2024 WRs

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

3 true freshman WRs combined for 850 Yds and 9 TDs. That doesn't include 2 other WRs that have high ceilings. If Braylon James works his ass off the spring/summer, imagine what this room looks like. Let's say Merriweather stays on his current trend line which is definitely pointing up.

And let's say we get Jayden Thomas back at full health. Tyree returning would be great because he's just scratching the surface. If he can add to his route running and continue improving his already good hands.... this would be a formidable room.

Staes and Raridon and Cooper should be able to give us the weapons we need at TE.

That is a lot of experience in the WR room. Our offensive game plan will be very different next year, we won't be able to rely on Audric. I would imagine the RBs would be featured in the passing game more.

 

[IrishLax]

Ran 4.41 for Iowa Summer after Jr year which is plenty fast...wonder what he runs now

I think his “real” time would be closer to the 4.5s based on what I’ve seen up close at lacrosse events over the years and heard from people who coached him in his prep days. I also heard from ND fall camp he was getting tons of separation from day 1 but that our CBs had “recovery speed” on him.

Now, with proper S&C and training, who knows. He could be a blazer by next year. It should not be understated how skinny/lean he was coming into this year.

All this is just my opinion, but me and FDNY are probably the only people on this bird who had a clue who he was before this fall lol

 

[ulukinatme]

This thread just got more interesting, but in a bad way.

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

Honestly… how many WRs can we reasonably expect to take in the portal, given NDs self-imposed transfer restrictions?

Because it feels like we’re going to lose like 3-5.

 

[Plankton]

 

[Katzenboyer]

 

[ThePiombino]

Does the current situation make us more or less attractive to portal receivers?

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Merriweather was going to lose his starting job. Tyree was potentially going to lose snaps to Faison and Greathouse. James was running 4th in his own class at the position. None of those departures strike me as all that concerning, right now.

Losing Flores would be a blow so I'm hoping that's nonsense.

 

[Irishdawg]

Any non committed 2024 WR worth a look or flipping? Early playing time look here!!

 

[fightingirish26]

Does the current situation make us more or less attractive to portal receivers?

Sent from my Pixel 8 Pro using Tapatalk

We will be very very attractive for grad transfers. Between Leonard, the degree, the wide open PT, the NIL, the exposure, etc, not many can check off all those boxes. A new WR coach will bring some excitement as well, you'd hope..

 

[ulukinatme]

We will be very very attractive for grad transfers. Between Leonard, the degree, the wide open PT, the NIL, the exposure, etc, not many can check off all those boxes. A new WR coach will bring some excitement as well, you'd hope..

Why would Leonard want to come to this dumpster fire?

 

[fightingirish26]

Why would Leonard want to come to this dumpster fire?

Bc he already cashed the check

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Why would Leonard want to come to this dumpster fire?

The opportunity to play in Gerad Parker’s offense.

 

[ColinKSU]

Honestly… how many WRs can we reasonably expect to take in the portal, given NDs self-imposed transfer restrictions?

Because it feels like we’re going to lose like 3-5.

None. Expect the ND beat to report that Freeman, Parker and the new WR coach “like what they have in the room.”

Then expect what they have in the room to all come down with soft tissue injuries and for the WRs to be a massive problem all season in 2024.

 

[NDdomer2]

Merriweather was going to lose his starting job. Tyree was potentially going to lose snaps to Faison and Greathouse. James was running 4th in his own class at the position. None of those departures strike me as all that concerning, right now.

Losing Flores would be a blow so I'm hoping that's nonsense.

Matters in the future. Going to constantly be dependent on grad transfers and freshman.

 

[IrishLax]

This is what I've synthesized from talking with a handful of people on "the beat" and a friend of an assistant coach:
1. Tyree - Basically, he felt like he was super productive this year but didn't get enough touches/targets to audition for the NFL and be a draft pick. Wants to go somewhere where he can be the focal point of the offense NOT where he's one of three natural slot guys fighting for looks next year. Also thinks he can get some $$ in the portal. All of this is totally legit on his behalf and I think he's making the right decision. He showed some great flashes in his first year as a WR and owes it to himself to try to get to the league.

