'17 VA DT Darnell Ewell (Notre Dame Signee)

[arrowryan]

I guess I just view it differently. I remember having sky high expectations for Ewell on NSD.

 

[arrowryan]

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.

I can see it both ways. You'd want it to judge them based off their production at ND. I think thats fair.

But just because someone doesn't fit in at ND or they didn't want to sit on the bench doesn't necessarily make them a bust. Kinda like with Kiel. He found his school and found some success there.

 

[Luckylucci]

I guess I just view it differently. I remember having sky high expectations for Ewell on NSD.

You're not alone there. I did as well. And it's still surprising that he was never even remotely close to being a rotational part of either the DL or the OL.

 

[PANDFAN]

I can see it both ways. You'd want it to judge them based off their production at ND. I think thats fair.

But just because someone doesn't fit in at ND or they didn't want to sit on the bench doesn't necessarily make them a bust. Kinda like with Kiel. He found his school and found some success there.

but lost his job and never got it back at cinci

 

[IrishLion]

but lost his job and never got it back at cinci

Not for lack of effectiveness... he had a huge 2014 season, but injuries derailed a decent campaign in 2015, then off-the-field issues kept him on the side for the most part in 2016.

Many thought he should have been given a chance in 2016 beyond his limited reps, but he really wasn't up for it physically or mentally.

 

[Irish#1]

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.

I think it depends on how you define these. If you're going to be so liberal as to use recruits that signed but didn't make it here, then maybe. Tee wanted to be here. To me the recruit has to have signed, enrolled and attended classes which eliminates a lot of these kids.

Not ever getting on the field, has to carry more weight than anything else IMO. Bryant (RIP) was a bust, but at least he carved out a little playing time. Redfield played more than GB.

 

[Luckylucci]

I think it depends on how you define these. If you're going to be so liberal as to use recruits that signed but didn't make it here, then maybe. Tee wanted to be here. To me the recruit has to have signed, enrolled and attended classes which eliminates a lot of these kids.

Not ever getting on the field, has to carry more weight than anything else IMO. Bryant (RIP) was a bust, but at least he carved out a little playing time. Redfield played more than GB.

Every player on my list signed, enrolled, and attended classes.

 

[KizerWilhelm]

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.

It'd be fair to say it was the biggest failure of talent evaluation of the BK era.

 

[stlnd01]

It'd be fair to say it was the biggest failure of talent evaluation of the BK era.

Maybe. Though it wasn’t just us. Ewell had all the offers - Bama, Clemson, Ohio State - and was universally ranked as a top ten DT.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Max Redfield?

Max lighting up Devin Gardner should remove him from the biggest bust debate alone.

Definitely a bust, but that was a glorious moment.

 

[Irish#1]

Every player on my list signed, enrolled, and attended classes.

We're going to split hairs here, because we know Tee was stopped by administration right after he got on campus. IIRC he only attended a class or two before he was pulled.

I don't see how anyone classifies someone as a bust without being given the opportunity to get on the field.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

We're going to split hairs here, because we know Tee was stopped by administration right after he got on campus. IIRC he only attended a class or two before he was pulled.

I don't see how anyone classifies someone as a bust without being given the opportunity to get on the field.

He was a top 50 player, #5 CB so we all had high expectations. His whole career was a bust. He signed with ND, we had high expectations then he never stepped foot on the field. Went JUCO, signed with Ole Miss, quit the team

How can that not be labeled as a bust? He was a part of the signed recruiting class and never even played a snap. It could be argued that's the biggest bust possible.

 

[Luckylucci]

We're going to split hairs here, because we know Tee was stopped by administration right after he got on campus. IIRC he only attended a class or two before he was pulled.

I don't see how anyone classifies someone as a bust without being given the opportunity to get on the field.

I didn’t have Tee on my list.

 

[NDMIA]

He was a top 50 player, #5 CB so we all had high expectations. His whole career was a bust. He signed with ND, we had high expectations then he never stepped foot on the field. Went JUCO, signed with Ole Miss, quit the team

How can that not be labeled as a bust? He was a part of the signed recruiting class and never even played a snap. It could be argued that's the biggest bust possible.

So does that make Eddie Vanderdoes a bust? How about Cade McNamara? What about Robert Beal? Tee never even got a chance to play at ND. He enrolled in January, was back home by early March, and I don’t think he ever suited up in a single official spring practice for Notre Dame. Also, Eddie Vanderdoes and sick grandmas aside, Tee has 90% hearing loss and I think that’s a pretty crazy extenuating circumstance. I think busts are better explained when a guy is actually on campus for more than a cup of coffee. Tee was super disappointing but it was pretty much a non-football issue that took him out of playing. Darnell Ewell played football at ND for 3 years and never touched the field. That’s a massive difference

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

So does that make Eddie Vanderdoes a bust? How about Cade McNamara? What about Robert Beal? Tee never even got a chance to play at ND. He enrolled in January, was back home by early March, and I don’t think he ever suited up in a single official spring practice for Notre Dame. Also, Eddie Vanderdoes and sick grandmas aside, Tee has 90% hearing loss and I think that’s a pretty crazy extenuating circumstance. I think busts are better explained when a guy is actually on campus for more than a cup of coffee. Tee was super disappointing but it was pretty much a non-football issue that took him out of playing. Darnell Ewell played football at ND for 3 years and never touched the field. That’s a massive difference

Eddie V. - debatable because he didn't completely bust and ultimately landed in the NFL. I'd say no, it was just a huge disappointment.

