Ha. LSU offers Amorion Walker now as well...they did it 6 months earlier than I expected but I thought he would get one just like Logan Diggs did
Red Rover or someone w/ II please post? - https://notredame.rivals.com/news/t...rom-notre-dame-s-massive-recruiting-weekend-1
Spoiler There’s a lot to unpack in this week’s Gold Standard following another huge recruiting weekend for Notre Dame, but I want to start with the biggest takeaway for me. Folks reading this know how hard it is to have a group of employees in a company have the same vision and mindset for their business. Egos set in and people want to push their own narrative. From what I’m told about Notre Dame’s recruiting weekend, several prospects and their family members told me how everyone from Brian Kelly to the assistant coaches to the recruiting office down to student interns had the same mission and message. It resonated with the recruits and their families and was a big hit. Now granted, this is exactly what Notre Dame wants and trained all of these individuals for, but everyone seemed genuine from what I was told. There was a strong feeling that Kelly is building something special and that he will do whatever it takes to win a national championship before ending his career at Notre Dame. Kids want to be a part of that. *** The big talk of the weekend was Shillington (Pa.) Governor Mifflin Senior running back Nicholas Singleton. Could his visit have gone better? I’m not sure. Notre Dame would have loved if Singleton left campus with a silent or verbal commitment in place, but neither of those things happened. His family wants him to take some time before deciding, but right now, I feel that Notre Dame is where Singleton’s heart is at. I know Irish fans would love to see me put in a FutureCast. I’m certainly considering it, but there’s a big hurdle left. 5.9 0" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 10px; width: 7px; margin-bottom: 3px; background-image: url("https://cdn.rivals.com/production/a...5fc24d7680a603278425bca117110079c60c366dc.svg"); background-position: left center; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"> 124 NATL 0" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 10px; width: 7px; margin-bottom: 3px; background-image: url("https://cdn.rivals.com/production/a...5fc24d7680a603278425bca117110079c60c366dc.svg"); background-position: left center; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"> 2 ST 0" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 10px; width: 7px; margin-bottom: 3px; background-image: url("https://cdn.rivals.com/production/a...5fc24d7680a603278425bca117110079c60c366dc.svg"); background-position: left center; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"> 8 POS NICHOLAS SINGLETON UNDECIDED 6'0" | 205 LBS | RB | 2022 GOVERNOR MIFFLIN SENIOR SHILLINGTON, PA *** Singleton leaves Tuesday for a midweek official visit to Texas A&M and heads to Alabama this weekend for his final OV. Those SEC schools are not the hurdle, though. It’s Penn State. Singleton takes pride in his home state and has a very strong connection with Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin. Penn State remains a threat for Singleton, and even if he does pick the Irish, I would be shocked if they don’t continue to recruit him until he signs a National Letter of Intent. *** Notre Dame has done everything it could in this recruitment and then some. Kelly and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees spent a ton of time with Singleton over the weekend. His parents connected with other families, and Irish running back Kyren Williams did a great job at Singleton’s player host. Singleton is also aware that Gavin Sawchuk officially visits Notre Dame this weekend, and Penn State is recruiting other backs as well. The last thing Singleton wants is wait too long and lose his spot at both schools. Right now, I give Notre Dame the edge for Singleton, but he still loves Penn State. *** I haven’t been able to speak with Pleasant Hill (Iowa) Southeast Polk safety Xavier Nwankpa yet, but all indications during conversations with my sources are that the visit went well, as you’d expect. Nwankpa doesn’t have a commitment date set yet, but he is likely down to Notre Dame, Ohio State and Texas A&M, and I believe he will make a decision on a college by the end of this week. I don’t know when he’d announce a pledge, but again, I think he’ll make an internal decision soon. My gut says Ohio State for Nwankpa, but they already have four defensive back commitments. How well does that sit for him? 5.7 - NATL 66 ST 59 POS NICHOLAS ANDERSON UNDECIDED 6'4" | 196 LBS | WR | 2022 KATY KATY, TX *** I haven’t spoken with Katy (Texas) High’s Nicholas Anderson or Deerfield (Mass.) Academy’s Eli Ayomanor just yet, but the feeling for both wide receiver prospects is that the Irish are in the final two for them. It appears to be a Notre