'23 FL DE Keon Keeley (Prodigal Son)

[ndinoxford]

Loy thinks something happens relatively soon. Whatever that means. Kind of strange that he did the video interview and said he was committed to ND but then decommits a few days later. Hopefully we continue to recruit him and don’t burn a bridge. This is one of the weirder recruitments I can remember in a while, same with Dante Moore.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

Yeah I heard Hamilton was high six figures. Before TA&M started there bonanza, he was (allegedly) one of the highest paid guys in CFB, period.

SouthSide and Toronto I both think are spot on. The truth is that there are "limitless" resources, and for a LOT of kids ND is offering the best package. I think that ND will continue to be very competitive for a lot of 4-star guys because of the potential earnings + everything else ND has going for it. Most of these kids are still putting a premium on NFL development, exposure, etc. because it drastically outweighs what they're being offered right now. You can't retire on a six figure offer.

The FUND and IPC are also absolutely putting money in player's pockets. But is it a guaranteed signing bonus that pays you out a lot of money *now*? No. And that matters for a lot of people. More importantly, it matters for a lot of agents that are advising these kids. I have heard horror stories about agents working their way into recruitments of certain players and then all of a sudden coaches are told to talk to their "representation"... and these agents are steering kids towards whatever is financially best for the agent, everything else be damned. Some of these are guys are even trying to charge predatory 30% cuts.

Awesome insight. Just one thing. Could you replace the word “agents” with “uncles”?

 

[ThePiombino]

NIL is great for the player and value of degree is what sells mom. I would find it highly unlikely that Notre Dame doesn’t already have a great presentation on both that’s shared during a visit.

The issue isn't ND's pitch, it's ND's policy and unwillingness to do what damn near every other school (including yours) is doing and that's pay upfront for these kids to sign on the dotted line. Keeley could very likely come here and make just as much as he would at Bama or Oregon or Miami over the course of his collegiate career. The difference is the guarantee and, honestly, it's hard to blame him.

 

[Irish#1]

This is the old "Bird in the hand" scenario for these 5* kids. While there are a lot of good posts on why the ND/NIL route makes sense, they don't share the affinity for ND that we do. 18 year old kids will probably take the upfront money the vast majority of the time. Especially if the family has struggled financially or worse yet, the damn uncle pops up out of the blue.

 

[NDpendent]

Yeah those psychos certainly aren’t helping the situation whatsoever.

I looked at the one guys twitter account and his account was created 24 hours before the post and his comment to Keeley's mom was his first activity. These aren't actually Notre Dame fans

 

[Dale]

***Nuggets: Bama recruiting hot streak to continue?

***Nuggets: Bama recruiting hot streak to continue?

247sports.com

BOL perspective. Nothing new.

I think one part where I/I’m sure the staff would stay frustrated, BOL guys point out they’ve slowly been building a relationship for months with Keon. So we can lament about NIL/agents but the fact of the matter is Keon never shut down his recruitment to others. Phone never went off.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

This is a player with the potential to be a game changing pass rusher ala Chase Young or Aidan Hutchinson. To not sign him would suck, but in the end I'm not going to wring my hands over it. Hard to miss something you never had in the first place. He's given a verbal commitment to Notre Dame. We all know going back to the Weis Era what those are worth.

I hope Freeman, Golden and Washington all continue to stay on him and present the opportunity for what it is. Overall, the best in college football.

I'm a lot more disappointed for Avery Davis than I would be if Keeley doesn't sign.

 

[stlnd01]

***Nuggets: Bama recruiting hot streak to continue?

***Nuggets: Bama recruiting hot streak to continue?

247sports.com

BOL perspective. Nothing new.

I think one part where I/I’m sure the staff would stay frustrated, BOL guys point out they’ve slowly been building a relationship for months with Keon. So we can lament about NIL/agents but the fact of the matter is Keon never shut down his recruitment to others. Phone never went off.

Yeah this isn't just about the bag. He's not going to A&M or Miami.

 

[Crazy Balki]

This is a player with the potential to be a game changing pass rusher ala Chase Young or Aidan Hutchinson. To not sign him would suck, but in the end I'm not going to wring my hands over it. Hard to miss something you never had in the first place. He's given a verbal commitment to Notre Dame. We all know going back to the Weis Era what those are worth.

