'17 VA DT Darnell Ewell (Notre Dame Signee)

[NDMIA]

For 2019, yea that opened the last spot for Bertrand to enroll in 2 weeks but they only need to be at 85 when the season begins so they can have over the limit for summer school. They were never going to be at 85 going into the fall semester I don’t think because Shaun Crawford (health, transfer) is a question mark, Javon McKinley (treading lightly), and Trevor Ruhland (medical) were all going to be question marks and some roster attrition was going to happen inevitably. As for 2020, they are at 18 scholarship DLineman if you subtract Ewell and count Jamir Jones as a redshirt. I think they’re still 0-1 for remaining spots on the DLine.

 

[stlnd01]

For 2019, yea that opened the last spot for Bertrand to enroll in 2 weeks but they only need to be at 85 when the season begins so they can have over the limit for summer school. They were never going to be at 85 going into the fall semester I don’t think because Shaun Crawford (health, transfer) is a question mark, Javon McKinley (treading lightly), and Trevor Ruhland (medical) were all going to be question marks and some roster attrition was going to happen inevitably. As for 2020, they are at 18 scholarship DLineman if you subtract Ewell and count Jamir Jones as a redshirt. I think they’re still 0-1 for remaining spots on the DLine.

Crawford didn’t sound like a question mark (at least on the transfer end) last week when Kelly said he’s not transferring. But I agree 85 scholarships was never going to be a problem. There Is Always Room.

On that note, did they say if Ewell has any particular injury? I don’t recall him ever really being hurt so much as not “in football shape.”

 

[Luckylucci]

The significance of Ewell is for the 2020 roster as he would've been a counter if not for this. So this gets us to 85 for this season and opens a spot for next. If McKinely or Crawford were how we got there, they weren't going to count against the 85 for 2020 regardless. So, this could be looked at as a positive for both sides.

 

[benneboy]

The significance of Ewell is for the 2020 roster as he would've been a counter if not for this. So this gets us to 85 for this season and opens a spot for next. If McKinely or Crawford were how we got there, they weren't going to count against the 85 for 2020 regardless. So, this could be looked at as a positive for both sides.

Pretty sure Crawford would be eligible for a 6th year. Not sure if he would do that but you'd have to to consider offering it if he stays healthy between now and then.

 

[Luckylucci]

Pretty sure Crawford would be eligible for a 6th year. Not sure if he would do that but you'd have to to consider offering it if he stays healthy between now and then.

Fair and that certainly should be taken into account. I just don't see it as likely.

 

[GBdomer]

But wait, how will we ever get below 85?

If he and Ruhland end up medicals, I hope we push hard for Simon. It's been suggested we may not know the plan for Ruhland until fall, so I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I’d be shocked if Ruhland isn’t a medical

 

[IrishFaninTX]

I’d be shocked if Ruhland isn’t a medical

What's wrong with Ruhland?

 

[BobbyMac]

What's wrong with Ruhland?

Chronic shoulder issues but his biggest problem is Patterson's the starter and if you believe the current depth chart, he's #4 at center behind Correll and Lugg.

In other words... He's sitting on someone's scholarship.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Chronic shoulder issues but his biggest problem is Patterson's the starter and if you believe the current depth chart, he's #4 at center behind Correll and Lugg.

In other words... He's sitting on someone's scholarship.

That is hard to fathom considering he made five starts last year. If he's really become buried (and not due to injury) then I guess the OL really has progressed significantly.

 

[BobbyMac]

That is hard to fathom considering he made five starts last year. If he's really become buried (and not due to injury) then I guess the OL really has progressed significantly.

I definitely think his physical condition has played a part in this. Add that to there are young guys ascending quickly and he's not at full strength to fend off the charge.

As far as how it's handled, you don't need to give him a medical to free up a spot. He graduated. He just isn't invited back. He could GT somewhere, play and work on his Masters. Hehas that option too if healthy enough.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Ruhland was one of those technique-not-strength centers --- OK if you don't have centers who know what they're doing, but supremely by-passable if true studs learn the position.

 

[Irishize]

Crawford didn’t sound like a question mark (at least on the transfer end) last week when Kelly said he’s not transferring. But I agree 85 scholarships was never going to be a problem. There Is Always Room.

On that note, did they say if Ewell has any particular injury? I don’t recall him ever really being hurt so much as not “in football shape.”

Sounding like McKinley may have finally made a positive impact in the WR corps. Kid struggled to break out yet was a model student-athlete. Then he gets in some off-field trouble where most assume that’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back as far as his scholly, yet he emerges as a possible contributor as a senior. Kevin Austin likely helped leave the door open as he’s a question mark to start the season in the rotation according to Prister & O’Malley.

 

[stlnd01]

Sounding like McKinley may have finally made a positive impact in the WR corps. Kid struggled to break out yet was a model student-athlete. Then he gets in some off-field trouble where most assume that’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back as far as his scholly, yet he emerges as a possible contributor as a senior. Kevin Austin likely helped leave the door open as he’s a question mark to start the season in the rotation according to Prister & O’Malley.

Yeah, by all accounts McKinley was a solid citizen up until his episode with NDSP this spring. You don't run off a kid who's close to graduating just because he doesn't live up to his recruiting rankings. Or, at least, you shouldn't. Plus, as you said, reading between the lines of BK's comments last week, Austin won't be seeing the field the first few weeks. So they'll need McKinley at least some, just as they did in the last couple games of 2018.

But, I ask again, what is this medical condition Ewell has developed that is apparently ending his career? Because all I can recall hearing is that he was having a hard time running the stadium last summer. Which is unfortunate but not exactly a debilitating injury.

