'23 FL DE Keon Keeley (Prodigal Son)

[NDohio]

This is the first recruiting cycle where many of the teams are playing the P4P game. Last season it was really only aTm. I will be very interested in seeing how this plays out. There are going to be some major disappointments in some of these players that do not live up to their hype. What is going to happen at that point? I am sure these P4P contracts are written in a way that protects the collectives and not the student-athlete. We are going to see some major blowback from kids and families when these things go south. There are already rumblings out of USC that that players aren't getting what they were promised.

When ND has a good to great season this year the likes of Mayer, Foskey, Buchner, and Styles will be making some money. My hope is that MF can use their monetary success to show the big recruits what is possible if you come to ND and are successful. There is already the Kyle Hamilton example out there and ND needs to capitalize on a few more stars having that kind of success.

The immediacy of what is happening in this recruiting cycle is frustrating and it's easy to fall into the woe is us mind set but IMO the long game is where ND will ultimately be successful with NIL.

 

[rikkitikki08]

The NIL era has completely changed my views of caring about recruiting. I’ll be excited for the kids who sign with ND but I won’t be losing any sleep over this. The game has changed and in my opinion changed for the worse

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

"Bro?" Did you go to ND? Are you actually Irish? I just got back from Dublin and no Bro being spoken over there.

You make my point for me regardless. If ND isn't going to pay out money, they are not going to get recruits in Lower or even Middle Income families who value such upfront money over a given degree.

Yes I live in Naples. Having millions is like bringing sand to the beach, bro.

People can take up front money and still get their degree? It's not like ND is the only one handing out the expensive pieces of paper at the end of their careers. We just put more emphasis on it and it means more than the average one.

The fact you are more worried about being called bro or whether or not "I'm actually Irish" (I am, very much so) than having a shred of decency about 18 year old kids and their families, and not drawing gross generalizations because they didn't go to the school we like, is all I need to know about you.

Go on kicking and screaming, enjoy the beach

 

[Kingbish01]

Big jump from 2M football in Florida to Bama....Is he even ready for and OL to weigh more than 225? Half joking!

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Haha, I really feel at this point your main objective is just to get a negative reaction score.

I'm not sure who all you quoted in your post.
I have so many asshole posters on the ignore list I can't even keep up.

 

[Irish#1]

"Bro?" Did you go to ND? Are you actually Irish? I just got back from Dublin and no Bro being spoken over there.

You make my point for me regardless. If ND isn't going to pay out money, they are not going to get recruits in Lower or even Middle Income families who value such upfront money over a given degree.

Yes I live in Naples. Having millions is like bringing sand to the beach, bro.

I was hoping you just had a temporary fascination with IE and would be gone by now. We'd be better off if you spent less time posting and more time collecting sea shells on the beach.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I think you can take a pretty educated guess.

Koon?
But for real, I'm guessing the drunk guy

 

[NDpendent]

Koon?
But for real, I'm guessing the drunk guy

You nailed it, a drunk Irishman that loves telling everyone he lives in Naples

 

[Irishdrunk]

People can take up front money and still get their degree? It's not like ND is the only one handing out the expensive pieces of paper at the end of their careers. We just put more emphasis on it and it means more than the average one.

The fact you are more worried about being called bro or whether or not "I'm actually Irish" (I am, very much so) than having a shred of decency about 18 year old kids and their families, and not drawing gross generalizations because they didn't go to the school we like, is all I need to know about you.

Go on kicking and screaming, enjoy the beach

You make no sense. I actually think its decent for a kid to make a decision on the welfare of his family. So kids from lower income / middle income families take upfront money and forgo going to ND can be a very rational decision. Its hardly a gross generalization as its clear kids are committing because of NIL and more obviously upfront NIL.

I am not one of these people who think if a kid takes money he is being penny wise and dollar foolish because he didn't get an ND degree. These kids are being offered good money that will make a difference in their families' lives. ND is not giving upfront money and its clearly hurting their recruiting. Just a tough reality but ND is always slow to change.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

Do people here actually think NIL is going to be policed more in the future? Where in college athletics have you seen this precedence? I wouldn't count on congress, the NCAA, or any other entity enforcing any sort of rules around NIL.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

You make no sense. I actually think its decent for a kid to make a decision on the welfare of his family. So kids from lower income / middle income families take upfront money and forgo going to ND can be a very rational decision. Its hardly a gross generalization as its clear kids are committing because of NIL and more obviously upfront NIL.

I am not one of these people who think if a kid takes money he is being penny wise and dollar foolish because he didn't get an ND degree. These kids are being offered good money that will make a difference in their families' lives. ND is not giving upfront money and its clearly hurting their recruiting. Just a tough reality but ND is always slow to change.

