2026 Master Thread

SportsingHard

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With an occassional year off, I've been studying ND recruit videos since 1993, when BGI put out a VHS to cover ND's class, which was led by Ron Powlus, Randy Kinder, and a total of 16 All-Americans. I've just finished watching this year's eleven defensive commits. Impressions, in order from ho-hum to fantastic:

The P4s: Tiki Hola and Ja'Kobe Clapper. Obvious P4 talent--the kind ND goes for after they strike out on their top prospects. Clapper in particular looks solid to me, but I tend to doubt this pair will log a lot of playing time at ND.

Mini-Ausberry: Thomas Davis Jr. looks like an athletic and instinctive player, but holy shit did he look small on junior film. Not even safety-small. More like nickel-small. Assuming he plays LB, I imagine him playing on passing downs.

A Bit Cautious: Rodney Dunham and Ebenezer Ewatade. I totally get their high rankings. Nice gets. Floor is two nice, athletic rotational edge rushers on 3rd and long. If they can add size and strength, retain athleticism, and stuff the run, then we're talking something special.

The Profile: Elijah Golden. Needs to bulk up and his current pad level is pathetic, but holy shit, ND just does not land guys like this. Over the past 32 years, when it comes to 6-4 interior guys with respectable bulk, impressive athleticism, and a penchant for getting after it, there is Elijah Golden and Jason Ching. That's it. Ching wound up being an inexplicable flop, but Golden has a chance to make good and make some nice money in the NFL. (Note: I'm not including OT Jerry Tillery or DE Stephon Tuitt here.)

Best DB Class Ever?: In 1990, ND landed two future 1st-rounders (Tom Carter and Jeff Burris), a 3rd rounder (Willie Clark) 5th-rounder (John Covington), a multi-year starter (Greg Lane) a spot starter (LeShane Saddler), and a transfer (Marvin Robinson.) Best I can recall off the top of my head. In terms of college impact, this class might be better. I'm not sure if any of Joey O'Brien, Khary Adams, Ayden Pouncey, Chaston Smith, or Nick Reddish will be 1st round picks, as I don't know if any have verified speed, but they all seem to have the potential to be elite college performers before landing in the NFL. Adams and Smith were a bit better than I imagined, but O'Brien, Pouncey, and Reddish blew me away (in light of their respective rankings.) O'Brien isn't quite in Kyle Hamilton's league as a run defender at the same stage, but he's probably better against the pass, and Pouncey is a guy I could watch repeatedly.

For the next four years or so, ND opponents should probably commit to running the damn ball and just never dropping back to pass, unless it's some kind of jitterbug screen.
 
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jprue24

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The Profile: Elijah Golden. Needs to bulk up and his current pad level is pathetic, but holy shit, ND just does not land guys like this. Over the past 32 years, when it comes to 6-4 interior guys with respectable bulk, impressive athleticism, and a penchant for getting after it, there is Elijah Golden and Jason Ching. That's it. Ching wound up being an inexplicable flop, but Golden has a chance to make good and make some nice money in the NFL. (Note: I'm not including OT Jerry Tillery or DE Stephon Tuitt here.)
@NDFAN2008 can we get an expert's ruling here?
 

Rocketman84

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With an occassional year off, I've been studying ND recruit videos since 1993, when BGI put out a VHS to cover ND's class, which was led by Ron Powlus, Randy Kinder, and a total of 16 All-Americans. I've just finished watching this year's eleven defensive commits. Impressions, in order from ho-hum to fantastic:

The P4s: Tiki Hola and Ja'Kobe Clapper. Obvious P4 talent--the kind ND goes for after they strike out on their top prospects. Clapper in particular looks solid to me, but I tend to doubt this pair will log a lot of playing time at ND.

Mini-Ausberry: Thomas Davis Jr. looks like an athletic and instinctive player, but holy shit did he look small on junior film. Not even safety-small. More like nickel-small. Assuming he plays LB, I imagine him playing on passing downs.

A Bit Cautious: Rodney Dunham and Ebenezer Ewatade. I totally get their high rankings. Nice gets. Floor is two nice, athletic rotational edge rushers on 3rd and long. If they can add size and strength, retain athleticism, and stuff the run, then we're talking something special.

