QB - Set with Frazor and Jones.
RB - Set with TB Aldridge, FB Schmidt, and RB/FL Prince.
WR - Verbals from Barry Gallup, George West, and Rob Parris. A pair of speedsters and a tall rangy receiver in the Samardzija mode. Parris is rehabbing from a dislocated hip but is expected to be ready to play when he arrrives in South Bend next summer. ND is expected to add one more WR. Richard Jackson and Terrence Austin are the most highly prized WRs that have visited ND both attending the USC game. Austin was impressed and may come back unofficially to see the Tennessee game. Undefeated UCLA is the prime competition. Jackson's a Florida kid that may stay there with Miami (Dec visit).
I've been waiting for some WR prospects to notice Samardzija's and Stovall's climb up the NCAA Receiving Stats. Illinois verbal Marques Wilkins did and took an unofficial for the USC game. David Ausberry, #10 WR, appears to have noticed as well and may be a visitor soon. He's 6'-4" 215 with a 38" vertical leap. He camped at USC and has visited NEB and OSU so far.
TE- Paddy Mullen verbal. Others are two sport lacrosee/football player Will Yeatman has an ND lacrosse scholarhip offer in hand (see Yeatman thread for more info), and top ranked TE Konrad Reuland, a California kid, has taken notice of the prime role of TEs in Charlie Weis's offense. Reuland will visit for the Navy game and appears to have moved ND in front of those California schools.
OLine - With Webb and Olson committed, ND should add two - or more. The boards were abuzz recently that Carufel had committed but he supposedly is holding off an announcement to Jan 7th at the USArmy AA Bowl Game. While everyone waits with baited breath for a national announcement, "I"m going to Notre Dame", supposedly Mr Carufel commented to ND verbal RB James Aldridge at the USC game that his son would be blocking for him next year. OT Sam Young who made an unofficial to ND last summer will make an official for the Tennessee game. He's considering other schools but ND will be his only in-season visit. Big Chris Stewart could come in on Early Admission as James Aldridge plans to do and thus wouldn't count against the 25 max class limit. Others in the mix are Daniel Wenger, C, Sam Young's teammate, Daron Rose, Jim Barrie (all expected to visit for the Tennessee game), and Lou Eliades. OL Ramone Johnson a teammate of ND verbal QB Demetrius Jones made an unofficial for the USC game. Johnson's a highly regard prospect at guard that has not been offered by ND.
Carufel, Young, and Stewart in addition to Webb and Olson would give ND the best OLine Class and restock a depleted OLine.
DE- ND set with Kallen Wade and John Ryan. Ryan broke a bone in his leg just above the ankle in a high school football game. He'll be in a cast to the knee for 6 weeks then move to a boot. Like his HS teammate WR Rob Parris, Ryan is expected to be ready to go when the freshman arrive next summer.
DT - Everybody's aware that Jason Kates was reported an ND verbal by ESPN, BGI, and the turtleneck guy. But Kates denies a commitment and seems to be interested now in UMD and PSU among others. Meanwhile slots fill up and other are visiting. The #1 DT prospect Gerald McCoy visited ND for the USC game but isn't expected to make an announcement until the USArmy Bowl or later. Another candidate is OT/DT Butch Lewis who could be a starter on either side of the ball. He's quick for a big man and prefers defense. He also made an official for the USC game but will take other visits. DT Lawrence Marsh also visited for the USC game was impressed but did not commit. All of these guys pack more bulk as high school senior than ND DT Derek Landri does now. Two of these 4 are going to miss an opportunity.
LB - Toryan Smith has long been thought to be the top candidate. Although only ranked the #45 LB with 3 stars by Scout he holds offers from ND, UF, ALA, UM, UGA, NEB, and OU. He's visited OU, ND (USC game) and ALA. He has visits set to UM and UF November. Murrice Richardson and Anthony Lewis both of whom attended the USC game are the other in competiton. ND was thought to be looking at taking two but increased numbers at other positions may mean only one LB in '05.
CB- Set with verbals from Darrin Walls and Raeshon McNeil probalbly ND's best pair of CB recruits in over a decade.
S - Set with Leonard Gordon, Jashadd Gaines (possibly an Apache LB), and Sergio Brown who wants to take some more visits although I haven't seen any listed for him.
K- Set with Ryan Burkhart. Lemming's #1 Kicker in the Midwest, an award winner at the Ray Guy Kicking Camp, he can place kick - longest 53 yds, punt - 40+yds with 4+ second hangtime, and kickoff - 65+ yds (touchbacks!).
ATH - On the cusp at WR/CB is LaRon Moore who also returns kicks. Moore also attended the USC game. A versatile kind of player that Weis covets but he may get caught in the numbers game unless somebody else comes in on Early Admissions.
On the topic of versatility, Mullen is a TE but could play DE or even become an OT down the road. Yeatman is a TE but could grow into a OT with great feet. Gallup is a WR but also plays CB. Prince is a speedy but light RB who also plays CB. Gaines at S/ALB, Butch Lewis OL/DT and LaRon Moore WR/CB would also provide a great deal of flexibility in filling in the voids on the current 70 scholarship roster.
I think there's too many "3 Stars" to make the recruiting services Top 5 cut but it should be a Top 10 class. More importantly it may be the #1 Class in meeting the immediate needs on ND's team and overcoming the shortcomings in the past few years in terms of quality and depth. And they'll all be academically eligible come next September.
