'25 CA LB Madden Faraimo (Notre Dame Signee)

[NDMatt91]

Recruiting efforts to end seems to be non existence with closing out the 25 class

I'm baffled by this because II said Freeman told them something along the lines of they want to be a program that was all about recruiting. I assumed that meant that they would get with the times and start offering big bags to top-tier prospects. If that's not going to happen, then you'd expect them to go all-in on the portal at positions of need. But then they apparently made little to no effort to get Caleb Downs, given what was reported, when he hit the portal. Unlike with kids who are 2-3 years out of HS, ND supposedly doesn't have a difficult time getting kids who are just 1 year out of HS through admissions. They need to pick a lane. Either consistently drop big bags for elite prospects, or go all-in at positions of need in the portal, including stud true freshman and not just players with only 1 year left of eligibility.

 

[IAIrish]

Just an absolutely brutal ending to this class

Will see what shakes out between now and signing day, but I can't recall a more different finish between on field performance and closing on recruits.

Usually there is some correlation between record and recruiting, but sheesh, the bag seems undefeated here..

Still a good class, but a few more holes that will need patched by the portal down the road.

 

[calvegas04]

I'm baffled by this because II said Freeman told them something along the lines of they want to be a program that was all about recruiting.

That was a huge point of him being hired

 

[NDMatt91]

Still a good class, but a few more holes that will need patched by the portal down the road.

I think from a recruiting perspective, this puts people like Mike Brown and Al Washington on the clock with the 2026 cycle. They need to hit 2026 out of the park at WR and DL, respectively. They can't really afford to take projects, they need blue-chip guys who can come in and contribute immediately. DT is much more of a priority than DE. They need guys with size, not 250 and 260-ish guys that they hope can be 300 pounds 3-4 years down the line.

 

[NDohio]

I'm baffled by this because II said Freeman told them something along the lines of they want to be a program that was all about recruiting. I assumed that meant that they would get with the times and start offering big bags to top-tier prospects. If that's not going to happen, then you'd expect them to go all-in on the portal at positions of need. But then they apparently made little to no effort to get Caleb Downs, given what was reported, when he hit the portal. Unlike with kids who are 2-3 years out of HS, ND supposedly doesn't have a difficult time getting kids who are just 1 year out of HS through admissions. They need to pick a lane. Either consistently drop big bags for elite prospects, or go all-in at positions of need in the portal, including stud true freshman and not just players with only 1 year left of eligibility.

I'm not sure Downs is the best example for the point you are making. Yes, he was a five star talent, but safety was not a position that ND had a huge need for a starter. They got what they needed there and that was depth.

The positions that ND needed to pay money in the portal, they went out and got some of the better options at those positions - including the QB that many thought was the top guy.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Recruiting is sad this class you would think we are playing the best football in college made the playoffs where’s all the momentum.

 

[NDMatt91]

I'm not sure Downs is the best example for the point you are making. Yes, he was a five star talent, but safety was not a position that ND had a huge need for a starter. They got what they needed there and that was depth.

The positions that ND needed to pay money in the portal, they went out and got some of the better options at those positions - including the QB that many thought was the top guy.

I definitely agree that Safety wasn't the biggest need, but the beat said they'd definitely get a Safety, which ended up being Heard. When an elite player like Caleb Downs comes available, you have to do everything possible to buy him. Especially since he'd have multiple years of eligibility and had some genuine interest in ND out of HS.

 

[NDPhilly]

If the 2026 class isnt borderline top 5, then idk when we make the jump. The momentum of this year will be more apparrent next year than with this one. Have to remember that this 2025 class is following two mediocre years, lowering the momentum MF had.

 

[arrowryan]

If the 2026 class isnt borderline top 5, then idk when we make the jump. The momentum of this year will be more apparrent next year than with this one. Have to remember that this 2025 class is following two mediocre years, lowering the momentum MF had.

Problem is that it’ll be much tougher to field a CFP team next year

 

[SDIrishFan]

I don't invest as much time and energy into recruiting as I used to, but it really is baffling how much we struggle to recruit the elites. And, for whatever reason, "win and they will come" just doesn't seem to work for ND. We've won as much as just about any program (other than 3-4 teams) in the past decade and that never correlates with our recruiting rankings. We're a top 4 team, hosting the first ever CFP game and elites just don't look our way.

