Not So Fast Gip
Not So Fast Gip
Great Article from south bend tirbune
Newman surprisingly dominant
FOOTBALL
ERIC HANSEN
Tribune Staff Writer
SAN ANTONIO -- Those eavesdropping on the practice sessions leading into today's U.S. Army All-American Bowl have stopped calling once-deflating prospect Brandon Newman a surprise and shifted the descriptor simply to dominant.
"Beyond (Miami recruit) Marcus Forston, I don't see another defensive lineman who can compare," CSTV recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said of Newman, a 6-foot-1, 300-pound nose tackle from Louisville poised to sign a national letter of intent with Notre Dame on Feb. 6.
Today he'll be poised to live up to his new, reshaped reputation while playing defensive tackle for the East squad. So who does the former surprise think might surprise Irish and other college football fans today?
Wide receiver John Goodman from Fort Wayne, Ind.
"I'm always joking around with him and telling him he's a goofy-looking guy, but he's good." Newman said of the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder who actually played quarterback primarily for his Bishop Dwenger High team this past season. "He's better than a lot of guys here. Overall, it's good to see the Notre Dame recruits producing the way we are here. It's good to see that they're as good as I thought they were."
The following is Lemming's analyses of the Irish recruits playing in today's game:
On tight end Kyle Rudolph: "Kyle Rudolph looks fantastic. He looks like he weighs 210, but he's 235 (and 6-7). He runs like a wide receiver. He caught a couple of touchdown passes (in practice) against corners. I mean he was really moving."
On linebacker Steve Filer: "Filer is playing outside. It's a little bit different for him, but he's looking good. He's very confident."
On linebacker Darius Fleming: "Darius was hurt a day or two, but in the practices he has been in, he looks real good."
On defense end Sean Cwynar: "Cwynar looks good as a run-stuffer. He's not an initial-burst guy. He could either be a very steady defensive lineman or a very good offensive guard."
On offensive lineman Lane Clelland: "Lane is 280 now and looks real good. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people. I think he could actually be Notre Dame's left tackle in two years, and (Sam) Young -- who might be a more natural right tackle -- might move back there."
On offensive lineman Mike Golic Jr. "Golic is a very good long snapper who needs to put on weight. He's a really good kid."
On offensive lineman Trevor Robinson: "Trevor Robinson's a powerhouse. He's 315 right now. He's very good, gets a good push. He's very strong, very confident. I think he'll be playing right away."
On running back Jonas Gray: "Jonas Gray had a foot injury in his first practice. I really haven't seen him go full speed yet. He's more of a straight-ahead runner -- not a lot of wiggle to him. Notre Dame needs a wiggle runner with strength, what Armando Allen hasn't proven to be yet."
On linebacker Anthony McDonald: "He has been a very steady linebacker."
On wide receiver Michael Floyd: "Mike Floyd has been fantastic. A lot of the wide receivers have been fantastic here. Mike Floyd is outstanding."
On wide receiver John Goodman: "John Goodman has been a little overshadowed, but he's had a strong week."
On quarterback Dayne Crist: "He's the best quarterback here. He's going to push Jimmy Clausen."
On defensive back Robert Blanton: "Beyond Brandon Newman, he was the player who surprised me the most this week. He's picking off passes and is very good in coverage. He's very strong, very improved."
Squibs
It wasn't just about drills and scrimmages in the days leading up to today's all-star showcase, there were some fun skills competitions -- such as a pssing competition Crist helped the West team win -- and yes, even an eating contest.
"I think the only Notre Dame guy we had in it was (offensive lineman) Trevor Robinson," said fellow Irish O-line recruit Lane Clelland. "But he certainly represented us well."
Clelland, 10-1 as a heavyweight wrestler (285) for his McDonogh High School team in Owings Mills, Md., is missing a big tournament for his school to participate in today's high school football all-star game. Similarly, wide receiver Michael Floyd is missing two games for his unbeaten Cretin-Derham Hall basketball squad for which he is the leading scorer.
Then there's Irish linebacker recruit Darius Fleming from Chicago St. Rita High School, who is lamenting getting rusty from bowling. Seriously.
Fleming was such an ardent bowler, he almost switched high schools to be on a better bowling team.
"Before there was football, I wanted to be a pro bowler," said the 6-foo-2, 219-pounder. "I had an uncle who has toured with the PBA. That used to be my dream. It's still important to me. I mean, my average is all the way down to like 200."
Uncommitted wide receiver Gerell Robinson of Chandler, Ariz. -- playing safety today -- has been wearing a Notre Dame jacket around this week. Robinson has narrowed his choices to ND and Arizona State.
We'll see what he says today but a ND jacket? Really? Come on down G.Rob.
