2012 Class Rankings

[GoldenIsThyFame]

College Football Class Rankings 2012 - ESPN

7/22/11

1. Texas
2. FSU
3. Alabama
4. Florida
5. Michigan
6. Miami
7. Clemson
8. Texas A&M
9. LSU
10. Auburn
11. Oklahoma
12. USC
13. Texas Tech
14. Notre Dame
15. South Carolina
16. Georgia
17. Missouri
18. TCU
19. Virginia Tech
20. Arizona State
21. Penn State
22. Stanford
23. Vanderbilt
24. UVA
21. UNC

 

[Cali_domer]

We need to be higher than that yikes. I know it is early still.

 

[magogian]

The rankings make NO sense. Granted, these rankings mean nothing at this stage, but still . . .

ND ranked #13 with 3 ESPNU 150, 5 4 star, 4 3 star.

Mich ranked #6!!! with 2 ESPNU 150, 6 4 star and 7 3 star.

One possible explanation is that it is a numbers game. But then, Auburn which is ranked #12 has only 2 ESPNU 150, 4 4 star and 3 3 star.

ESPN at this stage is just making s--- up.

 

[NDinL.A.]

We need to be higher than that yikes. I know it early still.

It's not even a big deal - at all. This class's strength will be predicated on a hot start. Right now, people are still in wait and see mode regarding ND. Is the defense really that good? Is ND really back? Will BK run the ball? etc etc.

Right now, you'll see ND start to wait on elite guys at many positions. That means if we start out well, those guys will really start to consider ND strongly (esp RBs), even guys that are committed to other schools. If/when we go 3-1/4-0, you'll see a huge upswing in recruiting. Until then, we might get a commit or 3, but nothing like we'll see if the team starts off hot...

 

[IrishLax]

I wish they gave us some metrics or transparency. I seriously have no clue how they come up with this stuff.

 

[Riddickulous]

We need to be higher than that yikes. I know it is early still.

13th? God forbid.

Come on. Kelly was 12-0 in 2009, and his senior class had a whopping one three-star recruit and was ranked in the hundreds.

 

[beryirish]

Still early but just a good reason for people to get on and talk about it. With the recruits ND is targeting, they will only climb in the rankings.


They are comparing Joe Bolden to Luke Kuechly????

 

[koonja]

ND will get more 4 & 5-star players from here on out and less 3-star players. This will jump the ratings, note it!

 

[Irish Fam]

ND will get more 4 & 5-star players from here on out and less 3-star players. This will jump the ratings, note it!

Not only will we get higher ranked players, I believe our current commitments will move up in the rankings. This will help move us up in the team rankings... ESPN has greenberry as the 84th receiver in their rankings right now and he has been lighting the camps up out West. He will undoubtedly move up

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Our class is clearly better than TCU. We have the same amount of 4 star players and one more top 150 player. I'm pretty sure what pulls our numbers down is we have an unranked player in the long snapper. He pulls the "computer numbers" down.

 

[Irish Man3]

Fun to talk about early on but this means nothing. With the Prestwood transfer, ND can now really relax on OL recruiting and wait for some elite talent. Same goes for our defensive backfield and wide receiving core. Im not saying we land nothing but elite talent from here on out, but the full court press will be on the elites of this class.

Even with low numbers this year, it is very likely that ND will finish with a top 10 class. Like NDinLA said, if we go 7-1 or 8-0, this class will really take off. These recruits are looking for a reason to believe that ND is for real.

 

[beryirish]

Michigan is hauling ace right now. Two big pickups on Friday in Strobel and Magnuson. This year they already have 9 4* recruits. Legit recruits too and mainly on defense. Last year they only had 5 4* recruits. (Scout rankings) Hoke is doing a good job. Bright spot for Michigan. Let's see how that translates onto the field. If good, then look forward to some ESPN Instant Classics between Notre Dame and Michigan in years to come.

 

[ThePiombino]

13th? God forbid.

Come on. Kelly was 12-0 in 2009, and his senior class had a whopping one three-star recruit and was ranked in the hundreds.

