'13 PA OT Dorian Johnson (Pitt Verbal)

[Irishman77]

Come On Dorian jump in the water is warm. This is my favorite remaining OL prospect. A pulling guard like this would be fantastic.

 

[ChiRish]

I know we are technically full, but you gotta think that with the Booker connection and his versatility and athleticism that he can switch over to DL. Hope he comes.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

This kid could play a bunch of positions, and is important to get just because of his versatility, oh yea, and his speed!

 

[OCIrish]

I hope we still have room for him....we could really use an OG in this class besides McGovern.

 

[TerryTate]

It's 4-5 OL this class. Last spot will be reserved for a guy like Cochran or Johnson

 

[SJIrish]

I hope we still have room for him....we could really use an OG in this class besides McGovern.

I hope they do too, would be a huge mistake not to take him.

 

[rtrn2glory]

gotta feeling we still take him if he wants on board...but we'll let him know this weekend that the train may be leaving soon so he may want to jump on board.

 

[notredomer23]

gotta feeling we still take him if he wants on board...but we'll let him know this weekend that the train may be leaving soon so he may want to jump on board.

My thoughts exactly. If he takes it I don't see Cochran visiting obviously but if he doesn't commit I could definitely see Cochran pressured into making a choice

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Thought about committing but wasn't ready. ND is definitely one of his favorites but is now not sure where he stands with the four spots full.

Per 247

 

[SJIrish]

Thought about committing but wasn't ready. ND is definitely one of his favorites but is now not sure where he stands with the four spots full.

Per 247

Is his visit over, I thought he was supposed to be on campus until Tuesday?

 

[NDPhilly]

We should take him. IMO.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Is his visit over, I thought he was supposed to be on campus until Tuesday?

It's over. He came in on Friday, I dont recall what the original plan was.

 

[IrishLax]

This is going to be an interesting situation to watch. Someone on 247 made a comment I agree with that this concept of being "full" is the difference between us and Alabama and can come back to bite us. I think we need to take him if he wants to commit and consider him a "big" and not an OL if necessary.

We don't need to be like Ole Miss but I don't think we're in the position to be turning up our nose at any quality players who want to come here. We "slow played" or turned down a lot of kids last year and it realllllly burned us in the long run. I guess we'll see what happens but I sure hope we don't make a big mistake.

 

[NDPhilly]

I think Dorian could play DL to. He is extrememely athletic for his size. Of course I prefer him at OL though.

 

[Irish4Life09]

This is going to be an interesting situation to watch. Someone on 247 made a comment I agree with that this concept of being "full" is the difference between us and Alabama and can come back to bite us. I think we need to take him if he wants to commit and consider him a "big" and not an OL if necessary.

We don't need to be like Ole Miss but I don't think we're in the position to be turning up our nose at any quality players who want to come here. We "slow played" or turned down a lot of kids last year and it realllllly burned us in the long run. I guess we'll see what happens but I sure hope we don't make a big mistake.

Exactly.reps

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

This is going to be an interesting situation to watch. Someone on 247 made a comment I agree with that this concept of being "full" is the difference between us and Alabama and can come back to bite us. I think we need to take him if he wants to commit and consider him a "big" and not an OL if necessary.

We don't need to be like Ole Miss but I don't think we're in the position to be turning up our nose at any quality players who want to come here. We "slow played" or turned down a lot of kids last year and it realllllly burned us in the long run. I guess we'll see what happens but I sure hope we don't make a big mistake.

I'm definitely on board with that.. Kelly needs to figure out how to have his cake and eat it too (as far as not oversigning, but at the same time keeping after kids so we don't get screwed) will definitely be interesting to figure out if this can be done ethically and the "ND way", because by the looks of it, Kelly is almost forced to put all his trust into these kids and just hope they fax in their LOI's on NSD.. reps

 

[ResLife Hero]

Any chance the new multi-year scholarships help level the playing field or will coaches still push out anyone they think is expendable?

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

Any chance the new multi-year scholarships help level the playing field or will coaches still push out anyone they think is expendable?

"If there's a rule, there's a way around that rule" -Saban, Meyer, Kiffin, etc.

 

[ResLife Hero]

Still, 4-year binding contracts (with an option for the player to opt out at any time) that count towards the overall total of 85 unless a team doctor and/or independent physician rule playing medically inadvisable could go a long way.

That's obviously a pipedream so outlandish it borders on sarcasm, but that's what I'd personally like to see.

 

[NDhoosier]

rumors going around that supposedly Kelly turned him away... saw it on DD, no sources, seems to be an insider type of info. If true, surprises me a little bit.

Bivin stated on twitter and in the interview that Kelly only wants 4 OL... seems pretty certain about it

 

[ResLife Hero]

Are we in a position to redshirt every OL prospect? If yes, then the concept of 4, and only 4, makes sense. Still, my time at ND was spent largely watching Jimmy get planted so it's hard to stomach turning away or losing OL recruits.

 

[johnnykillz]

Maybe BK knows something about Munger he's holding secret. Or he's hoping. But to me, I'd like to have both plus our current haul in anticipation of decommits.

It happens, and if it doesn't I could see it beneficial to have them all anyways.

We could nix a ST player to make up for it. (recruit)

Bigs are good to have if needed and too many is better than not enough. I love me some Wisconsin OL...

 

[GBdomer]

as much as i wanted this kid him leaving early am getting the feeling we turned him away.

 

[clashmore_mike]

ISD has Johnson saying he considered committing, but then realized he wasn't ready. He also says he isn't sure where he fits in in the future at ND now because there is no room. He will stay in touch with the staff and if something opens up, "we'll see what happens." Loved the visit and ND is still one of his favorites.

 

[Emcee77]

It is not too clear from Sapp's sketchy update but it sounds like Johnson told Wiltfong (who told Sapp) that Johnson is unsure where he stands because the staff told him they only wanted four OL, and now they have four, so Johnson doesn't know if there is a spot for him. He thought about committing, but decided he isn't ready. It sounds like even he isn't sure if ND would accept his commitment if he tried to commit now.

 

[johnnykillz]

ISD has Johnson saying he considered committing, but then realized he wasn't ready. He also says he isn't sure where he fits in in the future at ND now because there is no room. He will stay in touch with the staff and if something opens up, "we'll see what happens." Loved the visit and ND is still one of his favorites.

It is not too clear from Sapp's sketchy update but it sounds like Johnson told Wiltfong (who told Sapp) that Johnson is unsure where he stands because the staff told him they only wanted four OL, and now they have four, so Johnson doesn't know if there is a spot for him. He thought about committing, but decided he isn't ready. It sounds like even he isn't sure if ND would accept his commitment if he tried to commit now.

I can see this being nothing short of miscommunication.

And at this point, our coaching staff has already heard this before us.

So if they're allowing him to simmer, it's because they haven't made up their minds yet.

And I can't blame them.

Balancing room and known needs elsewhere is hard to do when you have a talented man like this waiting to hear back from you.

 

[SJIrish]

I would take Johnson and just let everything play out. Really no reason to talk about about being full at a position in March because so many things can happen. Big mistake if they turn him down.

 

[goldandblue]

Don't we have several scholarships available this year due to the low numbers last year? Why not take him?

 

[TerryTate]

As indicated by several people already, the staff wanted to take 4 OL with the exception of adding a top 5 type guy if possible. Most of the efforts will then turn to WR DB and LB

 

[rtrn2glory]

mistake imo if we don't take him if he wanted on board. i say we load up on the O line this year like ann arbor and stanford did last. perhaps the staff feels better about cochran than i do.