'20 NY LB Cullen Coleman (Northwestern Verbal)

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I'm a bit surprised not one person mentioned Michael Drennen II. He's a high academic, 4 star recruit and the runningback position group's Jimmy Christ. He just raked in his 35th offer from South Carolina and has now been offered by almost the entire SEC, the entire Big Ten, and has just about every major offer except Clemson and Oklahoma. Also, Bill Kurelic mentioned this a week ago...

"Drennen was back at Ohio State for the Buckeyes’ spring game. Ohio State and Notre Dame are perhaps the top two schools on his list right now."

Ohio State is going for the top of the top end talent at RB and that makes sense with Tony Alford. Just a guess at their board, but based off of visits this spring and what I've read I'd think it would be something like this...

.9939 5* Kendall Milton - visited a few weeks ago for a couple of days.
.9858 4* Bijan Robinson - visiting in the summer. has OSU CB's
.9742 4* Jalen Berger - visited yesterday
.9514 4* EJ Smith - visited OSU multiple times already
.9453 4* Seth McGowan - made his top 8. hard to know interest until visit
.9392 4* Sam Adams II - has visited. teammates with Gee Scott Jr.
.9307 4* Michael Drennen II - OSU/ND top two with OSU CB's
.8949 3* DeaMonte Trayanum - probably their next RB commit. All OSU
.8889 3* JuTahn McClain - OSU, UK, Mich, ND, PSU

I think what ends up happening is that one Ohio native ends up in the class and I think that's DeaMonte Trayanum who's committing probably soon (May/June) and then they'll get a top dog on their board like Kendall Milton or Bijan Robinson. NDCrusader has mentioned sometimes being in 2nd place for a kid isn't so bad like Ohio State and I think for Drennen, ND could do a lot worse at RB than a kid who's wanted by almost every relevant FBS school in the country.

If this happens and we first sign Tyree, then I'd love to add Drennen. I just assumed we were running 2nd and unlikely to get him in this class.

 

[Irish Man3]

For whatever reason, I'm just not a Coleman fan as a RB prospect. He just doesn't do a whole lot for me on film. I understand the athleticism and versatility, but there are several other runningbacks that are more natural to the position that I prefer.

I like Drennen, Murphy, and Edwards in that order with Edwards having a shot to move up higher with a full season as the number one back ahead of him.

 

[GoIrish41]

He's a man playing with children in his film. It's difficult to know how good he is with what appears to be such weak competition.

 

[NDMIA]

If this happens and we first sign Tyree, then I'd love to add Drennen. I just assumed we were running 2nd and unlikely to get him in this class.

I don’t think Ohio State takes him to be honest. Not that he isn’t good but I’m just guessing that they’ve got higher up dudes on their board and they like Trayanum more which I disagree with but they’re better at this than me lol. That’s why I think ND has a legit shot

 

[Luckylucci]

I'd be excited to take Cullen as an ATH. Less so, if he's an RB only.

 

[BobbyMac]

Wiltfong joined me tonight with an ND CB.

 

[NDIrish88]

Wiltfong joined me tonight with an ND CB.

So on 247 he is ranked as an OLB, but didn't he say he wanted to play RB? I feel like they are going to have to give him the Isiah Foskey pitch i.e. switching positions.

 

[BobbyMac]

So on 247 he is ranked as an OLB, but didn't he say he wanted to play RB? I feel like they are going to have to give him the Isiah Foskey pitch i.e. switching positions.

You bring him in and 100% let him have a shot at RB... but you don't wait forever for him to develop. This reminds me of Chase Claypool. Claypool has a shot to finally be a difference maker at WR but you can't tell me he wouldn't have been the prototype Drop candidate. Fortunately, ND had DH & JO there and didn't need Claypool in that slot.

The other thing you have to think Coleman can do is take over Claypool's spot on ST's.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

He runs like Derrick Henry.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

He's a plus athlete. Get him on the roster and let him compete, he'll find the right position.

