State of the Recruiting Class - 2024

[stlnd01]

Here is a good thread for having reasoned discussions with constructive arguments about the state of recruitment, or when the compulsions are too strong and the multiple voices in your head are telling you just how right you always are, Freeman ain’t cutting it, 3 stars are signs of regression, and academic success is very ND, but isn’t gonna help ND get to the promised land or whatever else you are hellbent on repeating with recruiting as your vehicle.

Offensive recruitment I have no concerns. Tie up Lambert, maybe Nelson, and it's a pretty baller class, following up on a good one last year. We are starting to stack weapons.

Defense has been a little baffling. Few if any studs. A lot of guys who *might* be good. Not even that many elite guys we've had a real shot at. But trust the staff, right? We have a long history of developing three and low-four stars into quality college football players, especially on D. There are several this year you could see turning out quite good. Time will tell.

 

[irishff1014]

I understand that Freeman is a young head coach with little experience but for a guy that wanted to do better at recruiting I am surprised by the defensive players. Yes some players I do believe are will improve. The safety situation is just as bad as it gets.

WR, QB, RB very good. O line ok.

 

[PutuporShutup]

There seems to be a strong belief that Golden isn’t pulling his weight in terms of recruiting. In addition to his head coaching experience on the collegiate level, I thought his relatively recent success in the NFL was a big reason why he was hired. What is being demanded of him? Is there validity to the rumors?

The HC is a defensive guy, it starts with him.

Need to show development this year on D.
Our best defensive player last year was a true frosh that wasn’t even here in the spring.

 

[Crazy Balki]

I'd say, you land KVA or Shaw, and add a surprise guy like Scott or Beasley (which I think they will), I think that's a damn good defensive class. As I've said, safety just doesn't look like a very strong position this year after the top 6, and none of them besides Woodyard were even close to giving ND a legit shot.

Even with the lower rated guys, they all come from the same recruiting approach for Freeman. They're all long, athletic guys who can run and like to hit. ND has 4, soon to be 5 DB's, all of which are 6'1+ guys with varying degrees of speed and hops.

People tend to forget that Freeman and Mickens built one of the best secondaries at Cincinnati with guys who weren't polished defensive backs, but were rangy, athletic and loved to hit.

 

[PutuporShutup]

The head coach also delegates and is responsible for hiring coaches that will administer his directives. I’m making a particular inquiry, not an obvious one.

But he got no blame for the offense last year, he needs to be responsible for something

 

[stlnd01]

But he got no blame for the offense last year, he needs to be responsible for something

What was wrong with the offensive recruiting last year? A top-flight RB. A stable of WRs. Fine OL and TE. A late save at QB. We did fine.

 

[stlnd01]

I'd say, you land KVA or Shaw, and add a surprise guy like Scott or Beasley (which I think they will), I think that's a damn good defensive class. As I've said, safety just doesn't look like a very strong position this year after the top 6, and none of them besides Woodyard were even close to giving ND a legit shot.

Even with the lower rated guys, they all come from the same recruiting approach for Freeman. They're all long, athletic guys who can run and like to hit. ND has 4, soon to be 5 DB's, all of which are 6'1+ guys with varying degrees of speed and hops.

People tend to forget that Freeman and Mickens built one of the best secondaries at Cincinnati with guys who weren't polished defensive backs, but were rangy, athletic and loved to hit.

Agree there's a lot of upside on defense. Just not a lot of guys you feel like you can count on for sure. You want at least a couple of those on both sides of the ball in every class. Landing Scott or Beasley would help, KVA or Shaw as well. And there's still six months to go. We shall see.
It's just notable that after two strong classes of recruiting on defense we feel a little thin this cycle. Despite, oddly, far more turnover on the offensive staff.

 

[T-Boone]

Carrie is also very good, I guess I’m a little partial to the bigger backs that can move. I love watching defenses avoid getting in Estimes way.

I honestly don’t have a clue where we stand with Carrie.

Carrie was good but the shining was the best.

 

[irishandy]

I'd like to see Freeman pull a Diaco and land KVA and Scott.

