2014 Master List

[dwshade]

Have we pretty much written Elam off??

Not at all.

 

[ACamp1900]

Not at all.

Then wouldn't HE be the most important 'get' this class??

 

[Domina Nostra]

Then wouldn't HE be the most important 'get' this class??

Only if you think that you have a similarly good shot at both of them. Holley is by far the best high-probability option at our biggest-need position. He would lose that status if Elam jumped aboard, but Holley is more important at this point.

Kind of like Folston and Bryant last year.

 

[ACamp1900]

I guess that was my point...

 

[Me2SouthBend]

Front 7 wish list
Lorenzo Carter
Holley
Thomas
Yeargin 3

FIFY. After all you did say wish list.

 

[Irish Man3]

Front 7 wish list
Andrew Williams
Holley
Thomas
Yeargin 3

......awkward

Seriously though, he's out.

Front seven wish list:

LORENZO CARTER
Yeargin
Mouton
Holley
Thomas
Garrett
....... & LORENZO CARTER

 

[Irishman77]

......awkward

Seriously though, he's out.

Front seven wish list:

LORENZO CARTER
Yeargin
Mouton
Holley
Thomas
Garrett
....... & LORENZO CARTER

You are the man , but I respectfully disagree. If he shows up this summer with his parents, I feel he is Irish. Just think if the staff gave up on Tuitt in July. There will be blood on the streets before we give up this fight.....

 

[NDFAN22]

Is carter the last stud DE were even close to being in on? I've said it before but why wouldn't more elite kids be interested after seeing Tuitt and nix do so well. Yes I know it's only July but just seems like not many floating around anymore.

 

[STLDomer]

Is carter the last stud DE were even close to being in on? I've said it before but why wouldn't more elite kids be interested after seeing Tuitt and nix do so well. Yes I know it's only July but just seems like not many floating around anymore.

Carter is a CAT

The DEs on the board are Solomon and Chad Thomas. There's also Matt Dickerson out of CA

 

[md_bennett]

Carter is a CAT

The DEs on the board are Solomon and Chad Thomas. There's also Matt Dickerson out of CA

Did we give up on Malik McDowell or he not really high on ND? Seems like a kid we could get back with as he likes the northern schools.

 

[STLDomer]

Did we give up on Malik McDowell or he not really high on ND? Seems like a kid we could get back with as he likes the northern schools.

I think we certainly cooled on him after getting Hayes and Trumbetti, I'm not sure if there is still contact. I don't think he was really that high on their board. The perception is that he has an insane frame but in terms of actually playing football, not too impressive. OSU also got others and then cooled on him. Even the Michigan 247 writer Steve Lorenz who can be a huge Michigan homer admits he is overrated.

 

[NDWorld247]

DE is really the least of our worries right now. We already have Trumbetti and Hayes, and likely Blankenship and Bonner after they spend their redshirt year as an apprentice at CAT, if you choose to believe reports that's where they will start out.

The DEs on our board are icing on the cake at this point. NT/DT and ILB are much more urgent needs in the front seven.

And re: McDowell, I'm not trying to be that guy but I wasn't blown away by his tape the first time I watched it. I certainly didn't see a top 5 DE in the country. After seeing his poor attitude at the Rivals Challenge (basically giving up every time he was beat), I'm happy he will be suiting up for someone else.

 

[IrishLax]

DE is really the least of our worries right now. We already have Trumbetti and Hayes, and likely Blankenship and Bonner after they spend their redshirt year as an apprentice at CAT, if you choose to believe reports that's where they will start out.

The DEs on our board are icing on the cake at this point. NT/DT and ILB are much more urgent needs in the front seven.

And re: McDowell, I'm not trying to be that guy but I wasn't blown away by his tape the first time I watched it. I certainly didn't see a top 5 DE in the country. After seeing his poor attitude at the Rivals Challenge (basically giving up every time he was beat), I'm happy he will be suiting up for someone else.

Mike Frank (I think) had a good quote that the problem with McDowell is that he may have a lot more Will Campbell in him than Louis Nix. Out of HS people had questions about both Campbell and Nix in terms of how they would adjust to "bringing it" every play in college... Nix got in shape and under Kelly's tutelage became an absolute monster and warrior in the trenches. 5 Will Campbell never seemed to play with any fire/urgency/consistent effort... and even through his last season he was still blaming other people for his shortcomings (including HS and previous coaches).

