Recruiting - The Final Push, Who's Left, Numbers

[Legacy]

An article on our remaining prospects as Kelly plays the numbers.

One Foot Down | Notre Dame Recruiting: Kelly Reloads and Remolds the Irish

 

[IrishMoore1]

very good read. thanks for the post

 

[WabashFalcon]

HMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

 

[Ben E.]

good read!

 

[AlbuquerqueIrishFan]

That's some fun reading! Recruiting excitment is at an all time high!

 

[jonesman]

very nice read. All I want for Christmas is Ishaq, Huggins, Shuler, Scarlett, Niklas and Doran Grant!!! Is that asking too much???

As one boss used to say, "you can't get the order if you don't ask". Well, I am asking.

Scarlett and Tuitt would be a beastly tandem at DE with Nicklas being in that rotation. Ishaq would be chasing down everything on the outside.

For those asking about another OL commit, we will be fine. Carrico is going to be on the OL because he is NOT a DE at the college level. I could also see Springman moving to OT. He has that long frame to be a great tackle.

 

[IrishLax]

I think we get Ishaq, Shuler, Carlisle and Huggins. I think we do not get Scarlett and Niklas... and I just hope they don't end up at USC.

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

I think we get Ishaq, Shuler, Carlisle and Huggins. I think we do not get Scarlett and Niklas... and I just hope they don't end up at USC.

I feel pretty good with the four you mentioned as well. If we can just get 2 or 3 of these guys I will be elated. We need a couple of these guys to give us that extra boost. All four of these guys are extremely talented and would bring alot to our team.

 

[IrishInColumbus]

Hopefully Montana loses his scholarship so we have another one. His father is worth millions, no way he needs a scholarship to ride the pine.

I wouldn't mind giving it to Ruffer.

If the Irish were to land Huggins, Shuler, Williams, Scarlett and some others, I would have the best NSD ever. hahah It would bump this class back into the top five.

 

[Fan of the Irish]

Hopefully Montana loses his scholarship so we have another one. His father is worth millions, no way he needs a scholarship to ride the pine.

I wouldn't mind giving it to Ruffer.QUOTE]

I couldn't agree more, Ruffer is way more deserving of a scholarship and he's been paying for his school all along.

 

[Irish Man3]

The only recruit I think we are in the driver seat for is Ishaq. I think we still have work to do for the Jersey tandum and the others off the west coast. Recruiting is so up and down that anything can happen.

Ishaq Williams
Savon Huggins
Miles Shuler
Amir Carlisle

That group is reasonable and would ensure us a top 10 class.

Brennan Scarlett
Troy Niklas
Doran Grant

I think these are all recruits we are on the outside looking in on. Scarlett and Niklas could be possibilities with solid visits both in home and campus.

 

[IrishMoore1]

we def need Scarlett and/or Niklas. We only have 1 true DE committed right now

 

[Irish Man3]

Springmann and Carrico are just as much true DEs as Niklas. Niklas is being recruited by 3 schools for 3 different positions.

If I'm not mistaken, isn't Scarlett being recruited for an OLB in Diaco's 3-4 scheme?

 

[IrishMoore1]

Springmann and Carrico are just as much trur DEs as Niklas. Niklas is being recruited by 3 schools for 3 different positions.

If I'm not mistaken, isn't Scarlett being recruited for an OLB in Diaco's 3-4 scheme?

I see Springmann and Carrico as O linemen. Let's face it, they are better suited for the O line rather than Dline. Right now, they're not even playing as DE's on their respective high school teams. They're playing as O linemen. I believe Scarlett is being recruited as DE in Diaco's scheme.

 

[fitz_bu47]

It doesn't matter what any of us think about the position these kids are gonna play, the coaches know what they want, and where they are gonna end up. I see what you are saying about them being tackles, but if the coaches say they are going to be d-ends, then I believe them....I played Guard in high school and started games in college at fullback, Outside linebacker, and middle linebacker, their high school position doesn't matter that much. Especially to Kelly and how he recruits skill/big skill/big, or whatever he calls it.

 

[Irish Man3]

Springmann and Carrico played both ways as did Niklas. I dont understand how Niklas is considered more of a natural DE when they have near equal size and equal time at both positions. The only reason Carrico and Springmann were talked about on the OL was because of the Lynch, Tuitt duo. That is no longer the case.

 

[johnnykillz]

I think we get Ishaq, Shuler, Carlisle and Huggins. I think we do not get Scarlett and Niklas... and I just hope they don't end up at USC.

That would equate to a fantastic haul... Imagine if we kept what we had and these. I would feel sorry for the 5th years that weren't offered, but who knows where we're headed with the signees.

