'19 GA LB JD Bertrand (Notre Dame Signee)

[NDRock]

You forgot that Greer Martini quickness, and the werewolf qualities of pre-injury Jarrett Grace.

Wow, you’re right. Totally forgot about Grace and his werewolf qualities. Good call.

 

[irishog77]

Without watching any film he reminds me of Drue Tranquill with some Dan Fox and Danny Spond thrown in there. Hopefully he can bring the pre-snap ability of Joe Schmidt with Carlo Calabrese’s love of family.

Any confirmation if this kid has a barb wire tat on his bicep like Urlacher?

 

[Irish YJ]

“The interesting name [this weekend] is J.D. Bertrand, who is a Rivals 250 four-star linebacker from Georgia,” McKinney said. “He de-committed from the University of Georgia last week, sort of a mutual parting of ways. Georgia told him they would honor the commitment but that they had other guys coming in and might not have enough room in the class, and he could find some playing time elsewhere. He’ll unofficially visit [Notre Dame this weekend]. Doesn’t have an offer from Notre Dame yet, but he’s coming up from Georgia, so I think the mutual interest is there and he’s [a highly-ranked player], so I think a lot of schools will be going after him. That’s probably the most intriguing name of the short list of guys we have so far [coming in this weekend].”

https://ndsmcobserver.com/2018/10/i...m-to-add-rutherford-and-others-to-2019-class/

 

[Mavericknyc1980]

Irish need to be all over this.

 

[Irish YJ]

Irish need to be all over this.

Sounds like they are.
Very dick move by UGA imo to a local kid, from an area/school they probably shouldn't be dicks to. At least they were honest I guess and communicated early instead of F'ing him late in the cycle before NSD.

 

[snoopdog]

Sounds like they are.
Very dick move by UGA imo to a local kid, from an area/school they probably shouldn't be dicks to. At least they were honest I guess and communicated early instead of F'ing him late in the cycle before NSD.

Sounds like they were the exact opposites of being dicks.

They were going to honour the scholarship, but let the kid know that he would unlikely see much game action from their most recent analysis.

Win win move by Georgia. If he stays he can’t complain, but if he wants to play, here’s an opportunity for you son.

 

[Irish YJ]

Sounds like they were the exact opposites of being dicks.

They were going to honour the scholarship, but let the kid know that he would unlikely see much game action from their most recent analysis.

Win win move by Georgia. If he stays he can’t complain, but if he wants to play, here’s an opportunity for you son.

will honor, but have other guys coming in, and might not have room

"Might not have room" is the opposite of honoring the scholarship, no?
Sounds like SEC double speak to me.

IMO, it was "hey, we're going to have better guys coming in, so you need to leave. we're going to tell you we'll honor the scholarship, but if you stay, you'll never play because you're just not good enough. we only offered you as a back up plan in case we missed on the kids we really wanted"

 

[OhioIrish31]

will honor, but have other guys coming in, and might not have room

"Might not have room" is the opposite of honoring the scholarship, no?
Sounds like SEC double speak to me.

IMO, it was "hey, we're going to have better guys coming in, so you need to leave. we're going to tell you we'll honor the scholarship, but if you stay, you'll never play because you're just not good enough. we only offered you as a back up plan in case we missed on the kids we really wanted"

One man's trash...another man's treasure.

 

[Irish YJ]

One man's trash...another man's treasure.

He gave a lot of attention to Vandy early before he went UGA. He's a good, smart kid, from all reports. At minimum, would be a great locker room kid and hard worker.

 

[stlnd01]

Sounds like they were the exact opposites of being dicks.

They were going to honour the scholarship, but let the kid know that he would unlikely see much game action from their most recent analysis.

Win win move by Georgia. If he stays he can’t complain, but if he wants to play, here’s an opportunity for you son.

Maybe they would have given him an academic scholarship and a preferred walk-on? Or greyshirt him somehow?

Because "wouldn't have room" sounds like they didn't want him counting toward their scholarship limit for this class/85-man roster, not just "gosh you probably won't start as a junior."

Regardless, good opportunity for us. Maybe move fast though. Looks like he's picking up quality offers on a daily basis.

Also, Kyle Hamilton says this...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Four-star LB <a href="https://twitter.com/JDBertrand1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JDBertrand1</a> decommitted from Georgia last week and will be visiting Notre Dame on Saturday. 2019 commit Kyle Hamilton knows him well: “Off the field, he’s the nicest kid you will ever meet. But on the field, he is a totally different dude." <a href="https://t.co/5TutE3yurj">https://t.co/5TutE3yurj</a></p>— Carter Karels (@CarterKarels) <a href="https://twitter.com/CarterKarels/status/1050830260508471301?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Irish YJ]

plays FB/TE as well as MLB. He's rated both ILB and OLB
Wiscy, FSU, and TCU offers in the last week in addition to many previous...