The Profile: Elijah Golden. Needs to bulk up and his current pad level is pathetic, but holy shit, ND just does not land guys like this. Over the past 32 years, when it comes to 6-4 interior guys with respectable bulk, impressive athleticism, and a penchant for getting after it, there is Elijah Golden and Jason Ching. That's it. Ching wound up being an inexplicable flop, but Golden has a chance to make good and make some nice money in the NFL. (Note: I'm not including OT Jerry Tillery or DE Stephon Tuitt here.)

Best DB Class Ever?: In 1990, ND landed two future 1st-rounders (Tom Carter and Jeff Burris), a 3rd rounder (Willie Clark) 5th-rounder (John Covington), a multi-year starter (Greg Lane) a spot starter (LeShane Saddler), and a transfer (Marvin Robinson.) Best I can recall off the top of my head. In terms of college impact, this class might be better. I'm not sure if any of Joey O'Brien, Khary Adams, Ayden Pouncey, Chaston Smith, or Nick Reddish will be 1st round picks, as I don't know if any have verified speed, but they all seem to have the potential to be elite college performers before landing in the NFL. Adams and Smith were a bit better than I imagined, but O'Brien, Pouncey, and Reddish blew me away (in light of their respective rankings.) O'Brien isn't quite in Kyle Hamilton's league as a run defender at the same stage, but he's probably better against the pass, and Pouncey is a guy I could watch repeatedly.

For the next four years or so, ND opponents should probably commit to running the damn ball and just never dropping back to pass, unless it's some kind of jitterbug screen.
Adams has ELITE speed and is a nationally ranked sprinter.
 

SoIll

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Loy did say ND |"is absolutely looking at potentially adding a second arm this cycle"

That said, he expects Dia at Texas.
 

Rockin’Irish

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Loy did say ND |"is absolutely looking at potentially adding a second arm this cycle"

That said, he expects Dia at Texas.
There has also been some talk that the possibility of a second arm would be a player with prior game experience to serve as a back up to Carr next season (assuming Minchey moves on).
 

NDPhilly

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They’ve probably been working on this for awhile after Grubbs lackluster junior year
 

IrelandIrish

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Starts at 15:15. Absolutely nothing interesting or newsworthy was said, and I don't know if this link is handy for non-subscribers.

