'27 HI LB Samson "Toa" Satele (Offer)

[RudyVerse]

Never expected this one but was hoping he’d visit. Parks is the crusher.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Was hoping he'd make it to ND for an official. ND is getting the last, or next to last visit for a lot of these guys and that can be awesome in some instances, but it's a gamble in tbe current climate where teams are making big offers to kids and applying maximum pressure to ensure that they don't leave campus uncommitted.

I imagine ND will land their fare share of really good players over the next few weeks as well.

If Oregon pulls Satele that's a really good get for him. I think that once he hones in on a position he's going to be excellent.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Never expected this one but was hoping he’d visit. Parks is the crusher.

Is it though? Brayden Parks might very well be an excellent college football player, but I'm not nearly as sold on him as a prospect with huge upside as I am a guy like David Folorunsho. I feel like Parks is pretty well developed and is currently what he's going to be in college. 6'1 (maybe 6'2), 300-310lbs and a really solid NG for 4 years. That's definitely a kid I'd want in my program, but I don't think his loss is crushing. Personally, I don't project him to be a game changer in college.

 

[RudyVerse]

Is it though? Brayden Parks might very well be an excellent college football player, but I'm not nearly as sold on him as a prospect with huge upside as I am a guy like David Folorunsho. I feel like Parks is pretty well developed and is currently what he's going to be in college. 6'1 (maybe 6'2), 300-310lbs and a really solid NG for 4 years. That's definitely a kid I'd want in my program, but I don't think his loss is crushing. Personally, I don't project him to be a game changer in college.

I don’t want him above Folo, but do want him above every DL remaining including Fakatou and Sessay. Having a car wreck NT is such an advantage.

 

[allenm5333]

I don’t want him above Folo, but do want him above every DL remaining including Fakatou and Sessay. Having a car wreck NT is such an advantage.

Really not sure he is that. I don’t see a guy Who will occupy doubles enough to be elite.

 

[IrishInOntario]

I don’t want him above Folo, but do want him above every DL remaining including Fakatou and Sessay. Having a car wreck NT is such an advantage.

I love a great run stuffing, dominant nose guard with athleticism as much as the next guy and if we were talking about Ndamukong Sue, Vince Wilfork, Haloti Ngata, Jordan Davis, Dexter Lawrence, Quinnen Williams or even Peter Woods or Louix Nix... I agree that this would be a huge loss. Freaky athletes with that type of size are so damn hard to find. I just don't happen to think Brayden Parks is that.

I also think that pass rush is vital. I'd rather get a guy like Abraham Sesay out of high school when he's available and steal somebody else's developed NG via the portal (ala Tionne Gray)... Landing a guy that has double digit sack upside in the portal is insanely expensive and much more cost effective out of high school.

 

[JD Irish]

Both. Or rather, all of the above. We need an elite NT. We also need an elite LB and another elite DE. There is no room for either/or here.

 

[GoIrish41]

Both. Or rather, all of the above. We need an elite NT. We also need an elite LB and another elite DE. There is no room for either/or here.

Safety may he biggest need, IMO. ND is probably going to lose its top 3 safeties after this year, and that will leave the position very thin moving forward. Very similar to the LB situation.

 

[IAIrish]

These first few weeks were always gonna be like the first several rounds of a Rocky fight without ND hosting prospects. Guys are going to commit to other schools and fall off the board.

The dust will settle, ND will start hosting these guys and the tide will turn. Remember ND has a money machine out back, that degree and the smoothest coach in America that happens to care deeply, along with an army of assistants who follow his charge.

All is well after the initial volley.

 

[Rocketman84]

Really not sure he is that. I don’t see a guy Who will occupy doubles enough to be elite.

Definitely don't see elite

 

[SeekNDestroy]

I don’t want him above Folo, but do want him above every DL remaining including Fakatou and Sessay. Having a car wreck NT is such an advantage.

This is crazy talk.

 

[JD Irish]

Safety may he biggest need, IMO. ND is probably going to lose its top 3 safeties after this year, and that will leave the position very thin moving forward. Very similar to the LB situation.