Obviously the NIL game has changed everything. I also think the fact that we aren't churning out headlining NFL stars hurts us. Yeah we have a few (Kyren, several OL, but that's about it). We haven't had a meaningful NFL QB since....Montana? WR since Tim Brown? A few flash in the pans, but not many.

Kids care about money and NFL (especially the elite) these days and that's about it. It's going to be tough to compete when we don't offer the best opportunity for either. Not saying we can't have good teams, we will, but we can't count on all the true gamebreakers that other teams stack.

 

[SDIrishFan]

The other thing I'll add is it's almost as if the team and trajectory of the program hardly matter at all. Look at teams like Michigan, Colorado, USC, Florida, FSU, etc pulling in blue chips. Those programs are a dumpster fire, on the verge of firing coaches/staffs, likely probation, .500 records. Doesn't seem to matter.

Truly seems to be, drop a bag, that's it.

 

[notredomer23]

Problem is that it’ll be much tougher to field a CFP team next year

Why other than a tougher schedule? If they replace the interior DL adequately, this team will probably be better even with a rookie QB.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I'm not sure Downs is the best example for the point you are making. Yes, he was a five star talent, but safety was not a position that ND had a huge need for a starter. They got what they needed there and that was depth.

The positions that ND needed to pay money in the portal, they went out and got some of the better options at those positions - including the QB that many thought was the top guy.

Not only that, but it was beyond clear he was going to OSU. Like before he even officially announced he was leaving, he was considered an OSU lock.

 

[IrishinSyria]

I don't invest as much time and energy into recruiting as I used to, but it really is baffling how much we struggle to recruit the elites. And, for whatever reason, "win and they will come" just doesn't seem to work for ND. We've won as much as just about any program (other than 3-4 teams) in the past decade and that never correlates with our recruiting rankings. We're a top 4 team, hosting the first ever CFP game and elites just don't look our way.

Obviously the NIL game has changed everything. I also think the fact that we aren't churning out headlining NFL stars hurts us. Yeah we have a few (Kyren, several OL, but that's about it). We haven't had a meaningful NFL QB since....Montana? WR since Tim Brown? A few flash in the pans, but not many.

Kids care about money and NFL (especially the elite) these days and that's about it. It's going to be tough to compete when we don't offer the best opportunity for either. Not saying we can't have good teams, we will, but we can't count on all the true gamebreakers that other teams stack.

Floyd and Golden were both legit starting NFL receivers, though to be fair neither ended up being the superstar they were in college.

e. and more recently Claypool had all the tools to be and originally was but the less said about how that went the better really

 

[BoredIrish]

Why other than a tougher schedule? If they replace the interior DL adequately, this team will probably be better even with a TRANSFER QB.

FIFY

 

[SoIll]

No-one tell me again that NDs NIL is on par with everyone else. Its just not.

 

[MacIrish75]

Holy crap guys what if this has nothing to do with NIL?

Some of you are insufferable.

 

[Wild Bill]

The other thing I'll add is it's almost as if the team and trajectory of the program hardly matter at all. Look at teams like Michigan, Colorado, USC, Florida, FSU, etc pulling in blue chips. Those programs are a dumpster fire, on the verge of firing coaches/staffs, likely probation, .500 records. Doesn't seem to matter.

Truly seems to be, drop a bag, that's it.

 

[ThePiombino]

Holy crap guys what if this has nothing to do with NIL?

Some of you are insufferable.

Then that's even worse IMO. The blame squarely falls on the staff and not the administration at that point.

 

[SoIll]

Holy crap guys what if this has nothing to do with NIL?

Some of you are insufferable.

"As it stands now, I like USC for a variety of reasons. No doubt in my mind that they have the best NIL package on the table for the coveted in-state talent. This is not a recruit they want to lose and they have put their best foot forward."

Behind the Crystal Ball: Forecasting USC to land Top100 linebacker Madden Faraimo

San Juan Capistrano (Calif.) J Serra Catholic Top100 linebacker Madden Faraimo is a tremendous talent in the class of 2025. The 6-3, 230-pounder is ranked No. 80 overall, No. 3 at his position this cycle, and the No. 6 prospect in the state of California.

247sports.com

 

[MacIrish75]

Then that's even worse IMO. The blame squarely falls on the staff and not the administration at that point.