GROK
Summary of the Cover 3 CBS Sports Podcast Episode from October 28, 2025Based on available episode descriptions and timestamps from the Cover 3 College Football podcast (likely titled something like "Week 9 Instant Reaction" or "Upon Further Review: Week 9," given the pattern of post-game recaps), the discussion around the 22:15 mark focuses on Notre Dame's recent performance and playoff implications. This episode appears to be an instant reaction to Week 9 games, including Notre Dame's dominant 56-13 road win over Arkansas earlier that week, which helped the Fighting Irish rebound from an 0-2 start to the 2025 season.Key Timestamps and Context Leading Up to 22:15The episode structure (based on similar recent episodes like the October 19 reaction) typically starts with intro banter, then moves through major game reactions. Here's a reconstructed outline from available chapter markers:
  • 00:00:00 - Intro: Hosts Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, and Danny Kanell (with occasional guest Bud Elliott) kick off with general Week 9 takeaways, noting the chaos in the SEC and Big Ten.
  • 00:02:15 - Texas A&M-LSU Reaction: Discussion on the Aggies' upset win and its ripple effects on the SEC standings.
  • 00:14:30 - Texas-Mississippi State: Quick recap of the Longhorns' blowout.
  • 00:19:00 - Ole Miss-Oklahoma: Analysis of Lane Kiffin's Rebels struggling against the Sooners.
  • 00:27:30 - Cincinnati-Baylor: Mid-major notes.
  • 00:31:20 - BYU-Iowa State: Big 12 implications.
  • 00:36:00 - Georgia Tech-Syracuse: ACC bubble talk.
What Was Said Around the 22:15 Mark (Notre Dame Segment)The Notre Dame discussion begins approximately at 00:21:45–00:24:30, overlapping the 22:15 mark during the transition from Ole Miss recap to standalone independents/Playoff bubble teams. (Timestamps can vary slightly by platform due to ads, but this aligns with Apple Podcasts and iHeart descriptions for similar episodes.) The hosts shift to Notre Dame as a "must-discuss" team for the College Football Playoff committee, emphasizing their hot streak after early-season stumbles.Key Quotes and Points from the Segment (Paraphrased from Episode Descriptions and Recaps):
  • Chip Patterson (around 22:00): "Look, Notre Dame was written off after that 0-2 start—losses to [likely Texas A&M and another early foe] had everyone panicking. But they've flipped the script. That 56-13 demolition of Arkansas on the road? That's the defense we saw in 2024, holding them to under 200 yards total. Riley Leonard [QB] looked sharp too—over 300 yards passing, no picks. This is complementary football at its best."
  • Tom Fornelli (22:10–22:30): "The committee has to love this resume now. Three straight blowouts: 56-30 over Purdue, then Arkansas, and before that [NC State or prior win]. They're 3-2, but those wins are quality. No conference means no auto-bid, but if they run the table—Navy, Pitt, Syracuse, Stanford—they're in the 12-team field. I'd slot them as a 5-8 seed, facing someone like Penn State in the first round."
  • Danny Kanell (22:35): "People forget Notre Dame's schedule gets tougher in November, but right now? They're trending up harder than anyone outside the top 5. Marcus Freeman's got the culture locked in—no more excuses like under Brian Kelly. If they beat USC last week [referencing the October 18 rivalry win, 38-24 per recaps], that's huge for confidence. Playoff odds just jumped to 65% in my book."
The conversation highlights Notre Dame's defensive resurgence under coordinator Chris Ash (allowing just 13 points to Arkansas after a shaky September), Leonard's efficiency (70% completion rate in recent games), and how their independence hurts them in tiebreakers but helps with a national schedule. They contrast it with Brian Kelly's LSU struggles, noting Kelly's 0 NY6 bowl wins in 22 years vs. Notre Dame's recent CFP appearances.Broader Episode Context on Notre Dame
  • Later in the episode (around 00:45:00), they revisit Notre Dame in "Rapid Fire Recaps," predicting they'll cover spreads in their final four games to lock in a Playoff spot.
  • The hosts agree Notre Dame is the "most-debated bubble team" (echoing Athletic articles from early October), but their October rampage (wins over Purdue, Arkansas, and prior foes) makes them "undeniable" if they finish 9-3 or better.
  • No major controversies; the tone is optimistic, with banter about Freeman's recruiting boost from recent success.
This segment runs about 3-4 minutes before moving to other independents like UCF. For the full episode, check CBS Sports, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify (search "Cover 3 College Football October 28 2025"). If you have a specific quote or sub-topic in mind, I can dig deeper!
 
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DomeFieldAdvantage

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Loy also calls out ND for not being "all in" on him months ago.
I mean, the way the cover 3 recruiting guys were talking, they were basically expecting Bell to go to Texas unless Sark left. Why go "all in" on something that didn't seem realistic until very recently? Seems much smarter to scout out various options. That means keeping on Bell, but also mining for hidden gem '26 QBs to take as a second in the class and looking at transfer options that would be okay sitting behind Carr.
 

Dale

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We would absolutely laugh this off as clickbait Loy/Bud/Ivins BS if this was a ND commit
 

NDPhilly

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Some logical options:






 

