Lost in the Watkins commitment (woo!!!!)
-On Starks... more of what we've been saying. The bottom line is he was never accused of much less charged with any crime. Alford remains in heavy contact with him and he has OVs planned to Oklahoma, Florida, and USC. Would like to OV with his mother (I'm guessing after the season for banquet if he gets approval). It remains to be seen whether he is a take, and he currently doesn't have approval, but it's a fluid situation. Currently playing in Colorado and doing well on/off the field by all accounts.
-Bo is still in play. I'm pessimistic here, but he definitely was very interested in ND on his visit and i think we'd be squarely in the race academics aside. Adding my 2 cents, the main barrier is that he has work left to do to qualify for ND, and is unlikely to do it since he is already clear for Alabama and Florida. So expect Alabama to win out.
-McKenzie is McKenzie. ISD says the announcement didn't catch the ND coaches by surprise, which is consistent with what I heard. However, test scores seem to have come in below what they were expecting. So the ND staff doesn't consider him a commitment because his academics aren't good enough yet, but he is "100% Irish"... so his verbal pledge is as strong as a verbal pledge can be. The staff also loves his game, but wants him to get his academics squared away before he is "officially" part of the class. Both sides expect that to happen in January (assuming better test scores, good semester grades is the implication). Sources said he is "very excited to be part of the Fighting Irish" and they consider the academics just a "road bump"... personally, I think it's more like a boulder in the middle of the road.
-No visitors this weekend.
-Dickerson out with a spine fracture. Actually not a big deal (I actually had a similar condition myself in different vertebrae from the sounds of it), just needs to heal like any other bone but he might miss the season.
-Quick hits: Tranquil decision should come after this weekend. Adoree Jackson doesn't really look in play. Elam has us in top 3. Solomon Thomas might be in play if he OVs. Ballage unlikely to get offer. All stuff we know.
-On Navy... coaches unhappy with our running against Air Force. Been a big focus in practice. Navy plays a ton of umbrella zone to limit bit plays, and the plan is to stretch them out with verticals and hit open seams. Every possession counts. Navy throws the ball more than in previous years and doesn't totally suck. The rain will be something interesting to watch.
