Post-Spring Recruiting Needs

[Domina Nostra]

Now that we are on the other side of the Spring Game, I thought it was worth re-visiting what our needs for this class are. I am ranking each position by relative need (real need ... luxury). (Mods: please move this post if it fits better somewhere else.)

Here is my breakdown of the offense:

1) QB: need 1 real passer
2) OT: need at least 1 true tackle, 2 would be much better
3) WR: need 1 real difference maker; should take 3 to sustain
4) RB: need 1 stud, and we should take a second to keep good depth
5) TE: should take at least 1 to sustain, could take 2 if we can upgrade
6) OG: need 2 to keep the cupboard stocked

I think we have slipped behind at QB thanks to the Gunner and we are walking a fine line at OT. However, we seem to be on pace at WR and RB, and are in excellent shape at TE and OG.

As for the defense:

1) ILB: need 2 solid prospects or we are in somewhat of a bind
2) DT: need at least 1 nose tackle or we are going to become a 4-3!
3) DE: Need 2 to sustain
4) OLB: Need 2 to sustain
5) CB: Should take at least 1 to sustain, could take 2 if we can upgrade
6) S: Should take 1 to keep the cupboard stocked

I think we have slipped behind at ILB. Greer seems to be somewhat of a crapshoot. Other top ILB targets seem to be moving on. We do deem to have regrouped and are casting a wider net, which is good news. We seem to be pursuing some good DTs, but its been a little quiet lately. We are in excellent shape at DE. We seem to be on pace with DBs.

Overall, I think this is shaping up to be a wild ride...

The good:
- WR and OT recruiting seem to be on schedule.
- DE, OG, TE are done unless a stud comes along.
- RB is going as well as it possibly could, short of a committment.

The unknown:
- I think we need to really re-double our efforts at QB, ILB, and DT. There are signs that this is happening for QB and ILB (not sure about DT, but initial interest has seemed good with a lot of kids). I hope we can overcome the later start for some of these QBs and ILBs.
- We are being very selective at OLB and DB; that should be a little risky.

 

[STLDomer]

Staff has shown new interest in a lot of QBs since Gunners transfer. It's not easy to just offer any QB, staff most likely wants to see them workout.

ILB is the toughest position to recruit, Diaco is working hard to find targets

We have Clark, Frazier, Curtis, and Holley as possible NG targets

 

[Grahambo]

We really need a replacement for Sapp.

 

[irishog77]

I think it's still difficult to gauge LB, until we hear more about where/how Randolph and Okwara (and maybe even Smith-- Dog...or Cat?) will be used/fit in. For instance, if BK wants to use Okwara at Dog still, then does Jaylon get first look at Cat? If Jaylon is a Dog, Okwara a Cat (which seems like the ideal scenario and provides legitimate depth on the 3-deep, then provides a legitimate 2-deep going into next year), then will Randolph be an ILB? This would lessen the dire need to sign 2, 3 ILB's this year (although 2 would still be great) and give the staff the ability to sign a flexible Cat/Dog prospect, or perhaps go after a "project" guy for OLB or ILB.

 

[yankeeND]

Though I think we are a little behind schedule considering the success we had last season I think we could start to soar with a commit from Nelson and pending weekend visit by Hood that could potentially seal the deal. Otherwise prospects that we look good for at WR, I see a lot of potential and spots for three more if they are the right three. I think Holmes is one of them. I agree on heating up the DT race a bit because I think that has to be one of the larger concerns moving forward.

 

[Domina Nostra]

I think it's still difficult to gauge LB, until we hear more about where/how Randolph and Okwara (and maybe even Smith-- Dog...or Cat?) will be used/fit in. For instance, if BK wants to use Okwara at Dog still, then does Jaylon get first look at Cat? If Jaylon is a Dog, Okwara a Cat (which seems like the ideal scenario and provides legitimate depth on the 3-deep, then provides a legitimate 2-deep going into next year), then will Randolph be an ILB? This would lessen the dire need to sign 2, 3 ILB's this year (although 2 would still be great) and give the staff the ability to sign a flexible Cat/Dog prospect, or perhaps go after a "project" guy for OLB or ILB.

This is what I am assuming. I still think we need to sign two OLBs and 2-3 ILBs because the depth after the first two gets questionable on the outside, and everything except Grace appears to up-for-grabs on the inside.

CAT: Williams/Okwara/?
MIKE: Grace/Moore/(Rabassa)
WILL: Randolph/Deeb/Martini
DOG: Smith/Councell/?

 

[irishog77]

This is what I am assuming. I still think we need to sign two OLBs and 2-3 ILBs because the depth after the first two gets questionable on the outside, and everything except Grace appears to up-for-grabs on the inside.

