Mike Mickens ND CB’s Coach

[Luckylucci]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sources: Notre Dame expected to hire Mike Mickens as defensive backs coach. Mickens was a star player for Brian Kelly at Cincinnati. He comes from Cincinnati, where he served as DBs coach.</p>— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteThamel/status/1228064219511296002?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 13, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[BGIF]

Notre Dame football: Mike Mickens set to coach cornerbacks
Eric Hansen, South Bend TribunePublished 7:03 p.m. ET Feb. 13, 2020

https://www.indystar.com/story/sports/college/notre-dame/2020/02/13/notre-dame-football-mike-mickens-set-coach-cornerbacks/4755160002/

...

On Thursday, Mickens accepted Kelly’s offer to rejoin him — this time as a coach — exactly eight days after he interviewed for the job that’s so critical to the Irish College Football Playoff aspirations in 2020. No other position group carries as many uncertainties out of ND's 11-2 season in 2019.

A source close to the process confirmed Mickens and ND coming to terms. The official announcement will come once he is run through Notre Dame’s George O’Leary-inspired vetting process.

Yahoo! Sports' Pete Thamel was the first to announce Mickens' hiring.

Mickens’ charge as Todd Lyght’s successor is to upgrade ND’s cornerback recruiting as well as provide key backup and sub package pieces in 2020 to play behind and alongside projected starting corners, sixth-year grad student Shaun Crawford and junior-to-be TaRiq Bracy.

...

 

[ulukinatme]

 

[Irish YJ]

I like the hire.
Hamilton will teach him well.

 

[irishnd31]

 

[stlnd01]

Pshaw. Just another Friend of Brian. If Swarbrick really wanted to win he'd have hired Deion Sanders. #FireKelly.

 

[longliveautrydenson]

Wish there was a way that we could’ve landed Mickens and Steeples. ND needs more young and hungry coaches in the building.

 

[arrowryan]

Wish there was a way that we could’ve landed Mickens and Steeples. ND needs more young and hungry coaches in the building.

Taylor, Rees, Mickens, Lea, and Joseph. That looks like they have plenty of young coaches on staff.

 

[longliveautrydenson]

Taylor, Rees, Mickens, Lea, and Joseph. That looks like they have plenty of young coaches on staff.

Taylor is the only one out of those five that’s proven to be a dog on the recruiting trail. I’m hoping Mickens is too, but we’ll find out soon enough.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Taylor is the only one out of those five that’s proven to be a dog on the recruiting trail. I’m hoping Mickens is too, but we’ll find out soon enough.

Worst take of 2020 so far??? It has my vote.

 

[PANDFAN]

Taylor is the only one out of those five that’s proven to be a dog on the recruiting trail. I’m hoping Mickens is too, but we’ll find out soon enough.

hmmm

2021 top recruiters thus far

#10 quinn
#19 alexander
#21 elston
#25 rees
#36 joseph
#61 polian
#132 lea

taylor didn't make the list

 

[longliveautrydenson]

Worst take of 2020 so far??? It has my vote.

-We haven’t had a 4* defensive back commit since 2019 [Joseph]
-We didn’t take an LB in 2020 and don’t have traction with any top targets in 2021 [Lea]
-Tom Rees is a good recruiter, but it was Chip Long that landed Johnson, Mayer, and Watts

But sure, worst take of 2020

 

[dad4aa]

hmmm

2021 top recruiters thus far

#10 quinn
#19 alexander
#21 elston
#25 rees
#36 joseph
#61 polian
#132 lea

taylor didn't make the list

Now why are you bringing facts into a debate...that's just not fair

 

[longliveautrydenson]

hmmm

2021 top recruiters thus far

#10 quinn
#19 alexander
#21 elston
#25 rees
#36 joseph
#61 polian
#132 lea

taylor didn't make the list

Lol Taylor beat Oklahoma for Chris Tyree last cycle and is going toe to toe with Clemson for Will Shipley, and now he’s a bad recruiter? You all are a joke.