Dame-Penn State battle for Anderson, while Ayomanor is likely to choose between the Irish and Stanford. Ayomanor left Notre Dame to head back to the West Coast for Cal and Stanford official visits. Anderson has one trip left to Oregon. *** Receiver recruiting has been tricky to predict. I expect Notre Dame to take four receivers in this class, but it appears that the Irish could realistically land any of the following recruits: Ayomanor, Anderson, Tobias Merriweather, CJ Williams and Xayvion Bradshaw, not to mention the likes of Andre Greene Jr. and Taylor Groves. I’m also told that Notre Dame is not likely to take five receivers in this class, so what if the Irish get to four receiver commitments (remember, Amorion Walker is already committed) and CJ Williams wants in? *** A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. With that in mind, I’m putting in a FutureCast pick for the Irish to land Anderson. Multiple sources at Notre Dame feel that Anderson is strongly leaning towards the Irish. The receiver numbers have been the only thing holding me back from a pick, but the staff wants him, and it seems he will pop sooner than later. 5.9 63 NATL 1 ST 0" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 10px; width: 7px; margin-bottom: 3px; background-image: url("https://cdn.rivals.com/production/a...5fc24d7680a603278425bca117110079c60c366dc.svg"); background-position: left center; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"> 8 POS JOE BRUNNER UNDECIDED 6'6" | 305 LBS | OT | 2022 WHITEFISH BAY WHITEFISH BAY, WI *** The weekend went well for the three offensive line official visitors: Whitefish Bay (Wis.) High’s Joe Brunner, Hammond (Wis.) St. Croix Central’s Carson Hinzmanand Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne’s Aamil Wagner. I felt going into the weekend that Hinzman was leaning Notre Dame and that Brunner and Wagner were leaning elsewhere. Look folks, we’ll see. Nothing is set in stone with these three, but I’m actually thinking the exact opposite now. Right now, I think Hinzman ends up elsewhere and that the Irish pull off landing either Brunner or Wagner, if not both. *** Brunner rarely does interviews, but he’s been speaking with the media this month following his official visits. He’s an excellent interview and speaker, and he gushed about Notre Dame and was very candid. Following Brunner’s Wisconsin official visit, there was a feeling that the Badgers were basically a lock to land him, but I truly believe that Notre Dame has a great shot to pull off the upset. I expect Brunner to decide between Notre Dame, Ohio State and Wisconsin this week. *** Similarly to Brunner, most pundits felt that Wagner was a lock to Ohio State following his official visit there earlier this month. Even one of my most trusted sources on the Irish side of things felt a few weeks ago that Notre Dame would be a long shot to land Wagner, but the current vibe is that Wagner would be a perfect fit at Notre Dame. He is a phenomenal student with a very strong academic background. Education is crucial to him, and the other top schools for him — Kentucky and Ohio State — don’t quite compare to Notre Dame in that category. 5.8 0" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 10px; width: 7px; margin-bottom: 3px; background-image: url("https://cdn.rivals.com/production/a...5fc24d7680a603278425bca117110079c60c366dc.svg"); background-position: left center; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"> 196 NATL 0" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 10px; width: 7px; margin-bottom: 3px; background-image: url("https://cdn.rivals.com/production/a...5fc24d7680a603278425bca117110079c60c366dc.svg"); background-position: left center; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"> 7 ST 0" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 10px; width: 7px; margin-bottom: 3px; background-image: url("https://cdn.rivals.com/production/a...5fc24d7680a603278425bca117110079c60c366dc.svg"); background-position: left center; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"> 25 POS AAMIL WAGNER UNDECIDED 6'6" | 265 LBS | OT | 2022 WAYNE HUBER HEIGHTS, OH His pull to stay in-state may not be that strong. It also doesn’t hurt that Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman and Mike Mickens graduated from Wagner’s high school. And if that’s not enough, Wagner’s head coach, Roosevelt Mukes, coached both of those guys, and Mukes is going to Notre Dame Thursday to bring his son to the Irish’s camp. That can only help. *** There’s not a lot to report currently about Las Vegas Bishop Gorman defensive end Cyrus Moss. Most of these prospects plan to make a commitment before the start of their senior season, but Moss’ mindset is to take it the distance and decide after his senior season. Notre Dame felt like it made a good impression, but it’s way too early to tell where Moss will end up. *** No