We are actually heavy on numbers for the DL. Counting signees last class, we have 18 scholarship DL on the roster... that means we're 4+ deep on the DL. Given expected signees for the '18 class, we'll still be 4 deep on the DL without Jay Hayes or Bonner.
Is there any other position where you'd ask back players who don't contribute when you're 4 deep without them?
Obviously, if Jay Hayes and Bonner start playing a lot of meaningful snaps then of course you'd ask them back... but neither has regularly played 20% of snaps a game while they've been on campus.
It's a zero sum game. If you pass on a '18 recruit to have them back for another year, that means your kicking the recruiting can down the road and when the '18 kids are upperclassmen you'll have have one less developed player because a few years previous you passed on a kid to bring back a guy that doesn't play. So that's why it's absolutely not a foregone conclusion both will be back. In fact, I'll bet either of you that at least one of them isn't.
This^^^
'18 is not the year you skip on DT's. I've never seen a year where so many top DT's are from Irish friendly areas. In years past, this is a position that has has far to many recruits buried in SEC country and many of which didn't have ND, Duke & Stanford offers. They need to thin the heard and take advantage of a bumper crop like they did at OL last year. Would love to get Jayson Ademilola, PJ Mustipher and a 3rd. Doesn't have to be a High 4 per the services but a solid player. ND's in good shape with grossly undervalued Ja'Mion Franklin and there's a lot to love with his film
Here's a look at the Comp Top 9:
#1 - Taron Vincent
IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL)
**Irish friendly staff including Maurice Stovall and HC from Indiana
#2 - Tommy Togiai
Highland (Pocatello, ID)
**Tristen Hoge's HS
#3 - Josh Belk
Lewisville (Richburg, SC)
**Clemson Commit
#4 - Matthew Jones
Erasmus Hall (Brooklyn, NY)
**ND does very well with NY recruits they go after
#5 - Michael Thompson
Parkway North (Saint Louis, MO)
**Irish offered - Catholic School - Mizzou & Illinois weak
#6 - Austin Fontaine
DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD)
** The Godfather of Catholic Sports schools. '17 MBB basketball recruit DJ Harvey, Coach Brey, Adrian Dantley all alums
#7 - PJ Mustipher
McDonogh School (Owings Mills, MD)
** Obvious. Why isn't he committing? Not a year they need a Army Bowl announcement. It's a year where they build as a unit for the full year. Should we be worried?
#8 - Tyler Friday
Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, NJ)
** No idea why they haven't offered. Same great conference as the Ademilola Twins. ND should absolutely rake in this conference. A quarter of the general student body is from the conference. Italics?
#9 - Rick Sandidge
Concord (Concord, NC)
** ACC footprint. Duke offer. No ND offer. ND doing solid work in NC, have offered the Top 4 players ahead of Sandidge and probably lead for Hollifield.
