Top 'Diamond in the Rough' ND players

[MrIrishCanadian1]

'in the rough': wasn't highly rated coming to Notre Dame, didn't have many expectations from the fanbase

'Diamond': had a significant impact, and the impact far exceeded their 'roughness' (based on production, not projection)

I'll do a top 10, going back to the 2011 roster.


10. Josh Adams
9. Robby Toma
8. David Ruffer
7. Deshone Kizer
6. Tyler Eifert
5. Joe Schmidt
4. Harry Heistand
3. Tommy Rees
2. Will Fuller
1. Zach Martin

(Ok, a coach might seem incommensurate with players. But whatevs.)

What's your list?

You can use my standards/definitions/restrictions, or your own.

 

[johnnycando]

1) Heggie. Fuck yeah.

 

[Meatloaf]

Just to clarify things on Adams: he had a composite rating over 96 befre he hurt his knee during his junior season. He slid in the composite rankings but his ability was never in question. 247 had him rated at 93 when he committed. Hard to call that a diamond in the rough.

 

[MrIrishCanadian1]

Just to clarify things on Adams: he had a composite rating over 96 befre he hurt his knee during his junior season. He slid in the composite rankings but his ability was never in question. 247 had him rated at 93 when he committed. Hard to call that a diamond in the rough.

Yeah, I was mainly basing it off of us not really expecting him to do anything this year, especially given his injuries. But then he surprised us all with his production, speed--even having the longest run in ND stadium ever?

Maybe not the paradigm (or even close to it) of a diamond in the rough. You got a better candidate?

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Zach Martin was also a 4 star and ranked in the top 150 of ESPN.


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[Irish Insanity]

Joe Schmidt made your list................

 

[MrIrishCanadian1]

Zach Martin was also a 4 star and ranked in the top 150 of ESPN.


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Hmmm...I guess I had him way too high...

Joe Schmidt made your list................

I can't imagine a respectable top ten from the last five years without him! Sure I wouldn't put him on a top ten or top thirty best players list. But given the initial expectations to what he actually achieved, I think he firmly belongs.

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

Harrison Smith was a good one.

 

[Circa]

<iframe src="//giphy.com/embed/IM0S...ndom-auction-IM0S8WAxQTEB2">via GIPHY</a></p>I'd really have to hedge DeShone as the #1 surprise.. Go back to last year's Virginia game thread and read the<iframe src="//giphy.com/embed/IM0S8WAxQTEB2" width="480" height="270" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/random-auction-IM0S8WAxQTEB2">via GIPHY</a></p>

 

[fightingirish26]

Have to say Eifert and Fuller are the definite top 2

 

[Irish Insanity]

I'll do a top 5


1. Harry Hiestand
2. Tommy Rees
3. Will Fuller
4. Zach Martin
5. Tyler Eifert

My 5 year old can probably spell better than me. But I definitely know Rees is spelled Rees, Hiestand is spelled Hiestand, and DeShone is spelled DeShone. I know it may seem like I'm being an asshole. But it just bugs the shit out of me.

 

[phork]

The Shark?

 

[MrIrishCanadian1]

I'll do a top 5


1. Harry Hiestand
2. Tommy Rees
3. Will Fuller
4. Zach Martin
5. Tyler Eifert

My 5 year old can probably spell better than me. But I definitely know Rees is spelled Rees, Hiestand is spelled Hiestand, and DeShone is spelled DeShone. I know it may seem like I'm being an asshole. But it just bugs the shit out of me.

Well, I'm 1 for 3.

 

[MrIrishCanadian1]

The Shark?

I started following after he left. What was his story? Was he not highly recruited/ranked out of high school?

 

[Irish Insanity]

Hmmm...I guess I had him way too high...

I can't imagine a respectable top ten from the last five years without him! Sure I wouldn't put him on a top ten or top thirty best players list. But given the initial expectations to what he actually achieved, I think he firmly belongs.

He probably does belong in the top 10, or even 5. But I just can't do it. If Morgan kills it this year I'll be even more pissed.

 

[koonja]

Tori Hunter. Was only a 90 rating and will be the star of our offense this year (I hope). Called him as the sleeper when he committed. I won't let it go damn it.

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

Kapron Lewis-Moore, Drew Tranquil (wasn't highly rated and may end ap 'Diamond') Will Fuller wasn't super highly rated and ended up being one of the best WR's in the country.

 

[STLDomer]

Three Star Players from Each Class:

2007: Ian Williams, Brian Smith, Taylor Dever, Emeka Nwankwo, Aaron Nagel, Andrew Nuss

2008: Kapron Lewis Moore, Braxton Cave, Brandon Newman, Mike Golic Jr, David Posluszny, Hafis Williams

2009: Zack Martin, Jake Golic, Robby Toma, Tyler Eifert

2010: Daniel Smith, Tommy Rees, Kona Schwenke, Bennett Jackson, Prince Shembo, Bruce Heggie, Kendall Moore, Austin Collinsworth, Christian Lombard, Justin Utupo, Cam Roberson, Lo Wood, Danny Spond, Tate Nichols, Luke Massa. Wowzers

2011: Jarrett Grace, Everett Golson, Joe Schmidt, Nick Martin, Josh Atkinson, Chase Hounshell, Mathias Farley, Anthony Rabasa, Ben Councell, Cam McDaniel, Jalen Brown, Ben Carrico, Conor Hanratty, Tony Springmann. Wowzers Pt. II

2012: Mark Harrell, Keivarae Russell, Romeo Okwara, Chris Brown, CJ Prosise, John Turner, Nicky Baratti

Jury is still out on 2013 and on so stopped there.

*Three Star player by at least one service according to IE profile
*Excluded transfers away or into that didn't spend majority of career at ND

 

[ND Fan Vancouver]

Yes! CJ Procise.