Yes, I definitely agree. Though it doesn't seem we are really in it for any elite FS. I am puzzled by the DB/S recruiting since Henry took over. I really wish we had gotten Gavin Williams.

 

[Rocketman84]

This is crazy talk

Beyond crazy, Both are closer to elite prospects at their prospective positions than Parks.

Yes, I definitely agree. Though it doesn't seem we are really in it for any elite FS. I am puzzled by the DB/S recruiting since Henry took over. I really wish we had gotten Gavin Williams.

.

Safety recruiting definitely has left people scratching their heads. Settled for a guy instead of going all out for players like Harrington or Williams.

 

[NDhoosier]

Beyond crazy, Both are closer to elite prospects at their prospective positions than Parks.

Safety recruiting definitely has left people scratching their heads. Settled for a guy instead of going all out for players like Harrington or Williams.

I dont think they "settled," they simply couldnt land those players. Harrington was never really a serious option for ND and Williams was always more likely to land at USC. People seem to think that ND just didnt do enough and that is the only reason ND doesnt land players they want. That is just not true.

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

I dont think they "settled," they simply couldnt land those players. Harrington was never really a serious option for ND and Williams was always more likely to land at USC. People seem to think that ND just didnt do enough and that is the only reason ND doesnt land players they want. That is just not true.

Why wasn't Harrington a serious option for ND? Sounds like ND didn't pursue all that hard until very late in the game.

 

[allenm5333]

Why wasn't Harrington a serious option for ND? Sounds like ND didn't pursue all that hard until very late in the game.

I know we initially recruited him as a Safety and he wanted to play CB. Became more interested in playing Safety. But I don't know that ND every pursued that hard

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

I know we initially recruited him as a Safety and he wanted to play CB. Became more interested in playing Safety. But I don't know that ND every pursued that hard

As far as recruits that we seemed to have a legit shot with, these 5 misses probably sting the most for me:

1. Kemon Spell
2. Gavin Williams
3. Jaxon Dollar
4. Seneca Driver
5. Tavares Harrington

 

[brewdog_14527]

Why wasn't Harrington a serious option for ND? Sounds like ND didn't pursue all that hard until very late in the game.

Didn't someone on the beat say that he wanted to play corner and ND was looking at him as a safety?

 

[Rocketman84]

T

I dont think they "settled," they simply couldnt land those players. Harrington was never really a serious option for ND and Williams was always more likely to land at USC. People seem to think that ND just didnt do enough and that is the only reason ND doesnt land players they want. That is just not true.

That's not true Harrington "strongly" considered ND and liked us in his top group, we simply dropped the ball and went with a guy who was ready to commit at the drop of a hat. It's something we've done at some point in each class but with the potential defections at Safety after this season it could be a costly decision. Williams was going to be a tough pull simply because he preferred to stay on the West Coast but we still were the 2nd option.

 

[NDhoosier]

That's not true Harrington "strongly" considered ND and liked us in his top group, we simply dropped the ball and went with a guy who was ready to commit at the drop of a hat.

That isn't true because ND was still after Harrington after the other commits. Harrington liked ND enough to visit, but ND was never a leader for him and I think ND staff realized that as well.

Again, there are a bunch of people on every ND website, especially this one, that believe ND must have dropped the ball on all these players that they wanted in the class. Some players just do not want to go to a stricter academic smaller private religious school up North.

 

[Irishdwarte]

You mean to tell me they don’t get every kid they target? Wow, I’m shocked.

 

[Rocketman84]

That isn't true because ND was still after Harrington after the other commits. Harrington liked ND enough to visit, but ND was never a leader for him and I think ND staff realized that as well.

Again, there are a bunch of people on every ND website, especially this one, that believe ND must have dropped the ball on all these players that they wanted in the class. Some players just do not want to go to a stricter academic smaller private religious school up North.

WTH are you talking about I stated a "fact" that ND was in his final 3 and finished as runner up to Michigan for his services. Then you say it's not true because we were recruiting him???