 

[NewEnglandGuy]

My 0.02 cents, If we sign Niklas or Scarlett and none of the OL on the board, the first one to go to that side of the ball will be Carrico. We have the luxury to switch the recruits under Kelly's "power" category to either OL or DL...but either way we need another "power" commit.

I agree with the article in a lot of ways:
-Montana's scholly goes to Ruffer
-We bring back three 5th years for sure in Gray, Smith, and Dever but try to fill as many spots for recruits as we can.
-Ideally we sign 5 more at the OLB, DL, OL, RB, WR positions...hopefully

IShaq
Chickillo (this kid is my #1 DL recruit, but #2 is Niklas)
Scarlett (we can never take too many DL recruits, this would move Carrico to OL)
Huggins
Shuler

 

[Old Man Mike]

Don't know why I'm bothering you guys about this all the time, but I'm going to give it one more shot because it's the only thing about our recruiting class which is bothering me [except holding what we've got together]. I know that everyone's dazzled by the fancy skill players, but [one more time] these guys go nowhere if there isn't blocking.

Last year Kelly got three OL; one died. We have TWO left in that class. This year Kelly got three OL; one decommitted. We have TWO in this class. Two years; FOUR. Not enough by a long shot.

I'll admit that we are in probably fabulous shape on the O-line for next year---maybe even dominant. That's not what this year's recruiting is about, nor what's in Kelly's plans. The current great stockpile of upperclass linemen is also not the issue for the year following. Kelly can't be that short-sighted and isn't. Even if BOTH Carrico and Springman shift to OL, that means only SIX O-linemen for two recruiting years. Not enough. One can imagine in their junior/senior year, given say two don't pan out and maybe two chronically nicked up, having two fully functional and healthy veteran O-linemen. This scenario isn't crazy.

That's why I have been saying, and the thread-starting article is saying if read carefully, that we are deficient in this player category rather seriously as things stand. I'm not in the school of "oh we'll get them next year". Bottomline, I believe that Kelly reads the future flow chart better than I but similarly on this point. That's why people like Martin and Clear and Niklas are getting "news" lately. I'll bet that they're not the only ones.

This is NOT about next year's O-line depth. It's about two/three years from now. It's hard to pass up a play-maker, I know. I'll pass if it means that the offense three years from now can't even get started due to lack of Roadgraders. The disturbing thing about this really is: we have not found it as easy to get the bigs as we have the "stars". I believe that this is because every coach in the nation realizes how valuable they are.

 

[Irish Man3]

Where do we go for OL to finish out this class?

Richardson is not coming to ND despite ND coaches paying their visits. He has transferred schools because of academic reasons. Not a good sign.

Cameron Clear is not leaving the SEC.

Martin is committed to Kentucky but ND coaches are still knocking on that door.

Whitmire committed to a local school that was in it hard from the begining.

ND coaches are trying to land another OL prospect and in the end maybe they will. Judging by ISD reports of whose been offered already for the 2012 class, BK and crew realize the lack of depth. They have already offered and been in touch with many 2012 OL recruits. I trust that BK understands what he is doing. Your forgetting about the fact that these guys from last year have been "redshirted" for this year. Despite what many people think about Hegarty, he will most likely follow in that same suit barring injuries.

Please nobody lecture me on how ND does not REDSHIRT.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Springmann and Carrico played both ways as did Niklas. I dont understand how Niklas is considered more of a natural DE when they have near equal size and equal time at both positions. The only reason Carrico and Springmann were talked about on the OL was because of the Lynch, Tuitt duo. That is no longer the case.

The way I'm following it is that Niklas seems to be the best athlete of the three (including Springmann and Carrico) and usually speed up front usually lands you on the defensive side of the ball. Some schools had recruited him as a Tight End, which shows the versatility.

I'm on the same boat, though, I really feel one of if not both Carrico and Springmann will end up on the offensive line with Springmann being the best fit (at a guard or even center).

Eitherway I think the staff will get atleast a year to figure out what they want to do with these two and Niklas, if we can land him...I don't see any of this trio logging minutes as a true freshman.

 

[Legacy]

Mike,
Good points. Willingham got us in a similar position with his OL recruiting, which left us starting Freshmen and Sophomores in 2007.

Kelly's staff has put out 20 OT and 1 OG (Hanratty) offers this year. How would you resolve this at this time? 13 are committed elsewhere. Of the seven left, four (Hobbi, Kouandjio, Walker and Ward) are not considering ND. Martin, Clear and Richardson are left. Would you offer Flavin? Or how about a Hawaiian - either Asiata (OT) or a DE like Koa Ka'ai or Parker that would allow Springmann and Carrico to switch to offense?

 

[Old Man Mike]

Kelly's smarter than I am. I assume two things: a). he has a bit of a panic going on now about this, and alternative people, even poachables, are being discussed. b).Strategies are being made as to how to get into the living rooms of people post-bowl game. A win might make the difference as to who they try.

