absence - The Washington Post

Idk if this has been posted before but he seems like a great kid. Comes from a hard working family and he definitely belongs at ND.

 

[clashmore_mike]

Doesn't have too much new stuff. Talked about his knee injury, still plans to visit this weekend even though Molnar won't be there.

 

[magogian]

I'd be very happy if he is our next and last LB commit. Obviously, there are a few other great guys left on our board, but I would be very happy with Ekanem.

 

[Rizzophil]

I presume it doesn't look good with Ifedi...

 

[TouchdownStevus]

Still think we can get Ifeadi.

I just started art classes and am getting good at drawing my own conclusions.

 

[BeauBenken]

Still think we can get Ifeadi.

I just started art classes and am getting good at drawing my own conclusions.

Ba dum tss

 

[GBdomer]

Rumor has it he tore his ACL and meniscus

 

[Cali_domer]

Rumor has it he tore his ACL and meniscus

That sucks... Feel for the kid.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Rumor has it he tore his ACL and meniscus

Dang...get well kid!

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

Rumor has it he tore his ACL and meniscus

All but guarantees he is Irish now! All joking aside, if true I wish him a speedy and full recovery no matter school he chooses to play ball at. Most likely would be sitting out a year to get stronger anyhow, so he has some time.