2. Merriweather - Basically, what they sold him on for this year and how they practiced all camp went entirely out the window when he struggled early in the season. They practiced for him be the outside WR opposite of Thomas where Thomas was the possession guy / high volume guy and Merriweather was going to be given a reasonable number of opportunities a game to be explosive. The passing game was not that, and rather than him getting coached up + developed they basically cut him out of the offense entirely. He and his family lost all faith in Stuckey + the offensive staff in general, and they want to go somewhere with a good coach + real passing game to see if he can be developed.

3. James - Consensus from everyone was that he had a really rough first season and basically just wanted to GTFO and try again somewhere else. Apparently he struggled with everything but also didn't feel like he was getting better or had a good path to get better.

4. Flores - Left because they fired Stuckey. He was already out of his comfort zone at ND and when they fired Stuckey he decided to pull the rip cord because the reasons to leave ND outweighed the reasons to stay.

5. Staes - Technically not a WR, but basically he didn't want to have to fight for targets next year with Evans/Raridon when he could get paid to go somewhere else and be a full time starter. Sounds like he found himself in a similar situation to Brock Wright where he has the talent to be an NFL guy but is in a log jammed position... the difference is that Staes has NIL + the portal.

On Stuckey himself... I do not have the full picture on why and how he was fired, but I'm sure the "real story" will leak out sooner rather than later. It does seem like he had some sort of meeting with Freeman that did not go well and Freeman basically decided they needed to hit a reset button at the position.

Bottom line -- four out of the five leaving were because of coaching or general dissatisfaction with the design of the offense or their role in the offense. Only Flores left because of other factors and Freeman firing Stuckey.

 

[dad4aa]

Thanks LAX. Good info. I wish Merriweather would have waited to see who we got as a WR Coach and QB but I understand the portal moves fast.

 

[NDFAN2008]

This is what I've synthesized from talking with a handful of people on "the beat" and a friend of an assistant coach:
1. Tyree - Basically, he felt like he was super productive this year but didn't get enough touches/targets to audition for the NFL and be a draft pick. Wants to go somewhere where he can be the focal point of the offense NOT where he's one of three natural slot guys fighting for looks next year. Also thinks he can get some $$ in the portal. All of this is totally legit on his behalf and I think he's making the right decision. He showed some great flashes in his first year as a WR and owes it to himself to try to get to the league.

2. Merriweather - Basically, what they sold him on for this year and how they practiced all camp went entirely out the window when he struggled early in the season. They practiced for him be the outside WR opposite of Thomas where Thomas was the possession guy / high volume guy and Merriweather was going to be given a reasonable number of opportunities a game to be explosive. The passing game was not that, and rather than him getting coached up + developed they basically cut him out of the offense entirely. He and his family lost all faith in Stuckey + the offensive staff in general, and they want to go somewhere with a good coach + real passing game to see if he can be developed.

3. James - Consensus from everyone was that he had a really rough first season and basically just wanted to GTFO and try again somewhere else. Apparently he struggled with everything but also didn't feel like he was getting better or had a good path to get better.

4. Flores - Left because they fired Stuckey. He was already out of his comfort zone at ND and when they fired Stuckey he decided to pull the rip cord because the reasons to leave ND outweighed the reasons to stay.

5. Staes - Technically not a WR, but basically he didn't want to have to fight for targets next year with Evans/Raridon when he could get paid to go somewhere else and be a full time starter. Sounds like he found himself in a similar situation to Brock Wright where he has the talent to be an NFL guy but is in a log jammed position... the difference is that Staes has NIL + the portal.

On Stuckey himself... I do not have the full picture on why and how he was fired, but I'm sure the "real story" will leak out sooner rather than later. It does seem like he had some sort of meeting with Freeman that did not go well and Freeman basically decided they needed to hit a reset button at the position.

Bottom line -- four out of the five leaving were because of coaching or general dissatisfaction with the design of the offense or their role in the offense. Only Flores left because of other factors and Freeman firing Stuckey.

