'17 IN WR Mac Hippenhammer (Penn State Verbal)

[Sherm Sticky]

'17 IN WR Mac Hippenhammer (Penn State Verbal)

I mentioned this above, but I really like this kid. He wasn't offered after Irish Invasion, because we had just gotten Pouncey's commitment and were in good shape with several 4 star recruits.

Mac killed it at Invasion and I think he will have a very good career at Notre Dame and possibly could make it to the next level.


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[Sherm Sticky]

My biggest question is what does Vancouver think of Mr. Hippenhammer?


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[ND Fan Vancouver]

Funny you ask cause I just read up n him on BGI and 247 and watched his film. He has really good speed and makes nasty cuts. Legit ankle-breaker. I heard he ran the fasted 40 at II. I'm not sure if that's true but after watching his KR/PR, I believe it. He runs a really great post pattern and his underneath stuff is great. He adjusts well too. I just listened to ISD podcast from today and someone said at II, other than Amon-Ra, Mac made the most plays and was the most consistent in catching the ball. Only knock I have on him is that he needs to be more explosive off the line and out of his breaks. With added strength and size he would need to get through S&C, he would probably gain that. I think this kid is worth it. Love that he's in-state too.

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

https://notredame.rivals.com/news/2...s-off-the-charts-in-terms-of-his-intangibles-

FWIW, I just read on BGI that he's a shortstop and switch hitter as well. Apparently his coach says he's an incredibly determined, hard worker. Spend pretty much ALL his time on either his school work or his craft as a football player. Sounds like an ND kid.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

'17 IN WR Mac Hippenhammer (Penn State Verbal)

https://notredame.rivals.com/news/2...s-off-the-charts-in-terms-of-his-intangibles-

FWIW, I just read on BGI that he's a shortstop and switch hitter as well. Apparently his coach says he's an incredibly determined, hard worker. Spend pretty much ALL his time on either his school work or his craft as a football player. Sounds like an ND kid.

You mean an RKG!


Nice like this kid even more.

If he commits to Notre Dame, I could see him playing next year and having a KJ Stepherson type freshman campaign. Stepherson was an EE, so he had a leg up on Mac, but I think overall Mac is the more talented player.


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[ND Fan Vancouver]

You mean an RKG!


Nice like this kid even more.

If he commits to Notre Dame, I could see him playing next year and having a KJ Stepherson type freshman campaign. Stepherson was an EE, so he had a leg up on Mac, but I think overall Mac is the more talented player.


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I could actually see him playing some slot and maybe getting some jet sweeps as well. He isn't quite as long as Steph but I'd say he's faster and a little tougher.

 

[KyfightingIrish36]

Funny that Penn st had their best year in like 8 or 9 years and we can still come in and steal their commits.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Funny that Penn st had their best year in like 8 or 9 years and we can still come in and steal their commits.

Well the kid is from Fort Wayne and always wanted an offer. This isn't on the same level as stealing Wimbush, but it's still satisfying

 

[Blaise]

Funny that Penn st had their best year in like 8 or 9 years and we can still come in and steal their commits.

Can we officially steal this kid before we start bragging about owning PSU in the recruiting game

 

[dublinirish]

5 months ago this kid is an insta-commit with an ND offer. He's still taking his OV to PSU this weekend, its gonna be a battle to get him I'd say unless ND really is his dream school. He could play early in Happy Valley

 

[BobbyMac]

Funny that Penn st had their best year in like 8 or 9 years and we can still come in and steal their commits.

Well the kid is from Fort Wayne and always wanted an offer. This isn't on the same level as stealing Wimbush, but it's still satisfying

Not to mention ND pulling Adams, Lugg, Hinish and Hainsey out of the state that bears their name.

I'm just hoping that they didn't leave CJ Thorpe on the table for PSU to get. Always like that kid a lot.

...and no, I didn't forget he who's name that won't be spoken from Beaver Falls.

 

[IrishLax]

5 months ago this kid is an insta-commit with an ND offer. He's still taking his OV to PSU this weekend, its gonna be a battle to get him I'd say unless ND really is his dream school. He could play early in Happy Valley

The first bolded is my biggest problem. It was pretty obvious as far back as August that WR recruiting was screwed and we weren't making any contingency offers or pushing for guys like Hippenhammer that we could've locked up, or not being hard on Martin until the fall.

To the second bolded, he could play next year here, too. Our depth chart is paper thin at WR.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

The first bolded is my biggest problem. It was pretty obvious as far back as August that WR recruiting was screwed and we weren't making any contingency offers or pushing for guys like Hippenhammer that we could've locked up, or not being hard on Martin until the fall.

To the second bolded, he could play next year here, too. Our depth chart is paper thin at WR.