And, for me, c). there HAVE been some other suggestions made loosely. Two have to do with Hawaiian tackles. This is an oddly silent situation to me, but perhaps Kelly's coach-to-coach familiarity is not strong enough there to risk something without extensive travel time. I would, purely on clairvoyance, and our own Hawaiian's recommendation, offer Asiata. I view him as a monster roadgrader at right guard.

Secondly, I absolutely would tell Carrico and Springman to expect work at O-line. Thirdly, I'd wonder if Heggie could add the weight and strength to play tackle. These brilliant ideas are why I am NOT a college football coach.

 

[NewEnglandGuy]

Kelly's smarter than I am. I assume two things: a). he has a bit of a panic going on now about this, and alternative people, even poachables, are being discussed. b).Strategies are being made as to how to get into the living rooms of people post-bowl game. A win might make the difference as to who they try.

And, for me, c). there HAVE been some other suggestions made loosely. Two have to do with Hawaiian tackles. This is an oddly silent situation to me, but perhaps Kelly's coach-to-coach familiarity is not strong enough there to risk something without extensive travel time. I would, purely on clairvoyance, and our own Hawaiian's recommendation, offer Asiata. I view him as a monster roadgrader at right guard.

Secondly, I absolutely would tell Carrico and Springman to expect work at O-line. Thirdly, I'd wonder if Heggie could add the weight and strength to play tackle. These brilliant ideas are why I am NOT a college football coach.

I disagree...these are GREAT ideas.

To further discuss OL depth, lets look at the chart AFTER next year (as you said we may be domient with mostly every contributor back).

Possible 5th years: Golic Jr, Cave, Clelland
Seniors: Watt, Martin, Bullard (all with 5th year eligibility)
Juniors: Lombard, Nichols (also possible 5th years)
Sophmores: Hegarty, Hanratty
Freshman: ?,?,?,?

Assume we sign someone else as an OL in the current recruiting class or move over Carrico or Springmann and we bring back two of the 5th years...that totals 10 players not including the 3 or 4 we will try to sign in the 2012 recruiting class.

Early projection of 2012 OL, LT - Hegarty, LG - Watt, C - Cave, RG - Lombard, RT - Martin

We may not be deep enough to sustain multiple injuries but I like our top 7. I feel saving basically every OL player's 5th year status except Robinson in a 4 year period will provide dividends in the depth chart...something Willingham and Weis didn't/couldn't do.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Good lay-out. You can see why, the year after the one you project, we would not want to be going into a season with only four upperclass linemen. That would be Hegarty [junior] and Nichols [senior] at tackles, and Lombard [senior] and [hopefully the next guy is good enough] Hanratty [junior] at guard, with no upperclass back-ups and no center. This assumes no injury problems.

We know that "phenoms" are possible at anytime, but good O-linemen usually take longer to get it all down. The only position that I believe takes more experiential development is cornerback. There we have bodies, but it is after next year that the developmental difficulties at that position occur [I am not talking about safety]. Everything here isn't rosy-cozy. I absolutely trust Staff Kelly to turn Gold into Gold AND to turn Lead into Gold, but the Lead at least has to be on campus.

 

[Me2SouthBend]

It's discussion like this that is great to read. Well said men.

 

[NewEnglandGuy]

I absolutely trust Staff Kelly to turn Gold into Gold AND to turn Lead into Gold, but the Lead at least has to be on campus.

Great line. Well said.

I do believe it was huge to save Watts 5th year and now that Martin has come out of now where, saving his was great too. Your absolutely right about the lack of upperclass men in the 2013 season (good thing we have high definition telescopes to look this far into the future because it is important). I am not sure about what Bullard brings everyday in practice, but all three players may be kept to keep away from disasters stemming from low numbers...i.e.; injuries and lack of competition/complacency in practice.

With these six or seven as the base we will need at least a couple of the sophmores (class of 2012 recruits) to step up. We definitly need a center and plenty of "lead." Look for the staff to offer as many as it takes to take at least 4 on the OL in next years class (2012)...think DB recruiting in the current class.

 

[Rizzophil]

we def need Scarlett and/or Niklas. We only have 1 true DE committed right now

Unfortunately, I think both will stay on the west coast. Especially Niklas who is going to USC in my opinion.

 

[PatsandBostonfan1975]

Alabama and USC are pushing for his commitment, but he has not scheduled visits with either. how sexy is that ?

 

[Irish Man3]

Alabama and USC are pushing for his commitment, but he has not scheduled visits with either. how sexy is that ?

Who are you talking about here? If you are talking about Niklas then Alabama is not a player in his recruitment. However, he has scheduled a visit to USC, Stanford, and ND. All of these visits will take place in January with ND's visit coming January 29th.