It seems like everyone but Michigan has seriously cooled on McDowell. Maybe even Michigan too or I don't know why he isn't committed already. They are by far the best school actively recruiting him.

 

[NDPhilly]

I prefer Thomas Holley at DE in the 3-4 but we can't really afford to not put him there. Maybe Jay Hayes could play there? He's already 6'5" 275ish.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Some trivial opinions:

a]. If we have "24" scholarships, then I'd prefer 1QB, 1RB, 3WR, 2TE, 4OLine, 1K, 2ILB, 2DB, 1DOG, 5 DBIGS, and two others.

b]. My "D BIGS" category is a new one in my mind, which encompasses all "four" positions between CAT and NT. This is something that I've discussed with Whiskey [to the detriment of his ideal roster management ratios no doubt], but which I'm sort of forced to contemplate.

c]. The previous is because the "feel" that I get from the Staff is of a necessity to flow easily between 3-4 and 4-3 and "you can't tell which pre-snap", and that unless you have Big Lou permanently [plus Big Lou Two as back-up], you must make do with a much more dynamically fluxing roster at these three/four positions [think Springmann, Schwenke, Day, Okwara, Utupo, Shembo-hand-on-ground, Williams-hand-on-ground, etc.].

d]. And, because of that, it seems to me that Kelly/Diaco don't any longer see as clear a distinction as to where/how a "Bonner" or a "Blankenship" or a "Trumbetti" or a "Hayes" will actually play. They'll have an opening vision, of course, but it's VERY flexible. Some players in the D BIGS group will "lean towards" the CAT side of this spectrum, and some D BIGS will lean towards the NT side, but categorizing potential playing position is getting fuzzier.

e]. So, relevant{?} to 2014 recruiting, I see a need to slot in one D BIG who leans towards the NT end [Holley], and probably one "best available D BIG" who could be anywhere on the spectrum. Of course Lorenzo Carter seems to be the gem, but Solomon Thomas or Andrew Williams would be some of others in play --- but not all of them, so the bus is nearly full here.

f]. I. like I guess everybody, would like Luatua at TE and someone like Quick at the final WR. We need one of Morgan or Mouhon at ILB, and maybe Young for a possible DOG. Despite Jaylon, I think that it is an error not to take a high-ceiling athlete who can play DOG each year. I'm no expert on the DBs but two might be enough this time.

g]. So, speculating wildly, if we were blessed enough to get two DBs, Luatua, Quick, Holley, Morgan or Mouhon, Young, a best-available like Carter, then Kelly would be "full" if he had to take a second QB.

This class would then be another colossal tribute to the staff's ability to recruit and stock the Ammo-locker for several more years to come.

The main reason that I wrote these ideas up is that I wonder if athletes like Solomon Thomas or Andre Williams or Morgan/Mouhon/Young/Yeargin or Quick realize that we have very little flexibility coming into the fall season.

 

[STLDomer]

QB Kizer
RB Hood
WR Brent, Holmes, McKenzie, Quick
TE Weishar, Luatua
OL Byrne, Mustipher, Nelson, Bars

DE: Hayes, Trumbetti, Blankenship
DT: Holley
OLB: Bonner, Yeargin III
ILB: Martini, Johnson
CB: Watkins, Wilson

ATH: Juju Smith
K: Tyler Newsome

 

[Rack Em]

QB Kizer
RB Hood
WR Brent, Holmes, McKenzie, Quick
TE Weishar, Luatua
OL Byrne, Mustipher, Nelson, Bars

DE: Hayes, Trumbetti, Blankenship
DT: Holley
OLB: Bonner, Yeargin III
ILB: Martini, Johnson
CB: Watkins, Wilson

ATH: Juju Smith
K: Tyler Newsome

I'd sign up for that. But there is some part of me that thinks we'll land a defensive superstar. Basically 1 of Carter, Garrett, Morgan, or Thomas. I know we're not "leading" for any of them but I'd say we're in the race for Carter, Morgan, and Thomas.

I feel it down in my plums.

