'18 UT DT Sam Taimani (Washington Verbal)

[Luckylucci]

This would be a good get

Yes it would, I expect we'll really impress him today.

 

[OCIrish]

visiting ND today

Thanks Dublin, I didn't realize he moved up his visit THIS soon!! Would not be unhappy at all if he ends up Irish.

 

[dublinirish]

he retweeted Jahmir Smith's commitment tweet and generally does this for a lol or pro-ND stuff. There are no other school's stuff on his twitter timeline really

 

[BobbyMac]

This recruitment is confusing to me.

He's being recruited as a DT first but we have no film or stats to look at because apparently, he hasn't played the position as a Soph or a Jr. On the hoof, he appears to be a no brainer at the DT spot but his HS coach doesn't play him there. He appears to have the athletic ability to play the position but this is where it gets interesting, compare his Nike testing to another OG who we have been told is not athletic enough to get an ND offer:

Sam Taimani:

6-2 - 310 lb

5.47 - 40

4.96 - Shuttle

33.0 - Pwoer Ball

24.2 - Vert

Total = 68.43


Emil Ekiyor:

6-2.5 - 339 lb

5.18 - 40

4.78 - Shuttle

50.0 - Power Ball

26.0 - Vert

Total = 101.97


If Sam Taimani is worthy of an offer that starts him off as a DT (without experience at the position) and then the possibility of moving to OG/OC at just 6-2 and his athletic ability then circular logic would lead me to believe that Emil Ekiyor should have been offered at NG. He's very Louis Nix-esque in size and obviously a better athlete. If that didn't work out then maybe HH would have changed his mind about EE not being athletic enough or disciplined enough to keep in shape because he's dropped 20 lbs and performed very well at The Opening which is more than it appears Sam did as an OL.

<iframe width="500" height="280" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Md8ZWlKh61M" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[koonja]

Are Jay Ade and Franklin on board with taking a 3rd, a highly rated one at that? I've heard Jay Ade is locked in as long as we don't over recruit the position. A couple of sources have said this, TIFWIW.

 

[BeauBenken]

Are Jay Ade and Franklin on board with taking a 3rd, a highly rated one at that? I've heard Jay Ade is locked in as long as we don't over recruit the position. A couple of sources have said this, TIFWIW.

Like sources that you pay for or people that you know?

 

[koonja]

Like sources that you pay for or people that you know?

Paid sources. Although it was on the podcasts where this was said. The comment was along the lines of "as long as they don't over recruit, Jay Ade is solid with ND".

 

[Luckylucci]

Like sources that you pay for or people that you know?

Loy has made that comment on a couple of occasions. Not sure what the numbers are or their feelings. I can't imagine the staff would be doing something to jeopardize the Jayson A. recruitment.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Loy has made that comment on a couple of occasions. Not sure what the numbers are or their feelings. I can't imagine the staff would be doing something to jeopardize the Jayson A. recruitment.

Pretty sure II has said it too

 

[KizerWilhelm]

Are Jay Ade and Franklin on board with taking a 3rd, a highly rated one at that? I've heard Jay Ade is locked in as long as we don't over recruit the position. A couple of sources have said this, TIFWIW.

I think ND has some wiggle room if they remain ambivalent about whether he plays OT or DT. As far as Ade knows, they might not even be competing for playing time.

For Franklin, I'd be surprised if he decommits for any reason.

 

[BobbyMac]

Are Jay Ade and Franklin on board with taking a 3rd, a highly rated one at that? I've heard Jay Ade is locked in as long as we don't over recruit the position. A couple of sources have said this, TIFWIW.

But is he?

All 4 services rate him as an OG and i can't find any film or stats on him as a DT.

 

[Irish#1]

This recruitment is confusing to me.

He's being recruited as a DT first but we have no film or stats to look at because apparently, he hasn't played the position as a Soph or a Jr. On the hoof, he appears to be a no brainer at the DT spot but his HS coach doesn't play him there. He appears to have the athletic ability to play the position but this is where it gets interesting, compare his Nike testing to another OG who we have been told is not athletic enough to get an ND offer:


If Sam Taimani is worthy of an offer that starts him off as a DT (without experience at the position) and then the possibility of moving to OG/OC at just 6-2 and his athletic ability then circular logic would lead me to believe that Emil Ekiyor should have been offered at NG. He's very Louis Nix-esque in size and obviously a better athlete. If that didn't work out then maybe HH would have changed his mind about EE not being athletic enough or disciplined enough to keep in shape because he's dropped 20 lbs and performed very well at The Opening which is more than it appears Sam did as an OL.

