General team info

[Irish YJ]

I see next year as

QB-Book
RB-Williams
WR-St. Brown
WR-Stepherson
WR-Claypool
TE-Mack
LT-Eichenberg
LG-Kraemer
OC-Mustipher
RG-Bars
RT-Hainsey

DE-Hayes
DT-Tagovailoa-Amosa
DT-Tillery
DE-Hayes
LB-Tranquill
LB-Coney
R-Bilal
CB-Love
SS-Genmark-Heath
FS-Robertson
CB-Watkins

Why is everyone forgetting about Gilman. He's a lock to be at one of the safety positions unless one of the Frosh studs blow everyone away.

 

[Rack Em]

I see next year as

QB-Book
RB-Williams
WR-St. Brown
WR-Stepherson

WR-Claypool
TE-Mack
LT-Eichenberg
LG-Kraemer
OC-Mustipher
RG-Bars
RT-Hainsey

DE-Hayes
DT-Tagovailoa-Amosa
DT-Tillery
DE-Hayes
LB-Tranquill

LB-Coney
R-Bilal

CB-Love
SS-Genmark-Heath
FS-Robertson

CB-Watkins

 

[NDRock]

Dex is 4 star talent, McIntosh and Jones can get the job done. Boykin and Claypool are clear 4 star talents. Michael Young looks to be a nice sleeper pick. Austin is a top 100 recruit, how can we possibly be "concerned" about WR? TE is stacked, who in the country is in better shape there? OL has plenty of 4 star beef to be a well above average unit. Book can hold the fort until Phil is ready.

Would definitely feel better about it if Adams, ESB and Stepherson were in the fold but the prospects of balanced attack with a stout D to back them up has me excited to see some kids step up. If I had to choose b/w Adams or ESB returning, I would have to pick Adams based on what else we have in the hopper.

I'm always a little "concerned" when we're basing things strictly on recruiting rankings. Coming into this year everyone was excited about Wimbush and Mack because they were highly rated guys. Now, we're all ready to throw them on the scrap pile. I think the offense could be pretty good next year, just don't see many elite guys that could go toe to toe with the playoff teams I just watched.

Obviously, several guys could make the leap and we could have a great, balance offense next year. Hope so.

 

[Wingman Ray]

If Wimbush is starting next year without a complete 180 change, BK needs to be back coaching in D2.

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Yeah, the season ended less than 24 hours ago, but its never too early to predict the 2018 starters!

QB: Ian Book
RB: Tony Jones
WR: Kevin Austin
WR: Chase Claypool
TE: Brock Wright
TE: Cole Kmet
LT: Liam Eichenberg
LG: Tommy Kraemer
C: Sam Mustipher
RG: Josh Lugg
RT: Robert Hainsey

DE: Daelin Hayes
DT: MTA
NT: Jerry Tillery
DE: Khalid Kareem
MLB: Tevon Coney
BUCK: Jamir Jones
ROVER: Drue Tranquill
CB: Julian Love
FS: Alohi Gillman
SS: Jordan Genmark-Heath
CB: Troy Pride

Semi-Bold Prediction
-ESB leaves and Kevin Austin impresses, showing that he could be the true #1 that we haven't had since Floyd
-Josh Adams goes to the NFL. Tony Jones is our 2018 starter.
-I'm kinda confused with the o-line. I have no idea who plays at the guard spots.
-Myron is our starter at DT, but the interior d-line will be a strength and a lot of guys will be playing there.
-FS and SS gets a face lift. Two new starters and they will be big upgrades. Both Allen and Griffith get playing time as well.

Watkins and Jay Hayes should both be back for 5th years next year.

 

[arrowryan]

Watkins and Jay Hayes should both be back for 5th years next year.

They were outplayed for their starting spots in the middle of the year this season. I doubt they'll get those spots back, but they would be great depth pieces.

 

[snoopdog]

for the most part I don't care who is starting on defence as long as Jalen Elliot is not one of them

 

[calvegas04]

A couple cool videos from the ND band from their trip to Orlando with the team...