strong vibe yet on Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic defensive back Jayden Bellamy. I’m told he enjoyed his visit, but this is a close battle between Notre Dame and Penn State. It might help the Irish land him considering that Jaeden Gould, his good friend and teammate, committed to USC over the Nittany Lions. Bellamy loves Steve Angeli, who is also his teammate and an Irish quarterback commit, and he likes the idea of being with Angeli for another few years. Bellamy will likely make an internal decision on a school in the next few days. 5.7 - NATL 0" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 10px; width: 7px; margin-bottom: 3px; background-image: url("https://cdn.rivals.com/production/a...5fc24d7680a603278425bca117110079c60c366dc.svg"); background-position: left center; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;"> 9 ST 59 POS JAYDEN BELLAMY UNDECIDED 5'11" | 175 LBS | CB | 2022 BERGEN CATHOLIC ORADELL, NJ *** Some notes on 2023 visitors... Notre Dame made a strong impression on Fredericksburg (Va.) Riverbend four-star defensive end Mathias Barnwell during his visit last week. The former Penn State commit basically told me that Notre Dame held the lead in his recruitment ... Notre Dame sources are optimistic with Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy receiver Carnell Tate. He had a strong visit Friday with the coaches and meeting the other recruits. He returns to campus this weekend and will bring more family members with him ... Notre Dame crushed it with St. Louis De Smet tight end Mac Markway. He and his father loved Irish coaches John McNulty and Brian Polian. Notre Dame will be tough to beat here. Who’s Next In 2022? *** There are a handful of prospects to keep an eye on... Running back dominos are likely to start falling. Dallan Haydenhad a great Notre Dame visit last weekend, but as I anticipated, I expect him to commit to Ohio State following his weekend in Columbus. Nicholas Singleton seems to be leaning towards Notre Dame, but if the Irish don’t land him this week, they will bring in Gavin Sawchuk this weekend and will go all out for him. *** At wide receiver, I believe that Nicholas Anderson and Tobias Merriweather are likely to choose the Irish. I have FutureCast picks in for both. Amorion Walker said great things in my video interview with him last week, but he is still a wild card. I really like where Notre Dame is at with CJ Williams too. I hear Ayomanor seems like a Stanford lean, but I’ve also heard Tennessee for him. I’m not too sure. 6.0 29 NATL 2 ST 3 POS CJ WILLIAMS UNDECIDED 6'2" | 190 LBS | WR | 2022 MATER DEI SANTA ANA, CA *** Your guess is as good as mine on the offensive line. The feeling with Jake Taylor, who visited last weekend, is that he’ll choose between Notre Dame and Oklahoma. I like Notre Dame to land Billy Schrauth, but Wisconsin has made this recruitment a lot closer than it once was. Brunner and Wagner are definitely possibilities. I’d be shocked if Zach Riceended up with Notre Dame. Ryan Baerand Ashton Craig are expected to officially visit this weekend too. The Irish have two offensive line commitments, and I believe they’ll end up signing five. *** The defensive backfield is unclear too. Benjamin Morrison, who visited last weekend, is not a lock to Notre Dame at this points with his visits to Oregon and Washington. I believe Devin Moore is much closer to picking the Irish than Morrison is at this point. Jake Pope, Jayden Bellamy, Xavier Nwankpa and Austin Ausberry are all possibilities for Notre Dame too.
Most of his highlights are him getting the ball and running almost unopposed in virtually a straight line to the end zone. He doesn’t show much ability to make people miss either in the open field or in the hole. Seems like he has to chop his feet and slow down to make a cut. He’s a big dude but there aren’t a lot of clips of him breaking tackles. There also arent a ton of clips of him running between the tackles either, so it’s hard to judge his vision and feel in those situations.
Most of that is because of the offense his high school runs. He might actually be able to do all those things but hasn’t had the chance to display it.
Late to the party but I just passed a “graduating champions” billboard on 80/90. First I remember seeing it.
Mulligans is being knocked down and turned into condos, if you want to lose a shoe to a sticky floor in a shitty bar near campus you better get to the backer asap.
Not sure how public it is yet. Their tent and some other stuff will be coming north of the state line to a new home is the only reason I know.
They've been trying to sell for months. So many local bars are dirty and disgusting, with Backer being the center of the dirt bar universe. Edit: Even though Coach's went to shit since I ran it so long ago, seeing it as a car wash still brings tears. I'll always call it Coach's, even as a car wash.