I hope Freeman, Golden and Washington all continue to stay on him and present the opportunity for what it is. Overall, the best in college football.

I'm a lot more disappointed for Avery Davis than I would be if Keeley doesn't sign.

I'd honestly be more disappointed in Keeley not signing. He seemed like a consummate ND guy. He was a kid who bought into what ND was about and we had a guy who was willing to work his tail off to keep him in the fold.

To know all that effort would be for naught is not only extremely deflating, but it helps cement the narrative that ND can't recruit with the big boys and if they can't recruit with the big boys, how can they expect to beat them?

 

[T Town Tommy]

The issue isn't ND's pitch, it's ND's policy and unwillingness to do what damn near every other school (including yours) is doing and that's pay upfront for these kids to sign on the dotted line. Keeley could very likely come here and make just as much as he would at Bama or Oregon or Miami over the course of his collegiate career. The difference is the guarantee and, honestly, it's hard to blame him.

Why do you think Saban went off on A&M? Because he was meeting with two DL that grew up being diehard Bama fans but told him they were going elsewhere because they were offered $$. Now, I do know that Bama meets with every recruit and shows them what they could make from NIL if they came to Bama. Why do you think Saban put out that last year Bama players made in excess of $3 mil from NIL. There’s always a reason for what he says in public. Always.
Instead of crying about the POTENTIAL of losing Keeley maybe ND should ask themselves why their message may not be effective. They of all universities has the ability to set up endless NIL opportunities for their players… so much so that other schools would struggle to compete. Instead of offering up excuses, find a better way. It shouldn’t be hard. It’s Notre Dame. Sorry… rant over.

 

[notredomer23]

I just hope if he decommits as he essentially already has, he & ND keep the line of communication open and he gives ND a visit in November.

Someone recently brought up Steve Elmer going to Michigan for the ND game in 2011 and that loss is how he realized he needs to go to ND. Maybe that is what Keon needs and the OSU game could have a net-positive outcome besides on-field performance.

Recruit him to the end. Fill his spot if possible. You take him no matter what, obviously.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

I just hope if he decommits as he essentially already has, he & ND keep the line of communication open and he gives ND a visit in November.

Someone recently brought up Steve Elmer going to Michigan for the ND game in 2011 and that loss is how he realized he needs to go to ND. Maybe that is what Keon needs and the OSU game could have a net-positive outcome besides on-field performance.

Recruit him to the end. Fill his spot if possible. You take him no matter what, obviously.

Can’t really compare this to a kid who grew up in the Midwest that left football early to go into politics. Nothing against Keon, just a feeling this is apples to oranges.

 

[notredomer23]

Can’t really compare this to a kid who grew up in the Midwest that left football early to go into politics. Nothing against Keon, just a feeling this is apples to oranges.

That's just an example of needing that "come to" moment. I am sure Colzie, Riley, and Aaron Lynch (okay maybe not him) had a similar moment they realized they needed to be at ND. Point is I hope both sides keep communication open and a visit happens in the late fall.

 

[Luckylucci]

Yeah this isn't just about the bag. He's not going to A&M or Miami.

And that is why my main takeaway from all of this is I do not like this recruiting strategy. If a prospect is looking so are we. I know Freeman is trying to be the cool, "players" coach but this is the downside. If months ago, Freeman had the conversation with Keon that it's either all in or we'll continue to recruit the position like it's open, we end up at the same place. The difference is we'd have had months head start on finding a replacement.

We don't need to kick guys out of the class or give them ultimatums but I think we can be very clear that if you are going to recruited, from other schools, with this much vigor. Then, we're left with no choice to recruit this position the same. While continuing to recruit said prospect as much as anyone.

 

[stlnd01]

And that is why my main takeaway from all of this is I do not like this recruiting strategy. If a prospect is looking so are we. I know Freeman is trying to be the cool, "players" coach but this is the downside. If months ago, Freeman had the conversation with Keon that it's either all in or we'll continue to recruit the position like it's open, we end up at the same place. The difference is we'd have had months head start on finding a replacement.

