‘23 OH S Ben Minich (Notre Dame Signee)

IrishInOntario

Well-known member
Messages
643
Reaction score
1,088
Extremely healthy roster turnover in the secondary. If you take a step back and look at the guys that are being developed as meaningful contributors vs the guys that are leaving, we have the following...

Corners
Leonard Moore
Christian Gray
Mark Zackery
Cree Thomas
Dallas Golden
Khary Adams
Chaston Smith
Karson Hobbs

Safeties
Adon Shuler
Tae Johnson
Luke Talich
Ethan Long
Brandon Logan
Joey O'Brien
Ayden Pouncey
Nick Reddish

Portal
Chance Tucker
Ben Minich
Taebron Bennie-Powell
Jadon Blair

Really nice talent acquisition and generally speaking, ND is losing the "right" guys in the portal and trimming the fat from their roster. What some people forget is that reps, even practice reps, are extremely valuable. Every snap that Joey O'Brien gets (and Ben Minich doesn't) in a 3rd team role adds to the competitiveness and quality depth of the roster. It's also how ND continues being strong year-after-year.

Without naming names (I think we can deduce who I'm talking about) I'd go as far as saying that ND would "happily" lose 1-2 more DBs from the bottom of their depth chart, while adding an a 2-deep player to reinforce the nickel position along with Dallas Golden. Adding a Khalil Barnes type and moving on from some others would solidify a top 2-3 secondary nationally.
 
Last edited:

IrishInOntario

Well-known member
Messages
643
Reaction score
1,088
Safety is a bit thinner now then it already was with the Blair transfer
It's just about perfect right now, IMO, in terms of depth and turnover of lesser talented players, maximizing the reps and development of the 3-deep. This type of recruiting, combined with retention of key talent and processing of lesser talent, is how you keep a roster strong and competitive in perpetuity.

Go get Xavier Hasan, Ace Alston, Jailen Hill (or better), Khalil Terry and Tavares Harrington (or better) and prepare for the similar healthy attrition next year. And if somebody that you're relying on in the short term unexpectedly transfers, backfill them will a similar talent from the portal.
 

allenm5333

Well-known member
Messages
2,543
Reaction score
2,526
Extremely healthy roster turnover in the secondary. If you take a step back and look at the guys that are being developed as meaningful contributors vs the guys that are leaving, we have the following...

Corners
Leonard Moore
Christian Gray
Mark Zackery
Cree Thomas
Dallas Golden
Khary Adams
Karson Hobbs

Safeties
Adon Shuler
Tae Johnson
Luke Talich
Ethan Long
Brandon Logan
Joey O'Brien
Ayden Pouncey
Nick Reddish

Portal
Chance Tucker
Ben Minich
Taebron Bennie-Powell
Jadon Blair

Really nice talent acquisition and generally speaking, ND is losing the "right" guys in the portal and trimming the fat from their roster. What some people forget is that reps, even practice reps, are extremely valuable. Every snap that Joey O'Brien gets (and Ben Minich doesn't) in a 3rd team role adds to the competitiveness and quality depth of the roster. It's also how ND continues being strong year-after-year.

Without naming names (I think we can deduce who I'm talking about) I'd go as far as saying that ND would "happily" lose 1-2 more DBs from the bottom of their depth chart, while adding an a 2-deep player to reinforce the nickel position along with Dallas Golden. Adding a Khalil Barnes type and moving on from some others would solidify a top 2-3 secondary nationally.
Ill say it. Only one here is definitely not a ND caliber player based on performance on the field
 

IrishInOntario

Well-known member
Messages
643
Reaction score
1,088
Ill say it. Only one here is definitely not a ND caliber player based on performance on the field
One for sure. There is another that I suspect isn't, but I'm certainly willing to give him a significant look (at least another year) before I'd make any definitive judgments.

You and I are on the same page.
 

ColinKSU

Well-known member
Messages
4,647
Reaction score
6,163
Extremely healthy roster turnover in the secondary. If you take a step back and look at the guys that are being developed as meaningful contributors vs the guys that are leaving, we have the following...

Corners
Leonard Moore
Christian Gray
Mark Zackery
Cree Thomas
Dallas Golden
Khary Adams
Karson Hobbs

Safeties
Adon Shuler
Tae Johnson
Luke Talich
Ethan Long
Brandon Logan
Joey O'Brien
Ayden Pouncey
Nick Reddish

Portal
Chance Tucker
Ben Minich
Taebron Bennie-Powell
Jadon Blair

Really nice talent acquisition and generally speaking, ND is losing the "right" guys in the portal and trimming the fat from their roster. What some people forget is that reps, even practice reps, are extremely valuable. Every snap that Joey O'Brien gets (and Ben Minich doesn't) in a 3rd team role adds to the competitiveness and quality depth of the roster. It's also how ND continues being strong year-after-year.