Now hearing that all guys leaving completely make sense

 

[NDPhilly]

The Freshman walk-on was a more effective slot receiver than Tyree. Are we not supposed to play him?

I don’t blame Chris for looking elsewhere but he’s never going to be the focal point on a competitive team due to his lack of wiggle.

 

[Huntr]

Tyree: I get it. Parker's offense sucked in a lot of ways, and slot is pretty full. This is the only loss here.

Merriwether: can't make chicken salad out of chicken shit. Try catching a ball that hits your hands.

James: good idea, some people can't hack it at ND

Flores: whatever. Go be comfortable somewhere else.

Staes: sure. Prob feels better to go somewhere you don't need to compete.

 

[stlnd01]

That's great info Lax. Reps, if reps were still a thing.

Individually, each of these moves makes sense and are hard to argue with (except maybe Rico). Cumulatively, they are a problem, but not an insurmountable one. IF we move fast on a QB and WR coach and are in position to take advantage of the portal.

It doesn't seem like firing Stuckey was a decisive factor for any of them except Rico. And if - as has been suggested/reported elsewhere - keeping Stuckey would have meant losing some combo of Thomas/Colzie/Greathouse, I'm OK with that trade, personally. Again, as long as we replace Stuckey with a good coach, and quickly.

 

[IrishSpartan]

I feel like its impossible to gauge this scenario until we see who we being in both coach/portal. We need 2 players that play outside that are starting caliber. No Kaleb Smith level players this year.

 

[NDPhilly]

Kaleb smith was considered a very good get until he showed up on campus. Not a lot of P5 guys with his production come available.

 

[317Irish]

I feel like its impossible to gauge this scenario until we see who we being in both coach/portal. We need 2 players that play outside that are starting caliber. No Kaleb Smith level players this year.

Spot on. To me losing Rico hurts. If we get 2-3 WR’s and one provides more than what Rico brought to the table then how disappointed should we really be.
The losses at the other positions don’t bother me much either… so long as the Love rumor isn’t true.

 

[317Irish]

Kaleb smith was considered a very good get until he showed up on campus. Not a lot of P5 guys with his production come available.

Not saying this is incorrect, but my memory is that Kaleb Smith wasn’t a needle mover. Thought he was somewhat of a Colzie caliber player.

 

[irishff1014]

This is what I've synthesized from talking with a handful of people on "the beat" and a friend of an assistant coach:
1. Tyree - Basically, he felt like he was super productive this year but didn't get enough touches/targets to audition for the NFL and be a draft pick. Wants to go somewhere where he can be the focal point of the offense NOT where he's one of three natural slot guys fighting for looks next year. Also thinks he can get some $$ in the portal. All of this is totally legit on his behalf and I think he's making the right decision. He showed some great flashes in his first year as a WR and owes it to himself to try to get to the league.

2. Merriweather - Basically, what they sold him on for this year and how they practiced all camp went entirely out the window when he struggled early in the season. They practiced for him be the outside WR opposite of Thomas where Thomas was the possession guy / high volume guy and Merriweather was going to be given a reasonable number of opportunities a game to be explosive. The passing game was not that, and rather than him getting coached up + developed they basically cut him out of the offense entirely. He and his family lost all faith in Stuckey + the offensive staff in general, and they want to go somewhere with a good coach + real passing game to see if he can be developed.

3. James - Consensus from everyone was that he had a really rough first season and basically just wanted to GTFO and try again somewhere else. Apparently he struggled with everything but also didn't feel like he was getting better or had a good path to get better.

4. Flores - Left because they fired Stuckey. He was already out of his comfort zone at ND and when they fired Stuckey he decided to pull the rip cord because the reasons to leave ND outweighed the reasons to stay.

5. Staes - Technically not a WR, but basically he didn't want to have to fight for targets next year with Evans/Raridon when he could get paid to go somewhere else and be a full time starter. Sounds like he found himself in a similar situation to Brock Wright where he has the talent to be an NFL guy but is in a log jammed position... the difference is that Staes has NIL + the portal.