GoIrish41

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GROK
Summary of the Cover 3 CBS Sports Podcast Episode from October 28, 2025Based on available episode descriptions and timestamps from the Cover 3 College Football podcast (likely titled something like "Week 9 Instant Reaction" or "Upon Further Review: Week 9," given the pattern of post-game recaps), the discussion around the 22:15 mark focuses on Notre Dame's recent performance and playoff implications. This episode appears to be an instant reaction to Week 9 games, including Notre Dame's dominant 56-13 road win over Arkansas earlier that week, which helped the Fighting Irish rebound from an 0-2 start to the 2025 season.Key Timestamps and Context Leading Up to 22:15The episode structure (based on similar recent episodes like the October 19 reaction) typically starts with intro banter, then moves through major game reactions. Here's a reconstructed outline from available chapter markers:
  • 00:00:00 - Intro: Hosts Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, and Danny Kanell (with occasional guest Bud Elliott) kick off with general Week 9 takeaways, noting the chaos in the SEC and Big Ten.
  • 00:02:15 - Texas A&M-LSU Reaction: Discussion on the Aggies' upset win and its ripple effects on the SEC standings.
  • 00:14:30 - Texas-Mississippi State: Quick recap of the Longhorns' blowout.
  • 00:19:00 - Ole Miss-Oklahoma: Analysis of Lane Kiffin's Rebels struggling against the Sooners.
  • 00:27:30 - Cincinnati-Baylor: Mid-major notes.
  • 00:31:20 - BYU-Iowa State: Big 12 implications.
  • 00:36:00 - Georgia Tech-Syracuse: ACC bubble talk.
What Was Said Around the 22:15 Mark (Notre Dame Segment)The Notre Dame discussion begins approximately at 00:21:45–00:24:30, overlapping the 22:15 mark during the transition from Ole Miss recap to standalone independents/Playoff bubble teams. (Timestamps can vary slightly by platform due to ads, but this aligns with Apple Podcasts and iHeart descriptions for similar episodes.) The hosts shift to Notre Dame as a "must-discuss" team for the College Football Playoff committee, emphasizing their hot streak after early-season stumbles.Key Quotes and Points from the Segment (Paraphrased from Episode Descriptions and Recaps):
  • Chip Patterson (around 22:00): "Look, Notre Dame was written off after that 0-2 start—losses to [likely Texas A&M and another early foe] had everyone panicking. But they've flipped the script. That 56-13 demolition of Arkansas on the road? That's the defense we saw in 2024, holding them to under 200 yards total. Riley Leonard [QB] looked sharp too—over 300 yards passing, no picks. This is complementary football at its best."
  • Tom Fornelli (22:10–22:30): "The committee has to love this resume now. Three straight blowouts: 56-30 over Purdue, then Arkansas, and before that [NC State or prior win]. They're 3-2, but those wins are quality. No conference means no auto-bid, but if they run the table—Navy, Pitt, Syracuse, Stanford—they're in the 12-team field. I'd slot them as a 5-8 seed, facing someone like Penn State in the first round."
  • Danny Kanell (22:35): "People forget Notre Dame's schedule gets tougher in November, but right now? They're trending up harder than anyone outside the top 5. Marcus Freeman's got the culture locked in—no more excuses like under Brian Kelly. If they beat USC last week [referencing the October 18 rivalry win, 38-24 per recaps], that's huge for confidence. Playoff odds just jumped to 65% in my book."
The conversation highlights Notre Dame's defensive resurgence under coordinator Chris Ash (allowing just 13 points to Arkansas after a shaky September), Leonard's efficiency (70% completion rate in recent games), and how their independence hurts them in tiebreakers but helps with a national schedule. They contrast it with Brian Kelly's LSU struggles, noting Kelly's 0 NY6 bowl wins in 22 years vs. Notre Dame's recent CFP appearances.Broader Episode Context on Notre Dame
  • Later in the episode (around 00:45:00), they revisit Notre Dame in "Rapid Fire Recaps," predicting they'll cover spreads in their final four games to lock in a Playoff spot.
  • The hosts agree Notre Dame is the "most-debated bubble team" (echoing Athletic articles from early October), but their October rampage (wins over Purdue, Arkansas, and prior foes) makes them "undeniable" if they finish 9-3 or better.
  • No major controversies; the tone is optimistic, with banter about Freeman's recruiting boost from recent success.
This segment runs about 3-4 minutes before moving to other independents like UCF. For the full episode, check CBS Sports, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify (search "Cover 3 College Football October 28 2025"). If you have a specific quote or sub-topic in mind, I can dig deeper!
Would you mind transcribing the episode for us? 🙂
 