After watching that clip, they better be looking at him for DT. Otherwise he'll never see the light of day on the o-line.

 

[BobbyMac]

Just received a CB to Washington from an analyst with the The UteZone.

Washington analyst Ruth Robbins CB'd him to the Huskies months ago.

 

[Domina Nostra]

- They aren't going to risk Ade. But his overall security as a prospect and the depth chart at ND have both changed from when he first committed. At this point, if I'm a near 5-star DT going to ND, I want more high-quality rotation guys to complement me. I'm not going to consider Taimani over-signing!

- HH likes tall linemen who can play OT or OG. He'll take the occasional pure OG when the fit is right and/or the need is there. We went into this off-season with a very different picture of the interior line than we have now, after losing Hoge and the bus dragger. A pure OG like Ekiyor wasn't even a real need 5 months ago. So I wouldn't put much stock in the explanations of why he wasn't offered.

- But the idea that Ekiyor isn't athletic enough was floating around before his testing came back. He ended up looking more impressive that people expected. Now Michigan is not communicating a lot with him, but Alabama is pushing for him? Sounds academic to me...

- A swing OG/DT is attractive!

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Loy

 

[BobbyMac]

Loy CB'd him to ND.

Wish they'd work on his teammate, Junior Angilau. 6-6, 300 lb OT. 247 has him as a 4* / 93 / #15 OT.

 

[KizerWilhelm]

He just nailed the Jahmir Smith commitment, so I'll be kind and call this good news.

 

[KizerWilhelm]

Second CB from Ramos.

 

[Irish#1]

He just nailed the Jahmir Smith commitment, so I'll be kind and call this good news.

blind squirrel

 

[Domina Nostra]

blind squirrel

I like our chances with a Catholic, Polynesian from Salt Lake City.

 

[Luckylucci]

Per Loy, we are crushing this visit. Bad news is, Koon says if we do extremely well on visits and the prospect doesn't commit, then we can't close. So maybe this isn't good news at all?????

247Sports Crystal Ball pick Sam Taimani to Notre Dame

 

[JordanIrish]

I am 95% certain he will be Irish. Wears ND gear all the time, life long fan, coach is a ND homer. If he doesn't commit today, I wouldn't be worried.

His school plays the 10th hardest schedule in the nation. IMG is traveling to Salt Lake to play this season, it will tell alot about how good this kid is.

 

[arrowryan]

Wiltfong also put in an Irish cb

 

[Domina Nostra]

Start snapping that ball Mr. Taimani!

 

[Irish Man3]

Definitely need a guard this cycle. Anxious to see where this kid would end up if Irish in the end.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Definitely need a guard this cycle. Anxious to see where this kid would end up if Irish in the end.

Yep.

Does the staff still see him as a DT? I'd like him or Ewell to end up playing guard.


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[stlnd01]

Yep.

Does the staff still see him as a DT? I'd like him or Ewell to end up playing guard.


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Um, have you seen our D Line depth chart?
Maybe Taimani plays O Line, but we need Ewell on defense yesterday.

Either side of the ball, this one's a nice pull. Hope they close it out.

 

[Irishman77]

Um, have you seen our D Line depth chart?
Maybe Taimani plays O Line, but we need Ewell on defense yesterday.

Either side of the ball, this one's a nice pull. Hope they close it out.

EXACTLY!!! I can't believe some question the need for Sam...I think this kid is GREAT and would be a 3 year starter on DL.

Only thing Sam seems to lack is "Powder Puff Syndrome" that has stricken so many on our roster.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

EXACTLY!!! I can't believe some question the need for Sam...I think this kid is GREAT and would be a 3 year starter on DL.

Only thing Sam seems to lack is "Powder Puff Syndrome" that has stricken so many on our roster.

They brought in 3 DT's last year and 2 already this year. So 6 DT's in two years. Sure fine why not. But all the sites have same rated as an OG. Why is ND recruiting him as a DT? So there could be Jerry Tillery 2.0?

Saying all that this kid is a take all day regardless of position.


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[FDNYIrish1]

Nice film. Completely destroying smaller kids but I really like the way he moves in space. Kids going to be a wrecking ball.