CAT: Williams/Okwara/?
MIKE: Grace/Moore/(Rabassa)
WILL: Randolph/Deeb/Martini
DOG: Smith/Councell/?

Yeah, I mostly agree. This is kind of what I was getting at last week in the Bars thread though. At some point, the players on the roster and scholarships become real numbers. The type of depth a lot of people on IE want is just simply not possible at ND.

 

[Irishnuke]

We really need a replacement for Sapp.

This. I nominate TP.

 

[Domina Nostra]

Yeah, I mostly agree. This is kind of what I was getting at last week in the Bars thread though. At some point, the players on the roster and scholarships become real numbers. The type of depth a lot of people on IE want is just simply not possible at ND.

One option for 2014, based on the current roster, is this:

CAT: Williams, Okwara
MIKE: Grace, Moore/Deeb, Rabassa
WILL: Councell, Randolph, Martini
DOG: Smith, [Councell]

My guess is Smith, like Manti, plays most downs!

 

[Emcee77]

Staff has shown new interest in a lot of QBs since Gunners transfer. It's not easy to just offer any QB, staff most likely wants to see them workout.

ILB is the toughest position to recruit, Diaco is working hard to find targets

We have Clark, Frazier, Curtis, and Holley as possible NG targets

I'll feel pretty good about ILB if we land Booker, as has been rumored. We'll probably still need another ILB, but Greer and Booker will be an excellent start.

 

[OrlaNDomer]

Landing Booker would be huge, but my guess is that we have at best a 50/50 shot at him, probably more like 25% chance.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I "think" that the following is germane to this thread, but....

When we look at recruiting needs, we think of the next season. Makes some sense but not as much as we'd like to think at first glance. Very few frosh step right in to fill gaps and make big waves. The way we can recruit DLine violates that rule regularly, though, and one could imagine a WR or an RB stepping right in, especially if they EE'd.

But for the most part it makes more sense to look at the season two years out. For recruiting in 2013, that would be the 2015 squad. I believe that this is, at least to a degree, what Kelly and any good management staff with a "mature" roster do. Who, then, do we have to work with in 2015? {I'll probably get some of the eligibilities wrong, but you can do better}.

OFFENSE:
QB-- Golson and Zaire {and ....}.
RB-- Bryant [I'm crystal-gazing here to begin lists with a possible starter] and Folston and Mahone.
"SLOT"-- Prosise and Carlisle and Onwualu.
WR1-- Daniels and Fuller and Brent [soph].
WR2-- Robinson and Brown and Hunter.
TE-- Heuerman and Smythe and Weishar[soph].
C-- NMartin and Hegarty {and .... }.
Gs: Bivin and Montelus; and Hanratty and McGovern; and Harrell and Byrne{soph}.
Ts: Elmer and Stanley; McGlinchey and Mustipher{soph}; {and .... and ....}. NOTICE THREE GAPS IN THE 3-DEEP OLine.

Looking at the Offense, you can judge where the staff might think we're thin.

DEFENSE:
S's: Redfield and Shumate/Baratti and Badger; Turner and ....
CBs: Russell and Luke/Brown and Butler/Kinlaw and ....
Mike: Grace and Deeb and Martini [soph].
Will: Councell? and Randolph? and .....
CAT: Okwara and Rabasa and ....
DOG: JSmith and Councell/Turner? and....
DEs: Vanderdoes and Rochell; Trumbetti and Hayes[sophs]; Jones and....
NTs: Day and Springmann and Matuska.

Specialists: Daly{LS}, and no kickers. {unless the walkons achieve [fingers crossed]}.

As is easy to see, of course every position needs restocking as that is the nature of college academics. But some positions stand out: QB every year; several linemen both O and D; another couple of TEs in the next years; and we'll finally clear the oversupply of DBacks. But to me the shock is the linebackers.

The rest of the 2013 class isn't in there yet of course, nor the fantasy of whatever the 2014 class will be. Still... the linebackers seem VERY slim in this mirror. This is why we've heard "four" as the LB number this year. Notice that with Martini and three more, we don't have to count Councell twice but without Turner we'd still be one short

The upside of this exercise is that the first teams look awfully darn good. .

 

[IrishSteelhead]

My list is a tad simpler:

The second coming of Deanthony Thomas and Jadaveon Clowney

 

[Domina Nostra]

Looking at where we currently stand...

1) QB: need 1 [potential starter]- CHECK
2) OT: need at least 1 true tackle, 2 would be much better - CHECK
3) WR: need 1 real difference maker; should take 3 to sustain - GETTING THERE
4) RB: need 1 stud, and we should take a second to keep good depth- CHECK
5) TE: should take at least 1 to sustain, could take 2 if we can upgrade- CHECK
6) OG: need 2 to keep the cupboard stocked - CHECK

We are ahead of schedule on offense. Currenlty an A-. We should get an A here if we land two more good WR. If we get those, plus another RB, plus a 5-star OG, this will be an A+ in my book.