We don't need to kick guys out of the class or give them ultimatums but I think we can be very clear that if you are going to recruited, from other schools, with this much vigor. Then, we're left with no choice to recruit this position the same. While continuing to recruit said prospect as much as anyone.

To be fair the "vigor" on Bama's part seems fairly recent. Yes they've been talking, and I guess he went to a Junior Day there in January or something, but it's not like Bowen where he's been taking visits throughout, or Dante who blew off our big spring weekends. And who did we not recruit because we were holding a "spot" for Keeley? It's not like quarterback where you just take one, we want ALL the pass rushers. We kept after M'Pemba the whole time, for instance.

The one thing maybe I'd say we do different is hold off on having him OV until the season. After he's gone to see the schools you know are lurking. Instead he used his in June and now getting back for, say, the Clemson game becomes a harder sell.

Personally I think this is a case of a kid who committed early, probably too early, to a school where he had existing relationships and felt comfortable. But then he becomes a Big Deal, and the King Shit programs come calling - Nick Saban comes to his high school! - and there's a bag and an uncle and after awhile it just all adds up.

The question now is how do counter, remind him why he committed to ND in the first place, get him back on campus, make a competitive NIL offer. None of that is served by telling him to get lost.

 

[Sea Turtle]

We just need to start winning like Alabama.

Like that photo shopped sign meme from the lockerroom said a few years ago: Play Like Alabama Today.

 

[Luckylucci]

To be fair the "vigor" on Bama's part seems fairly recent. Yes they've been talking, and I guess he went to a Junior Day there in January or something, but it's not like Bowen where he's been taking visits throughout, or Dante who blew off our big spring weekends. And who did we not recruit because we were holding a "spot" for Keeley? It's not like quarterback where you just take one, we want ALL the pass rushers. We kept after M'Pemba the whole time, for instance.

The one thing maybe I'd say we do different is hold off on having him OV until the season. After he's gone to see the schools you know are lurking. Instead he used his in June and now getting back for, say, the Clemson game becomes a harder sell.

Personally I think this is a case of a kid who committed early, probably too early, to a school where he had existing relationships and felt comfortable. But then he becomes a Big Deal, and the King Shit programs come calling - Nick Saban comes to his high school! - and there's a bag and an uncle and after awhile it just all adds up.

The question now is how do counter, remind him why he committed to ND in the first place, get him back on campus, make a competitive NIL offer. None of that is served by telling him to get lost.

He'd been looking into visiting OSU since December of last year. He eventually did visit OSU in March. Also took another unofficial to UF in March as well. So, up to this point, he's taken a minimum (I could be missing some) of 4 visits since being committed. That's a lot of visits for a "committed" prospect.

I mean, we literally offered Caleb Herring very recently so there's one. Joshua Mickens from Indiana is another. Though it didn't get much pub because he told us to kick rocks. What about Chandavian Bradley? Do you really think that if Keeley didn't exist in this class, we'd have nobody else in this position?

Keeley doesn't get replaced but who you bring in behind him matters.

 

[NDdomer2]

Just think of the nonsense that would be getting spewed if Keeley Bowen were offensive/Rees recruits.

 

[IrishLax]

Why do you think Saban went off on A&M? Because he was meeting with two DL that grew up being diehard Bama fans but told him they were going elsewhere because they were offered $$. Now, I do know that Bama meets with every recruit and shows them what they could make from NIL if they came to Bama. Why do you think Saban put out that last year Bama players made in excess of $3 mil from NIL. There’s always a reason for what he says in public. Always.
Instead of crying about the POTENTIAL of losing Keeley maybe ND should ask themselves why their message may not be effective. They of all universities has the ability to set up endless NIL opportunities for their players… so much so that other schools would struggle to compete. Instead of offering up excuses, find a better way. It shouldn’t be hard. It’s Notre Dame. Sorry… rant over.

This difference is that it's a tail-wagging-the-dog situation versus dog-wagging-the-tail. Bama is getting outspent by others schools -> Saban makes very public remarks designed to send a clear message to Bama fans/supporters/boosters that the status quo isn't going to work -> Bama jumps in the pool with the other "aggressive" schools.

