I agree with you.I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that many of the kids in recent years, regardless of where they are ranked, simply aren't good enough compared to the kids ND can find in places like New Jersey, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia and California. Of course that's not true in all cases, but I simply haven't been overly impressed with the quality if talent coming out of that league in some time as it relates to it translating to the elite level of FBS.
For sure and I agree with you. Pre-NIL ND sold the “people + education/network + faith” and it worked just okay… but NIL has sold kids on ND that weren’t looking for that necessarily. I think it’s naive to assume it’s “people + education/network + faith+Freeman” although it helps but NIL has pushed ND to recruiting higher than I ever thought it could post early 90’s.Even then…
ND = people + education/network + faith
Miami = South Beach, not rust belt Inidana
Oregon = Nike inside track
I mean, Carnell Tate was just drafted fourth overall.
100%Of course. The argument is not that Illinois doesn't produce some top talent. Tate is a great example. JJ McCarthy QB'd Michigan to a recent title and was a 1st round pick. Rylie Mills was an excellent player at ND and just won a Superbowl. Cole Kmet was great for ND. Charles Jagusah would be on the verge of being a 1st Round pick in 2027 had it not been for a freak injury. Everyone is extremely excited about David Folorunsho in 2027 and both Darrieon Prescott and Cam McGee in 2028. TBD on guys like Trae Taylor and Isreal Adams among others.
I'm not for a second suggesting that Chicago, and Illinois in general shouldn't be part of ND's recruiting equation. It absolutely should be. Especially the very top guys in state such as Jagusah, Folorunsho, Prescott and McGee, Justin Scott, Carnell Tate, etc, who are as close to "no doubters" as it gets.
There are some in the fanbase, however, that think ND should be making a living in Illinois and taking numerous kids from the state each year simply because of it's location and ND's history of recruiting the state. I just don't see Ilinois as that type of talent producing machine anymore. Some cycles there are as few as 1-2 kids that I really think ND should prioritize. In other years that number might be 3-4 kids.
ISD update this morning from Matt not as pessimistic on Parks, we shall see!
I still think we end up with Parks and the Oregon chatter is just him trying to drum up a bidding war and/or interest in his decision.Did not Oregon has a slight lead at this time though.
Agree.........Recruiting has changed so much (especially in the last 2-3 years) since the days of locking up Chicago's best, that you can't use the past as any type of guidance.Of course. The argument is not that Illinois doesn't produce some top talent. Tate is a great example. JJ McCarthy QB'd Michigan to a recent title and was a 1st round pick. Rylie Mills was an excellent player at ND and just won a Superbowl. Cole Kmet was great for ND. Charles Jagusah would be on the verge of being a 1st Round pick in 2027 had it not been for a freak injury. Everyone is extremely excited about David Folorunsho in 2027 and both Darrieon Prescott and Cam McGee in 2028. TBD on guys like Trae Taylor and Isreal Adams among others.
I'm not for a second suggesting that Chicago, and Illinois in general shouldn't be part of ND's recruiting equation. It absolutely should be. Especially the very top guys in state such as Jagusah, Folorunsho, Prescott and McGee, Justin Scott, Carnell Tate, etc, who are as close to "no doubters" as it gets.
There are some in the fanbase, however, that think ND should be making a living in Illinois and taking numerous kids from the state each year simply because of it's location and ND's history of recruiting the state. I just don't see Ilinois as that type of talent producing machine anymore. Some cycles there are as few as 1-2 kids that I really think ND should prioritize. In other years that number might be 3-4 kids.
You can take it with a grain of salt, but the Elevenwarriors forum said that per one of their administrators/writers that Parks not visiting was dealing with NIL realities. Supposedly pOSU was talking with Parks in advance of the visit and Parks NIL ask was very high and way beyond what pOSU would be able to do.My read on it:
Parks is unique not having a visit till June 12th since the OSU one was cancelled. Oregon likely wants this over before that, thus they aggressively pushing for this to end sooner rather than later. If he gets to June 12th, gotta feel better about ND.
But the talk has been this could have been announced last week or soon, which would favor Oregon getting him to sign before it gets to OVs.
Oregon thus is the aggressor here currently. Which is interesting because talk was weeks ago that Parks was put off by ND trying to close this early.
Seems he’s genuinely unsure. Probably for the best he didn’t make a ND pressured decision weeks ago or Oregon pressured decision now.
Tate was only at Marist for his FR and SO years. He played for IMG his junior and senior years of high school.I mean, Carnell Tate was just drafted fourth overall.
My read on it:
Parks is unique not having a visit till June 12th since the OSU one was cancelled. Oregon likely wants this over before that, thus they aggressively pushing for this to end sooner rather than later. If he gets to June 12th, gotta feel better about ND.
But the talk has been this could have been announced last week or soon, which would favor Oregon getting him to sign before it gets to OVs.
Oregon thus is the aggressor here currently. Which is interesting because talk was weeks ago that Parks was put off by ND trying to close this early.
Seems he’s genuinely unsure. Probably for the best he didn’t make a ND pressured decision weeks ago or Oregon pressured decision now.