Rivals at 10: Most Disappointing Classes

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Rivals.com College Football - Rivals at 10: Most disappointing classes

10. Notre Dame 2006
Coach: Charlie Weis
Class rank: 8th
Five-star signees: 2 (RB James Aldridge, OT Sam Young)
Buzz: The Irish have struggled most of this past decade and this class is a microcosm of why. The class was headlined by two five-star prospects in RB James Aldridge and OT Sam Young. Young went on to become a four-year starter but Aldridge rushed for less than 1,000 yards in his first three seasons before moving to fullback as a senior. He was injured early in the year and did not return. Rivals100 QB Demetrius Jones started one game for the Irish before transferring to Cincinnati and playing linebacker. He then moved on to Central State (Ohio) to play wide receiver and tight end.

 

[Blaise]

I was soooo excited for that class.... I thought Young was going to be a Jake Long type of player.... never happened

 

[The Polish Irishman]

Funny how excited we get about recruiting and then you read this.

 

[jason_h537]

Funny how excited we get about recruiting and then you read this.

That's because everyone is the next big thing. Don't you know Cam McDaniel and Everett Golsen are gonna come in and start from day 1. Then be replaced by whoever we land this year.

 

[SoDakDomer]

nothing to do this time of year besides get attached to these recruits

 

[rikkitikki08]

Recruiting makes my head hurt for this very reason, i get excited over these classes but then reality sets in. Also to be fair charlie weis wasnt much of developmental coach, other than QB'S. I would like to see what kelly's staff could have done with Young

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Rivals.com College Football - Rivals at 10: The five-star recruits 2002-2010

2009 #10. Notre Dame LB Manti Te'o
BUZZ: After making 10 starts and recording 63 tackles as a true freshman, Te'o developed into a legitimate star in his sophomore season. He posted 133 overall tackles - 40 more than any of his teammates - and 9.5 tackles for loss to lead a defense that improved as much as just about any in the nation over the course of the season. Te'o should contend for All-America honors as a junior.

2008 #20. TE Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame
BUZZ: When healthy, Rudolph was one of the nation's best tight ends, and he took his talents to the NFL a year early. In his sophomore and junior seasons, he caught 61 passes for 692 yards with six touchdowns in 16 games. On the down side, he missed a total of nine games in the past two seasons because of injuries to his shoulder (2009) and hamstring (2010). He was a second-round pick in the 2011 draft, by Minnesota.

2008 #25.QB Dayne Crist, Notre Dame
BUZZ: Crist waited behind Jimmy Clausen for two seasons before getting his chance to start in 2010 in the first season under coach Brian Kelly. So far, his career has been marred by injury. He suffered a torn ACL in 2009, then sustained another knee injury last October. In his first eight starts of 2010, Crist passed for 2,033 yards and 15 touchdowns. He will be in the mix for the starting job this season.

2008 #27. WR Michael Floyd, Notre Dame
BUZZ: Floyd is the last of a deep group of five-star receivers. He and DeVier Posey will be the last of the 2008 five-star receivers to test the NFL. After putting together his most productive season (79 catches, 1,025 yards, 12 touchdowns - all career highs), Floyd elected to stay in school to get his degree and fine-tune his game. He has had off-field issues but should be the Irish's go-to guy this fall.

2007 #1. QB Jimmy Clausen, Notre Dame
BUZZ: Clausen turned pro a year early. He finished his career with 8,148 yards, 60 TDs and 27 interceptions, and started all but three games of his career. He was a second-round pick in the 2010 draft.

2006 #11. OT Sam Young, Notre Dame
BUZZ: He started all 50 games of his Irish career, which is a school record for career starts. Forty of his starts were at right tackle, and he finished his career in 2009. He was a sixth-round pick in the 2010 NFL draft.

2006 #27. RB James Aldridge, Notre Dame
BUZZ: Aldridge barely played as a senior in 2009, rushing six times for 17 yards. He finished his career with 979 yards - including two 100-yard games - and three touchdowns. He wasn't drafted.

2003 #23. DE Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame
BUZZ: Abiamiri started 30 games at Notre Dame and finished his career third in school history in sacks (21.5) and tied for fourth in tackles for loss (40). In his senior year, he recorded 10.5 sacks, the second-highest single-season total by a Notre Dame player. He was drafted in the second round in 2007.