 

[dad4aa]

Lol Taylor beat Oklahoma for Chris Tyree last cycle and is going toe to toe with Clemson for Will Shipley, and now he’s a bad recruiter? You all are a joke.

Not one person on here said he was a bad recruiter. You just disrespected all the others saying he was the ONLY recruiter and were proven incorrect.

 

[PANDFAN]

Lol Taylor beat Oklahoma for Chris Tyree last cycle and is going toe to toe with Clemson for Will Shipley, and now he’s a bad recruiter? You all are a joke.

i was simply pointing out what a joke of a post you had....to say he is the only one is stupid and trollish.....NOT saying he isn't a good recruiter or even getting after it on the trail as he did get a 5* rb to ND and is going at it for shipley but lets not act like elston and company just stick their thumbs up their ass

 

[longliveautrydenson]

Not one person on here said he was a bad recruiter. You just disrespected all the others saying he was the ONLY recruiter and were proven incorrect.

It’s not disrespect to acknowledge the fact that we don’t have a lot of elite recruiters on staff. The past few years, we’ve typically waited for Bama, OSU, Georgia, and Clemson to take their pick of the top talent, and then we’ve duked it out with Michigan, Penn State, Washington, and other Tier 2 programs for the rest. Lance Taylor has brought a different vibe to the program and is getting us in the game with the cream of the crop. I want more guys like that on staff.

 

[Irish#1]

An article in the Athletic talked about recruiting changes being made. With the ESP, BK can spend more time recruiting in the middle of the process. Prior he was involved just at the beginning and at the end. They are now focusing more energy on identifying kids much earlier (Fr & SO kids) and identifying early enough that they know if they would be a "fit". Thus spending less time on kids that may be a tough land. Swarbrick also said he would put a coach or coaches on a private plane anytime it is warranted.

Those changes should also help the coaches rankings.

 

[NDMIA]

It’s not disrespect to acknowledge the fact that we don’t have a lot of elite recruiters on staff. The past few years, we’ve typically waited for Bama, OSU, Georgia, and Clemson to take their pick of the top talent, and then we’ve duked it out with Michigan, Penn State, Washington, and other Tier 2 programs for the rest. Lance Taylor has brought a different vibe to the program and is getting us in the game with the cream of the crop. I want more guys like that on staff.

Lance Taylor is an upper echelon recruiter, Del Alexander has landed 12 WR’s in 3 cycles and has 8 4*’s or higher during that span (maybe he’s not Ohio State level but he’s pretty good). Jeff Quinn might not be a terrific position coach (I think jury is still out before judgement should be made) but he’s no doubt a terrific recruiter. Mike Elston is a top 5 recruiting DLine coach in the country, period. Terry Joseph has landed some serious dudes over his career between A&M, UNC, Nebraska, Tennessee, and ND. Polian is a very good recruiter as well. Only Mickens, McNulty, Lea and Rees might be the only ones I’d have questions with but Rees has landed Jurkovec, Clark, Pyne, and Buchner (he inherited Jurkovec but still recruited him for a while). Lea has landed some strong recruits but just skipped last cycle and has a position that basically attracts 3* Safeties to it as one of his linebacker positions (Rover). I think this is a very good recruiting staff and significantly better than most Brian Kelly’s recruiting staffs. Would Donte Williams/Demetrice Martin and John Lilly have me more excited than McNulty and Mickens? Sure, but by all accounts McNulty and Mickens are strong hires and we’ll see with recruiting!