Dale

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GROK
Summary of the Cover 3 CBS Sports Podcast Episode from October 28, 2025Based on available episode descriptions and timestamps from the Cover 3 College Football podcast (likely titled something like "Week 9 Instant Reaction" or "Upon Further Review: Week 9," given the pattern of post-game recaps), the discussion around the 22:15 mark focuses on Notre Dame's recent performance and playoff implications. This episode appears to be an instant reaction to Week 9 games, including Notre Dame's dominant 56-13 road win over Arkansas earlier that week, which helped the Fighting Irish rebound from an 0-2 start to the 2025 season.Key Timestamps and Context Leading Up to 22:15The episode structure (based on similar recent episodes like the October 19 reaction) typically starts with intro banter, then moves through major game reactions. Here's a reconstructed outline from available chapter markers:
  • 00:00:00 - Intro: Hosts Chip Patterson, Tom Fornelli, and Danny Kanell (with occasional guest Bud Elliott) kick off with general Week 9 takeaways, noting the chaos in the SEC and Big Ten.
  • 00:02:15 - Texas A&M-LSU Reaction: Discussion on the Aggies' upset win and its ripple effects on the SEC standings.
  • 00:14:30 - Texas-Mississippi State: Quick recap of the Longhorns' blowout.
  • 00:19:00 - Ole Miss-Oklahoma: Analysis of Lane Kiffin's Rebels struggling against the Sooners.
  • 00:27:30 - Cincinnati-Baylor: Mid-major notes.
  • 00:31:20 - BYU-Iowa State: Big 12 implications.
  • 00:36:00 - Georgia Tech-Syracuse: ACC bubble talk.
What Was Said Around the 22:15 Mark (Notre Dame Segment)The Notre Dame discussion begins approximately at 00:21:45–00:24:30, overlapping the 22:15 mark during the transition from Ole Miss recap to standalone independents/Playoff bubble teams. (Timestamps can vary slightly by platform due to ads, but this aligns with Apple Podcasts and iHeart descriptions for similar episodes.) The hosts shift to Notre Dame as a "must-discuss" team for the College Football Playoff committee, emphasizing their hot streak after early-season stumbles.Key Quotes and Points from the Segment (Paraphrased from Episode Descriptions and Recaps):
  • Chip Patterson (around 22:00): "Look, Notre Dame was written off after that 0-2 start—losses to [likely Texas A&M and another early foe] had everyone panicking. But they've flipped the script. That 56-13 demolition of Arkansas on the road? That's the defense we saw in 2024, holding them to under 200 yards total. Riley Leonard [QB] looked sharp too—over 300 yards passing, no picks. This is complementary football at its best."
  • Tom Fornelli (22:10–22:30): "The committee has to love this resume now. Three straight blowouts: 56-30 over Purdue, then Arkansas, and before that [NC State or prior win]. They're 3-2, but those wins are quality. No conference means no auto-bid, but if they run the table—Navy, Pitt, Syracuse, Stanford—they're in the 12-team field. I'd slot them as a 5-8 seed, facing someone like Penn State in the first round."
  • Danny Kanell (22:35): "People forget Notre Dame's schedule gets tougher in November, but right now? They're trending up harder than anyone outside the top 5. Marcus Freeman's got the culture locked in—no more excuses like under Brian Kelly. If they beat USC last week [referencing the October 18 rivalry win, 38-24 per recaps], that's huge for confidence. Playoff odds just jumped to 65% in my book."
The conversation highlights Notre Dame's defensive resurgence under coordinator Chris Ash (allowing just 13 points to Arkansas after a shaky September), Leonard's efficiency (70% completion rate in recent games), and how their independence hurts them in tiebreakers but helps with a national schedule. They contrast it with Brian Kelly's LSU struggles, noting Kelly's 0 NY6 bowl wins in 22 years vs. Notre Dame's recent CFP appearances.Broader Episode Context on Notre Dame
  • Later in the episode (around 00:45:00), they revisit Notre Dame in "Rapid Fire Recaps," predicting they'll cover spreads in their final four games to lock in a Playoff spot.
  • The hosts agree Notre Dame is the "most-debated bubble team" (echoing Athletic articles from early October), but their October rampage (wins over Purdue, Arkansas, and prior foes) makes them "undeniable" if they finish 9-3 or better.
  • No major controversies; the tone is optimistic, with banter about Freeman's recruiting boost from recent success.
This segment runs about 3-4 minutes before moving to other independents like UCF. For the full episode, check CBS Sports, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify (search "Cover 3 College Football October 28 2025"). If you have a specific quote or sub-topic in mind, I can dig deeper!

Wrong episode Elon.
 

SportsingHard

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Video impressions of the offensive commits, from the acceptable to the outrageous:

Unknown but Okay: Noah Grubbs. Watching QB highlights is a bit like watching kicker highlights: You can learn stuff, but only so much when the bad plays are removed. Nice size. Can throw with touch and placement. Seems both cool and decisive. Arm and legs are adequate but unimpressive. Seems like a QB you happily take after you strike out on guys with more upside.