 

[ColinKSU]

Between the upside/position change risks I totally understand (Brauntae/Mullins/Prescod) and the risks I don’t understand (Rezac/Knapp/the other safeties) I think the least likely outcome for the 2024 class is that there’s a bunch of totally fine contributors in four years.

This is a Two True Outcomes class unless they can land the rest of their top of the board kids.

 

[NDFAN2008]

Between the upside/position change risks I totally understand (Brauntae/Mullins/Prescod) and the risks I don’t understand (Rezac/Knapp/the other safeties) I think the least likely outcome for the 2024 class is that there’s a bunch of totally fine contributors in four years.

I think Rezac is gonna be a stud when he is here may take 2 years but I think he’s gonna be good

 

[ColinKSU]

I think Rezac is gonna be a stud when he is here may take 2 years but I think he’s gonna be good

He could!

But that’s sort of my point with this class. There’s a lot of “I think” kids and not enough “I know” kids. Unless they have big senior years, I think there are a few too many “cool if they’re the last person in the position group” kids this class is going to have to rely on hitting.

 

[zelezo vlk]

One of the sites just after the NFL draft did a deep dive into which positions translate from highly ranked prospects to high draft picks and linebacker was one of the lowest if not the one with the lowest correlation i.e. most highly drafted guys aren’t big time linebacker prospects coming out of high school. So getting a good athlete like Rezac doesn’t bother me at all.


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[Huntr]

 

[Katzenboyer]

NDIrish1988 incoming in 3, 2, 1...

 

[Crazy Balki]

This feels like bizarro 2023 recruiting. We felt super good rolling into June and then things kind of stalled a bit.

Meanwhile, there were a good number of doubts and questions rolling into June this year and I'd say things are set for a fairly big finish.

Also helps when you have 2 5-stars who are locked in and not looking around like last year.

 

[T-Boone]

It does feel like Lambert, Scott, etc could make this a really good finish.

 

[IrishLion]

Did some playing with the 247 class calculator.

If ND finishes with just the two guys they have the best shot at, KVA and Lambert.... that's not good.

They need to add 4 of the following 5 guys to get the composite to 281:

Scott
Nelson
Lambert
KVA
Beasley

I really hope they can play well through the Fall and close on these guys, and keep everyone in the fold. And of course, some of the current guys are gonna see senior year bumps that help the bottom line, so maybe it ends up that you just need three guys to get to a 281 composite.

But either way, a 281 composite gets you anywhere from 6-11 in the yearly rankings. Closing with just two of the 5 remaining big fish would not present a good "gap closer" argument, even if if the Blue Chip Ratio is still on point.

 

[Irishdrunk]

This feels like bizarro 2023 recruiting. We felt super good rolling into June and then things kind of stalled a bit.

Meanwhile, there were a good number of doubts and questions rolling into June this year and I'd say things are set for a fairly big finish.

Also helps when you have 2 5-stars who are locked in and not looking around like last year.

Huh? What 5 star players are you talking about???

 

[IrishLion]

Huh? What 5 star players are you talking about???

Carr and Williams are 5-Star guys, even if the composite doesn’t say that.

 

[Irishdrunk]

Carr and Williams are 5-Star guys, even if the composite doesn’t say that.

I understand the point. However much we hate the subjectivity of the analysts their output unfortunately is quantifiable. We do not have any 5 stars- by any service. I thought CJ‘s performance at the camp was decent, but certainly not good enough to five stars. He had to really outperform I think they’re only be two or three quarterbacks with five stars

The last consensus 5 star was Jaylon Smith in 2013. Jaylon was a stud. Get some real consensus 5 Star studs and the gap will start closing.

 

[arrowryan]

I understand the point. However much we hate the subjectivity of the analysts their output unfortunately is quantifiable. We do not have any 5 stars- by any service. I thought CJ‘s performance at the camp was decent, but certainly not good enough to five stars. He had to really outperform I think they’re only be two or three quarterbacks with five stars

The last consensus 5 star was Jaylon Smith in 2013. Jaylon was a stud. Get some real consensus 5 Star studs and the gap will start closing.

Player development and better QB play will close the gap. Also, if drumming Clemson 35-14 isn’t closing the gap, then idk what is.