 

[stpeteirish]

He runs like Derrick Henry.

except Henry played in the SEC and Cullen plays for a New York prep school.

 

[Irish#1]

except Henry played in the SEC and Cullen plays for a New York prep school.

Henry skip HS?

 

[BobbyMac]

Henry skip HS?

He's from a low level, country HS up on the Georgia line. Definitely didn't play big time FL HS football.

 

[CanadalovesND]

He's from a low level, country HS up on the Georgia line. Definitely didn't play big time FL HS football.

Henry also broke the high school career rushing record. The national record.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

except Henry played in the SEC and Cullen plays for a New York prep school.

When did I suggest otherwise?

 

[GrangerIrish24]

ND crystal ball from a Wisconsin insider

 

[BeauBenken]

So if we take Cullen but not Simon, is it because of position flexibility or because we like him better as a prospect?

 

[NDIrish88]

So if we take Cullen but not Simon, is it because of position flexibility or because we like him better as a prospect?

Still plenty of time to sort out the class, but not sure if that is why they do not take Simon. Still do not know if they will take Coleman to start out at RB either.

 

[PANDFAN]

i see people posted about reported 40 times etc....i don't see that kind of speed on his film at the rb position. maybe he is the thunder to tyree's lighting (fingers crossed) but i don't like the offer at RB to be honest. I also hope that this doesn't screw simon because i like having a guy that has been playing the position and understands the nuances...my .02 fwiw

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

i see people posted about reported 40 times etc....i don't see that kind of speed on his film at the rb position. maybe he is the thunder to tyree's lighting (fingers crossed) but i don't like the offer at RB to be honest. I also hope that this doesn't screw simon because i like having a guy that has been playing the position and understands the nuances...my .02 fwiw

I don't think many of us expect him to play RB. He'll have a chance to impress and earn minutes but I think a RS/special teams year will show him he can make a difference on the other side.

We have enough LB talent that he can take a year or two to learn the position and then vie for a spot. His athleticism would be top notch for LB.

At least that's my hope for the hybrid offer.

 

[stpeteirish]

ND crystal ball from a Wisconsin insider

followed by Loy. Something's happening here.

 

[Irish Man3]

i see people posted about reported 40 times etc....i don't see that kind of speed on his film at the rb position. maybe he is the thunder to tyree's lighting (fingers crossed) but i don't like the offer at RB to be honest. I also hope that this doesn't screw simon because i like having a guy that has been playing the position and understands the nuances...my .02 fwiw

I've said for weeks that I don't like it. Give me Simon at LB and Edwards as the 2nd RB.

 

[NDMIA]

Yea I’m really not a fan of this idea at all. I think Cullen Coleman is a real good prospect and does have exceptional versatility, but in my totally uneducated opinion I think that Cody Simon is just flat out better at LBer than Cullen Coleman and Tirek Murphy/Kyle Edwards/Michael Drennen II are just better at RB than Cullen Coleman but the staff likes his versatility. I dislike that a great deal. I’d much rather have Cody Simon and Tirek Murphy in the class than Cullen Coleman’s ability to play two positions. I still am amazed at the caution shown when it comes to numbers because there’s always room that gets made by the time the freshman arrive on campus. I don’t think 7 scholarship RB’s (Tyree and Murphy) is too much when Tony Jones Jr will be a RS SR and isn’t guaranteed a spot and you have a glut of RB’s in a small number of classes like Armstrong, Smith, and Flemister and one could decide to leave without playing time. Also LBer there’s always attrition from that position group in every season so I know they’ve recruited it heavily the last two cycles but don’t turn away a potential All American who really likes ND and has a family connection there. Here’s to hoping...

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I've said for weeks that I don't like it. Give me Simon at LB and Edwards as the 2nd RB.

I'd like this as well.

 

[rtrn2glory]

i don't like the idea of bringing him in based off of versatility. I'd rather have guys know where they fit and work there for their career. I'm just not a fan of position switching which I feel like we do way too much of as is.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

i don't like the idea of bringing him in based off of versatility. I'd rather have guys know where they fit and work there for their career. I'm just not a fan of position switching which I feel like we do way too much of as is.