 

[BabyIrish]

Was he offered

 

[BobbyMac]

Bertrand didn't report one
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great weekend in South Bend!☘️ <a href="https://t.co/LS5E3Wg14F">pic.twitter.com/LS5E3Wg14F</a></p>— JD Bertrand (@JDBertrand1) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDBertrand1/status/1051597560316596224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[dublinirish]

Bertrand didn't report one
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great weekend in South Bend!☘️ <a href="https://t.co/LS5E3Wg14F">pic.twitter.com/LS5E3Wg14F</a></p>— JD Bertrand (@JDBertrand1) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDBertrand1/status/1051597560316596224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

FYI the sweater JD is wearing is a Dublin, Ireland Gaelic Football one. His HS team played in Ireland back in 2016 on the weekend BC and GT played in Aviva Stadium. JD's dad is Irish born and bred

Blessed Trinity sophomore J.D. Bertrand was eager to see Blackrock College, his team’s host. Bertrand’s father, Jim, attended school and played rugby there. "This has been a new and exciting experience for our team,’’ Bertrand said. “We're all very thankful to have had this opportunity."

https://www.myajc.com/blog/high-sch...d-get-ready-for-games/qdGybZshvRwoMViqX6u58O/

Former Irish rugby champion Jim Bertrand said watching his son, Blessed Trinity's JD Bertrand, and his team practice and play on the same pitch where he led his rugby team to four national victories was a "surreal experience."

High school football teams savor adventure in Dublin, Ireland

 

[NDIrish88]

FYI the sweater JD is wearing is a Dublin, Ireland Gaelic Football one. His HS team played in Ireland back in 2016 on the weekend BC and GT played in Aviva Stadium. JD's dad is Irish born and bred



https://www.myajc.com/blog/high-sch...d-get-ready-for-games/qdGybZshvRwoMViqX6u58O/



High school football teams savor adventure in Dublin, Ireland

WHAT!!! I feel like that has to help NDs case right?

 

[zelezo vlk]

High school teams are playing in Ireland now??

 

[dublinirish]

WHAT!!! I feel like that has to help NDs case right?

you would hope so!

High school teams are playing in Ireland now??

they have been every weekend there are CFB games in Dublin going back to 2012 when ND played Navy.

Couple of ND players have played HS games in Ireland including Shayne Simon and the Ade twins

 

[zelezo vlk]

Craziness

 

[dublinirish]

Craziness

Bertrand would have played against Simon and the twin's St. Peter's Prep that day. SPP hockeyed them.

St Peter’s Prep 41 Blessed Trinity 28 | Global Football

 

[NDMIA]

Bertrand didn't report one
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Great weekend in South Bend!☘️ <a href="https://t.co/LS5E3Wg14F">pic.twitter.com/LS5E3Wg14F</a></p>— JD Bertrand (@JDBertrand1) <a href="https://twitter.com/JDBertrand1/status/1051597560316596224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 14, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

I really hope there’s an explanation for this one. Offers from Florida, Georgia, FSU, LSU, Miss State, Stanford, TCU, Wisconsin, and others, but there’s no room? Not good enough academics? Not good enough of a football player? Is he not tall enough? Cause it seems like he’s significantly bigger than Lea and Kelly (Kelly isn’t very tall I don’t think). ND has DJ Morgan, Jonathan Jones, Jordan Genmark-Heath, Drew White, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Ovie Oghuofo, and Jack Kiser as 3 star recruits. From a recruiting perspective their LBer position group is one of the weakest in the program and yet they don’t want to take an SEC caliber linebacker from Georgia? I hope there’s more to it than just not liking the kid for his talent or academics.

 

[beryirish]

I really hope there’s an explanation for this one. Offers from Florida, Georgia, FSU, LSU, Miss State, Stanford, TCU, Wisconsin, and others, but there’s no room? Not good enough academics? Not good enough of a football player? Is he not tall enough? Cause it seems like he’s significantly bigger than Lea and Kelly (Kelly isn’t very tall I don’t think). ND has DJ Morgan, Jonathan Jones, Jordan Genmark-Heath, Drew White, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Ovie Oghuofo, and Jack Kiser as 3 star recruits. From a recruiting perspective their LBer position group is one of the weakest in the program and yet they don’t want to take an SEC caliber linebacker from Georgia? I hope there’s more to it than just not liking the kid for his talent or academics.