 

[Circa]

I started following after he left. What was his story? Was he not highly recruited/ranked out of high school?

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Graduated from Valparaiso (Ind.) High School ... finished second in voting for Mr. Football in Indiana and was named the state's top receiver ... honorable mention on the Detroit Free Press Best of the Midwest team ... three-time all-state selection ... twice named team MVP ... caught 50 passes for 1,044 yards and nine TDs as a senior in 2002 ... also threw for two TDs and scored on a 65-yard run ... helped his team go 12-2 in 2002 and earn a state semifinals berth ... named to the Associated Press Indiana Class 5A all-state first team ... made 40 tackles and three interceptions at free safety as a senior ... caught 55 passes for 1,197 yards and 10 TDs as a junior, helping his team reach the Indiana Class 5A state title game ... played in the Indiana football all-star game ... also played basketball and baseball ... was a three-year letterman in baseball while lettering once in basketball ... had a .481 batting average with eight home runs and 50 RBI as a senior ... hit .375 with five home runs and 37 RBI as a junior ... also played in the Indiana baseball all-star game ... was a first-team all-state honoree as a centerfielder ... never missed a start in all three sports in three seasons (over 160 games) ... full name is Jeffrey Alan Samardzija ... one of two children ... nicknamed "Shark" ... born Jan. 23, 1985, in Merrillville, Ind. ... enrolled in the Mendoza College of Business, majoring in marketing ... earned 3.051 grade-point average in `05 fall semester and 3.028 in `06 spring semester. [Per ND's website]

Can you say<iframe src="//giphy.com/embed/uG5AWrPOwfm0w" width="480" height="259" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/love-greece-gif-uG5AWrPOwfm0w">via GIPHY</a></p>??

 

[STLDomer]

*Three Star player by at least one service according to IE profile
*Excluded transfers away or into that didn't spend majority of career at ND

Also excluded LS, K, and P

 

[GoIrish41]

Three Star Players from Each Class:

2007: Ian Williams, Brian Smith, Taylor Dever, Emeka Nwankwo, Aaron Nagel, Andrew Nuss

2008: Kapron Lewis Moore, Braxton Cave, Brandon Newman, Mike Golic Jr, David Posluszny, Hafis Williams

2009: Zach Martin, Jake Golic, Robby Toma

2010: Daniel Smith, Tommy Rees, Kona Schwenke, Bennett Jackson, Prince Shembo, Bruce Heggie, Kendall Moore, Austin Collinsworth, Christian Lombard, Justin Utupo, Cam Roberson, Lo Wood, Danny Spond, Tate Nichols, Luke Massa. Wowzers

2011: Jarrett Grace, Everett Golson, Joe Schmidt, Nick Martin, Josh Atkinson, Chase Hounshell, Mathias Farley, Anthony Rabasa, Ben Councell, Cam McDaniel, Jalen Brown, Ben Carrico, Conor Hanratty, Tony Springmann. Wowzers Pt. II

2012: Mark Harrell, Keivarae Russell, Romeo Okwara, Chris Brown, CJ Prosise, John Turner, Nicky Baratti

Jury is still out on 2013 and on so stopped there.

*Three Star player by at least one service according to IE profile
*Excluded transfers away or into that didn't spend majority of career at ND

these for me.

 

[STLDomer]

When I think diamond in the rough in terms of a ND career, gotta be someone who was a 3 star and ended up one of the stars of the team. Ex. Kapron Lewis Moore

Diamond in the rough as a whole, think you can expand it to 4 star players who are now NFL stars. Ex. Harrison Smith

 

[MrIrishCanadian1]

these for me.

How could you not choose Tommy?

 

[Southside Sully]

<iframe src="//giphy.com/embed/IM0S...ndom-auction-IM0S8WAxQTEB2">via GIPHY</a></p>I'd really have to hedge DeShone as the #1 surprise.. Go back to last year's Virginia game thread and read the<iframe src="//giphy.com/embed/IM0S8WAxQTEB2" width="480" height="270" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe><p><a href="http://giphy.com/gifs/random-auction-IM0S8WAxQTEB2">via GIPHY</a></p>

He had offers from Alabama and LSU amongst others. Also he was an elite 11 finalist and 4 star. I don't think he was a diamond in the rough

 

[Shamrock Theories]

#1 has to be Eifert. Was ranked the a low 3 star by rivals (5.6 rating) and the #24 TE in the country

RE: Zach Martin, he was a 4 star and a 5.8 rating (almost all ND recruits are usually between 5.6 to 6.1, the maximum)

 

[GoIrish41]

How could you not choose Tommy?

Missed a couple. I might have added Golson and maybe Mike Golic, But as for Tommy, I don't know if he was a "diamond". I'd say he is the best we had at the time. He had guts and gave his all ... just don't think he makes it on the list.

 

[kmoose]

Missed a couple. I might have added Golson and maybe Mike Golic, But as for Tommy, I don't know if he was a "diamond". I'd say he is the best we had at the time. He had guts and gave his all ... just don't think he makes it on the list.

But Tony Springmann does?

 

[STLDomer]

Zach Martin was also a 4 star and ranked in the top 150 of ESPN.


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#1 has to be Eifert. Was ranked the a low 3 star by rivals (5.6 rating) and the #24 TE in the country

RE: Zach Martin, he was a 4 star and a 5.8 rating (almost all ND recruits are usually between 5.6 to 6.1, the maximum)

His I.E. profile shows Scout had him as a 3 star. Maybe was outdated or just Scout was an outlier.

 

[BeauBenken]

Dying on the inside seeing so many Zach Martins thrown out there, but not a single Zack Martin mentioned.