You're absolutely right, I'm the one that makes no sense....

 

[yankeehater]

A class with no QB or real bona-fide blue chip on the defense will be a disappointment.

Sorry, it will be very much like a Kelly class. Uneven.

In the new NiL world, this is what ND would get if they chose to remain out of it while recruiting. These are the positions of value that teams will be willing to pay for up front. Until it gets policed somehow, it will only get worse, and ND will find themselves fighting for MAC level talent in the end.

 

[AvesEvo]

"Bro?" Did you go to ND? Are you actually Irish? I just got back from Dublin and no Bro being spoken over there.

You make my point for me regardless. If ND isn't going to pay out money, they are not going to get recruits in Lower or even Middle Income families who value such upfront money over a given degree.

Yes I live in Naples. Having millions is like bringing sand to the beach, bro.

So what you're saying is that you could have paid Keeley, so ND losing him is your fault.

 

[Irish#1]

Do people here actually think NIL is going to be policed more in the future? Where in college athletics have you seen this precedence? I wouldn't count on congress, the NCAA, or any other entity enforcing any sort of rules around NIL.

The only hope is when Emmert steps down, the new president has a pair.

 

[arahop]

I heard Keon wanted to take his visits and Freeman told him he needs to decommit then, If that's the case then good for Freeman. I also respect Keon in being honest with the staff. I'd rather him decommit now than last day before signing day. Now it gives the staff 4-5 months to fill his spot.

With a 3* can't wait

 

[ThePiombino]

I already responded to this once, you didn’t respond. You told me to get of your dick when we disagreed a few days ago and now I see new tag from Piombino every time you appear. If you’d like to actually converse I’m down instead of whatever this.

Your point was that NIL is part of it. My point is NIL is the entirety of it. If what ISD is reporting is accurate (KK wants to be here, but familial influences are forcing him to go the PFP route), then this is 100% about NIL and not relationships. You could argue that his "relationship" with Saban/Bama predates his "relationships" with other PFP schools, but the reality is he didn't have a better relationship with any of them as compared to ND. It simply comes down to guaranteed money.

Do people here actually think NIL is going to be policed more in the future? Where in college athletics have you seen this precedence? I wouldn't count on congress, the NCAA, or any other entity enforcing any sort of rules around NIL.

I do, but I fear it will be too late. The reality is that it's still against the rules to pay a kid in advance of his/her enrollment -- effectively PFP -- and yet that's what several schools are blatantly doing behind the guide of "NIL". ND, OSU, Michigan, etc are "doing it right" and paying the consequences -- seems Bama keeps coming up as a beneficiary, too, which is interesting because a certain Bama fan on this board would have us believe Bama isn't playing that game. FOH. They are and they're winning at it.

 

[ThePiombino]

With a 3* can't wait

Assuming we don't wait until 48 hours before his announcement to offer...

 

[Irishdrunk]

I am sure we will offer one 3 star at a time until we find the perfect one.....

 

[NDpendent]

With a 3* can't wait

f.u.n.d.s. are abundant

 

[Laker]

While expected, this still sucks. Even though our DL development has been pretty good, and I’m high on young guys like Gobiara, Burnham and Traore, we still need guys like this at premium positions in the program to jump into that next tier of teams.

 

[irishff1014]

You make no sense. I actually think its decent for a kid to make a decision on the welfare of his family. So kids from lower income / middle income families take upfront money and forgo going to ND can be a very rational decision. Its hardly a gross generalization as its clear kids are committing because of NIL and more obviously upfront NIL.

I am not one of these people who think if a kid takes money he is being penny wise and dollar foolish because he didn't get an ND degree. These kids are being offered good money that will make a difference in their families' lives. ND is not giving upfront money and its clearly hurting their recruiting. Just a tough reality but ND is always slow to change.

They were already getting a ton of stuff just not actually money. Now that they are being paid they should lose some free things. In my opinion. Especially the recruits that haven’t played a down of college football. They don’t have a name or likeness that they have earned so far.

 

[FDNYIrish1]

I need to find myself a five star “nephew” in the 2024 class.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Thanks for what? arahop has no clue how NIL works if he thinks university BoTs are making such decisions.

You don't, in fact, "hate to state obvious" as long as it involves these sorts of low-value doom and gloom posts. ND's NIL is very competitive. But we don't do pay-for-play, which is different, and is likely to cost us some 5-star recruits until some order is imposed on this chaos. If you can't handle that, then you should probably take a break from following NDFB recruiting.

Genuine question because I don't know the answer and don't follow NIL rules closely enough: Is there a difference between upfront PFP versus a company giving a kid the same amount of money as a sponsorship once he's signed his NLOI and steps on campus? Is the latter essentially still categorized as the former?