Cade McNamara? So now you're comparing players that verbal'd to someone who signed in our class, enrolled and then was dismissed before his first camp?

Robert Beal? Same as above.

Why not start throwing out guys who once said nice things about ND.

 

[NDMIA]

Eddie V. - debatable because he didn't completely bust and ultimately landed in the NFL. I'd say no, it was just a huge disappointment.

Cade McNamara? So now you're comparing players that verbal'd to someone who signed in our class, enrolled and then was dismissed before his first camp?

Robert Beal? Same as above.

Why not start throwing out guys who once said nice things about ND.

That’s my point. If you’re going to rank busts. Rank guys who actually suited up for ND in practice. Tee Shepard never played a snap of practice football. Or else you could just keep expanding to guys who committed once, thought about ND once, and so on. Gunner Kiel would be pretty high up for me. Darnell Ewell would as well.

 

[Irish#1]

I didn’t have Tee on my list.

My apologies.

 

[Irish#1]

He was a top 50 player, #5 CB so we all had high expectations. His whole career was a bust. He signed with ND, we had high expectations then he never stepped foot on the field. Went JUCO, signed with Ole Miss, quit the team

How can that not be labeled as a bust? He was a part of the signed recruiting class and never even played a snap. It could be argued that's the biggest bust possible.

Overall I don't disagree with you. I remember quite well his rating and the excitement of landing him, then his missteps afterward. There was an air of uncertainty after he committed and right after he showed up, then away he went. If we are discussing top college football recruits busts he would rank right up there, but the question was biggest bust at ND.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

That’s my point. If you’re going to rank busts. Rank guys who actually suited up for ND in practice. Tee Shepard never played a snap of practice football. Or else you could just keep expanding to guys who committed once, thought about ND once, and so on. Gunner Kiel would be pretty high up for me. Darnell Ewell would as well.

Overall I don't disagree with you. I remember quite well his rating and the excitement of landing him, then his missteps afterward. There was an air of uncertainty after he committed and right after he showed up, then away he went. If we are discussing top college football recruits busts he would rank right up there, but the question was biggest bust at ND.

Fair enough, we're all choosing to put the imaginary line in different places. And we're having this conversation because summer workouts/fall camp videos and reports can't get here fast enough.

I'm including Tee as a bust because I was ecstatic about him and Greenberry coming to ND. Then Greenberry defected on signing day and Tee probably didn't fully unpack.

We lost a lockdown CB and didn't have a contingency plan and that is the definition of bust to me.

Bust to you apparently means they had to have stayed a couple seasons or possibly exhausted their eligibility at ND with minimal or no production.

Cool.

 

[Irish#1]

Fair enough, we're all choosing to put the imaginary line in different places. And we're having this conversation because summer workouts/fall camp videos and reports can't get here fast enough.

I'm including Tee as a bust because I was ecstatic about him and Greenberry coming to ND. Then Greenberry defected on signing day and Tee probably didn't fully unpack.

We lost a lockdown CB and didn't have a contingency plan and that is the definition of bust to me.

Bust to you apparently means they had to have stayed a couple seasons or possibly exhausted their eligibility at ND with minimal or no production.

Cool.

How boring would this be if we all agreed? lol

 

[koonja]

I was so wrong about this guy. Completely wrong.

 

[NDMIA]

Fair enough, we're all choosing to put the imaginary line in different places. And we're having this conversation because summer workouts/fall camp videos and reports can't get here fast enough.

I'm including Tee as a bust because I was ecstatic about him and Greenberry coming to ND. Then Greenberry defected on signing day and Tee probably didn't fully unpack.

We lost a lockdown CB and didn't have a contingency plan and that is the definition of bust to me.

Bust to you apparently means they had to have stayed a couple seasons or possibly exhausted their eligibility at ND with minimal or no production.

Cool.

Agreed. ND is much more equipped now to have guys not producing at their rankings which is fantastic. Javon McKinley and Isaiah Robertson haven’t been amazing at WR as 4* recruits but ND has Claypool, Finke, Austin, Keys III, Lenzy, and Young which more than makes up for a couple of weaker developers. And you’re absolutely right about arguing over busts. It’s all semantics because it honestly doesn’t matter anymore.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I was so wrong about this guy. Completely wrong.

Agreed. I really thought he was going eat the interior. Didn't expect him to be a pass rusher but thought he'd swallow double teams and not give an inch.

Cheers to you for admitting a miss.

 

[koonja]

Agreed. I really thought he was going eat the interior. Didn't expect him to be a pass rusher but thought he'd swallow double teams and not give an inch.

Cheers to you for admitting a miss.

It's not that I won't admit a miss, they're just so few and far between.

Not sure I need the italics TBH.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

It's not that I won't admit a miss, they're just so few and far between.

Not sure I need the italics TBH.