this is a great read if you always wanted to know what being a ND fanboy was like and then getting to visit as a recruit Spoiler If you follow Notre Dame recruiting closely, you likely know why Nolan Ziegler’s first major recruiting visit was a significant event. For those who might not be up to speed on Ziegler, his grandfather – his mother Darcy Ziegler’s father – is Tim Sullivan who won a national championship at Notre Dame as an outside linebacker. And Sullivan’s wife – Nolan’s grandmother, Darcy’s mother – was a cheerleader at Notre Dame as part of the first female class at the University. Nolan’s grandparents are just two among several family members related to his mother and father – Bryan Ziegler – who attended the University of Notre Dame. On Friday, Ziegler, his parents, his three sisters, and his three-year-old brother Sully arrived at Notre Dame for an unofficial visit. And with an official visit event underway, several commits and high-end recruits on-site, it allowed the Ziegler family to be involved in much more than a typical recruiting visit offers. Bryan and Darcy Ziegler have brought their kids to Notre Dame for home games often over the years. But hitting campus with Nolan committed to attend the University (where he’ll play the same position his grandfather played) made for a weekend the Ziegler family will never forget. It was far from being about Nolan exclusively. It was about the family. Nolan wouldn’t have it any other way. A FAMILY TRIP TO SOUTH BEND (Photo: 247Sports) “You know, a lot of the credit goes to Nolan because it was really important for him to share this experience with his siblings. And the reality is the only way that we could realistically do that is on an unofficial visit this summer,” Bryan Ziegler said. Being parents of five, and getting the itinerary just a day prior, Bryan and Darcy wondered how it would all unfold given the important speeches and events set to take place with young children under their wings. That concern quickly evaporated as it turned out Notre Dame had planned the ultimate family event. “We weren't sure what to expect,” Darcy Ziegler said. “We had no idea that the dinner was going to be as kid-friendly as it was...We weren't sure with (our three-year-old son) Sully, how well he would be. “Pictures were Saturday, and (Nolan) really wanted everybody there. He wanted Sully and the kids there for pictures. But we really, really have to hand it to Nick Lezynski and Tyler Plantz. They were so good. In fact, when we were going to go talk to coach (Brian) Kelly, they took the kids down and let them run in the indoor facility. I mean, they went out of their way to interact with the kids and to make them feel welcome. And the kids had a great time.” While Nolan Ziegler had long been anticipating the events scheduled over the weekend, he wouldn’t take it all in without his family alongside him. “Well, it was definitely super special,” Nolan said. “We've all just been huge Notre Dame fans, and then finally seeing me in a uniform, with my siblings, I think they definitely really enjoyed the weekend. Just seeing the couches and the players, I think they definitely thought it was super surreal. So, it definitely made it more special for me having them there.” GRILL & CHILL (Photo: 247Sports) On Friday night, along with many prospects and committed athletes and their families, Matt Balis and his super-charged raspy voice presented a pep talk. From there, the Ziegler’s and all the visitors walked down the tunnel and onto the field. That’s where everyone ate and played games with the Notre Dame coaches, their wives, their kids, current players, and other staff members. It was the Grill & Chill. “The way they brought us into the tunnel, they had a song where the woman is singing, you know, ‘Here come the Irish of Notre Dame.’ So, you walked down the tunnel with the kids out there, and all the players were throwing bag toss,” Bryan Ziegler said. “They had stuff up on the jumbotron. And it was very, very cool. It gave the kids the opportunity to feel like they're a part of it. “First of all...I cannot stress enough what a great job Nick (Lezynski) did. Obviously, we've gotten to know him really well. And they also went above and beyond to not only make Nolan feel valued and wanted, but knowing that we were bringing the full family, they were unbelievably patient and accommodating. “They made a point of making the Friday night grill-and-chill session extremely family- friendly with face painting, snow cones, bag toss. All the coaches brought their wives and kids there.” That included Marcus Freeman and his family. And given Nolan was originally recruited by and committed to Clark Lea, it was a perfect opportunity to meet the new defensive coordinator. “(Coach Marcus Freeman’s wife) Joanna Freeman was so nice, and so welcoming, like, invited the kids and I over to her house. All of our kids got along with both Lezynski's kids, and Freeman's kids,” Darcy Ziegler said. “They all were engaged. They even had like a little video game area set up for the kids for them to play.” Bryan Ziegler was particularly impressed with the new assistant coach. “I'll tell you with Marcus (Freeman), I expected a dude who would let you know, that would have a bit of an attitude of, ‘Hey, I'm the hottest thing in college football.’ Right? You get around enough of these guys, I mean, there are some pretty big egos on some of these guys when you start getting into that elite Power Five level,” Bryan Ziegler said. “Dude, he couldn't have been more polar opposite,” Bryan added. “I mean, he referenced his stats and stuff from Cincinnati, but it wasn't in an ego-driven way. Just like, ‘Hey, this is what I feel like we can do here.’” “He's just a really welcoming coach, and definitely very passionate about his job, which I really like,” Nolan Ziegler added. “And I'm just really ready to play for him.” MEETING COACH KELLY (Photo: 247Sports) Head coach Brian Kelly spent roughly 20 minutes in his office with each of the Irish commits and prospects on campus. “That was awesome because we definitely connected with him being at Grand Valley and him knowing my (current head) coach,” Nolan Ziegler said. “We were talking about how the whole visit went and everything, and really got along with him.” Nolan Ziegler later met with admissions to dig into details on his early enrolment. But before then, given the family’s connections to Notre Dame and football in the Midwest altogether, there were more than enough icebreakers to choose from. “Honestly, I was surprised at how relaxed coach Kelly was,” Brian Zielger said. “He came across great to us, just came across very real...Look, he's got a lot on his plate, right? But we had a great conversation with him. Talked to him about things that were important to us, like Nolan's (jersey) number. They're going to give Nolan number 42, which, you know the sentimental value there. So, it was great.” It’s sentimental because Nolan’s grandfather wore No. 42 at Notre Dame. “We cracked some jokes about the old Hillsdale (where Bryan went to school), Grand Valley days. Talked about how he's got his grandpa's shillelagh on the wall. Darcy has her grandpa Sullivan's shillelagh on the wall. “Like, it wasn't just all, ‘Come here, you're going to the NFL.’ Obviously, they talked about the football side plenty. But if you're going to Notre Dame, you're coming there for more than just football. Let's be honest, right? I mean, you are. And they do a great job of selling the total experience.” Luckily for Bryan and Darcy, they had plenty of help with their younger kids during such important meetings. “(Kelly) definitely took his time to get to know the players, to get to know the family, and Lezynski and Dave Peloquin went out of their way to rotate and make sure that they were watching the kids while we met with Kelly and then admissions,” Darcy Ziegler said. “When they called us in and we were ready for coach Kelly, we started looking around for the kids,” Bryan Ziegler added. “We couldn't even find them! And Dave Peloquin goes, ‘Hey, Nick (Lezynski) has them.’ They were down in the indoor (practice facility).” “Nick (Lezynski) was sending us videos of Sully running around, tackling dummies,” Darcy added. TOMMY REES SIDE STORY (Photo: 247Sports) As the father of a Notre Dame linebacker recruit, clearly, the defensive coaching staff and the head coach are staff members in Bryan Ziegler’s orbit. But as a long-time Fighting Irish fan, he knows all about Tommy Rees from his days quarterbacking at Notre Dame. Although the offensive coordinator has no (or very little) attachment to linebacker commits, Bryan Ziegler couldn’t help but approach Rees at the Grill & Chill on Friday night. “This, I think, kind of encapsulated our experience,” Bryan said. “Now, listen. From a Notre Dame fan standpoint, anyone that watched Tommy Rees play that says they weren't swearing and cussing out the TV is lying. Right? “I just said, ‘Hey, Tommy, I watched you play your whole career.’ I said, ‘You took a lot of crap from the fan base, and I want to tell you...’ and before I can even continue talking, because at the start of it, I'd said, ‘Hi Tommy, I'm Brian Ziegler, Nolan's dad,’ before I can even go on, he goes, ‘Nolan? Oh my God, Nolan looks fantastic!’ “I just stopped, and I was, like, thunderstruck because I'm (thinking), ‘This is the offensive coordinator of a top-tier Power Five school…He has no reason to even know who our son is.’ Right? Honestly, to a degree, that's what I was expecting. But instead, he starts talking about his leg muscles and how they're popping out, and then he started talking about Nolan’s lacrosse film. I'm like, ‘Oh, my God!’ “I proceeded to tell him how much respect I had for him for coming back. The easiest thing to do in the world would've been to go away and just be that salty Notre Dame alumni about the fan base and blah, blah, blah. And he's been the total opposite. But we were floored at the fact that that's how all-in this staff is not just on our son, but how they approach things. And I don't know, man, but like I said, the offensive coordinator, I would not even have thought twice if he would have been polite, but not really knowing who Nolan was. Like, that would not have offended me.” The following day, still stunned by the offensive coordinator’s attention to his son, Bryan ran into his father Bill Rees. “I told him that story,” Bryan Ziegler said. “And just said, ‘Look, you guys, please feel proud about what you did raising Tommy, because I was blown away that he even knew who my son was.’ Bill Rees went on to say great things about Nolan. But anyway, that kind of gives you a feel for just how impressive it was. “Honestly, Nolan committed so long ago. And I know they're working on these other kids that are not committed yet. And I just thought we were going to be an afterthought, I really did…While we had all the kids, I thought we were going to be kind of annoying them. And it was just a total 180-degree opposite of that. It really was.” WE MEET AT LAST (Photo: 247Sports) Along the way, Bryan and Darcy met top prospects and their families over the weekend, including Top 75 tackle Joe Brunner’s parents. For Nolan, he’d already built strong friendships with many of his fellow Irish commits. But due to Covid, this was a first when it comes to meeting face-to-face. “Yeah, (Eli Raridon) is great,” Nolan said. “I mean, when I met him back before he was committed anywhere, I was just telling him why I chose Notre Dame. I mean, (Notre Dame and Iowa) are two big tight end schools. I'm just really glad he chose Notre Dame because he's a great kid. Great friend, not a kid. “I mean, he's just really down to earth…And he's also a huge dude. (Laughs) He's super tall and seems like a great player.” Bryan and Darcy Ziegler enjoyed meeting fellow parents of Irish commits and watching their son finally connect with his future teammates. “It was great,” Bryan said. “I mean, we met Josh Burnham and his dad, we met the Raridon's, we met the Staes (family).” “Angeli's parents were there with Steve,” Darcy added. “They all got along. The Hinish's were there.” “I guess this is the power of social media...I think back to my recruiting process, albeit at a much smaller level,” Bryan Ziegler. “But there was nowhere near this level of connectivity like what these guys have. It's almost like these guys have all already been friends for a long time. He really hit it off with Xavier (Nwankpa).” STARSTRUCK (Photo: 247Sports) While many of the commits were on official visits, they were hosted by current players. And for Nolan, this presented a big moment of his unofficial visit. Meeting the current members of the Fighting Irish football program. Keep in mind, this is a high school athlete who grew up watching Notre Dame football on Saturday mornings in his diapers from home or from the stadium live in South Bend. “Josh (Burnham) and Nolan got to hang out with Kyle Hamilton and stuff that night,” Darcy Ziegler said. “(Hamilton and others) don't know this, but Nolan grew up idolizing these guys and watching these guys on TV. And then now being able to hang out with them, it was just kind of surreal. And the parents were all great. And Eli Raridon looks great. He is going to be a great player. “The current players, all the linebackers came up. Nolan really liked (Prince) Kollie. Jack Kiser sat and ate dinner with our family. He was telling the stories about taking the boys home and how he lives in a small farm town. That most of his buddies work either on the farm or in factory. It's just, they all went out of their way to engage, and to have conversations about themselves.” Bryan Ziegler was ecstatic to see what his son’s future linebacker teammates were made of. “Just real, genuine engagement as opposed to forced. And it wasn't glitzy, it wasn't fancy, it was just being real and just being conversational and engaging,” Bryan said. “I can't say enough great things about that linebacker group, Kiser and those guys. I'm sure there are dudes there who are more inward-facing than outward-facing than the way these guys were, but I don't know, man. I didn't see it.” Although Ziegler had a lot of unforgettable moments over the weekend, meeting those he’d closely watched from afar (often on NBC) was his personal highlight. “That was probably the coolest thing,” Nolan Ziegler said. “Especially as a kid watching Notre Dame players, it's like the world to you, and still is (now). Even though I'm committed, I still think it's super cool to see them...Just running out that tunnel and playing on the field, I think it's just awesome to finally be able to see what it's like outside the life of being a football player. So, that was really cool. “Definitely just hanging with all the football players afterward…that was definitely the best part.” “WHY YOU SHOULD REALLY CHOOSE TO COME HERE” (Photo: 247Sports) It was a lot to take in, and Bryan Ziegler was exhausted when he returned to Grand Rapids. But when it came to summing up the weekend, he thought back to Brian Kelly’s opening statement. “If I had to categorize it, I would say Notre Dame did a great job of playing to their strengths, which is not glitz and glamor,” Bryan said. 7COMMENTS “Brian Kelly said this at the opening thing Friday morning, he said, ‘This visit these two days are about substance.’ He said, ‘Yes, there'll be some glitz and glamour, but we feel that substance is more important because it's the substance that's going to make your experience here matter, and why you should really choose to come here.’ “I got to tell you, man, they knocked that out of the park. They did it without coming across as stale, and old-fashioned. For instance, they did a nice Juneteenth video. They made a point of showing that, and coach Kelly does a nice job of making a point to talk about how he supports the players’ activism...For players that that's important to, he did a really good job of speaking to that. I could see how that would resonate positively with them. “Overall, they did a good job of selling the Notre Dame brand for the sake of the Notre Dame brand, not trying to take the Notre Dame brand and turn it into some Southern SEC school or by doing it a disservice by coming across as stale and out of touch.” It was the same Notre Dame the Ziegler family has been deeply connected to for decades. But this time, instead of cheering on the Irish as the squad takes the field, it was mom, dad, sisters, and brothers walking through the tunnel together as the center of attention.
