Tony Alford = Recruiting Stud

[BGIF]

New Recruiting Tools

New Recruiting Tools

Interesting answer to what has changed since NSD (with an implication that things are better this year?) ... he says he knows, but isn't "going to put those out there." When I first read it my first thought is that he has different assistant coaches this year that are on the "same page." But on second read don't know.

1. Turf's coming.
2. "Cool" ugly unis.
3. Jumbotron rumors
4. Rumor that calculus is being banned at UND.
5. New QB
6. ND has a secret kinesiology program but you won't find it in the course offerings
7. Obamacare means condoms at ND
8. Parietals retired.
9. Crazy Train being banned from the stadium.
10. New ushers
11. Indiana Excise Police banned from campus.
12. Tom Hammond Retired.
13. They use WhiskeyJack's ROI Table.
14. Getting more coaches involved early (article).

 

[PANDFAN]

i like the idea of having a big friday night lights bbq type thing

 

[ant80]

Malarkey.

When you have decades in Ohio's PERS, and it's based on your top five earning years....you go to Ohio State 100% of the time to ensure that you and your family are taken care of for forever. As a pure money move, it made total sense. Then when you add in being an Ohioan and a big time OSU fan and friend of Urban....that's as good of a reason as any.

But yeah, 99% of the time.

Fair point. Just didn't know.

Trolling Ant?

For someone's who's been here for 6 years you don't know show much knowledge about ND coaching history. Rockne was here 13 seasons, Leahy, Parshegian, and Holtz 11, Layden 7, Devine 6. There haven't been any 25 year career coaches coattails for assistants to ride.

They did groom a lot of future head coaches for other schools. When Holtz was here, coaches came to ND to get their "ticket punched", to fill out there resume while grooming for a head coach job ala Barry Alverez.

Then there are the guys that were here 5 or less.

Lots of assistants came and went. A few even rose to head coach here but mostly when the Adminstration was trying to de-empthasize the football program after a legendary coach left (Rockne, Leahy, Holtz). Some newly minted ND Presidents couldn't grasp that ND isn't a place for on the job training as a head coach.

Some assistants rose in the profession like Meyer and Charlie Strong (both Holtz hires). Alabama AD Mal Moore was Assistant Head Coach under Faust. Moose Krause was an All-American who became a head football coach before returning to ND to become a football assistant and later Head Basketball Coach. Krause was 3-0 as Acting Head Football Coach during Leahy's illnesses. He also was ND's AD for 32 years. Brian Boulac played at ND was an assistant football coach for 13 years, moved to the AD's Office, was the first head coach of the women's softball team, and rose to Assistant AD.

There are others but largely ND hasn't been a place assistants stay at decades. Perhaps it's because turnover's been higher the past 16 years at any coaching level in this football program. Perhaps it's because unlike Alabama, FSU, PSU, OSU, etc it's because they don't get state funded pensions.

ND does pay better salaries for assistants than they used but it's still a private school. Alford's only entering his 4th season here. One more than Kelly. Alford will do what's in the best interest of his career and family.

Definitely not trolling, BGIF. (I have trolled and have been banned from scUM sites, but not here )I was simply unaware of the history of ND. I simply come to this forum for recruiting information, so it should be understandable that I don't know about the history there.

edit: Why is this thread in the 2011 recruiting profile? It should be in the general recruiting forum.

 

[BGIF]

Fair point. Just didn't know. Definitely not trolling, BGIF. (I have trolled and have been banned from scUM sites, but not here )I was simply unaware of the history of ND. I simply come to this forum for recruiting information, so it should be understandable that I don't know about the history there.

OK

edit: Why is this thread in the 2011 recruiting profile? It should be in the general recruiting forum.

I believe because the original poster put it there in 2011 when he saw that Shurburtt tweet around 2011 NSD. You're right, it should be in the general recruiting forum.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

https://twitter.com/CoachTonyAlford/status/1007086877411889152?s=19

Can you actually tweet stuff like this?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

 

[Henges24]

https://twitter.com/CoachTonyAlford/status/1007086877411889152?s=19

Can you actually tweet stuff like this?

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

I would think that that's okay. He didn't mentioned him in the tweet or say his name.

 

[GBdomer]

Running back recruiting for 2020 goes on … which brings us seamlessly to the next item.

** Alford on the spot? … The Front Row wasted little time going in on running backs coach Tony Alford once the aforementioned Bijan Robinson and Jaylon Knighton opted to attend college elsewhere.

