2018 Spring Roster

[Domina Nostra]

Updated for Holmes, Tiassum, and McIntosh.

 

[NDMIA]

Also, not a roster change, but wanted to mention that I think the plan for the DB/LB prospects is to get enough depth in cupboards at the DB position and then move DJ Morgan and/or Jordan Genmark-Heath to LB. From what I understand, DJ Morgan is 6'2'' and heading towards 220 and could pack on a couple extra with Balis and fit into the 6'2'' 230 Tranquil rover size. Also, Genmark-Heath may have grown himself out of the safety position. That is not to say that a 220lb safety doesn't exist (Kam Chancellor is 6'3'' 230), but I think seeing 17-19 DB Prospects on scholarship has given some people some questions because other positions are shorter on depth, but I think we should start the season at 16 scholly DB's (4-deep at every position) and 12 LB's (4-deep at every position) which is fantastic for depth and development.

 

[BobbyMac]

Also, not a roster change, but wanted to mention that I think the plan for the DB/LB prospects is to get enough depth in cupboards at the DB position and then move DJ Morgan and/or Jordan Genmark-Heath to LB. From what I understand, DJ Morgan is 6'2'' and heading towards 220 and could pack on a couple extra with Balis and fit into the 6'2'' 230 Tranquil rover size. Also, Genmark-Heath may have grown himself out of the safety position. That is not to say that a 220lb safety doesn't exist (Kam Chancellor is 6'3'' 230), but I think seeing 17-19 DB Prospects on scholarship has given some people some questions because other positions are shorter on depth, but I think we should start the season at 16 scholly DB's (4-deep at every position) and 12 LB's (4-deep at every position) which is fantastic for depth and development.

DJ Morgan was the #3 Rover last year.

JGH had a very nice Citrus Bowl at Stud. But as we've talked about before, who knows where he ends up because of his changing physical skill set and the abundance of talent at Buck - Rover - Stud.

It'll be interesting to see where he and JOK report at weight-wise next season. if you didn't know anything about their past position assignments you'd think the 220+ JGH would be the Rover and the 210- JOK would be the Stud.

 

[koonja]

So December and January were pretty weird. A couple of weeks ago we thought Tranquill, Bonner, Coney, and Tillery were possibly all gone.

If you only cared about the 2018 season, would you rather have Hiestand and Elko back, with all 4 gone? Or would you rather have our current situation, with all 4 starters back?

Give me the 4 starters, 3 of which will play in the NFL, to give my defense 10 starters total returning. I'll take that 2018 team over the one without Coney/Tranquill/Tillery/Bonner, but with Elko and Hiestand.

What do you think?

 

[Domina Nostra]

HOME STRETCH!!!!!

We all talked about getting down to numbers. That obviously made a lot of sense. But I wonder how many we are going to lose at this point? Seems like we've already shed a lot of weight.

 

[NDMIA]

Last Season we had 98 Recruited (15 left in offseason, including some before signing day)

This Season we have 97 Recruited (11 left in offseason)

Hopefully we get to the 100/101 mark by Signing Day then we should be at 85 in fall camp hopefully!

 

[Domina Nostra]

87 DONE

 

[NDdomer2]

kelly said expect more additions to the RB group before seasons tart

 

[Domina Nostra]

kelly said expect more additions to the RB group before seasons tart

I think what he meant was to expect some roster shuffling. Bracey, and maybe Jalen Elliot, Armstrong, Robertson, or someone like that...

 

[NDMIA]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brian Kelly said he feels “comfortable" at 89 projected scholarship players right now. Needs to be at 85 in September.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/961293072129773574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
If 89 is in fact the number. Is that Jimmy Byrne and Daniel Cage done with football at ND? Held out some hope that Cage's brain would recover and he could contribute as a veteran Nose Tackle.

 

[Domina Nostra]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brian Kelly said he feels “comfortable" at 89 projected scholarship players right now. Needs to be at 85 in September.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/961293072129773574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
If 89 is in fact the number. Is that Jimmy Byrne and Daniel Cage done with football at ND? Held out some hope that Cage's brain would recover and he could contribute as a veteran Nose Tackle.

I am leaving out Canteen and Newsome.

 

[longliveautrydenson]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Brian Kelly said he feels “comfortable" at 89 projected scholarship players right now. Needs to be at 85 in September.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/961293072129773574?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 7, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
If 89 is in fact the number. Is that Jimmy Byrne and Daniel Cage done with football at ND? Held out some hope that Cage's brain would recover and he could contribute as a veteran Nose Tackle.

I think anytime a player’s brain keeps him out for an entire season, it’s time to hang up the cleats. I’m hoping Cage gets his degree, finds a great job, and has a long, healthy life.