People are saying ND dropped the ball because of where they shifted their energy regardless if they were 2nd in the race, they were right there at the top for a good period of time.

 

[Rocketman84]

As far as recruits that we seemed to have a legit shot with, these 5 misses probably sting the most for me:

1. Kemon Spell
2. Gavin Williams
3. Jaxon Dollar
4. Seneca Driver
5. Tavares Harrington

Hellafied list of guys right there

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

Hellafied list of guys right there

Sounds like we're not getting Malik Howard, so I'm holding out hope for Dollar. Also a decent chance that USC and/or Michigan implode this year and Williams/Harrington have second thoughts.

 

[smw6230]

Sounds like we're not getting Malik Howard, so I'm holding out hope for Dollar. Also a decent chance that USC and/or Michigan implode this year and Williams/Harrington have second thoughts.

"Second Thoughts" aren't the issue. The issue is contractual repayment of money already paid.

Coming up with say $200k because you changed your mind is difficult to impossible for some of these guys.

And it's just not cars or jewelry that some of these kids spend their NIL money on. Some of these guys use NIL money to pay for rent (past) or to alleviate the burden of large mortgage payments for families with a sole income. Add in training expenses and agents and that NIL money can go fast.

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

"Second Thoughts" aren't the issue. The issue is contractual repayment of money already paid.

Coming up with say $200k because you changed your mind is difficult to impossible for some of these guys.

And it's just not cars or jewelry that some of these kids spend their NIL money on. Some of these guys use NIL money to pay for rent (past) or to alleviate the burden of large mortgage payments for families with a sole income. Add in training expenses and agents and that NIL money can go fast.

Good point about contractual repayment. That said, kids can still back out of these deals despite the hurdles. What's to prevent a school like ND from footing the bill if they want the player bad enough?

 

[IRISHbluehen]

Good point about contractual repayment. That said, kids can still back out of these deals despite the hurdles. What's to prevent a school like ND from footing the bill if they want the player bad enough?

Certainly can happen, just much less common now. USC/Chad in particular did this heavily in last years class, big reason their class stayed together.

There has to be some logic used, no reason to overpay/overextend for a borderline guy at LB just because they may lose quality players after next season. The portal along with NDs new willingness to take underclassmen negates some of the struggles. These guys won't be counted on until 2028 (other than maybe Henderson should he come). You aim for 2 of Satele, Henderson and Roman I, and then standby until the fall evals come around should they only get 1 or none. (I already count Irvin as gone)

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

Certainly can happen, just much less common now. USC/Chad in particular did this heavily in last years class, big reason their class stayed together.

There has to be some logic used, no reason to overpay/overextend for a borderline guy at LB just because they may lose quality players after next season. The portal along with NDs new willingness to take underclassmen negates some of the struggles. These guys won't be counted on until 2028 (other than maybe Henderson should he come). You aim for 2 of Satele, Henderson and Roman I, and then standby until the fall evals come around should they only get 1 or none. (I already count Irvin as gone)

Considering we only took 2 LBs last year, I wanted 3 LBs this year. But if the 2 are Henderson/Satele and Igwebuike, I'm definitely good with that.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Considering we only took 2 LBs last year, I wanted 3 LBs this year. But if the 2 are Henderson/Satele and Igwebuike, I'm definitely good with that.

I'm more than ok with 2 LBs in this cycle. An impact guy could always be taken in the transfer portal if there is a need.

I highly suspect ND will pay to return Ausberry in 2027 and Faraimo will be back as a true junior. Considering ND's base defense is nickel, I'm fine with...

Ausberry / Faraimo
Kia / Davis Jr
Rezac / Kia
Clapper / Freshman

If ND thinks they need another impact guy, there will be a few really good options in the transfer portal. If KVA returns, you have your impact guy right there.

 

[Rocketman84]

Sounds like we're not getting Malik Howard, so I'm holding out hope for Dollar. Also a decent chance that USC and/or Michigan implode this year and Williams/Harrington have second thoughts.

Those would be the best case scenarios....LB, S and TE recruiting so far has been underwhelming.