At ND, no matter what Marcus Freeman might say or what fans might want to do they aren't going to greenlight deals that they think violate the rules or spirit of the rules. The admin simply won't allow it. It's a moot point.

Reason I'm not teeth gnashing is that this is likely the last cycle of this before Congress takes some action to standardize things.

 

[Crazy Balki]

We just need to start winning like Alabama.

Like that photo shopped sign meme from the lockerroom said a few years ago: Play Like Alabama Today.

Yeah, but in order for us to start winning like Alabama, we have to land more Keeley-level players.

But if they all go to Alabama or take the big PFP money, then how do we start winning like Alabama?

 

[Dale]

Just think of the nonsense that would be getting spewed if Keeley Bowen were offensive/Rees recruits.

I heard Keeley and Rees talked once, have to think Rees has some failure here

 

[Dale]

I’ve still never seen any example of a school that 100%, all the time has backup plans at the ready for every commit in their class. ND has had backup plans for some decommits/guys that didn’t land. They haven’t for others. I’m not aware of a school that employs a no surprises always have the back burner hot for months strategy. It’d have to think if it was possible we’d do it.

 

[GATTACA!]

Is there anything stopping a Mendoza type alum from just giving players p4p NLI deals? How does the ND administration have any say in the matter?

 

[ACamp1900]

Yeah, but in order for us to start winning like Alabama, we have to land more Keeley-level players.

But if they all go to Alabama or take the big PFP money, then how do we start winning like Alabama?

Well, for one we can schedule like them,… rarely ever leave our region and never schedule two difficult games back to back unless it’s totally unavoidable. Put like four absolutely can not lose under any circumstance games on every single yearly schedule and watch the ten plus win seasons roll in without fail,… then see an uptick in recruiting as result

 

[Luckylucci]

I’ve still never seen any example of a school that 100%, all the time has backup plans at the ready for every commit in their class. ND has had backup plans for some decommits/guys that didn’t land. They haven’t for others. I’m not aware of a school that employs a no surprises always have the back burner hot for months strategy. It’d have to think if it was possible we’d do it.

I certainly don't have that expectation. There is a huge difference between Adon Shuler and Keon Keeley. Both have Bama offers. One has been flirting with them for months and one hasn't. Seems like we could take reasonable, albeit different, approaches to those recruitments.

 

[IrishLax]

Is there anything stopping a Mendoza type alum from just giving players p4p NLI deals? How does the ND administration have any say in the matter?

Compliance still has to vet every player for eligibility.

 

[NDMatt91]

Just think of the nonsense that would be getting spewed if Keeley Bowen were offensive/Rees recruits.

On top of how the 2023 QB class has shaken out so far? Oh man. It would be ugly.

 

[Dale]

I certainly don't have that expectation. There is a huge difference between Adon Shuler and Keon Keeley. Both have Bama offers. One has been flirting with them for months and one hasn't. Seems like we could take reasonable, albeit different, approaches to those recruitments.

Sure but based off this cycle, you’d need additional backup options at QB (Moore), RB (Love), WR (Hanafin), DE (Keeley), CB (Rhett), S (Bowen). Heck Flanagan still talks to Bama as of a few months ago. James wanted to visit others. What if OSU calls back Flores? Jason Moore. Traore visited BC as a commit. Point being to effectively always be prepared and not just look in hindsight you’d have to recruit quite a bit of extra recruits and when you’re doing that who’s got this extra time? Are we not doing a chicken and egg and pushing commits/leans out because they know Plan B is on their visit? Many more other logistical questions.

 

[Dale]

The easiest way to have a better strategy than getting gut punched on decommits, battles, is just put it in cruise control like BK did post 2013. We’ll have less decommits. No backup plan needed. But that’s not what we hired Freeman for.

 

[GATTACA!]

Well, for one we can schedule like them,… rarely ever leave our region and never schedule two difficult games back to back unless it’s totally unavoidable. Put like four absolutely can not lose under any circumstance games on every single yearly schedule and watch the ten plus win seasons roll in without fail,… then see an uptick in recruiting as result

You forgot “make it to the CFP and get smacked.”