What's next in recruiting.

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I'm not so concerned about RB for this year. We have JA for 3 more years, and AA and Hughes for 4. I would like to see a high quality WR (to complement Goodman) come in who has some speed and quickness. This area, will probably be our biggest weakness for the next several years if we don't address it

[Svoboda]

For balance sake, you should always get one egg in your basket in each recruiting class so if you have a transfer, injury or a kid that goes pro before his time is up, you have a seasoned player ready to step right in. This philosophy is why the Irish has so much success in the late 80s to mid 90s under Coach Holtz -- they literally had back after back after back ready to go at all times.

As for what's next, my two biggest concerns are at the wide receiver spot and at the linebacker spot. Taking a quick peek at our wideout offers, I don't feel comfortable with a single one of them aside from Floyd, and I'm cautiously optimistic about him simply because he has been enthusiastic towards the Irish program since we started recruiting him last season.

I look for the Irish to try and get a commitment from Floyd soon, even though I know the staff doesn't pressure recruits. However, since the recruiting season is now almost halfway over, if they want to get an offer out to another wideout and start building a relationship, they need to do it soon. If grades and test scores permit, I think offers should be sent out to Deion Walker and DeAndre Brown, two guys that would absolutely thrive in the Notre Dame offensive system.

In terms of the linebackers, I really think the Irish need to land at least one more difference maker at the position. Fleming and McDonald will both be solid players for the Irish and Posluszny is a bit of an unknown as he is coming off an injury, so the class could use one (or two) sure fire prospect to round out this class.

Steve Filer and Etienne Sabino would do just that and I don't think we stand much of a chance with Hale, Brown or Beal. As for prospects out there that deserve offers, Will Compton came in and really impressed the Irish staff at a recent camp. Jon Major and J.B. Fitzgerald are also two other names that I've always liked and have good film.

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I agree, it would be nice to land a solid RB, and one or two more high quality LB. I think we will. It shocks me to see how much press is given to our WR and the fact we are struggling to get the guys to commit. Given our 4 QB (include Crist), not to mention CW at the helm, the #1 and 2 WR are gonna have field days if they have superior talent. WTF are they thinking??

[mlcspinner]

I feel we need and all out press on WRs. Is there any chance Pryor becomes a WR at a school?

[Svoboda]

I feel we need and all out press on WRs. Is there any chance Pryor becomes a WR at a school?
Sure, there is a chance for everything. The fact that he has kept us on his interest list means he is at least considering it since that is what Weis told him he was being recruited as.

[mlcspinner]

It seems he would like to play QB in college. From what I have seen he has a better shot at WR in the pros.

[rontdtarchala]

imho we need to puch for a wr commit or go elsewhere the days of playing games are over we need a commit now!

[IrishKnight1023]

Floyd needs to buckle down and become Irish before the summer(Maybe on his next visit in a week when he comes BACK after the visit this weekend.) If we got him locked up then everything could let out a good sigh of releif and be picky about #3. We've been doing that at all the other positions this year and now we're in a position to be picky about our last OL/DL/LB/DB and TE and QB are already done. So, if we just locked down our #2 receiver for this class I would feel alot more comfertable with where we're sitting recruiting wise all together this year.

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I'm not sure I can see CW pull a 'Kiss the recruits' and lock them in a cell until they commit. But pulling a Colorado would get me to come.

[Svoboda]

What's wrong with telling parents you're not leaving and won't get off the couch until their son signs with Notre Dame?

:shifyeyes:

[irishunclebill]

Assuming that there are only 7 slots left at the end of the day, I would like to see 2 WR's, 1 RB, 1 DE, 1 LB, and 2 DB's.

I believe that ND will take the first RB that commits and then shut that position down. If none of them commit to ND, the only way I see an additional offer for an RB is if at the end of the recruiting cycle there is one schollie still left and a guy like Milton Knox is still available, but I do not really see that as a viable scenario.

I'm still pretty confident that Floyd will end up at ND, and I think a schollie will be held for him all the way up to NSD especially now that the "The Thrill" is officially out of the picture. Baldwin is starting to look promising and if his measurables are accurate, you have a potential Plaxico Burress with better speed and a better attitude to complement Floyd. A Floyd/Baldwin haul at WR would be one of if not the best WR haul in the country this year and would fill a critical need in the Irish offense as well as silence the critics. However, I would not be surprised if ND ends up with only either Baldwin or Floyd that they only take 1 additional WR and use the other schollie for a DE or OLB. Goodman is underrated and Ragone has the speed to play WR, so a Goodman/Baldwin, or Goodman/Floyd combo would not be the tragedy that some people think. I do agree though that if it is just Goodman, that is not good enough, but I am not sure any more WR offers will go out until the staff knows for sure that they do not have a shot at either Floyd or Baldwin. That could be a long wait.