While I don't believe that A) ND's final ranking will be anywhere near 13 nor B) that even if it was 13 that it would really matter due to this coaching staff's ability to get the most out of their players (and then some!), I would be a lot quicker to agree with your POV completely if ND had the same schedule Cinci had that year. Southeast Missouri State, Syracuse, Illinois, etc... Don't get me wrong- ANYTIME you go undefeated in the regular season, it's an impressive feat! It's just a little less impressive when it's out of the weakest conference in the nation. If Cinci faced MSU, UM, USC, BC that year I'm not so sure they would have ended up #4 and in a BCS bowl. So just because Kelly had 1 3-star that year doesn't quite carry as much weight as if he were to have pulled that off in the Big- or Pac-10. Again, I'm not trying to discredit him. I'm just saying not all things are equal here.

 

[NDOM]

I never pay much attention if any to recruiting until they sign on the dotted line and are enrolled in school. In the meantime EVERYONE is free game. I have faith that Brian Kelly knows who fits his system and if its a bunch of 3 star players then so be it.

 

[IrishLax]

We likely won't finish in the top 10. Not targeting enough DL/OL which are completely over-valued in the rankings by ESPN. And we're taking an overall small class of ~20. Not concerned.

 

[phork]

These rankings are meaningless to me. Because if you can't point to the scoreboard and claim victory a #1 class doesn't really mean much. I'd rather be #1 on the field.

 

[jmurphy75]

There is no way to even guess where we will finish, it is way too early. Look at all the de-commits that happened last year, and we can only guess what kind of effect a winning season will have on recruits.

 

[ThePiombino]

We likely won't finish in the top 10. Not targeting enough DL/OL which are completely over-valued in the rankings by ESPN. And we're taking an overall small class of ~20. Not concerned.

If by some miracle of God we land DGB and KM you can bet your bottom dollar that this year's class will be top-10.

There is no way to even guess where we will finish, it is way too early. Look at all the de-commits that happened last year, and we can only guess what kind of effect a winning season will have on recruits.

THIS!!! There is no doubt in my mind that the high-4/5-star recruits will be giving ND a much more serious look if ND simply wins games! Make it to a BCS game and dividends WILL be paid!

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Agree with Lax, and see the class consistenly in the 12-15 range across the board come NSD.

The way I've always looked at recuiting is if you would be happy for your team to finish the season ranked the same as their incoming class was, then you recruited well. I'd be very happy to see ND finish in the 12-15 range this year, and anything above that would be gravy.

 

[tankjeep]

meh, no need to worry. bk's got this train on the right track.

go irish!!

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Defensive backs: The top classes

1. Notre Dame
Brian Kelly may have an offensive reputation but he’s been all defense on the recruiting trail. Following last year’s defensive line haul that was better than any other group in the country, Notre Dame is on pace to match the trenches with skill. Tee Shepard has proven himself to be among the national elite at cornerback this spring and Ronald Darby is one of the fastest players in the country at any position. COMMITMENTS: Ronald Darby, Tee Shepard, Nicky Baratti, C.J. Prosise.

 

[Rocket89]

^ Nice!

 

[Whiskeyjack]

In case it's not clear from Golden's quote, 247 currently rates our 2011 DB recruit "class" as the best in the nation; thus the (1) next to Notre Dame.

 

[IrishLax]

Best DBs + best DL = ???

The real question is how do our ILBs play in 2013.

 

[hrc08]

There are soooo many great HS football players in America that it hardly matters. ND will get good players. Its the coaching and s&c that really matters. Oh and we have both of those bases well covered.

 

[Blaise]

I would not worry much about these ratings.... Until players really start playing their senior year.... guys fall up and down all the time

 

[WhoDeyIrish]

There are soooo many great HS football players in America that it hardly matters. ND will get good players. Its the coaching and s&c that really matters. Oh and we have both of those bases well covered.

+1

I completely agree with you on this. There are a few prospects of course that are can't miss that I would love to land. I think we have been getting a couple of those guys and I hope we can continue to do so.

 

[Riddickulous]

Best DBs + best DL = ???

The real question is how do our ILBs play in 2013.

Kendall Moore could be in his third year starting, by then, if Carlo Calabrese doesn't step up his game in pass coverage.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Updated the rankings. We fell down one spot. Clemson jumped way up and UM up to #5.

O$U falls out of the Top 25.