On Stuckey himself... I do not have the full picture on why and how he was fired, but I'm sure the "real story" will leak out sooner rather than later. It does seem like he had some sort of meeting with Freeman that did not go well and Freeman basically decided they needed to hit a reset button at the position.

Bottom line -- four out of the five leaving were because of coaching or general dissatisfaction with the design of the offense or their role in the offense. Only Flores left because of other factors and Freeman firing Stuckey.

Good reporting sir.

I think when the stories broke we all pretty much knew this is how it would play. Shocker

 

[stlnd01]

Not saying this is incorrect, but my memory is that Kaleb Smith wasn’t a needle mover. Thought he was somewhat of a Colzie caliber player.

I don't think anyone though Kaleb Smith was elite. But an experienced, big-bodied outside receiver was certainly considered a valuable addition at the time. And it probably would have helped our offense quite a bit to have him (or Colzie) on the field this year.

 

[NDdomer2]

Bottom line -- four out of the five leaving were because of coaching or general dissatisfaction with the design of the offense or their role in the offense. Only Flores left because of other factors and Freeman firing Stuckey.

Hmmm

 

[BoredIrish]

Flores is interesting because he isnt a typical ND recruit. I don't think BK would have pursued him.

MF made a point to recruit kids who typically wouldn't end up at ND. In one sense, MF was able to land him and he had a good year, which would be a feather in MF's cap. On the other hand, he didn't last... Which would indicate that maybe BK wasn't wrong with his approach.

 

[ThePiombino]

This is what I've synthesized from talking with a handful of people on "the beat" and a friend of an assistant coach:
1. Tyree - Basically, he felt like he was super productive this year but didn't get enough touches/targets to audition for the NFL and be a draft pick. Wants to go somewhere where he can be the focal point of the offense NOT where he's one of three natural slot guys fighting for looks next year. Also thinks he can get some $$ in the portal. All of this is totally legit on his behalf and I think he's making the right decision. He showed some great flashes in his first year as a WR and owes it to himself to try to get to the league.

2. Merriweather - Basically, what they sold him on for this year and how they practiced all camp went entirely out the window when he struggled early in the season. They practiced for him be the outside WR opposite of Thomas where Thomas was the possession guy / high volume guy and Merriweather was going to be given a reasonable number of opportunities a game to be explosive. The passing game was not that, and rather than him getting coached up + developed they basically cut him out of the offense entirely. He and his family lost all faith in Stuckey + the offensive staff in general, and they want to go somewhere with a good coach + real passing game to see if he can be developed.

3. James - Consensus from everyone was that he had a really rough first season and basically just wanted to GTFO and try again somewhere else. Apparently he struggled with everything but also didn't feel like he was getting better or had a good path to get better.

4. Flores - Left because they fired Stuckey. He was already out of his comfort zone at ND and when they fired Stuckey he decided to pull the rip cord because the reasons to leave ND outweighed the reasons to stay.

5. Staes - Technically not a WR, but basically he didn't want to have to fight for targets next year with Evans/Raridon when he could get paid to go somewhere else and be a full time starter. Sounds like he found himself in a similar situation to Brock Wright where he has the talent to be an NFL guy but is in a log jammed position... the difference is that Staes has NIL + the portal.

On Stuckey himself... I do not have the full picture on why and how he was fired, but I'm sure the "real story" will leak out sooner rather than later. It does seem like he had some sort of meeting with Freeman that did not go well and Freeman basically decided they needed to hit a reset button at the position.

Bottom line -- four out of the five leaving were because of coaching or general dissatisfaction with the design of the offense or their role in the offense. Only Flores left because of other factors and Freeman firing Stuckey.

Seems to me some folks around here need to lay off Freeman for how he handled the WR coach situation then. His primary sin remains elevating Parker in the 1st place which seems to ultimately be a bigger impotus for transfers out than firing Stuckey. Now we pray he rectifies that initial mistake as he seems able/willing to address the WR coach situation.