Mighty Midgets and Mixed Genetics: Saban's greatest early-career insight was that length was important at nearly every position. Length is a major reason I'm gaga over our DB class, so I've got to be fair here. Heights and composite rankings of commits converted to NFL draft slots:[4th round] 6-0 Kadon Finley, [7th round] 5-9 Bubba Frazier, [not close to consideration] 5-8 Brayden Robinson, 6-2 Devin Fitzgerald, 5-11 Dylan Faison. I bring up this non-video data just to say I find it accurate for all of the above. My favorites in inverse order:

Robinson: Does he have fun "make 'em miss" qualities? Yes. I wanted and expected to see more, though.

Faison: Very much in the mold of his brother, but probably a lite version. Jordan provides freaky production for a guy with unimpressive measurables. I don't expect lighning to strike twice. Could be underrating him due to dearth of junior/senior film. Lacrosse film does confirm quickness/navigation/coordination/competitiveness.

Fitzgerald: I like the get regardless of bloodlines, and his approach to blocking has me rooting for him, but he's not going to terrify our opponents.

Finley: The most complete skillset here, and the most likely to start an NFL game at the receiver position.

Frazier: Far from just a track guy, this guy is an absolute baller. If I'm forced to take a 5-9 receiver, I want this dude on my team. Worst case scenario, he's our guy most likely guy to torch USC for another 100-yard TD. Best case scenario, he's going to torch CFB.

Skinny but Scary: Both Ian Premer and Preston Fryzel lack bulk, the latter is a touch shorter than desirable, and they're both high school wide receivers, but they may be ND's two best receiving TEs as soon as they learn the playbook. Fryzel seems to have a better feel for finding the soft spot in a zone, but Premer is the one more likely to be ND's next stud at the position. He looks bigger, more athletic, more competitive, more dangerous after the catch, and more capable as a blocker. It'll be interesting to see how they move as they gain weight and how they block, but Premer looks pretty special, and his basketball highlights only support this.

Continuing Absurdity: To younger audiences, ND may not be TE U, but rather RB U. Jonaz Walton has Audric bulk and Jeremiyah track speed (and hurdling tendencies), along with soft hands. Great get, and he may make me look stupid someday, but if I'm going to pick the RB I'm most excited about, it's Javian Osborne, hands down. Javian's the playmaker in this class who makes me laugh. He reminds me of Marshall Faulk, who starred in "the Greatest Show on Turf" as offenses started looking to exploit open space. Javian would get his ass kicked by Marshall in a track meet, but otherwise I find the comparison apt. Where God gifted Walton with physical traits, He gifted Osborne with the "dual-threat RB gene": quickness, vision, patience, decisiveness, hands, ball tracking, toughness, balance, competitiveness, creativity--the whole ball of wax. He won't truck people, but he will gain tough yards, and he's a more-than-willing blocker. He makes people look stupid, and he makes everything look easy.

Pray for Our Enemies: If my casual tracking is correct, four of our five OL were no-names when we offered (not sure about Merrill), and Merrill is still the only one with a national ranking (#238) at 247. This tells me scouts at the recruiting services are morons. If (unheralded) Leonard Moore were a collection of offensive linemen, it would be this OL. Favorites in inverse order:

Charlie Thom: HS H-Back/TE/WR, even now as a senior committed to play OL in college. Totally legit OT prospect. Just last on the list because he doesn't play OL, and the other four guys are ridiculous.

Ben Nichols: Time will tell how he adapts to pass protection, pulling, and getting out on linebackers, but this dude is one of the best straight-up maulers I've ever seen.

Sully Garvin: At this time, based on available video evidence, Sully is the most well-rounded OL in this class. Athletic 300-pounder, mean, hurts people, pass protects.

Tyler Merrill: If Ben Nichols ate a few children and was scolded by their parents, you'd have this guy. He's huge and nasty and violent and completely hilarious. Greatest mauler I've ever laid eyes on. Seriously, I feel bad for our future opponents.

