85 minus 82 = 3 more scholarships

[Svoboda]

The Irish now have 82 potential scholarships committed to members of the 2008 team. Sitting at 15 in the class right now, 18 would be the cap before you started taking scholarships from fifth year players, which 7 players will have the ability to apply for in 2008.

Here is how it breaks down:

2008 Total Scholarhips (82)

Fifth Year Senior 2008 (7)

RB Junior Jabbie
DE Justin Brown
LB Maurice Crum Jr, Anthony Vernaglia
CB Terrail Lambert, Leo Ferrine
LS J.J. Jansen

Senior 2009 (14)

QB Evan Sharpley *
RB Asaph Schwapp **
WR David Grimes, D.J. Hord **
OT Paul Duncan, Mike Turkovich
DT Patrick Kuntz, Derrell Hand *
LB Steve Quinn, Scott Smith, Kevin Washington *
S David Bruton, Ray Herring, Kyle McCarthy *

Junior 2010 (28)

QB Zach Frazer *, Demetrius Jones *
RB James Aldridge, Munir Prince, Luke Schmidt *
WR George West, Richard Jackson, Rob Parris *, Barry Gallup *
TE Konrad Reuland, Will Yeatman
OT Sam Young, Bartely Webb *
C Dan Wenger *
OG Eric Olsen, Chris Stewart * , Matt Carufel *
DE John Ryan, Kallen Wade *
DT Paddy Mullen *
LB Toryan Smith, Morrice Richardson
CB Darrin Walls, Raeshon McNeil
S Sergio Brown, Jashaad Gaines, Leonard Gordon *
K Ryan Burkhart

Sophomore 2011 (18)

QB Jimmy Clausen
RB Armando Allen, Robert Hughes
WR Duval Kamara, Golden Tate
TE Mike Ragone
OT Matt Romine, Taylor Dever
OG Emeka Nwankwo
DE Kerry Neal
DT Ian Williams, Andrew Nuss
LB Aaron Nagel, Steve Paskorz, Brian Smith
CB Gary Gray
S Harrison Smith
K Brandon Walker

Freshman 2012 (15)

QB Dayne Crist
WR John Goodman
TE Kyle Rudolph, Joseph Fauria
OT Lane Clelland
C Mike Golic, Braxston Cave
DE Sean Cwynar, Hafis Williams
DT Omar Hunter, Brandon Newman
ILB Anthony McDonald, Paul Posluszny
OLB Darius Fleming
CB Robert Blanton

ASTERISK LEGEND
* = Player may be eligible for 5th year of eligibility
** = May be granted medical redshirt

[Svoboda]

Added a poll so you could vote for which 5th year seniors you would actually invite back -- or you can select the none option.

[irishunclebill]

So if Zach transfers and CW tells all of the potential 5th years that they can't come back then conceivably he could offer 26.

I think at least 5 of the 5th years come back & Zach transfers, so that would allow him to offer a max of 22. CW has to be already deciding who if any of the 5th years are going to be invited back, because for now unless Zack transfers in the interim, he has to stop at 18, right.

Also, if he thinks the local kid who transferred from Northwestern (Bemenderfer) is going to get any playing time this year, does he then get a schollie. If that is the case, he might have to stop at 17 until some other decisions are made. Svo, you do not have Bemendefer #67, on your roster, is he still on the team.

I wonder if Danny McCarthy knows how full the bus really is, and I guess in theory at least, his brother can't even tell him.

[Svoboda]

Pretty much IUB.

I really think Weis will get stingy with the 5th year seniors he allows to come back. The sooner he gets the classes balanced out, the better position we'll be in. I will be updating my State of the Irish Union and posting it sometime tonight to give everyone a complete picture.

As for leaving out Bemenderfer, I just didn't add him to the roster yet but yes, he is still with the team and there was talk of him getting a scholarship since he was listed in the two deep if I remember right. Then again, I'm wondering if he could qualify for an academic scholarship somewhere so we don't have to give him one from the football team -- he was an accomplished student coming out of high school.

[notredomer23]

mo crum and lambert come back and junior jabbie possibly if he doesnt play rb this year

[luckofirish8]

Crum and Lambert for sure. I could see Jabbie, Brown, and AV (if he plays well...I know).

I would like to see Jansen return. He does a heck of a job on LS, but I don't know if he makes the cut.

[stonebreakerwasgod]

Lambert and Crum. After that, we should go with the new guys.

[rontdtarchala]

out with the old in with the new...its a dawn of a new era....lets get it on!!

[IrishKnight1023]

I voted for Lambert/Crum/Ferrine(DB's will be too young)/Brown...Brown MUST come back. He plays on the DL which I recall isn't that stocked to begin with.

[iloveirish_12]

out with the old in with the new...its a dawn of a new era....lets get it on!!

You wouldn't take Crum back? That would be stupid not to. He would be a fourth year starter and are best LB and you wouldn't take him back. Good think your not Weis.

[stonebreakerwasgod]

I gotta take back Crum and Lambert. That just seems logical, given our current depth, and the lack of experience at DB.