Loy's explanation for his CB on Singleton Spoiler My latest 247Sports Crystal Ball prediction has Reading (Pa.) Governor Mifflin four-star running back Nicholas Singleton headed to play for Notre Dame. The pick went in following his official visit to South Bend over the weekend. So, why did I toss the prediction in? Here are two reasons why. 1) Sources believe Notre Dame is the team to beat: In checking with multiple sources, there is a strong feeling that the Fighting Irish pulled ahead of Penn State during his official visit to check out Notre Dame. The pulse prior to the visit had the Nittany Lions as the slight favorite, but unless my sources are misreading this one, Notre Dame looks to be the top team for the 6-0, 210-pounder at this time. While on campus, Singleton connected well with four people in particular that made this visit great. His lengthy talks with head coach Brian Kelly, offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, running backs coach Lance Taylor and running back Kyren Williams were extremely impactful according to a source I spoke with. Before leaving campus, I’m told Singleton made it clear to the staff that the Irish are going to be tough to beat for his services, but he wanted to go home, continue talking with his family and then take another visit or two before completely shutting things down. The fact is Notre Dame did a really, really good job this weekend. 247Sports National Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong and 247Sports National Analyst Brian Dohn also see the Irish as the favorite and tossed in pro-Notre Dame predictions as well 2) I felt it was the right move after talking with Singleton: Following his official visit, the nation’s No. 43 overall player in the country per 247Sports gave me a call. We spoke in-depth about his time at Notre Dame and he shared the high points of the trip. One thing that stuck out to me was his comparison between both Notre Dame and Penn State. I want to make one thing very clear — he’s really high on both schools. Despite a strong push from many top programs across the country, I’m confident in reporting that Notre Dame and Penn State have always been the two he liked most. For Penn State, I think there is some pressure to stay home. I don’t think that is a negative either, but rather just something that is there and leaving home is never easy, especially for a top recruit. In addition, I truly believe, at least going into this past weekend, it was the coaching staff at Penn State that Singleton liked the most and is what separated the Lions from the rest. That staff is done tremendously well since day one. He has a great relationship with just about everyone in State College. However, when it comes to the school and program itself, I get the vibe that Singleton prefers Notre Dame right now. That’s just the feeling I got from talking to him following this trip to South Bend. I think in terms of fit, the depth chart, the degree, the life after football aspect, the fact that he’s been the No. 1 priority for the staff for so long, he’s very high on the Fighting Irish for a variety of reasons. I think this weekend was huge for him because he improved his relationship with the coaching staff. That may have been the one thing holding Notre Dame back for a while, but that is no longer the case. I’m told he had some meaningful, even challenging conversations with Kelly, Rees and Taylor during his trip to South Bend that made a positive impact. I firmly believe Notre Dame has checked off every box for Singleton. Notre Dame and Penn State continue to battle in this one. I’m told he’s already had multiple conversations with both coaching staffs since he left South Bend on Sunday. Again, it won’t be easy for Singleton to say no to either staff, especially the “hometown” school. He has a very difficult decision to make, but right now, I do believe Notre Dame is the team to beat heading into his last two official visits at Texas A&M and Alabama. Can the Irish close? Can Penn State flip the script? It’ll surely be an interesting next week or so.
Loy posted this on the Sawchuk to OU commitment: Again, not a big deal here to be honest, Notre Dame was unlikely to bring him in this weekend. They weren't expecting him and told Singleton that he is the guy they wanted. I doubt I could get Sawchuk to confirm, but I'm told Notre Dame told him yesterday they were no longer having any running backs visit and I think that's also when he told them he was going to go ahead and commit elsewhere.
and to Loy's credit, he mentioned on the board before Sawchuk's commitment that ND was probably not going to bring him in this weekend
I'm losing track of which beat writers have said what this month but this seems like some classic Tom Loy bullshit.