We just need a lot more recruiting thread posts like this.

 

[dublinirish]

The first bolded is my biggest problem. It was pretty obvious as far back as August that WR recruiting was screwed and we weren't making any contingency offers or pushing for guys like Hippenhammer that we could've locked up, or not being hard on Martin until the fall.

To the second bolded, he could play next year here, too. Our depth chart is paper thin at WR.

they could have easily taken his commitment and then forced him out in some way down the line if they did end up getting some 5 star commits. It's a way more prudent strategy than not taking his commit and holding out hope you can switch him down the line. Urbie, Harbaugh, Saban all do recruiting in the former manner, not the latter.

 

[BoredIrish]

5 months ago this kid is an insta-commit with an ND offer. He's still taking his OV to PSU this weekend, its gonna be a battle to get him I'd say unless ND really is his dream school. He could play early in Happy Valley

5 months ago we were all debating whether ND would have double digit wins or not.

 

[Domina Nostra]

The first bolded is my biggest problem. It was pretty obvious as far back as August that WR recruiting was screwed and we weren't making any contingency offers or pushing for guys like Hippenhammer that we could've locked up, or not being hard on Martin until the fall.

To the second bolded, he could play next year here, too. Our depth chart is paper thin at WR.

I actually think we have a lot of flexibility, and adding A. Jones, Brock Wright, and Cole Kmet back to the roster next year actually tips the balance back to using more TEs and RBs, which I prefer.

You need 5 guys on the field other than the OL and QB. We have 20 guys to fill those spots:

RBs
1) Josh Adams, Jr. '18
2) Dexter Williams, Jr. '18
3) Tony Jones Jr., So. ‘20

Hybrid RB/Slot
4) Justin Brent, Sr. ‘18
5) CJ Holmes
6) Deon McIntosh, So. ???

Slot
7) CJ Sanders, Jr. ‘18
8) Chris Finke, Jr.???
9) Michael Young

WR
10) Equanimeous St. Brown
11) Kevin Stepherson, So. ‘19
12) Miles Boykin, So. ‘19
13) Javon McKinnley, So. ‘20

Hybrid TE/WR
14) Chase Claypool, So. ‘19
15) Aliz’e Jones, Jr. ‘19

TE
16) Durham Smythe, Sr. '17
17) Tyler Luatua, Sr. '17
18) Nic Weishar, Jr. '18
19) Brock Wright
20) Cole Kmet

This is how I see it playing out, if everyone stays healthy:

1) RB: Adams/Williams/Jones . . . (Brent, Holmes, or McIntosh fill in if necessary)
2) WR X: Stepherson/McKinley . . . (St. Brown/Boykin/Finke fill in if necessary)
3) WR W: St. Brown/Boykin . . . (A. Jones/Claypool fill in if necessary)
4a) WR Z: Sanders/Finke/McIntosh . . . (Brent, Holmes, or Young fill-in if necessary)
or
4b) Hybrid: Jones/Claypool . . . (Kmet fills in if necessary)
5) TE: Smyth/Weishar/Wright/Luatua . . . (Kmet fills in if necessary)

So you start with:
1) Adams/Williams
2) Stepherson
3) St. Brown
4) A. Jones
5) Smyth

If Stepherson goes down, you have:
1) Adams/Williams
2) St. Brown
3) A. Jones
4) Sanders/Claypool
5) Smyth

If instead St. Brown goes down, you'd have:
1) Adams/Williams
2) Stepherson
3) A. Jones
4) Sanders/Claypool
5) Smyth

If instead A. Jones goes down, you'd have:
1) Adams/Williams
2) Stepherson
3) A. Jones
4) Sanders/Claypool
5) Smyth

If bigger stuff happens, you could go 2 TE or 2 RB. Which Kelly has had success with...

 

[BobbyMac]

they could have easily taken his commitment and then forced him out in some way down the line if they did end up getting some 5 star commits. It's a way more prudent strategy than not taking his commit and holding out hope you can switch him down the line. Urbie, Harbaugh, Saban all do recruiting in the former manner, not the latter.

...or better yet, absorb him in the class and let him find his way to the field. He's an excellent, if not elite return man and at his size, speed and quickness he's a perfect CB prospect. Just because his HS didn't use him there eoesn't mean he can't play the position. Snider HS probably had that covered without making him go 2 ways.

If you're gonna take .8500 3 stars early, they better be 4.4 athletes with versatility.

 

[PANDFAN]

...or better yet, absorb him in the class and let him find his way to the field. He's an excellent, if not elite return man and at his size, speed and quickness he's a perfect CB prospect. Just because his HS didn't use him there eoesn't mean he can't play the position. Snider HS probably had that covered without making him go 2 ways.