RB - Set with TB Aldridge, FB Schmidt, and RB/FL Prince.
WR - Verbals from Barry Gallup, George West, and Rob Parris. A pair of speedsters and a tall rangy receiver in the Samardzija mode. Parris is rehabbing from a dislocated hip but is expected to be ready to play when he arrrives in South Bend next summer. ND is expected to add one more WR. Richard Jackson and Terrence Austin are the most highly prized WRs that have visited ND both attending the USC game. Austin was impressed and may come back unofficially to see the Tennessee game. Undefeated UCLA is the prime competition. Jackson's a Florida kid that may stay there with Miami (Dec visit).
I've been waiting for some WR prospects to notice Samardzija's and Stovall's climb up the NCAA Receiving Stats. Illinois verbal Marques Wilkins did and took an unofficial for the USC game. David Ausberry, #10 WR, appears to have noticed as well and may be a visitor soon. He's 6'-4" 215 with a 38" vertical leap. He camped at USC and has visited NEB and OSU so far.
TE- Paddy Mullen verbal. Others are two sport lacrosee/football player Will Yeatman has an ND lacrosse scholarhip offer in hand (see Yeatman thread for more info), and top ranked TE Konrad Reuland, a California kid, has taken notice of the prime role of TEs in Charlie Weis's offense. Reuland will visit for the Navy game and appears to have moved ND in front of those California schools.
OLine - With Webb and Olson committed, ND should add two - or more. The boards were abuzz recently that Carufel had committed but he supposedly is holding off an announcement to Jan 7th at the USArmy AA Bowl Game. While everyone waits with baited breath for a national announcement, "I"m going to Notre Dame", supposedly Mr Carufel commented to ND verbal RB James Aldridge at the USC game that his son would be blocking for him next year. OT Sam Young who made an unofficial to ND last summer will make an official for the Tennessee game. He's considering other schools but ND will be his only in-season visit. Big Chris Stewart could come in on Early Admission as James Aldridge plans to do and thus wouldn't count against the 25 max class limit. Others in the mix are Daniel Wenger, C, Sam Young's teammate, Daron Rose, Jim Barrie (all expected to visit for the Tennessee game), and Lou Eliades. OL Ramone Johnson a teammate of ND verbal QB Demetrius Jones made an unofficial for the USC game. Johnson's a highly regard prospect at guard that has not been offered by ND.
Carufel, Young, and Stewart in addition to Webb and Olson would give ND the best OLine Class and restock a depleted OLine.
DE- ND set with Kallen Wade and John Ryan. Ryan broke a bone in his leg just above the ankle in a high school football game. He'll be in a cast to the knee for 6 weeks then move to a boot. Like his HS teammate WR Rob Parris, Ryan is expected to be ready to go when the freshman arrive next summer.
DT - Everybody's aware that Jason Kates was reported an ND verbal by ESPN, BGI, and the turtleneck guy. But Kates denies a commitment and seems to be interested now in UMD and PSU among others. Meanwhile slots fill up and other are visiting. The #1 DT prospect Gerald McCoy visited ND for the USC game but isn't expected to make an announcement until the USArmy Bowl or later. Another candidate is OT/DT Butch Lewis who could be a starter on either side of the ball. He's quick for a big man and prefers defense. He also made an official for the USC game but will take other visits. DT Lawrence Marsh also visited for the USC game was impressed but did not commit. All of these guys pack more bulk as high school senior than ND DT Derek Landri does now. Two of these 4 are going to miss an opportunity.
LB - Toryan Smith has long been thought to be the top candidate. Although only ranked the #45 LB with 3 stars by Scout he holds offers from ND, UF, ALA, UM, UGA, NEB, and OU. He's visited OU, ND (USC game) and ALA. He has visits set to UM and UF November. Murrice Richardson and Anthony Lewis both of whom attended the USC game are the other in competiton. ND was thought to be looking at taking two but increased numbers at other positions may mean only one LB in '05.
CB- Set with verbals from Darrin Walls and Raeshon McNeil probalbly ND's best pair of CB recruits in over a decade.
S - Set with Leonard Gordon, Jashadd Gaines (possibly an Apache LB), and Sergio Brown who wants to take some more visits although I haven't seen any listed for him.
K- Set with Ryan Burkhart. Lemming's #1 Kicker in the Midwest, an award winner at the Ray Guy Kicking Camp, he can place kick - longest 53 yds, punt - 40+yds with 4+ second hangtime, and kickoff - 65+ yds (touchbacks!).
ATH - On the cusp at WR/CB is LaRon Moore who also returns kicks. Moore also attended the USC game. A versatile kind of player that Weis covets but he may get caught in the numbers game unless somebody else comes in on Early Admissions.
On the topic of versatility, Mullen is a TE but could play DE or even become an OT down the road. Yeatman is a TE but could grow into a OT with great feet. Gallup is a WR but also plays CB. Prince is a speedy but light RB who also plays CB. Gaines at S/ALB, Butch Lewis OL/DT and LaRon Moore WR/CB would also provide a great deal of flexibility in filling in the voids on the current 70 scholarship roster.
I think there's too many "3 Stars" to make the recruiting services Top 5 cut but it should be a Top 10 class. More importantly it may be the #1 Class in meeting the immediate needs on ND's team and overcoming the shortcomings in the past few years in terms of quality and depth. And they'll all be academically eligible come next September.