Totally understand. Damn it Marcus! Why couldn't you convince the entire university to relocate from South Bend, Indiana, to southern California so we could win this recruitment? Honestly it's a whole university debacle at this point.

Y'all who gnash teeth at every recruitment we lose must be solely responsible for the Aston Martins and Rolls Royces parked in the garages of your local dentists...

 

[brewdog_14527]

Some of you may need to pace yourselves. It is a long 3 weeks to bitch about things before our next game. In the playoffs. Because an 18 year old didn't pick your school. It seems to be entirely possible that Freeman and the staff are better at identifying talent than the "recruiting experts," both at services and on this board. Notre Dame is not going to pay high school students what others are willing to pay. I would argue that the staff has done a great job to get the Ben Morrison's, Jeremiyah Love's, and KVA's of the world and keep them from taking, what I am sure were big offers. As long as they keep identifying talent that the services miss, we should be OK. How many teams were ahead of ND in the recruiting rankings the during Freeman's time that will be playing in the Ritz Crackers bowl? Is there any of the teams in the playoffs that were ahead of them that you truly don't think ND can beat this year? The number of frosh and sophomores that have played significant minutes on what could be the #5 team in the playoff rankings and maybe 3rd ranked in the rankings proves he can identify talent, and more importantly, coach them up. What you miss in HS recruiting, the portal can help.

 

[arrowryan]

Why other than a tougher schedule? If they replace the interior DL adequately, this team will probably be better even with a rookie QB.

The schedule, like you mentioned. On paper, it looks significantly more difficult

 

[Irish du Nord]

No-one tell me again that NDs NIL is on par with everyone else. Its just not.

You know who has the best NIL for HS recruits right now? The teams grasping for relevance who aren't gonna make the playoff. These are desperation bags that are coming from Michigan, USC, UF, and A&M. Auburn had their desperation period earlier and could end up paying the price for that

 

[IrishTusker]

Totally understand. Damn it Marcus! Why couldn't you convince the entire university to relocate from South Bend, Indiana, to southern California so we could win this recruitment? Honestly it's a whole university debacle at this point.

Y'all who gnash teeth at every recruitment we lose must be solely responsible for the Aston Martins and Rolls Royces parked in the garages of your local dentists...

Plenty of schools are located in boring/cold locations. They seem to have no problem landing top players. ND has to compensate for its disadvantages through NIL. It doesn't sound like that is happening, at least not enough.

 

[mcbri014]

Im unsure if it’s his cousin or uncle, (not the handler type), that played for Carroll. Family pull was always at play here as well.

 

[Irish du Nord]

The schedule, like you mentioned. On paper, it looks significantly more difficult

I think we'll be fine with how it currently stands. I don't see any problems with the ACC slate (it's not stronger than this year's, if we struggle with it that is indicative that the team has regressed). USC, A&M, and Boise State being home games helps. Purdue can only go up from here I guess. Arkansas away doesn't scare me too much, they aren't really close to A&M level. Solid but a playoff caliber team should win that game, clearly I would expect the 2024 team to go into Fayetteville and crack skulls.

We'll see if we add another premier opponent. Stanford looks like the obvious addition at the moment which would put us at 11 games. If it's another average opponent, I don't see our schedule being too difficult for this team if we stay at our current level.

 

[ThePiombino]

Totally understand. Damn it Marcus! Why couldn't you convince the entire university to relocate from South Bend, Indiana, to southern California so we could win this recruitment? Honestly it's a whole university debacle at this point.

Y'all who gnash teeth at every recruitment we lose must be solely responsible for the Aston Martins and Rolls Royces parked in the garages of your local dentists...

Oh are you under the impression that this is the only recruit that we were leading for an ultimately lost out on this cycle?

 

[JadedDomer]

You know who has the best NIL for HS recruits right now? The teams grasping for relevance who aren't gonna make the playoff. These are desperation bags that are coming from Michigan, USC, UF, and A&M. Auburn had their desperation period earlier and could end up paying the price for that

Actually everyone's doing it. Oregon, OSU, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee... but you're leaving those out and the champion will probably come from that group.

There will be far more "winners" who are at the top of NIL rather than the 2 losers.

 

[Ophiocordyceps]

Staff needs to remind him about all the things he liked about ND. Meaning they need to match USC NIL offer.