hes a white 5 star DE from the Cleveland Suburbs who is currently camping at OSU he’s not a 5 star honestly
I was being serious. Ohio State was supposed to make a decision today and I kinda think he may commit to ND soon. Didn’t help his case that he was working out next to Derrick LeBlanc.
apparently he camped at Irish Invasion and floored the coaches w/ how good he was, like they were totally stunned based on reports
Vernon article Spoiler The recruitment of Mentor defensive lineman Brenan Vernon is far from over, but a pecking order might be coming into play. Vernon, a highly ranked rising junior, is spending a big chunk of this month taking unofficial visits to some of the most prestigious college football programs in America. A week ago, Vernon (6-foot-5, 250) visited both Clemson and Alabama, picking up a scholarship offer from Coach Nick Saban's Crimson Tide along the way. This week Vernon is re-visiting Ohio State and Notre Dame, both of which have offered him scholarships. The list of potential suitors for Vernon — ranked five stars by 247sports and four stars by rivals.com — is undoubtedly going to continue to grow. After all, he still has two more years of high school football yet to play. Additionally, official visits will be scheduled sometime next year. But leaders of the pack might be forming. "I'm trying to keep it short and simple — Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State and Notre Dame," Vernon told The News-Herald. "Those (unofficial) visits are going to cap off my summer. "I wouldn't say that's my final four. I'm still working. I haven't picked up (offers from) LSU, Georgia, none of that. But those four are where I'm investing my time right now." Vernon is ranked the 39th overall prospect in America for the class of 2023 by 247sports, as well as the eighth-best defensive lineman in the class and the second overall prospect in Ohio in his class. Rivals.com has him ranked ninth overall in America in his class and the No. 3 strongside linebacker in the land. However, their website has not been updated recently, as the Alabama offer is not listed on their site. The visit to Clemson did not glean a scholarship offer from Coach Dabo Swinney's Tigers. It was a good visit, Vernon said, but he was not as glowing about the prospects of him being a Clemson Tiger. "Great program. Amazing facility," Vernon said. "But I don't think Clemson is the right fit for myself." The next trip, to Tuscaloosa, Ala.? That caught Vernon's eye. After running some sprints and working out for the Alabama staff, Vernon found himself sitting in Saban's office. "Coach Saban goes, 'I already offered you, right?'" Vernon said. "He was checking a paper. They hadn't offered yet so he said, 'Well you're going to have an opportunity to come to Alabama.' He thought they offered me already. "Alabama was awesome. You see how hard-nosed they are. You wonder how they win so many games, then you see how they operate and how relentless they are. What went through my head was how amazing of an opportunity it would be for myself there." The trip to Ohio State, slated for June 22, is a big one in Vernon's eyes, too. It's the first time he has been able to meet with the Ohio State coaches — including celebrated defensive line coach Larry Johnson — since his freshman year. "I'm really excited to get down there and see what Coach J has in store for me, and learning a thing or two from his tutelage," Vernon said. After a brief stop at home, Vernon will head out to South Bend, Ind., for his second trip this month to Coach Brian Kelly's Fighting Irish. "I LOVE Notre Dame," Vernon said. "I love Notre Dame a lot. A lot. A LOT. "I was just out there on June 6. This is my second stop there this month. I enjoyed it enough that I'm going down there again." While Vernon is on his whirlwind tour of Who's Who in College Football, he is working out with his Mentor teammates in hopes for a banner junior year of football. As well as a healthy one. Vernon played his entire freshman year with a torn labrum in his shoulder, which required postseason surgery. Then a year ago amid a COVID-shortened 2020 season, Vernon only played 4 1/2 games because of a foot injury that also required surgery after the season. Vernon said he doesn't ever feel he's at 100 percent — but that's just the competitor in him. "I'll always feel I'm 80 or 90 percent because if I believe I'm 100 percent, that means I've given up on myself and I'm satisfied where I'm at," he said. "I'll never be satisfied. If I'm at 80 or 90 percent, I'm still going to bust my ass, because there's always things you can work on to be better. That's just the inner competitor in me."
Wait, what? Coach's is gone!? And you managed it at one time? Damn I am old. Loved that place during undergrad.
I don't think he's a five-star tbh. And I know they won't take him now because if they add the kid that's just more ammo for Saban to use this weekend when JT Tuimoloau makes his final OV to Tuscaloosa. We'll see.
If you were at the original Coach's I probably worked there or ran it when you were an undergrad. They tore it down and they're putting a car wash in,
honestly being 2 years ahead of a kid shouldnt even register with a kid with the talent of JTT, but the kinds of luxury yall have recruiting is mindboggling