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Lance Taylor is an upper echelon recruiter, Del Alexander has landed 12 WR’s in 3 cycles and has 8 4*’s or higher during that span (maybe he’s not Ohio State level but he’s pretty good). Jeff Quinn might not be a terrific position coach (I think jury is still out before judgement should be made) but he’s no doubt a terrific recruiter. Mike Elston is a top 5 recruiting DLine coach in the country, period. Terry Joseph has landed some serious dudes over his career between A&M, UNC, Nebraska, Tennessee, and ND. Polian is a very good recruiter as well. Only Mickens, McNulty, Lea and Rees might be the only ones I’d have questions with but Rees has landed Jurkovec, Clark, Pyne, and Buchner (he inherited Jurkovec but still recruited him for a while). Lea has landed some strong recruits but just skipped last cycle and has a position that basically attracts 3* Safeties to it as one of his linebacker positions (Rover). I think this is a very good recruiting staff and significantly better than most Brian Kelly’s recruiting staffs. Would Donte Williams/Demetrice Martin and John Lilly have me more excited than McNulty and Mickens? Sure, but by all accounts McNulty and Mickens are strong hires and we’ll see with recruiting!

Well, his original statement was about these five coaches:

Taylor, Rees, Mickens, Lea, and Joseph

I think you both agree about Taylor being good, you both agree that Rees and Lea are unproven. So in the end the only point of contention is Joseph. And most of the pro-Joseph argument is based on work he did before arriving at ND.

I don't think his statement was outlandish.

 

[Luckylucci]

It’s not disrespect to acknowledge the fact that we don’t have a lot of elite recruiters on staff. The past few years, we’ve typically waited for Bama, OSU, Georgia, and Clemson to take their pick of the top talent, and then we’ve duked it out with Michigan, Penn State, Washington, and other Tier 2 programs for the rest. Lance Taylor has brought a different vibe to the program and is getting us in the game with the cream of the crop. I want more guys like that on staff.

Well, I don't think that's very accurate. Michael Mayer, Jordan Johnson, Tosh Baker, Jordan Botelho, Kyle Hamilton, Zeke Correll, Jacob Lacey, Kristofic, and Quinn Carroll are guys that could've virtually picked where they wanted to go. Clemson was all over our 19' OL and Lacey. UGA pulled out all the tricks for Hamilton. Bama went HARD after Mayer up until the very end. If Botelho wanted a national recruitment, he could've had one.

And this is discounting how hard it is to win recruitments in other teams regions like Nana in Texas, Foskey in Cali, etc. I think overall the staff has done quite a good job recruiting the last two cycles.

 

[koonja]

Anyone get the vibe Lea is an elite coach but an average at best recruiter? Mostly due to effort?

 

[longliveautrydenson]

Lance Taylor is an upper echelon recruiter, Del Alexander has landed 12 WR’s in 3 cycles and has 8 4*’s or higher during that span (maybe he’s not Ohio State level but he’s pretty good). Jeff Quinn might not be a terrific position coach (I think jury is still out before judgement should be made) but he’s no doubt a terrific recruiter. Mike Elston is a top 5 recruiting DLine coach in the country, period. Terry Joseph has landed some serious dudes over his career between A&M, UNC, Nebraska, Tennessee, and ND. Polian is a very good recruiter as well. Only Mickens, McNulty, Lea and Rees might be the only ones I’d have questions with but Rees has landed Jurkovec, Clark, Pyne, and Buchner (he inherited Jurkovec but still recruited him for a while). Lea has landed some strong recruits but just skipped last cycle and has a position that basically attracts 3* Safeties to it as one of his linebacker positions (Rover). I think this is a very good recruiting staff and significantly better than most Brian Kelly’s recruiting staffs. Would Donte Williams/Demetrice Martin and John Lilly have me more excited than McNulty and Mickens? Sure, but by all accounts McNulty and Mickens are strong hires and we’ll see with recruiting!

I’m excited about the Mickens hire. My original post simply said I wished we could’ve found a way to get both Mickens and Steeples in the door. I think they both have the potential to be really dynamic recruiters.

I also agree that we have some solid recruiters on staff, but we need more elite recruiters, especially on the defensive side of the ball, if we want to break into the Top 5 as Kelly recently suggested. But that’s apparently the worst take of 2020 so what do I know...