Without naming names (I think we can deduce who I'm talking about) I'd go as far as saying that ND would "happily" lose 1-2 more DBs from the bottom of their depth chart, while adding an a 2-deep player to reinforce the nickel position along with Dallas Golden. Adding a Khalil Barnes type and moving on from some others would solidify a top 2-3 secondary nationally.
You can’t let Karson Hobbs go because Driskel’s gotta keep at least one source.
 

GoIrish41

Paterfamilius
Messages
9,929
Reaction score
2,119
Extremely healthy roster turnover in the secondary. If you take a step back and look at the guys that are being developed as meaningful contributors vs the guys that are leaving, we have the following...

Corners
Leonard Moore
Christian Gray
Mark Zackery
Cree Thomas
Dallas Golden
Khary Adams
Karson Hobbs

Safeties
Adon Shuler
Tae Johnson
Luke Talich
Ethan Long
Brandon Logan
Joey O'Brien
Ayden Pouncey
Nick Reddish

Portal
Chance Tucker
Ben Minich
Taebron Bennie-Powell
Jadon Blair

Really nice talent acquisition and generally speaking, ND is losing the "right" guys in the portal and trimming the fat from their roster. What some people forget is that reps, even practice reps, are extremely valuable. Every snap that Joey O'Brien gets (and Ben Minich doesn't) in a 3rd team role adds to the competitiveness and quality depth of the roster. It's also how ND continues being strong year-after-year.

Without naming names (I think we can deduce who I'm talking about) I'd go as far as saying that ND would "happily" lose 1-2 more DBs from the bottom of their depth chart, while adding an a 2-deep player to reinforce the nickel position along with Dallas Golden. Adding a Khalil Barnes type and moving on from some others would solidify a top 2-3 secondary nationally.
Forgot CB Chaston Smith?
 

NYDOMER

Active member
Messages
128
Reaction score
182
It's just about perfect right now, IMO, in terms of depth and turnover of lesser talented players, maximizing the reps and development of the 3-deep. This type of recruiting, combined with retention of key talent and processing of lesser talent, is how you keep a roster strong and competitive in perpetuity.

Go get Xavier Hasan, Ace Alston, Jailen Hill (or better), Khalil Terry and Tavares Harrington (or better) and prepare for the similar healthy attrition next year. And if somebody that you're relying on in the short term unexpectedly transfers, backfill them will a similar talent from the portal.
I do agree with you in all aspects, and I trust in the way Mickens develops and recruits.
 

PolishDomer

Well-known member
Messages
1,470
Reaction score
2,335
Ill say it. Only one here is definitely not a ND caliber player based on performance on the field
afq0pu.jpg


I always get confused which was the Wyoming player...they both have ich in their name...Talich or Minich...lol
 

GrangerIrish24

I bring nothing to the table
Messages
6,974
Reaction score
14,637
One of Long, Logan or Hobbs I would expect. I’m not t hat attuned to this as you are.
It’s 247s story on Ben. I was enjoying the fact that they wrote it as “4 star” and not Ben. Adds to the severity of how tight the seat belt should be.
 

CanadalovesND

Well-known member
Messages
6,525
Reaction score
5,946
Miami of Ohio likes ND guys.

2024 they added Joe Wilkins, 2025 was Colzie, 2026 Minich..

I also recall, I think it was 2012, they added Andrew Hendrix, Lo Wood & Alex Welch all in the same year as graduate transfers.
 

Me2SouthBend

Well-known member
Messages
2,634
Reaction score
3,196
Miami of Ohio likes ND guys.

2024 they added Joe Wilkins, 2025 was Colzie, 2026 Minich..

I also recall, I think it was 2012, they added Andrew Hendrix, Lo Wood & Alex Welch all in the same year as graduate transfers.
You could change your user name. MiamiofOHlovesND. Rolls off the tongue.
 

Kak7304

Well-known member
Messages
2,068
Reaction score
361
Miami of Ohio likes ND guys.

2024 they added Joe Wilkins, 2025 was Colzie, 2026 Minich..

I also recall, I think it was 2012, they added Andrew Hendrix, Lo Wood & Alex Welch all in the same year as graduate transfers.
That big group of transfers followed Chuck Martin when he was hired as Miami’s HC after being ND’s OC. He’s still the coach at Miami and he’s always been a big ND fan.
 
Top