Projection: A to A+

As for the Defense:

1) ILB: need 2 solid prospects or we are in somewhat of a bind - HALFWAY THERE, BUT SHAKEY
2) DT: need at least 1 nose tackle or we are going to become a 4-3!- NOT LOOKING GREAT, BUT NO NEED TO WORRY YET
3) DE: Need 2 quality kids to sustain- CHECK, BUT NOT A HOMERUN
4) OLB: Need 2 to sustain- ON SCHEDULE, BUT SEEMS TIGHT
5) CB: Should take at least 1 to sustain, could take 2 if we can upgrade - ON SCHEDULE, BUT SEEMS TIGHT
6) S: Should take 1 to keep the cupboard stocked- ON SCHEDULE, BUT SEEMS TIGHT

We are doing fine so far. If it ended here, it would be a D+ (good athletes, but did not meet our needs). If everything worked out as well as it realistically could, we could get to that A level, but I just don't see the ILB or DT going that way at the moment.

Projection: B to B+

 

[STLDomer]

I think the staff only plans on 1 OLB

 

[Whiskeyjack]

I think the staff only plans on 1 OLB

That seems to be the case, but I'm not sure why. Both Spond and Shembo run out of eligibility after this season, which leaves us with only 5/8 at OLB. I'd shoot for at least 2 this cycle.

 

[Domina Nostra]

That seems to be the case, but I'm not sure why. Both Spond and Shembo run out of eligibility after this season, which leaves us with only 5/8 at OLB. I'd shoot for at least 2 this cycle.

Yeah, I don't get it either. I don't think one is enough.

 

[Irishman77]

That seems to be the case, but I'm not sure why. Both Spond and Shembo run out of eligibility after this season, which leaves us with only 5/8 at OLB. I'd shoot for at least 2 this cycle.

Agree...2 inside and 2 outside.

 

[STLDomer]

We have 3 offers out to OLB, one is the #1 CAT in the country Lorenzo Carter, 1 is the #1 DOG in the country Dillon Bates, and 1 is Andrew Williams.

Really doubt we get 2 OLBs

 

[Ironman8]

We have 3 offers out to OLB, one is the #1 CAT in the country Lorenzo Carter, 1 is the #1 DOG in the country Dillon Bates, and 1 is Andrew Williams.

Really doubt we get 2 OLBs

Yeargin is an OLB first who has the flexibility to be moved inside.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Maybe they plan on starting Randolph out at OLB, and taking 2 more ILBs this cycle. That would get us close to ideal LB depth, but our prospects for landing just one elite ILB (let alone two) this cycle aren't good.

I've been working under the assumption that Yeargin would start at ILB for us.

 

[ACamp1900]

LB recruiting tends to always scare me...

 

[STLDomer]

Yeargin is an OLB first who has the flexibility to be moved inside.

that's not what I've read.

 

[ACamp1900]

that's not what I've read.

Don't you question IM8... He'll flip ya, flip ya for real.

 

[Ironman8]

that's not what I've read.

TJ on Rivals just posted that basically verbatim again today.

Called him an 'outside-in' guy who is being recruited as an OLB (initially a rush OLB type) with the 'profile and skill' to 'get a long look inside if necessary'.

 

[irishog77]

TJ on Rivals just posted that basically verbatim again today.

Called him an 'outside-in' guy who is being recruited as an OLB (initially a rush OLB type) with the 'profile and skill' to 'get a long look inside if necessary'.

Isn't this, more or less, the same type of profile Randolph had/has?

Could be good for depth/flexibility.

 

[STLDomer]

TJ on Rivals just posted that basically verbatim again today.

Called him an 'outside-in' guy who is being recruited as an OLB (initially a rush OLB type) with the 'profile and skill' to 'get a long look inside if necessary'.

well that's different from what he initially said (what is in his thread from Lucci I think) and what Wiltfong reported.

That's wierd. He initially said DOG not CAT too.

I guess that proves his versatility. I've now seen TJ and others say DOG, WILL, and CAT.

 

[Emcee77]

well that's different from what he initially said (what is in his thread from Lucci I think) and what Wiltfong reported.

That's wierd. He initially said DOG not CAT too.

This seems to happen all the time. Last cycle Randolph was reporting that we wanted him at DOG and Jaylon that we wanted him at CAT, when it seemed to me for all the world that it would have to be the opposite. Makes me wonder if the players just mix them up.