But we wanted an idea of how Alford is feeling within WHAC walls.

“[Alford] is definitely feeling the heat right now as a recruiter,” a team source said. “He knows that he was brought to Ohio State to land top talent. And not only at running back. But to help with other positions as well.”

We are told if Alford isn’t able to finish the cycle strong he could be getting what our source called “the Greg Studrawa talk” this offseason.

Per OSU 24 7

Come home coach

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Wait - they might run Tony out??? wowza

I'd take him for WR coach..

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

Wait - they might run Tony out??? wowza

I'd take him for WR coach..

Let's see how things finish up in class of '20 and '21 before we kick Alexander to the curb...WR crootin' is trending in the right direction.

We could hire Alford as "Associate Running Backs and Assistant to the Associate Head Coach"

 

[stlnd01]

Special teams coach/recruiting coordinator if/when Polian gets the HC job he’s been pining for?

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Special teams coach/recruiting coordinator if/when Polian gets the HC job he’s been pining for?

Recruiting tends to be a young man's game. It wouldn't exactly be shocking if Tony is losing his magic touch after all this time.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Let's see how things finish up in class of '20 and '21 before we kick Alexander to the curb...WR crootin' is trending in the right direction.

We could hire Alford as "Associate Running Backs and Assistant to the Associate Head Coach"

I like Alexander and have no interest in getting rid of him. Our WR play has been very good the last couple years (and poised to be good this year) with a number of high quality athletes joining us next year.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I like Alexander and have no interest in getting rid of him. Our WR play has been very good the last couple years (and poised to be good this year) with a number of high quality athletes joining us next year.

I agree 100%, there have been a select few (can't remember who specifically and not even calling out FIL7) who have questioned his recruiting prowess, but now we've got Johnson (verbal), have inroads with Colzie just to name a couple, to sprinkle on top of the production we've gotten out of the position, the gems we've found...I think he's certainly proven capable at this point.

 

[PANDFAN]

I agree 100%, there have been a select few (can't remember who specifically and not even calling out FIL7) who have questioned his recruiting prowess, but now we've signed Johnson, have inroads with Colzie just to name a couple, to sprinkle on top of the production we've gotten out of the position, the gems we've found...I think he's certainly proven capable at this point.

not so fast

 

[Me2SouthBend]

not so fast

Signed > Verbal

 

[stlnd01]

Recruiting tends to be a young man's game. It wouldn't exactly be shocking if Tony is losing his magic touch after all this time.

True. The man has spent a lot of time on the road.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I suspect all the garbage/toxicity going on at OSU has aged him as well.

 

[Luckylucci]

I agree 100%, there have been a select few (can't remember who specifically and not even calling out FIL7) who have questioned his recruiting prowess, but now we've signed Johnson, have inroads with Colzie just to name a couple, to sprinkle on top of the production we've gotten out of the position, the gems we've found...I think he's certainly proven capable at this point.

Let's see how he does in the 2021 class as well but as of now I think it's completely reasonable to question his recruiting prowess. He hasn't won many heated recruiting battles during his tenure. That's not the end all be all but it's a part of it.

 

[IrishLax]

Here's what's really sad to me: he went to Ohio State because he had maxed out here and wanted to be a head coach. Kelly was not going to make him an OC. He did (does?) not like working at Ohio State, and strongly disliked the slimeball that was Urban Meyer. So he made a business decision, and then got kind of burned on it. And unfortunately, most lower tier schools are out there hiring "hot shot" coordinator types rather than someone like Alford. I truly believe Alford could be a very good HC if given the opportunity, but he's not being given that opportunity.

It's ironic that Autry Denson got a shot at being HC after underwhelming as a recruiter as Alford's replacement. I do think Denson was a very competent position coach though, and is the kind of guy that would interview well.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Let's see how he does in the 2021 class as well but as of now I think it's completely reasonable to question his recruiting prowess. He hasn't won many heated recruiting battles during his tenure. That's not the end all be all but it's a part of it.

Are we giving him some credit for all the highly touted sophomores? The freshman are showing well (Cam Hart, KAR) and the 2020 class, on paper, is probably as good as we've signed in Kelly's tenure, right?

That's not taking into account the likely bump Xavier Watts receives. Brunelle may stay in the 500 range but this is still some really good talent top to bottom.

How much better do we need to be on the trail? If we could sign classes like we have in 2020, every year, I couldn't ask for more.