If you're gonna take .8500 3 stars early, they better be 4.4 athletes with versatility.

i am BIG on not wanting to offer guys just for the sake of offering to get to 85..HOWEVER someone like him, as you stated can be an excellent return guy, postion change at db(try it if he couldn't crack it at wr--this is prior to us not getting anyone) and when a local guy who was turning heads at II...it seems like a no brainer

 

[BobbyMac]

So you start with:
1) Adams/Williams
2) Stepherson
3) St. Brown
4) A. Jones
5) Smyth

If Stepherson goes down, you have:
1) Adams/Williams
2) St. Brown
3) A. Jones
4) Sanders/Claypool
5) Smyth

If instead St. Brown goes down, you'd have:
1) Adams/Williams
2) Stepherson
3) A. Jones
4) Sanders/Claypool
5) Smyth

If instead A. Jones goes down, you'd have:
1) Adams/Williams
2) Stepherson
3) A. Jones
4) Sanders/Claypool
5) Smyth

If bigger stuff happens, you could go 2 TE or 2 RB. Which Kelly has had success with...

That's a lot of sleeping on Von McKinley. You sir just made his Bulletin Board!


.

 

[Domina Nostra]

That's a lot of sleeping on Von McKinley. You sir just made his Bulletin Board!


.

He's the man. The fact that he, Claypool, and Brock Wright are not going to start, and that A. Jones is likely to be our starting "Slot" reciever, makes me feel pretty good.

At WR, I feel like the list of legit starters (i.e., guys that I think will make life harder than usual on the opponent) includes Stepherson, McKinnley, St. Brown, A. Jones, Claypool, and Sanders.

That is 6 guys for 3 spots. Not too shabby. We lack depth, but we're top loaded. It's basically the opposite of DLine.

 

[BobbyMac]

He's the man. The fact that he, Claypool, and Brock Wright are not going to start, and that A. Jones is likely to be our starting "Slot" reciever, makes me feel pretty good.

At WR, I feel like the list of legit starters (i.e., guys that I think will make life harder than usual on the opponent) includes Stepherson, McKinnley, St. Brown, A. Jones, Claypool, and Sanders.

That is 6 guys for 3 spots. Not too shabby. We lack depth, but we're top loaded. It's basically the opposite of DLine.

I just hope Von get's healthy in time to get some meaningful spring practice in.

There's no doubt in my mind that Stepherson played last year in front of him because he EE'd. I believe when both are healthy and up to speed with the playbook & practice reps, McKinley will be the better receiver. That may not happen this year but next year but I definitely think in the post ESB/AJ era it will happen.

 

[dublinirish]

I just hope Von get's healthy in time to get some meaningful spring practice in.

There's no doubt in my mind that Stepherson played last year in front of him because he EE'd. I believe when both are healthy and up to speed with the playbook & practice reps, McKinley will be the better receiver. That may not happen this year but next year but I definitely think in the post ESB/AJ era it will happen.

McKinley is out for spring most likely i thought? He did break his leg afterall

 

[IrishLion]

McKinley is out for spring most likely i thought? He did break his leg afterall

Javon said that he'll be ready to go by April... whether or not he gets any work in Spring will depend on *when* in April.

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

McKinley tweeted (I think) that he's going to be 100% Apr 1st

 

[koonja]

McKinley tweeted (I think) that he's going to be 100% Apr 1st

I'm skeptical because that's a serious injury and he had it very late in the season, but this would be incredibly good news if it plays out as true.

 

[IrishLion]

McKinley tweeted (I think) that he's going to be 100% Apr 1st

He didn't say the 1st, just "April"

That could mean he starts working with trainers on a potential release in early April, but might not actually be cleared until late April, basically meaning he's cleared for when Summer activity starts.

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

I'd say at least 5 whole months for a fib break should be enough but I'm no doctor.

 

[BobbyMac]

McKinley tweeted (I think) that he's going to be 100% Apr 1st

He just said April. I remember responding... I hope it's closer to 4-1 than 4-30.

April and August are the two most important months of the year for a college football player.

 

[dublinirish]

He just said April. I remember responding... I hope it's closer to 4-1 than 4-30.

April and August are the two most important months of the year for a college football player.

i disagree. winter conditioning is the most important period for a players development. Look at the winter's Rochell and Jaron missed. They simply werent able to compete at their best come the fall.

 

[BobbyMac]

i disagree. winter conditioning is the most important period for a players development. Look at the winter's Rochell and Jaron missed. They simply werent able to compete at their best come the fall.

While the old saying is true, players are made in the offseason. A football player's performance and subsequent evaluation in April and August define their place in the team's hierarchy. If you aren't turning your offseason gains into success on the field in April and August, you'll be a bigger, stronger, faster guy on the bench.