 

[NDPhilly]

You think we get Quincy Wilson? Seems like a UF lean.

 

[Rack Em]

You think we get Quincy Wilson? Seems like a UF lean.

*Woodrow Wilson

 

[irishog77]

Is Rita Wilson still in play for the staff?

 

[Rack Em]

Is Rita Wilson still in play for the staff?

Apparently. SLU just picked her.

 

[irishog77]

Haha!!!

 

[Whiskeyjack]

b]. My "D BIGS" category is a new one in my mind, which encompasses all "four" positions between CAT and NT. This is something that I've discussed with Whiskey [to the detriment of his ideal roster management ratios no doubt], but which I'm sort of forced to contemplate.

c]. The previous is because the "feel" that I get from the Staff is of a necessity to flow easily between 3-4 and 4-3 and "you can't tell which pre-snap", and that unless you have Big Lou permanently [plus Big Lou Two as back-up], you must make do with a much more dynamically fluxing roster at these three/four positions [think Springmann, Schwenke, Day, Okwara, Utupo, Shembo-hand-on-ground, Williams-hand-on-ground, etc.].

d]. And, because of that, it seems to me that Kelly/Diaco don't any longer see as clear a distinction as to where/how a "Bonner" or a "Blankenship" or a "Trumbetti" or a "Hayes" will actually play. They'll have an opening vision, of course, but it's VERY flexible. Some players in the D BIGS group will "lean towards" the CAT side of this spectrum, and some D BIGS will lean towards the NT side, but categorizing potential playing position is getting fuzzier.

e]. So, relevant{?} to 2014 recruiting, I see a need to slot in one D BIG who leans towards the NT end [Holley], and probably one "best available D BIG" who could be anywhere on the spectrum. Of course Lorenzo Carter seems to be the gem, but Solomon Thomas or Andrew Williams would be some of others in play --- but not all of them, so the bus is nearly full here.

OMM's Theory of Ideal Depth* gave rise to a very neat Excel depth chart, but now he goes and muddies the water on me. If it becomes clear that this is how the staff is approaching DL depth, I'll just combine DE and DT into a single category; though trying to distinguish DL from ROLBs might be challenging.

*Patent pending

 

[Domina Nostra]

OMM's Theory of Ideal Depth* gave rise to a very neat Excel depth chart, but now he goes and muddies the water on me. If it becomes clear that this is how the staff is approaching DL depth, I'll just combine DE and DT into a single category; though trying to distinguish DL from ROLBs might be challenging.

*Patent pending

To put in Kelly's terms, you generally recruit skill, big skill, and power. You could fill most spots on a team if you had 25 Max Redfields, 25 Jaylon Smiths, and 25 Stephon Tuitts.

However, QB is an exception. No one cares if a good QB can't play anywhere else. Their skill set is unique.

Same with NT. While you may have some DLinemen who can play in or out, NT is kind of a stand-alone position.

 

[woolybug25]

OMM's Theory of Ideal Depth* gave rise to a very neat Excel depth chart, but now he goes and muddies the water on me. If it becomes clear that this is how the staff is approaching DL depth, I'll just combine DE and DT into a single category; though trying to distinguish DL from ROLBs might be challenging.

*Patent pending

Messing with data points in Whiskey's excel spreadsheats????

 

[Old Man Mike]

............sorry. It's an imperfect Universe.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Pretty sure I brought up this point awhile ago. People get hung up on which specific position a recruit will play. The bottom line is the front seven almost needs it's own category. Sure, some kids will be a sure fit at a single position. But others can play multiple positions and the depth chart becomes wildly fluid.

If having a front seven category is too huge, then make two: Linebackers and Defensive Linemen and call it a day. (The problem with this obviously is what you guys have already mentioned...the CAT LB can transition to to a 4-3 DE w/ his hand in the dirt, thus muddying the waters further). IMO, a Front 7 category with everyone listed seems just fine. Like OMM said, some will project towards the bigger NT end of the spectrum while others will project more towards the LB side.

 

[STLDomer]

UPDATED

UPDATED

.

 

[dwshade]

Believe tj and Sampson have stated that ND is actually recruiting Adoree Jackson for receiver as opposed to DB. However as long as track remains a big deal I don't think we have much of a shot.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Thanks sluh