Explain how we could do it less? The staff rarely tinker with a good thing.

They headliners moved:

Harrison Smith from S -> LB
Tranquil S -> LB
Riddick WR -> RB
Prosise S -> WR -> RB
Armstrong WR -> RB
Avery Davis QB -> RB -> CB

Who else did we swap and it somehow hurt the team/player development? I think the staff have done an exceptional job at moving players to meet needs and fully realize their potential.

There are other developmental prospects that have been moved but that's usually for depth or hoping the lightbulb goes on becaues they are getting buried.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Explain how we could do it less? The staff rarely tinker with a good thing.

They headliners moved:

Harrison Smith from S -> LB
Tranquil S -> LB
Riddick WR -> RB
Prosise S -> WR -> RB
Armstrong WR -> RB
Avery Davis QB -> RB -> CB

Who else did we swap and it somehow hurt the team/player development? I think the staff have done an exceptional job at moving players to meet needs and fully realize their potential.

There are other developmental prospects that have been moved but that's usually for depth or hoping the lightbulb goes on becaues they are getting buried.

sorry i just would rather bring in dudes that know where they fit and stick there. I feel like we do it more than other programs. I'm from Ohio and dont see it too much in cbus which they might, but I don't know for sure.

just an opinion.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

sorry i just would rather bring in dudes that know where they fit and stick there. I feel like we do it more than other programs. I'm from Ohio and dont see it too much in cbus which they might, but I don't know for sure.

just an opinion.

The opinion is fine, I just don't know how the staff can do it. It's like saying you don't think there should be hunger in the world. It seems like a very broad, idealistic statement.

Kelly and staff recruit for each position. Sometimes players don't pan out or they transfer out or we miss on recruits. We can either leave a gaping hole or try to find players with athletic profiles to fill the need.

If you are suggesting they recruit perfectly and have 100% retention of wanted players, that'd be great but again, I don't know how they do it.

I know we all like to point out issues but I'm very interested in hearing your solutions.

 

[NDMIA]

Explain how we could do it less? The staff rarely tinker with a good thing.

They headliners moved:

Harrison Smith from S -> LB
Tranquil S -> LB
Riddick WR -> RB
Prosise S -> WR -> RB
Armstrong WR -> RB
Avery Davis QB -> RB -> CB

Who else did we swap and it somehow hurt the team/player development? I think the staff have done an exceptional job at moving players to meet needs and fully realize their potential.

There are other developmental prospects that have been moved but that's usually for depth or hoping the lightbulb goes on becaues they are getting buried.

My problem with Coleman has less to do with changing positions and more to do with getting the best talent on the roster. I think if you were to take the roster management perspective out of it and just focus on who is better and likely to be better in the future then I have a tough time seeing Cullen Coleman as a better linebacker than Cody Simon. The bottom line is that I’m not judging Avery Davis on his ability to play QB inadequately, RB mediocrely, but rather how is he covering a man as a CB. If he’s not as good as someone else I don’t care about versatility. My point is that in 2022 I’d rather see a 6’2” 230lb Cody Simon manning the Buck position than a 6’3” 235lb Cullen Coleman. Ultimately I think you could fit both recruits into the squad but if numbers got tight and ND had to choose I’d pick Simon if it’s LBer and Murphy if it’s RB. ND does have 75 scholarship guys with eligibility after the 2019 season (76 if you count Jamir Jones). With 10 commits already I think they’re max out class can’t be more than 22-23 total. Then you’d need to see some serious attrition to the tune of 12-13 guys leaving before their eligibility is up. So yea decisions will be tough with recruiting over the next few months. I hope ND takes a gamble on some of those higher rated dudes though like Cody Simon and Tirek Murphy.

 

[dad4aa]

I don’t think the concern is taking a versatile player. For me, I just don’t like turning away what looks like a really good player with ties to ND to get someone who may be a little more versatile.