Notre Dame isn’t going to land 3-5 5 stars a year. It’s not a realistic possibility. Landing guys like Carr and Williams every year will do wonders.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Did some playing with the 247 class calculator.

If ND finishes with just the two guys they have the best shot at, KVA and Lambert.... that's not good.

They need to add 4 of the following 5 guys to get the composite to 281:

Scott
Nelson
Lambert
KVA
Beasley

I really hope they can play well through the Fall and close on these guys, and keep everyone in the fold. And of course, some of the current guys are gonna see senior year bumps that help the bottom line, so maybe it ends up that you just need three guys to get to a 281 composite.

But either way, a 281 composite gets you anywhere from 6-11 in the yearly rankings. Closing with just two of the 5 remaining big fish would not present a good "gap closer" argument, even if if the Blue Chip Ratio is still on point.

Tbf on Friday ISD had a piece saying they expect new names to pop up at DL. Who knows if they’re highly rated but we should expect guys to pop up.


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[stlnd01]

Tbf on Friday ISD had a piece saying they expect new names to pop up at DL. Who knows if they’re highly rated but we should expect guys to pop up.


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Almost six months to Signing Day. I'd still bet there are 5 guys in our final class who no one's talking about yet.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I'd like to see Freeman pull a Diaco and land KVA and Scott.

Freeman has the best hair since Diaco bar none. He can do it.

 

[irishff1014]

Did some playing with the 247 class calculator.

If ND finishes with just the two guys they have the best shot at, KVA and Lambert.... that's not good.

They need to add 4 of the following 5 guys to get the composite to 281:

Scott
Nelson
Lambert
KVA
Beasley

I really hope they can play well through the Fall and close on these guys, and keep everyone in the fold. And of course, some of the current guys are gonna see senior year bumps that help the bottom line, so maybe it ends up that you just need three guys to get to a 281 composite.

But either way, a 281 composite gets you anywhere from 6-11 in the yearly rankings. Closing with just two of the 5 remaining big fish would not present a good "gap closer" argument, even if if the Blue Chip Ratio is still on point.

That’s gonna be hard to do. Because like you said so will rise and some will fall. We might be lucky to get 2 of them.

 

[Te'o4Heisman]

He could!

But that’s sort of my point with this class. There’s a lot of “I think” kids and not enough “I know” kids. Unless they have big senior years, I think there are a few too many “cool if they’re the last person in the position group” kids this class is going to have to rely on hitting.

Bet you “knew” when Max Redfield signed, or jordan johnson, tosh baker, mike carmody, quinn carroll, jurkovec, shane simon, darrick allen and on and on and on. This shits a crap shoot amd some staffs czn identify talent regardless of what a recruiting ranking is. People can argue it both ways but thats just the fact of it.

 

[texbender]

today's Dallas Morning News shows no commitments/offers for class of '24 DFW Top 100 Area HS FB players. Shows 3 commits from State Top 100(#34 Loghan Thomas, #39 Kadren Young, #64 Leonard Moore)

 

[ColinKSU]

Bet you “knew” when Max Redfield signed, or jordan johnson, tosh baker, mike carmody, quinn carroll, jurkovec, shane simon, darrick allen and on and on and on. This shits a crap shoot amd some staffs czn identify talent regardless of what a recruiting ranking is. People can argue it both ways but thats just the fact of it.

I bet you “knew” when (insert all the three stars who ND signed that didn’t work out because that list is a lot longer because low floor, high ceiling kids are inherently more of a risk.)

Why don’t the staffs that specialize in identifying under the radar talent win championships? Georgia is still scoring on TCU. It’s fine to take flyers on kids, but the teams Notre Dame can’t beat are taking Kennedy Urlacher as their last safety, not their second safety behind a kid who is switching to a position he doesn’t play and ahead of a third kid who is switching to a position he doesn’t play.

 

[Irish4life]

Why don’t the staffs that specialize in identifying under the radar talent win championships? Georgia is still scoring on TCU.

Yeah their walk on QB and walk on #1 WR really outperformed TCUs blue chip QB and blue chip #1 WR