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a9ErIFaGQiA" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/69bVZvVcFMM" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Buster Bluth]

Yeah, the season ended less than 24 hours ago, but its never too early to predict the 2018 starters!

QB: Ian Book
RB: Tony Jones
WR: Kevin Austin
WR: Chase Claypool
TE: Brock Wright
TE: Cole Kmet
LT: Liam Eichenberg
LG: Tommy Kraemer
C: Sam Mustipher
RG: Josh Lugg
RT: Robert Hainsey

LT: Eichenberg (Jr)
LG: Hainsey (SO)
C: Mustipher (5th)
RG: Bars (5th)
RT: Kraemer (Jr)

Bars is back, no?

I would guess that they try to keep the entire right side the same, continuity is nice. But Bars and Kraemer can play G/T so they'll have flexibility to do whatever they want. Wasn't Hainsey the run-first RT? I would assume they'd plug him in for Nelson and try to continue that toughness at LG.

Is Dexter Williams taking off? IMO the RB spot is a "Williams OR Jones" on day one, assuming Adams goes pro.

Stepherson is probably toast right? I like Claypool and Boykin outside.

 

[fightingirish26]

LT: Eichenberg (Jr)
LG: Hainsey (SO)
C: Mustipher (5th)
RG: Bars (5th)
RT: Kraemer (Jr)

Bars is back, no?

I would guess that they try to keep the entire right side the same, continuity is nice. But Bars and Kraemer can play G/T so they'll have flexibility to do whatever they want. Wasn't Hainsey the run-first RT? I would assume they'd plug him in for Nelson and try to continue that toughness at LG.

Is Dexter Williams taking off? IMO the RB spot is a "Williams OR Jones" on day one, assuming Adams goes pro.

Stepherson is probably toast right? I like Claypool and Boykin outside.

I hope Hainsey can bulk up a lot this offseason because I also think that's how the O-line will turn out. But right now Hainsey looks tiny compared to the rest of them, and that doesn't scream LG to me.

 

[Crazy Balki]

To me, Kraemer is the future LG. He just has that Nelson-like skillset and physique. Hainsey is more of a finesse, stellar footwork guy who can do a lot more in space. I think he's going to be the mainstay at RT, or potentially flip with Eichenberg to LT.

 

[arrowryan]

LT: Eichenberg (Jr)
LG: Hainsey (SO)
C: Mustipher (5th)
RG: Bars (5th)
RT: Kraemer (Jr)

Bars is back, no?

I would guess that they try to keep the entire right side the same, continuity is nice. But Bars and Kraemer can play G/T so they'll have flexibility to do whatever they want. Wasn't Hainsey the run-first RT? I would assume they'd plug him in for Nelson and try to continue that toughness at LG.

Is Dexter Williams taking off? IMO the RB spot is a "Williams OR Jones" on day one, assuming Adams goes pro.

Stepherson is probably toast right? I like Claypool and Boykin outside.

Yeah, when I made my prediction I thought Bars was gone. He'll obviously be a starter.

I would love for Dex to be able to become a starter, but it is obvious that there are things to work on. Pass pro is very important in college and the NFL; until he learns how to do that, he'll forever be a player that is the backup and will probably go as an UDFA in the NFL.

I am excited to see what a healthy Tony Jones can do with a year of playing time under his belt.

 

[arrowryan]

I hope Hainsey can bulk up a lot this offseason because I also think that's how the O-line will turn out. But right now Hainsey looks tiny compared to the rest of them, and that doesn't scream LG to me.