On the DL, getting Ethan Johnson would probably close down the recruiting, but it would be awfully difficult to turn down Aghayere if for some reason ND moved up his list, and to a lesser extent that would apply to Lewis-Moore as well. Both Aghayere and KLM are prototypical 3-4 tweeners who could end up as OLB's or DE's. That flexibility is an asset that is hard to ignore.

The LB spot is a dilemma. I'm starting to become a minority, but I am still of the opinion that Filer will also eventually end up Irish, and that is where the dilemma arises. If Filer or even if it's Compton instead of Filer, is the last LB in this year's class then they will have only one guy (Fleming) from the entire otherwise spectacular front 7 haul (especially if Ethan Johnson comes on board) who can play the critical OLB spot in the 3-4 D. Maybe Filer can end up playing OLB, but he is not a natural for that position, and Compton is out of the question there. None of the DL recruits thus far (including Johnson if we get him) are OLB candidates either. All of which makes Etienne Sabino possibly the most critical guy in determining whether this particular ND recruiting class arguably ends up being the best D haul in at least a decade. Of course even if they do not end up with another OLB candidate, I can't see where anybody could complain about a Poz/Fleming/McDonald/Filer or Compton? /Cwynar/Hunter/Williams/Newman/Johnson or KLM? haul along the front 7, especially when you consider the recruiting in that area for the last 10 years. Worse case scenario is we see more of that hybrid 3-4 that we hear about once in a while be more of a typical 4-3 when all of these guys are ready to play.

For DB, I'd like to see any 2 of McCarthy/Slaughter/Leslie sign on, but this may be all a matter of timing, and also where ND ends up with guys like Floyd, Baldwin, Filer, Ethan Johnson, and KLM. If McCarthy were to commit this weekend then I do not see any more DB offers until Slaughter decides. If Slaughter then goes elsewhere, then Leslie might get an offer, but only if there is a slot available because ND has not been as successful as we would have liked on the WR/DE/LB front.

Lots of scenarios to consider, so any way you look at it even though the Irish already have 15 recruits and it is only early summer, the next 7 1/2 months on the recruiting trail will still be very interesting for the Notre Dame football program and its' fans.

Thanks for bringing the subject up Stony.:)

[stonebreakerwasgod]

What's wrong with telling parents you're not leaving and won't get off the couch until their son signs with Notre Dame?

:shifyeyes:

Looking at CW, their food costs would skyrocket...

[stonebreakerwasgod]

IUB, I think you are spot on with your take. I'm starting to think that we may not want to go beyond 22 (even with ZF leaving) in order to leave that open for next year. I do believe that only 2-3 guys will be asked back at the end of the year.

[NDgrandson]

IUB, no mention of Patchan, Forst, Forston or even the longshot A.Brown. I agree with your analysis and that topic is pretty much my favorite hobby right now. However, if any of the 4 above want in, don't you think they are additions to your list (Patchan or Forst)?

Last I heard, Forston was still genuinely interested after Hunter's verbal.

[irishunclebill]

Patchan or Brown, there is no way you turn either of them down, you find room somehow. I have some slim hope for Patchan who seems to have genuine interest in ND, but the Florida connections are going to be awfully difficult to overcome. Brown is a wonderful pipe dream, I do not see it happening. Corwin Brown has finally been given permission to speak with Brown "twice a month." Not much progress on that front.

I used to think that Forston would be another guy you would never turn away, but from what I have heard, ND's staff was higher on Hunter than Forston. If Ethan Johnson commits, I don't see a spot for Forston anymore, and even if he does not, I no longer believe they can afford to hold a schollie for Forston until NSD. It appears to me that the only way Forston ends up at ND now is if he commits early, which is not going to happen, or if Johnson goes elsewhere, and there is still a schollie available for Forston next Jan., or Feb., and I do not see that happening either. It would still be great to get Forston because of opening a pipeline to Miami inner city schools, but the limited number of schollies available and the committment of Hunter makes it less of a priority than it was 2 months ago.

The success in D-Line recruiting this year has made the O-Line less of a critical area because some of the guys who were supposed to provide depth on the O-Line, but were moved to play Defense will probably go back. As I said they would probably find a spot for Patchan no matter what, but both Forst & Page had better make their mind up soon before the bus fills up. If the commits reach 18 or 19 and they are not on the bus yet, I think they would both be out of the picture.

[IrishKnight1023]

IUB what gives you the impression that the staff was higher on Omar then Forston?

[scooper]

IUB what gives you the impression that the staff was higher on Omar then Forston?

I've heard the same.

[irishunclebill]

Milton Knox is out of the picture as a potential Plan B running back as he becomes the 21st member of the UCLA recruiting class for 2008. I guess all that love for Crist was not enough to wait for an offer.

At this rate, UCLA may end up with 50 commits.;)