I don't know what the answer to P4P is as it pertains to Notre Dame recruiting. They clearly offer a very competitive NIL deal over time. But is there any way they can compete with the upfront money? Aside from just joining in, that is.

Basically, this was not Keon’s decision, it was those around him. Matt Freeman believes that if it were up to Keon he’d be at ND.

If true, it’s just shocking that these parents are just grabbing dollars at the expense of their kids happiness. Especially from a family that was committed to ND for a little over 1 year.

This makes me terribly sad for these kids. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that essentially what happened with Dante Moore? I mean here you have two very intelligent "ND fits" and these kids are misguided by parents/family because of upfront cash? Kyle Hamilton crushed the NIL scene. Imagine what Manti could've done. And then imagine what the two highest ranked recruits in the last 10-20 years could've achieved. Combine that with the degree, the network, and the surefire path to the NFL (barring an injury or complete bust situation)....I mean, Keon would've been starting from Day 1 and could've been earning NIL starting in December. You're telling me this family can't understand the value in that and wait 4 more months to start getting payments? What am I missing?

 

[Dale]

Your point was that NIL is part of it. My point is NIL is the entirety of it. If what ISD is reporting is accurate (KK wants to be here, but familial influences are forcing him to go the PFP route), then this is 100% about NIL and not relationships. You could argue that his "relationship" with Saban/Bama predates his "relationships" with other PFP schools, but the reality is he didn't have a better relationship with any of them as compared to ND. It simply comes down to guaranteed money.

I don’t think it’s ever 100% about any one thing. To think any decision comes down to 100% one thing is inaccurate no matter the prospect IMO. I don’t think I’ve put stress on relationships nearly as much as you’re trying this troll thing out with. I think Nick Saban and being Alabama plays the tiniest part at least. Again doesn’t seem to hot of a take but do your thing.

The beat, both ISD and 247 is protecting the kid. They did the same with Moore. I find it interesting more than written gospel.

 

[ThePiombino]

I don’t think it’s ever 100% about any one thing. To think any decision comes down to 100% one thing is inaccurate. I don’t think I’ve put stress on relationships nearly as much as you’re trying this troll thing out with. I think Nick Saban and being Alabama plays the tiniest part at least. Again doesn’t seem to hot of a take but do your thing.

Like 1%? I can get behind that. But at the end of the day, if this wasn't the "NIL era", KK would still be Irish and likely would still be on NSD.

 

[Dale]

Like 1%? I can get behind that. But at the end of the day, if this wasn't the "NIL era", KK would still be Irish and likely would still be on NSD.

Yes the NIL era invented paying recruits.

 

[ndfanatic78]

Genuine question because I don't know the answer and don't follow NIL rules closely enough: Is there a difference between upfront PFP versus a company giving a kid the same amount of money as a sponsorship once he's signed his NLOI and steps on campus? Is the latter essentially still categorized as the former?

I don't know what the answer to P4P is as it pertains to Notre Dame recruiting. They clearly offer a very competitive NIL deal over time. But is there any way they can compete with the upfront money? Aside from just joining in, that is.



This makes me terribly sad for these kids. Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that essentially what happened with Dante Moore? I mean here you have two very intelligent "ND fits" and these kids are misguided by parents/family because of upfront cash? Kyle Hamilton crushed the NIL scene. Imagine what Manti could've done. And then imagine what the two highest ranked recruits in the last 10-20 years could've achieved. Combine that with the degree, the network, and the surefire path to the NFL (barring an injury or complete bust situation)....I mean, Keon would've been starting from Day 1 and could've been earning NIL starting in December. You're telling me this family can't understand the value in that and wait 4 more months to start getting payments? What am I missing?

In one situation they are guaranteed millions no matter what happens. The other they only get the cash if they succeed. You always take the gauranteed money especially a football player. There have been so many high school players that have been called generational talent that never went on to do anything. Under ND's model they would never see anything substantial. Under the PFP model they sign a contract and are guaranteed at least some of the money if not all of it. There is not a credible financial adviser out there that would tell a kid to not take the gauranteed money. Even $100,000 at 18 can be life altering money and set up a kid for life if invested wisely and to get that before even taking the risk of getting injured is a no brainer. That is what is holding ND's NIL back, Its not the amount, it's that other school's boosters are guaranteeing it before even stepping on campus.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

It's funny, if you've been around here long enough you can almost predict down to the individual poster how this conversation is going to play out.

 

[Irish#1]

It's funny, if you've been around here long enough you can almost predict down to the individual poster how this conversation is going to play out.

So true.

 

[tussin]

Wouldn't want to see some of you guys after a breakup in high school.