 

[irishog77]

I am leaving out Canteen and Newsome.

BK was specifically asked about those 2, and he said each are back.

 

[Domina Nostra]

BK was specifically asked about those 2, and he said each are back.

Then they're in. Fixed. 89.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

I think anytime a player’s brain keeps him out for an entire season, it’s time to hang up the cleats. I’m hoping Cage gets his degree, finds a great job, and has a long, healthy life.

Same here. I'm glad he played for us and I hope he's always Irish but don't jeopardize your future.

 

[IrishLax]

I think the roster looks as strong and deep on defense as we've had since '12 assuming Tranquill can get the job done at ILB.

Hayes/Okwara + Tillery/Bonner/MTA/Hinish + Karim/Hayes is a 2-deep on the DL of solid guys with meaningful game reps. Tillery and the "DROP" position in particular are NFL caliber players.

LB is more thin in terms of proven experience behind the starters... but Coney and Tranquill should be ballers at ILB. And I think Shayne Simon and JOK can be very good at ROVER, and then Bilal is a guy with some experience.

CB is loaded with veterans, and safety should see a significant upgrade. There are just very few holes on the roster if the safety position is more productive.

On offense, I'm more sacred. There is not a lot of depth/proven talent at OT. Hainsey is going to need to play MUCH better, which will probably happen in his second year as a starter. I think Kraemer should play inside at guard, so then who plays RT?

WR is terrifying unless some of the new players can step up OR Boykin/Claypool take big steps forward. TE looks great, the top 2 RBs will be great, and I think QB should be fine whether it's Book or Wimbush.

 

[snoopdog]

I think the roster looks as strong and deep on defense as we've had since '12 assuming Tranquill can get the job done at ILB.

Hayes/Okwara + Tillery/Bonner/MTA/Hinish + Karim/Hayes is a 2-deep on the DL of solid guys with meaningful game reps. Tillery and the "DROP" position in particular are NFL caliber players.

LB is more thin in terms of proven experience behind the starters... but Coney and Tranquill should be ballers at ILB. And I think Shayne Simon and JOK can be very good at ROVER, and then Bilal is a guy with some experience.

CB is loaded with veterans, and safety should see a significant upgrade. There are just very few holes on the roster if the safety position is more productive.

On offense, I'm more sacred. There is not a lot of depth/proven talent at OT. Hainsey is going to need to play MUCH better, which will probably happen in his second year as a starter. I think Kraemer should play inside at guard, so then who plays RT?

WR is terrifying unless some of the new players can step up OR Boykin/Claypool take big steps forward. TE looks great, the top 2 RBs will be great, and I think QB should be fine whether it's Book or Wimbush.

IMO WR will only be terrifying if BW is the starter and plays like last year. BW’s arm is more terrifying than the wr’s on this team.

 

[IrishLax]

IMO WR will only be terrifying if BW is the starter and plays like last year. BW’s arm is more terrifying than the wr’s on this team.

What WRs on the team are NFL caliber players? Excluding freshman, that we know nothing about.

 

[stlnd01]

What WRs on the team are NFL caliber players? Excluding freshman, that we know nothing about.

Claypool sure could be. I wouldn’t sleep on Michael Young.
But more to Snoop’s point (I think), a good QB can make an average WR - like, say, Boykin - look pretty darn good. BW in 2017 often made NFL caliber WRs like St Brown look bad.

 

[Irish YJ]

What WRs on the team are NFL caliber players? Excluding freshman, that we know nothing about.

I think Boykin could be.

QB was terrifying last year when we had assumed NFL talented WRs.

 

[Ndaccountant]

What WRs on the team are NFL caliber players? Excluding freshman, that we know nothing about.

Terrifying if you expect to make the playoffs.....yep I would agree.

Terrifying if you think double digit wins is the goal....debatable.

 

[snoopdog]

What WRs on the team are NFL caliber players? Excluding freshman, that we know nothing about.

I think Claypool, Boykin and McKinley are strong

But need an accurate qb to get them the ball.

I am higher on McKinley than most..... I think he will have a breakout year.

I think Claypool will have a monster year, if Book is the QB And I think the TE’s will be strong.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

What WRs on the team are NFL caliber players? Excluding freshman, that we know nothing about.

Why do we need them to be NFL caliber players? We have plenty of talent, let them go out and play with a QB who can throw it (because that's how this QB race ends). TE/RB take some of the pressure off.

If we can't find 3-5 contributors out of: Claypool, Finke, Boykin, McKinley, Smith, Canteen, Armstrong, Young, Austin, Jones, Keys, Lenzy then we need to find a new WR coach.

Now, I will say much of my confidence is banking on Claypool having a healthy recovery. I think Boykin flashed in bowl game and should be ready to make waves.