 

[NDMIA]

I’m excited about the Mickens hire. My original post simply said I wished we could’ve found a way to get both Mickens and Steeples in the door. I think they both have the potential to be really dynamic recruiters.

I also agree that we have some solid recruiters on staff, but we need more elite recruiters, especially on the defensive side of the ball, if we want to break into the Top 5 as Kelly recently suggested. But that’s apparently the worst take of 2020 so what do I know...

Lol I think it’s a totally reasonable take. That’s what this forum is for is to have opinions which is perfectly fine. I think Steeples and Mickens happen if Joseph leaves. I don’t know what position you’d trust Steeples or Mickens other than DB’s.

 

[BabyIrish]

Anyone get the vibe Lea is an elite coach but an average at best recruiter? Mostly due to effort?

I'm not sure what's the difference between the 19 class and the 20-21 class but somethings off and it may simply be his lack of effort.

 

[koonja]

I'm not sure what's the difference between the 19 class and the 20-21 class but somethings off and it may simply be his lack of effort.

I read almost every, if not every ISD recruiting story on players we've offered. I almost never hear Lea mentioned when the run through the list of coaches who are on them.

I think Lea is as good if not better at the Xs and Os than Elko, but Elko was a dog and you need a dog.

 

[Luckylucci]

Anyone get the vibe Lea is an elite coach but an average at best recruiter? Mostly due to effort?

I don't think it's effort because he was on the road a lot recently. He truly was all over the country visiting all position groups, even some offensive guys. Last cycle he was involved in recruiting a majority of the top of the board CB/S's. I don't think he's a rah-rah type of guy so that might be part of the problem. Very cerebral, deep thinker, relationship guy. That takes time and probably eliminates a big part of the talent pool. Dontae Manning is a good example of that. Lea tried to get involved very early but never got traction.

But, I also think some coaches who are really big on development tend to focus more on what could be than what is. I could see Lea falling victim to this as well. And, to some degree, for coaches like him it may not ever matter. Because he finds guys like JOK or he turns a Bilal into a really good Buck LB. When you have that type of success you see a Jack Kiser, for example, differently.

My concern is it becomes an issue for ND when he decides to move on and we get a different DC in here that wants to do things differently or just isn't as good of a coach. Because then the 'pieces' may not fit and the development of said talent might not be there either.

 

[Luckylucci]

Gotta keep in mind that his last two classes where he was able to recruit LB's, (19') he brought in two top 100 guys in Simon and Lamb (injuries have stunted the progress of both), plus another 4 star in Bauer. Followed that up in 20' with Kiser, Liufau, Ekwonu, and Bertrand which were all 4 stars by one service or another. And Ekwonu at the time of his commitment was a top 150 player nationally with a .94 rating with offers from Bama and OSU.

 

[koonja]

Gotta keep in mind that his last two classes where he was able to recruit LB's, (19') he brought in two top 100 guys in Simon and Lamb (injuries have stunted the progress of both), plus another 4 star in Bauer. Followed that up in 20' with Kiser, Liufau, Ekwonu, and Bertrand which were all 4 stars by one service or another. And Ekwonu at the time of his commitment was a top 150 player nationally with a .94 rating with offers from Bama and OSU.

For how exciting the LB position is at ND, the Ekwonu noise has been dead silent since he's been here.

I wonder how he's doing. He's never mentioned among those who will have a shot at BUCK this year on either the II or the ISD podcasts, and they go pretty deep into who it could be (Bauer, Liufau, #13, etc.).

 

[Luckylucci]

For how exciting the LB position is at ND, the Ekwonu noise has been dead silent since he's been here.

I wonder how he's doing. He's never mentioned among those who will have a shot at BUCK this year on either the II or the ISD podcasts, and they go pretty deep into who it could be (Bauer, Liufau, #13, etc.).

Definitely a big Spring for the young LB's. Very interested to see who goes where and how they do.