'18 UT DT Sam Taimani (Washington Verbal)

[stlnd01]

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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I was more objecting to the idea of turning Ewell around. He's needed right away, on defense. I don't have enough sense of this kid yet to know which side of the ball he's better at.

But I'm generally of the opinion that Notre Dame can ever have enough talented defensive linemen. It's one of the positions where depth matters most and yet it's one where, for all sorts of reasons, they always struggle to develop a quality rotation. As evidenced by your crack about Jerry Tillery. Right now he's our best defensive lineman. He might have been a starter on the O Line.

Either way. Taimani's a take and figure it out when the dust settles next spring.

 

[BobbyMac]

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.

You got all that from his OL film?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I was more objecting to the idea of turning Ewell around. He's needed right away, on defense. I don't have enough sense of this kid yet to know which side of the ball he's better at.

But I'm generally of the opinion that Notre Dame can ever have enough talented defensive linemen. It's one of the positions where depth matters most and yet it's one where, for all sorts of reasons, they always struggle to develop a quality rotation. As evidenced by your crack about Jerry Tillery. Right now he's our best defensive lineman. He might have been a starter on the O Line.

Either way. Taimani's a take and figure it out when the dust settles next spring.

I was not replying to your post, I was replying to Irishman77. I have no issue with what you wrote and agree mostly. Clearly Ewell should play DT right off the bat. But i don't think he is needed desperately this year. Don't sleep on Hinish and MTA. They may have more playing time this year than Ewell.

Irishman77 is making a statement the Sam is going to be an all American DT which at this point is a big stretch. I'm just pointing out all the services list him as a OG. I'm a little hesitant to go against the services as the last two players who were Olinemen recruits nationally and ended up playing DT have underwhelmed, Jarron Jones and Terry Jillery.

How dare you make that statement that Tillery is the best DL on the team over Daelin Hayes! Daelin is in his own league talent wise of DL on the team. Seriously though lets face it if Daelin was able to play a full season his senior year you are talking about a consensus 5 star top 20 player. And I know Daelin was 5 star on Rivals.


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[Irishman77]

I was not replying to your post, I was replying to Irishman77. I have no issue with what you wrote and agree mostly. Clearly Ewell should play DT right off the bat. But i don't think he is needed desperately this year. Don't sleep on Hinish and MTA. They may have more playing time this year than Ewell.

Irishman77 is making a statement the Sam is going to be an all American DT which at this point is a big stretch. I'm just pointing out all the services list him as a OG. I'm a little hesitant to go against the services as the last two players who were Olinemen recruits nationally and ended up playing DT have underwhelmed, Jarron Jones and Terry Jillery.

How dare you make that statement that Tillery is the best DL on the team over Daelin Hayes! Daelin is in his own league talent wise of DL on the team. Seriously though lets face it if Daelin was able to play a full season his senior year you are talking about a consensus 5 star top 20 player. And I know Daelin was 5 star on Rivals.


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Our DE depth is not ideal, but is just fine imo. Our glaring need is the middle two positions on the DL. We have nobody! I hope Tillery suddenly grows a pair and proves me wrong , but landing Sam along with last years DL class would be a huge move forward. Our inside DL roster is full of tweeners and weeners!

 

[Luckylucci]

Our DE depth is not ideal, but is just fine imo. Our glaring need is the middle two positions on the DL. We have nobody! I hope Tillery suddenly grows a pair and proves me wrong , but landing Sam along with last years DL class would be a huge move forward. Our inside DL roster is full of tweeners and weeners!

Going into fall camp we have a 4 deep at WDE/Drop, all with 3+ years of eligibility left. At SDE, we have a 4 deep, with 3 having 2+ years of eligibility left. When this class makes it to campus, we'll have 7 DE's, hardly a numbers need. In fact, that is pretty close to max numbers.

 

[Luckylucci]

I stand corrected. The staff is recruiting him as an OG/C, or interior OL.

https://notredame.forums.rivals.com/threads/more-notes-on-four-star-ol-sam-taimanis-nd-visit.109702/

 

[Irishman77]

Going into fall camp we have a 4 deep at WDE/Drop, all with 3+ years of eligibility left. At SDE, we have a 4 deep, with 3 having 2+ years of eligibility left. When this class makes it to campus, we'll have 7 DE's, hardly a numbers need. In fact, that is pretty close to max numbers.

Sorry i wasn't clear. but i am not talking about DE. I have little concerns there other than proof of production. This thread and my comments are about the middle two positions on the DL. Anyway, I really hope we land Sam and he doesn't start wearing pink socks around the gug.

 

[Sherm Sticky]

I stand corrected. The staff is recruiting him as an OG/C, or interior OL.

https://notredame.forums.rivals.com/threads/more-notes-on-four-star-ol-sam-taimanis-nd-visit.109702/

Behind a paywall. But thanks for the info. This makes more sense to me.

Also we all seem to forget about Khalid Kareem. He could easily be a near dominant garage.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I'm okay with having played Jarron at DT, and the same with Tillery. Jarron at his best was a dominant force inside, and Tillery can be the same. Both of their issues stem from inconsistency. That's not changing regardless of which side of the line they're on.

It's the hand we're dealt. Tillery and Jarron were swing guys who could play offensive and defensive line at a high level, and we obviously put them on defense, because we recruit offense better. With Tillery, it's on him. He has to lock in and be the guy he's capable of on the interior. Dominant and consistent. He's got the talent, he's got the experience. He's got to buy in to the process and take charge.

Taimani's instance is the same; A swing guy, but at the moment, our offensive interior isn't looking that great from a depth perspective, compared to our DL. So this swinger will likely be on offense.

 

[stlnd01]

What Balki said. I know some people don't like to swing offensive linemen to defense, but given our struggles to recruit the interior D Line in recent years I'm not sure we had any better choice with Jones or Tillery.

Sticky I'm with you on D Hayes (and I'm not sleeping on Jay Hayes either). He has the potential in the world. But so does Tillery. I actually think our starting four can be a pretty solid defensive line this year, if they stay healthy and play up to their potential. It's what's behind them on the depth chart that worries me. That's why we need Ewell.

Anyway, Taimani for O line makes sense, too. He seems like one of those guys you just want to get into the program. He'll fit somewhere.

 

[KizerWilhelm]

I stand corrected. The staff is recruiting him as an OG/C, or interior OL.

Well that settles the Ade question then.

 

[JordanIrish]

Update: Sam and Cameron Latu are good friends, when Latu committed to Bama recently, Sam was there decked in ND gear. I also heard schools are kinda backing off cuz they think he will be Irish. FYI.

 

[BobbyMac]

Was just looking over some Indiana HS football stories and ran across an article about a Poly player at Penn who plays with Paul Moala named Leegrand Alovili. In the story it says that since moving to Michiana, they have lived with another family whose sons also have been in the Penn program. They're the Vakalahi family. Vakalahi was originally the surname that Sam Taimani went by.

Any of you Michiana guys know if this is a close family member?

The Sam news has gone quiet recently. I'd assume he'll be in town for SC.

 

[BobbyMac]

Hate it when life gets in the way of Irish recruiting...

I was wondering why his recruitment had gone silent. So Loy says Taimani is no longer expected to end up at ND. Says, "there are some hurdles in play". Those dreaded hurdles.

Freebie:

Like it, Love it, Leave it — Notre Dame and the Crystal Ball Gallery Slides

 

[arrowryan]

Committed to Washington yesterday.

Was wondering what happened as Notre Dame seemed to be the favorite in the summer. Then I just read Crusader's post stating that he had some hurdles to clear.