I've always liked M Young, he has acceleration.

Austin appears to be the most physically imposing and Jones is already on campus. Lenzy and Keys may prove their speed can be utilized in games.

WRs scare me far less, I'm more worried about OL. If there is any position where a freshman can be utilized early, it's WR.

 

[Irish YJ]

Yeah. I’d think about d-backs who are getting passed on the depth chart and might jump to someplace they can play. Maybe an LB or WR. And there are ALWAYS transfers/flunkouts/medicals who we don’t know about yet. It’ll be fine.

I'm sure it will be fine, just interesting to me.

The fact BK came out and said Canteen was coming back made me curious. He is, in my uneducated opinion, the easiest to part ways with (because he's a grad), with little impact. I know WR is an area of need, but I'm going to assume BK already knows who's gone, and it will be more than 4 (given the talk about grad transfers). If that's true, I'm hoping we don't lose additional impact players to grades or stupid stuff.

 

[IrishLax]

I think Claypool, Boykin and McKinley are strong

But need an accurate qb to get them the ball.

I am higher on McKinley than most..... I think he will have a breakout year.

I think Claypool will have a monster year, if Book is the QB And I think the TE’s will be strong.

OK so then I disagree completely with your opinion. McKinley has shown absolutely nothing and has been completely buried on the depth chart... and he's an NFL WR? Based on what?

Claypool has the traits, and could develop to the point of being an NFL WR. Boykin has one game of merit to his resume, and if he were in the draft this year he would certianly not get drafted.

Yes, QB needs to be better. No, the WR position is not fine.

 

[IrishLax]

Why do we need them to be NFL caliber players? We have plenty of talent, let them go out and play with a QB who can throw it (because that's how this QB race ends). TE/RB take some of the pressure off.

Because you don't win championships (or even significant games) without NFL caliber talent at 90%+ of your roster spots.

 

[Irish YJ]

Has The Fertitta Option ever been seriously considered? Notre Dame comes to Lorenzo Fertitta on bended knees and asks him to pay ~$50,000, with the knowledge that his kid will play in any case?

IMO Lorenzo would do it in a heartbeat, just because he can.

I think Nicco will graduate and take a 5th year somewhere else as a starter with a smaller W Coast school. He's set for life, and will take one more year of fun being big man on campus before daddy makes him go to work.

 

[Irish YJ]

Stop rampantly speculating on transfers based on nothing. We have rules against that, and I already warned you. That kind of discussion is frankly bullshit to anyone who is still enrolled.

woa... when was i warned. if i was warned and i missed it, sorry. i prefaced it by saying i don't have a clue. and why is transfer speculation bad? it's not like i'm speculating about grades or rumored behavior. I'm not saying anyone is or should be forced out.

 

[Luckylucci]

I would agree that WR is a question mark. However, I also think questions marks on college football teams are common around this time of year. And as we move through Spring and Summer, we'll have more confidence is some of these players. A good program will see players get better and step up when called upon. I think between Young, Boykin, Claypool, McKinley, Austin, etc. we'll find a good balance.

This is very similar to our DL discussion at this time last year. Tillery was inconsistent, J. Hayes was an unknown, D. Hayes couldn't stay healthy, Okwara was severely underweight, and Kareem was overweight. Fast forward to today, and all those players improved their games, and contributed to a solid DL.

I have a lot of confidence that as long as QB play is better, we have the players for a good unit. Now what we don't have is a group of players that are difference makers regardless of QB play like Eifert, Floyd, and Fuller had been in the past. So, improved QB play is important. And that doesn't mean a huge statistical year is needed, but a better understanding of the offense, getting the ball to right WR's, better route anticipation, etc.

 

[Irish YJ]

I would agree that WR is a question mark. However, I also think questions marks on college football teams are common around this time of year. And as we move through Spring and Summer, we'll have more confidence is some of these players. A good program will see players get better and step up when called upon. I think between Young, Boykin, Claypool, McKinley, Austin, etc. we'll find a good balance.

This is very similar to our DL discussion at this time last year. Tillery was inconsistent, J. Hayes was an unknown, D. Hayes couldn't stay healthy, Okwara was severely underweight, and Kareem was overweight. Fast forward to today, and all those players improved their games, and contributed to a solid DL.

I have a lot of confidence that as long as QB play is better, we have the players for a good unit. Now what we don't have is a group of players that are difference makers regardless of QB play like Eifert, Floyd, and Fuller had been in the past. So, improved QB play is important. And that doesn't mean a huge statistical year is needed, but a better understanding of the offense, getting the ball to right WR's, better route anticipation, etc.

DL took a nice step forward last year. I'd love to see another step in the right direction.l It was interesting to hear that Bonner and Tillery are changing spots. Always wanted to see Tillery move.