Rudolph vs. Stoneburner

[irishunclebill]

Sounds like a lawsuit, doesn't it.

It won’t matter much 2 ½ years from now when Kyle Rudolph & Jake Stoneburner are most likely to start getting some significant playing time, but until then there will be inevitable comparisons between Rudolph & Stoneburner, as both are elite Tight Ends from Ohio. So, to prepare for battle with your friendly neighborhood OSU fan (friendly OSU may be the biggest oxymoron in history) as to who recruited the better Ohio Tight End, here are some of the current rankings for the soon to be Irish & Buckeye tight ends.

Rivals: Both are on the Rivals 250 to Watch for 2008. Tie.

Scout: Kyle is on the Scout Hot 100 to Watch for 2008, Jake is not. Rudolph takes the lead.

ESPN 150: Kyle is #64 on the initial ESPN150 for 2008, Jake is not on the list. Don’t let your fav OSU fan know, but Jake is probably not on the ESPN list only because they have not evaluated his film yet. In any case for our purposes, Rudolph’s lead increases.

Ohio High Magazine- Kyle is ranked as the #1 2008 recruit in the state of Ohio. Jake- I don’t know, but I know that he is behind Kyle. It’ Rudolph 3 ½, Stoneburner ½.

Ah, and now the coup de grace. Kyle is rated #2, and Jake #5 in none other than the venerable BuckeyeGrove.com recruiting service in its latest rankings of the Top 20 players in the state of Ohio. By the time this is posted, Kurelic will probably flip them and try to say he always meant it to be that way.

The hands down winner in the Ohio TE blog fodder sweepstakes, Kyle Rudolph & Notre Dame. Almost makes up for losing the Fiesta Bowl.

Oh and BTW does anyone hate it as much as I do when people use tOSU. UGH!!

 

[napoleonbuck]

In fairness to Jake, he has the much better offer list(USC and Florida in addition to all the midwest powers).

Internet gurus or national champion coaches. Who to trust...

 

[irishunclebill]

In fairness to Jake, he has the much better offer list(USC and Florida in addition to all the midwest powers).

Internet gurus or national champion coaches. Who to trust...

Good point Buck, but you weren't supposed to sneak in here already and discover the ESPN150 secret. In all seriousness, both guys are going to be great college players and are a tribute to the continued excellence of High School football in the state of Ohio. Anyway, you are way too rational for this type battle, this one is for the neighborhood trenches where no Irishman, or no Buck, gives an inch.

 

[Ultimate Penn St. Hater]

Nice pickup for the Irish. Keep em coming Charlie!

 

[tgolden]

I'm just happy to see another Cincinnatian coming to play football for ND.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Amen T BTW- I like the height of our boy!

 

[notredomer23]

Definitly like the height, how tall is stoneburner

 

[napoleonbuck]

I typed this on Ohio State forum, but I think both schools got elite tight ends that are best for their systems. Stoneburner is more of a flex tight end that should fit in well with OSU's passing scheme, where as Rudolph is a traditional tightend that Weis prefers. OSU doesn't have much of a recent history of utilizing the tightend(aside from blocking), so I don't think that appealed to Rudolph.

 

[Irishknight1023]

Stoneburner said OSU( yes the tOSU bothers the shit out of me too) wants to use him like Anthony Gonzalez and have him go across the middle, if he puts on about 20 to 30 pounds then they'll use him more as a tight end but as of now he is a wide receiver he said. Stoneburner has a "little" bit of more impressive offers, but the compasisons are almost impossible because Stoneburner is like a WR and Rudolph well...isn't

 

[napoleonbuck]

Definitly like the height, how tall is stoneburner

6'6" and 225 lbs.

 

[Irishknight1023]

i've only read that he is 6'5 220 at the most

 

[napoleonbuck]

At the Rivals combine this weekend, he checked in at 6'6" and 223.

Take it for what it's worth...

 

[marv81s]

osu throws to their TEs? I thought they were just another O-lineman.

 

[marv81s]

osu throws to their TEs??

really?????????

you sure?????????

I don't buy it.

 

[ndalltheway05]

i know rudy and have seen him play numerous times and i don't think we have a tightend anywhere close to having his jumpball ability. From what i hear of stoneburner, he sounds more like a ragone who we already have but i can assure you we don't have anyone like rudy. When you have a 6'7" kid who can dunk a basketball flat footed and whose hands are very good and absolutely enormous, you know youre getting a special athlete. Of course I'm being a little biased but I don't think rudy will disappoint you guys.

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I agree with your assessment. You can't have clones at the same position. He provides a guy that few teams will have at TE.

 

[Ricochet]

Does it really matter? They got there guy and ND got there guy. But take it for what it's worth but most think of Stoneburner as a very good TE whereas Rudolph is considered elite. I'ver heard many say that not only is he one of best if not the best right now but that he also has the best upside and I just heard it again on rivals network fee AMP video of how good the '08 TE recruiting class is.

 

[Ricochet]

Check what I was talking about here and then go to 2008 TE breakdown.

 

[Irish Legend]

I'm just glad Rudolph is coming to ND!!!

 

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Righto! Now if we could get some quality LB...........

 

[grantphilly]

Don't get me wrong I like seeing anyone commit to the irish as much as the rest of you guys, (gals?) but this recurting season I'll be more excitibale by the defensive commits. But keep all the commits coming that you can CW & CO.

 

[irishlib]

I could care less, as to which kid is better. I'm just excited that we got an excellent prospect.

 

[TexasNDFan]

Righto! Now if we could get some quality LB...........

The LB's will come and for the same reason that Randolph picked ND, once they see the defense in action.