Hainsey was the lightest one on the o-line; 290, I believe. He's very close to being where he needs to be and I'm sure he'll be at the ideal weight by spring ball. 310 would be perfect IMO

 

[BobbyMac]

2018
LT - Eichenberg
LG - Kraemer
OC - Musitpher
RG - Bars
RT - Hainsey/Lugg

2019
LT - Eichenberg
LG - Kraemer
OC - Hainsey
RG - Banks
RT - Lugg

2020
LT - Eichenberg
LG - Kraemer
OC - Hainsey
RG - Banks/Dirksen
RT - Lugg

 

[beryirish]

2018
LT - Eichenberg
LG - Kraemer
OC - Musitpher
RG - Bars
RT - Hainsey/Lugg

2019
LT - Eichenberg
LG - Kraemer
OC - Hainsey
RG - Banks
RT - Lugg

2020
LT - Eichenberg
LG - Kraemer
OC - Hainsey
RG - Banks/Dirksen
RT - Lugg

Think Eich and Kraemer stay for 5th years?

 

[connor_in]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mamma Mia! <br><br>It might be <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalSpaghettiDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NationalSpaghettiDay</a>, but <a href="https://twitter.com/NDFootball?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NDFootball</a> celebrated early by treating underprivileged kids to lunch and holiday shopping... complete with spaghetti! &#55356;&#57181;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoIrish?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoIrish</a> <a href="https://t.co/UHzeFtcd9a">pic.twitter.com/UHzeFtcd9a</a></p>— The Fighting Irish (@FightingIrish) <a href="https://twitter.com/FightingIrish/status/948951909330808832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BobbyMac]

Think Eich and Kraemer stay for 5th years?

If they are 3 and 4 year starters, No. I'll be happy if both are back 2020.

 

[IrishFanJMercy]

Draft wire has st. brown going #79 overall in the draft, Nelson is #7, Glinchey is #30. No one else is in rounds 1-4

 

[dublinirish]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">In other staffing news, Notre Dame is down one of its strength coaches after hiring Dave Ballou out of IMG a year ago. <a href="https://t.co/Iu0BrYohnv">https://t.co/Iu0BrYohnv</a></p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/949010663380221952?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[RDU Irish]

Draft wire has st. brown going #79 overall in the draft, Nelson is #7, Glinchey is #30. No one else is in rounds 1-4

I don't see it for ESB - where does all this draft talk for him come from?

 

[Dizzyphil]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Equanimeous St. Brown declares for NFL Draft <a href="https://t.co/05eLlr0T2P">https://t.co/05eLlr0T2P</a></p>— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) <a href="https://twitter.com/ISDUpdate/status/949072103877349377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[JD Irish]

See you later! What an underwhelming career.

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

See you later! What an underwhelming career.

Not entirely his fault. He didn't exactly have a Jimmy Clausen or Brady Quinn at QB.

 

[dad4aa]

Not entirely his fault. He didn't exactly have a Jimmy Clausen or Brady Quinn at QB.

While I definitely agree with this, I saw a big drop off this year in his aggressiveness as far as fighting for balls, laying out for passes, etc.

 

[sharksamardzija8345]

While I definitely agree with this, I saw a big drop off this year in his aggressiveness as far as fighting for balls, laying out for passes, etc.

Yeah that’s fair. He’s not a Floyd or a Fuller or a Tate, but I can understand his frustration and giving less effort when Wimbush can’t hit him at his feet, let alone his hands. Just a very underwhelming career that was 50/50 his lack of effort plus embarrassing qb play.

 

[loomis41973]

While I definitely agree with this, I saw a big drop off this year in his aggressiveness as far as fighting for balls, laying out for passes, etc.

This.... For sure. Not unhappy to see him go

 

[Wingman Ray]

whole family sucks

 

[Dizzyphil]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Josh Adams announces that he’ll declare for the NFL Draft.</p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/949334069166444545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/949334069166444545

 

[Dizzyphil]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Full statement from Josh Adams: <a href="https://t.co/rEfaC2IPWW">pic.twitter.com/rEfaC2IPWW</a></p>— Irish Illustrated (@PeteSampson_) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteSampson_/status/949334846765256704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 5, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Irish#1]

Would have loved to see him back, but can't blame him. He has the size, speed and skill to be successful in the NFL. Hope he lights it up.

Good Luck Josh.