Really hope Boykin blows the doors off and Fuller stays healthy because that's further data for us.

 

[Greenore]

Recruiting tends to be a young man's game. It wouldn't exactly be shocking if Tony is losing his magic touch after all this time.

I can see the intensity of the schedule and travelling lending itself to a younger person but if I had a child that qualified for D1 interest, I think I would give greater consideration to the "gray hairs" on a recruiter's head. If a parent has influence in the decision then somebody with a little course knowledge could be a tremendous asset. Just my thoughts.

I always liked Alford and wish him much success (not Ohio or at Ohio!!).

Cheers and Go Irish!!

 

[calvegas04]

Alford had his time at ND and he decided to leave. We don't need him back

 

[Luckylucci]

Are we giving him some credit for all the highly touted sophomores? The freshman are showing well (Cam Hart, KAR) and the 2020 class, on paper, is probably as good as we've signed in Kelly's tenure, right?

That's not taking into account the likely bump Xavier Watts receives. Brunelle may stay in the 500 range but this is still some really good talent top to bottom.

How much better do we need to be on the trail? If we could sign classes like we have in 2020, every year, I couldn't ask for more.

Really hope Boykin blows the doors off and Fuller stays healthy because that's further data for us.

Two ways to look at recruiting. Do you ultimately bring in talent that can win at the level ND expects too? And/or, are you beating other premier programs for guys they want? You can win both ways and sometimes it's the same but the former is much tougher to evaluate as it usually takes a long time to figure this out. Hence using star, ratings, offers, rankings, etc. to make a faster evaluation.

(to the bolded) It seems like a moot point now, but then you'd have to say the same for Denson recruiting Kyren and Jahmir Smith. Personally, I'm more worried about how the position group plays while on campus and less about stars and rankings. I care more about evaluation than heated recruiting battles. And just to be clear, I'm not saying I don't like the guys we've brought it but it's not really an impressive body of work for 3 classes when looking at it form purely a recruiting perspective.

The reality is Denson recruited Kevin Austin and Wilkins (Lyght did as well). Long got Lenzy to re-think his recruitment (handled it personally), which leaves Keys (solid win over Texas) and Micah Jones for the Sophomore class. KAR and Hart (while I agree with the above and like the evaluations) it doesn't make them impressive recruiting feats. ND wins those with every WR coach we've had under Kelly. Johnson is a huge recruiting win that Del should get the credit for. Watts was a Nebraska/ND battle which isn't much of a needle mover. Another recruitment that ND should expect to win. And, basically, the same goes for Brunelle which also had Polian, Long, and BK saving that recruitment.

Again, this has nothing to do with the prospects, to which most of them I really like. But if we are going to crush Lyght and Denson for not recruiting stars and beating top tier teams for signatures, what say you Mr. Alexander? He's signed Keys and Johnson away from premier programs. That's it.

 

[Irish#1]

Here's what's really sad to me: he went to Ohio State because he had maxed out here and wanted to be a head coach. Kelly was not going to make him an OC. He did (does?) not like working at Ohio State, and strongly disliked the slimeball that was Urban Meyer. So he made a business decision, and then got kind of burned on it. And unfortunately, most lower tier schools are out there hiring "hot shot" coordinator types rather than someone like Alford. I truly believe Alford could be a very good HC if given the opportunity, but he's not being given that opportunity.

It's ironic that Autry Denson got a shot at being HC after underwhelming as a recruiter as Alford's replacement. I do think Denson was a very competent position coach though, and is the kind of guy that would interview well.

I wish Alford the best, but he knew who he was going to work for.

 

[BobbyMac]

He lost 5* Kendall Milton to UGA 2 weeks ago too.

 

[Luckylucci]

It'll be interesting to see who they target. They have some easy pickins in their backyard.

 

[irishff1014]

Running back recruiting for 2020 goes on … which brings us seamlessly to the next item.

** Alford on the spot? … The Front Row wasted little time going in on running backs coach Tony Alford once the aforementioned Bijan Robinson and Jaylon Knighton opted to attend college elsewhere.

But we wanted an idea of how Alford is feeling within WHAC walls.

“[Alford] is definitely feeling the heat right now as a recruiter,” a team source said. “He knows that he was brought to Ohio State to land top talent. And not only at running back. But to help with other positions as well.”

We are told if Alford isn’t able to finish the cycle strong he could be getting what our source called “the Greg Studrawa talk” this offseason.