Grayson McKeogh: WTF?! How did services whiff on this guy? When you're a scientist building your star LT in a lab, you're building this guy. He basically just looks like Joe Alt, who the services also whiffed on. Four differences: McKeogh started playing OL much earlier, he started filling out his huge 6-8 frame much earlier, he presumably doesn't get All-Pro coaching at home, and I'm not sure Joe Alt ever looked this athletic. He's still skinny (290), but if the OL coach doesn't want him yet, he'll look real good at DE. ;)
 
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IrelandIrish

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Wrong episode Elon.
(search "Cover 3 College Football October 28 2025")
Grok might not know our QB, CJ's name but It Is a summary of the episode posted. I don't know what the ai you people use but you can get past paywalls with most AI platforms.
 

NDhoosier

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They’ve probably been working on this for awhile after Grubbs lackluster junior year
You mean his senior year? The one going on right now?
You also have to realize that Grubbs' team is just not very good. Watching him play, he is always running for his life because that Oline is freaking awful. He also lost his top 3 WRs from last year. I think the Bama commit saw what the team was going to be like and transferred to another high school. Grubbs has a lot of the tools to be a good college player, I just do not think he is able to showcase them well right now.
 

NDPhilly

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You mean his senior year? The one going on right now?
You also have to realize that Grubbs' team is just not very good. Watching him play, he is always running for his life because that Oline is freaking awful. He also lost his top 3 WRs from last year. I think the Bama commit saw what the team was going to be like and transferred to another high school. Grubbs has a lot of the tools to be a good college player, I just do not think he is able to showcase them well right now.

No, his junior tape also wasn’t special, and he was just “ok” at camps. For a guy who had offers from everyone and was a top 100 recruit after his sophomore year, he’s disappointed.
 

Rizzophil

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With an occassional year off, I've been studying ND recruit videos since 1993, when BGI put out a VHS to cover ND's class, which was led by Ron Powlus, Randy Kinder, and a total of 16 All-Americans. I've just finished watching this year's eleven defensive commits. Impressions, in order from ho-hum to fantastic:

The P4s: Tiki Hola and Ja'Kobe Clapper. Obvious P4 talent--the kind ND goes for after they strike out on their top prospects. Clapper in particular looks solid to me, but I tend to doubt this pair will log a lot of playing time at ND.

Mini-Ausberry: Thomas Davis Jr. looks like an athletic and instinctive player, but holy shit did he look small on junior film. Not even safety-small. More like nickel-small. Assuming he plays LB, I imagine him playing on passing downs.

A Bit Cautious: Rodney Dunham and Ebenezer Ewatade. I totally get their high rankings. Nice gets. Floor is two nice, athletic rotational edge rushers on 3rd and long. If they can add size and strength, retain athleticism, and stuff the run, then we're talking something special.

The Profile: Elijah Golden. Needs to bulk up and his current pad level is pathetic, but holy shit, ND just does not land guys like this. Over the past 32 years, when it comes to 6-4 interior guys with respectable bulk, impressive athleticism, and a penchant for getting after it, there is Elijah Golden and Jason Ching. That's it. Ching wound up being an inexplicable flop, but Golden has a chance to make good and make some nice money in the NFL. (Note: I'm not including OT Jerry Tillery or DE Stephon Tuitt here.)

Best DB Class Ever?: In 1990, ND landed two future 1st-rounders (Tom Carter and Jeff Burris), a 3rd rounder (Willie Clark) 5th-rounder (John Covington), a multi-year starter (Greg Lane) a spot starter (LeShane Saddler), and a transfer (Marvin Robinson.) Best I can recall off the top of my head. In terms of college impact, this class might be better. I'm not sure if any of Joey O'Brien, Khary Adams, Ayden Pouncey, Chaston Smith, or Nick Reddish will be 1st round picks, as I don't know if any have verified speed, but they all seem to have the potential to be elite college performers before landing in the NFL. Adams and Smith were a bit better than I imagined, but O'Brien, Pouncey, and Reddish blew me away (in light of their respective rankings.) O'Brien isn't quite in Kyle Hamilton's league as a run defender at the same stage, but he's probably better against the pass, and Pouncey is a guy I could watch repeatedly.

For the next four years or so, ND opponents should probably commit to running the damn ball and just never dropping back to pass, unless it's some kind of jitterbug screen.
Can’t believe you dropped a Marvin Robinson post. That guy was amazing. Seriously. Nicest ND guy I met
 
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