johnnd05
Johnny T. works for me
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(Via the Roundup.)
In 2006, after Charlie Weis's first season as Notre Dame's head coach and a 9-3 record, the Irish pulled in Rivals's eighth-ranked recruiting class: 28 players, with an average rating of 3.46 stars. Now three of those players - QBs Zach Frazer and Demetrius Jones, and TE Konrad Reuland - have all left the team, and another - OL Chris Stewart - is thinking of doing the same. In each case, these have been players low on the depth chart - Frazer was the #4 quarterback and Jones was a backup at best, Reuland was reportedly in a battle with freshman Mike Ragone for the #3 spot, and Stewart hadn't seen the field at all this year - apparently looking for a place where they'll have a better chance to play. Following up on a suggestion from domer.mq at Her Loyal Sons, though, it seems worth comparing this rate of attrition with those at other top programs.
Let's start with Southern Cal, which had the #1-ranked 2006 class according to Rivals, with 25 total players. That class has seen the following players depart (USC's current roster is here):
Moreover, note that with an NCAA-imposed limit of 85 total scholarships, having a class of 28 can be a bit problematic. The Irish can get away with it - and indeed, can use all the bodies they can get - right now because of their incredibly small junior, senior, and fifth-year classes, but the size of the '06 class could have posed a problem down the line. That said, other schools make up for players who transfer away from their program with others who transfer TO it - whether from junior colleges or other D-I programs - and ND has a policy of not doing this.
Don't jump, though. At this point there's every reason to think these transfers have been a product of what's happened on the practice field and the players' inabilities to rise to the top, rather than ND's lack of success this season on Saturday afternoons.
In 2006, after Charlie Weis's first season as Notre Dame's head coach and a 9-3 record, the Irish pulled in Rivals's eighth-ranked recruiting class: 28 players, with an average rating of 3.46 stars. Now three of those players - QBs Zach Frazer and Demetrius Jones, and TE Konrad Reuland - have all left the team, and another - OL Chris Stewart - is thinking of doing the same. In each case, these have been players low on the depth chart - Frazer was the #4 quarterback and Jones was a backup at best, Reuland was reportedly in a battle with freshman Mike Ragone for the #3 spot, and Stewart hadn't seen the field at all this year - apparently looking for a place where they'll have a better chance to play. Following up on a suggestion from domer.mq at Her Loyal Sons, though, it seems worth comparing this rate of attrition with those at other top programs.
Let's start with Southern Cal, which had the #1-ranked 2006 class according to Rivals, with 25 total players. That class has seen the following players depart (USC's current roster is here):
- 4* RB Kenny Ashley transferred to Ole Miss.
- 3* DT Walker Ashley transferred to Minnesota.
- 4* WR Jamere Holland was dismissed from the team.
- 4* RB Emmanuel Moody transferred to Florida.
- 4* DB Antwine Perez transferred to Maryland.
- 4* LB Joshua Tatum has left the team and is reportedly considering a transfer to Michigan.
- 3* WR Brent Brewer left to play professional baseball.
- 4* OL Matt Hardrick transferred to South Florida.
- 3* LB Tim Rawlinson was declared academically ineligible and is currently at Pearl River Community College.
- 5* WR Brandon Warren left the program, but his request to transfer to Tennessee was denied by the university.
- 4* LB Akeem Hebron had some, err, "off-the-field troubles," and is reportedly planning on transferring to Georgia Military College.
- 3* OL John Miller left the team.
- 4* OL Clifton Gethers withdrew his commitment and enrolled at South Carolina.
- 3* DB James Henry was arrested on two felony charges and has been suspended indefinitely.
- 4* DB Robert Joseph was suspended from the team as well and has decided to transfer.
- 4* QB Jevan Snead transferred to Ole Miss.
- 3* OL Roy Watts has transferred from the team.
- 4* OL J'Marcus Webb has also transferred.
Moreover, note that with an NCAA-imposed limit of 85 total scholarships, having a class of 28 can be a bit problematic. The Irish can get away with it - and indeed, can use all the bodies they can get - right now because of their incredibly small junior, senior, and fifth-year classes, but the size of the '06 class could have posed a problem down the line. That said, other schools make up for players who transfer away from their program with others who transfer TO it - whether from junior colleges or other D-I programs - and ND has a policy of not doing this.
Don't jump, though. At this point there's every reason to think these transfers have been a product of what's happened on the practice field and the players' inabilities to rise to the top, rather than ND's lack of success this season on Saturday afternoons.
Too bad about the team sucking, though ... they were still pretty good my first year but dropped off after that. I was there for the '02 basketball championship, though, which was pretty fricking awesome.