Per OSU 24 7

Come home coach

That’s the game you play. Grass is always greener on the other side. Meyer was never going to make him anything higher. Meyer like most coaches only promote their inner circle and he wasn’t. I. The coach world you either produce or get canned. And OSU is one of those schools that the coaches do questionable things so once you go there you can’t come back here imo.

 

[stlnd01]

Here's what's really sad to me: he went to Ohio State because he had maxed out here and wanted to be a head coach. Kelly was not going to make him an OC. He did (does?) not like working at Ohio State, and strongly disliked the slimeball that was Urban Meyer. So he made a business decision, and then got kind of burned on it. And unfortunately, most lower tier schools are out there hiring "hot shot" coordinator types rather than someone like Alford. I truly believe Alford could be a very good HC if given the opportunity, but he's not being given that opportunity.

It's ironic that Autry Denson got a shot at being HC after underwhelming as a recruiter as Alford's replacement. I do think Denson was a very competent position coach though, and is the kind of guy that would interview well.

Agree he had maxed out at Notre Dame but was OSU ever going to make him offensive coordinator? They hire former head coaches to be their coordinators, not not-so-young-anymore RB coaches whose strong suit is recruiting Florida. OSU hired him to recruit. That’s it. If he wants to be a coordinator, let alone a head coach, he needs to go down the food chain some.

 

[IrishLax]

Agree he had maxed out at Notre Dame but was OSU ever going to make him offensive coordinator? They hire former head coaches to be their coordinators, not not-so-young-anymore RB coaches whose strong suit is recruiting Florida. OSU hired him to recruit. That’s it. If he wants to be a coordinator, let alone a head coach, he needs to go down the food chain some.

No, but being on the Urban coaching tree at the time he jumped ship seemed like a much better path towards being a HC.

 

[NDMIA]

2016
RB .9767 4* DeMario McCall
RB .9286 4* Antonio Williams

2017
RB .9791 4* JK Dobbins

2018
RB .9831 4* Jaelen Gill
RB .9607 4* Brian Snead
RB .9132 4* Master Teague

2019
RB .9126 4* Steele Chambers
RB .8917 4* Marcus Crowley

2020
NONE

OTHER FLORIDA RECRUITS 2016-2020
DL .9965 5* Nick Bosa
WR .9546 4* Binjimen Victor
DL .8990 4* Malik Barrow
DB .9904 5* Shaun Wade
WR .9806 4* Trevon Grimes
DB .9712 4* Isaiah Pryor
DB .9250 4* Marcus Williamson
DL .9884 4* Taron Vincent
DB .9876 4* Tyreke Johnson
DB .9166 4* Sevyn Banks
DB .9131 4* Lejond Cavazos

First off, if you were to take composite scores of RB recruiting only over the last 5 cycles, only Alabama, UGA and LSU are on par with Ohio State and Tony Alford. Tommie Robinson (LSU) and Dell McGee (UGA) are really the only two who have been on par with Tony Alford in their recruiting prowess over the last 5 cycles. So basically, at worst, Tony Alford is tied for the best RB recruiter in the entire country. And now people are talking about firing him...HAHAHA.

There are some RB recruiters who have boosted their stock in the last couple of cycles (Clemson, Texas) but the bottom line is if you want your RB room to have the most talent, you hire Tony Alford, Dell McGee or Tommie Robinson above almost anyone.

Also, Alford has no doubt helped OSU amass enormous amounts of Florida talent in his 5 cycles. They’ve brought in 11 4-5* recruits during that time period! That’s a pretty crazy number considering OSU is a 2-3hr plane ride away.

Lastly, if this is related to the 2020 recruiting cycle. Alford missed on Bijan Robinson, Kendall Milton and Jaylan Knighton to some energetic recruiters and he’s getting old apparently (Stan Drayton @ Texas is 48 and Dell McGee is 45 while Tony is 50 so not a crazy difference). The bottom line is I was reading an article about their board and they’ve still got...

.9523 4* Jalen Berger
.9436 4* EJ Smith
.9216 4* Michael Drennen II
.9156 4* Kevontre Bradford

There’s still a likely scenario where OSU ends up with 2 4* RB’s after a couple of losses earlier in the cycle. If for some insane reason, Alford is fired then I’d hope ND offers Alford a position as maybe ST, WR or RB coach depending on the staff and just ask him to do anything. The dude can recruit amongst the best of them and despite his lack of victories on the trail this cycle he’s still probably the best RB coach recruiter in the entire country.