 

[T-Boone]

Sounding like McKinley may have finally made a positive impact in the WR corps. Kid struggled to break out yet was a model student-athlete. Then he gets in some off-field trouble where most assume that’s the straw that breaks the camel’s back as far as his scholly, yet he emerges as a possible contributor as a senior. Kevin Austin likely helped leave the door open as he’s a question mark to start the season in the rotation according to Prister & O’Malley.

Imagine if he had a season that lived up to his recruitment. That would be something.

 

[T-Boone]

If Ewell is off the football team I'll add my name to the list of people wishing him every success in the future.

 

[BobbyMac]

Imagine if he had a season that lived up to his recruitment. That would be something.

... and would seriously bale me out. I would have bet my life he was going to be a lot closer to Michael Floyd than Floyd the Barber.

Best HS player I ever saw in person.

 

[T-Boone]

... and would seriously bale me out. I would have bet my life he was going to be a lot closer to Michael Floyd than Floyd the Barber.

Best HS player I ever saw in person.

You get to put it down to the injury though. No doubts he would have been the man.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

You get to put it down to the injury though. No doubts he would have been the man.

Maybe he can still be the man. Maybe he just needed this much time to fully recover.

One can hope...

 

[NDinMI]

Off the roster according to Eric Hansens last update. Must have been cleared for the Medical hardship. I know he has a child back home and I hope everything else works out for him and his family.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Off the roster according to Eric Hansens last update. Must have been cleared for the Medical hardship. I know he has a child back home and I hope everything else works out for him and his family.

Hopefully he gets that degree. Not everyone is cut out for primetime football but he can still do great things.

 

[arrowryan]

Biggest bust in the BK era and is it even close?

In all seriousness though, I hope he gets his degree and has a successful career.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Biggest bust in the BK era and is it even close?

In all seriousness though, I hope he gets his degree and has a successful career.

Max Redfield?

 

[arrowryan]

Max Redfield?

I mean, at least Redfield contributed before he decided to go to Fulton County. Ewell never played a snap.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Biggest bust in the BK era and is it even close?

In all seriousness though, I hope he gets his degree and has a successful career.

Uh...Gunner Kiel? Davonte Neal? Tee Sheperd? Josh Barajas? Greg Bryant (RIP), Javon McKinley?

We've had some big signings that didn't pan out. I don't think any of these can be attributed to coaching or lack thereof.

It's more fun to talk about the guys the exceeded expectations.

 

[Irish Joe]

Uh...Gunner Kiel? Davonte Neal? Tee Sheperd? Josh Barajas? Greg Bryant (RIP), Javon McKinley?

We've had some big signings that didn't pan out. I don't think any of these can be attributed to coaching or lack thereof.

It's more fun to talk about the guys the exceeded expectations.

Goes without saying, but this also isn't uniquely a Notre Dame thing.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Goes without saying, but this also isn't uniquely a Notre Dame thing.

Of course that goes without saying but thanks for saying it. I would hazard that Kelly & Co.'s track record of developing talent is in the very top tier of CFB.

We're putting 3-5 guys in the league every year it seems (with an occasional young class) and we're signing top 10-15 classes. Now that recruiting is trending up in terms of signing more top 100/200 talent, I expect that number will go up.

 

[Luckylucci]

Biggest bust in the BK era and is it even close?

In all seriousness though, I hope he gets his degree and has a successful career.

No, he's not and it's not even close, lol.

It might have felt like it because, at that time, DT recruiting was so bad but he was the composite ranked 147th. Gunner Kiel was a composite 5 star, #1 Pro-style QB, and 26 overall. Davonte Neal was composite 57th overall. Greg Bryant was composite 48th. Redfield should be on the list because he was composite 5 star, ranked 29th overall. I'd put all of those guys ahead of Ewell. But Kiel takes the cake and that's not close.

 

[Irish Joe]

Of course that goes without saying but thanks for saying it. I would hazard that Kelly & Co.'s track record of developing talent is in the very top tier of CFB.

We're putting 3-5 guys in the league every year it seems (with an occasional young class) and we're signing top 10-15 classes. Now that recruiting is trending up in terms of signing more top 100/200 talent, I expect that number will go up.

Here to help....

 

[Rocket89]

No, he's not and it's not even close, lol.

It might have felt like it because, at that time, DT recruiting was so bad but he was the composite ranked 147th. Gunner Kiel was a composite 5 star, #1 Pro-style QB, and 26 overall. Davonte Neal was composite 57th overall. Greg Bryant was composite 48th. Redfield should be on the list because he was composite 5 star, ranked 29th overall. I'd put all of those guys ahead of Ewell. But Kiel takes the cake and that's not close.

Ehh, I don't know about that list. Kiel, Neal, Bryant, and Redfield at least played a significant amount of time in college. Kiel threw for nearly 7,000 yards with 56 touchdowns at Cincinnati!!

Ewell belongs with the likes of Javon McKinley (so far) and Josh Barajas as Top 200 guys who couldn't break the 4-deep in major college football. That list is super tiny at Notre Dame.

 

[Luckylucci]

Ehh, I don't know about that list. Kiel, Neal, Bryant, and Redfield at least played a significant amount of time in college. Kiel threw for nearly 7,000 yards with 56 touchdowns at Cincinnati!!

Ewell belongs with the likes of Javon McKinley (so far) and Josh Barajas as Top 200 guys who couldn't break the 4-deep in major college football. That list is super tiny at Notre Dame.

McKinley should be on the list. Good call on Barajas.

If it's busts of the Kelly era, don't see why we'd use production at other schools. Seems irrelevant. We "signed" a 5 star QB and got zero production from him.