You came away with all of that just by him tweeting "Great weekend in South Bend."? lol

 

[NDMIA]

You came away with all of that just by him tweeting "Great weekend in South Bend."? lol

He’s reporting offers daily as they come in. I think he would’ve reported an offer from ND if he got one. So that paragraph was assuming he wasn’t offered.

 

[ab2cmiller]

BK's following the "You wait 3 days to call" principle. Doesn't want to come off as desperate.

 

[NDIrish88]

BK's following the "You wait 3 days to call" principle. Doesn't want to come off as desperate.

Either way ND should offer because LB depth next year is little unproven. On the flip side Clark Lea is the LB coach and he is awesome, so that is we will see.

 

[Luckylucci]

Either way ND should offer because LB depth next year is little unproven. On the flip side Clark Lea is the LB coach and he is awesome, so that is we will see.

How would a freshman fix a depth chart that is unproven? He’ll be just as unproven as anyone. I doubt they are bringing in Kiser and Ekwonu expecting them to start next year. He does nothing to fix nexts year problem. It’s going to be up to the Sophomore and above classes to develop.

You offer if you think he can eventually help the team and have the space.

 

[Wingman Ray]

And you have to thing, GA passed for a reason. Yes GA is a good program but it isnt a Bama. So for GA to pass on a local talent kid for others says something they saw didnt wow them.

Just because a kid has SEC interest doesnt make him all american. And there are a ton of players on SEC teams today that wouldnt be starting at ND today.

Trust the coaches. If he wowed them, he would have an offer. Doesnt make him a bad player or not a fit, just for whatever reason the staff didnt offer.

 

[BabyIrish]

Are we in need of another LB in this class?I don't recall that being on our list since Kiser committed?
Don't forget we are on a bye week, so we can easily visit him at the end of the week and offer if need be.

 

[NDIrish88]

Are we in need of another LB in this class?I don't recall that being on our list since Kiser committed?
Don't forget we are on a bye week, so we can easily visit him at the end of the week and offer if need be.

I don't think the staff will add anyone if they are not a fit. I completely agree with that but I really like this kid's film and think he is a fit. I think he also has flexibility to play Buck and Mike.

2020 looks promising so far if ND is only taking 3 LB/Rover. Kalel Mullings and Cody Simon looks promising. Lea may then be going after a big target similar to Brandon Smith this cycle.

Also guys like Jordan Turner, Korey Smith, Ben Kreul etc. they could look at. There are others like Ethan West and Kaden Johnson I think are more a DROP but they could play Buck probably. Crus probably has his favorites as well.

 

[BobbyMac]

And you have to thing, GA passed for a reason. Yes GA is a good program but it isnt a Bama. So for GA to pass on a local talent kid for others says something they saw didnt wow them.

Just because a kid has SEC interest doesnt make him all american. And there are a ton of players on SEC teams today that wouldnt be starting at ND today.

Trust the coaches. If he wowed them, he would have an offer. Doesnt make him a bad player or not a fit, just for whatever reason the staff didnt offer.

You're right. UGA isn't Bama, they're a full point higher than Bama in APR. Bama's only #1 in class ranking because they currently have 4 more commits than UGA. The reason Bertand decommitted is UGA told him they were going after and will take 5* Nakobe Dean who plays the same position in their scheme. He could have stayed in the class had he chosen to.

In regards to my take on him and ND: If they know they have an extra spot opening up at LB, take him if that's what he wants. They may not be officially offering now because some LB who will not be on the active roster in '19 doesn't know it or hasn't announced it at this time.

You have to love his film but at best he's a Buck without Drue Tranquill's combine measurables coming out of HS. He's a much better HS defender at this time than Drue was during his HS Sr year and he may be the next Dax Hollifield who is currently the #5 in tackles at VT. On the other hand, he doesn't have Kiser's track speed and therefore doesn't have Kiser's ceiling as and Buck/Rov who like Drue has the advantage of playing the game as a Saftey/LB in HS.

If he doesn't commit soon to say UF, I could see ND scooping him late in the cycle after ND's pieces fall into place... much like Clemson DE commit Ruke Ohorhoro could.

 

[dublinirish]

pop quiz: name the last high profile CFB Linebacker with an Irish born father?

Clue: he signed with a ND rival and was a 1st Team All American