From the snippets of basketball coverage I haven't been able to avoid, it seems like the team is taking that advice a little too close to heart this year.
To think we could have had Denson's bible verse memes that grandmas post on twitter and this back to back. Damn shame.
some recruiting notes from Sinclair Spoiler A list of new offers, a four-star commitment, a new running backs coach, and key visits being planned. It’s been a busy time for the Notre Dame recruiting department this month as the 2020 class is off on a strong foot while recruiting battles are beginning to take shape. While we’re thrust into information-overload, let’s dig into five notes important to not let pass you by. IMPORTANT MARCH VISITOR The future of the strong-side end position is taking shape, adding Alexander Ehrensberger while signing both Howard Cross and Isaiah Foskey. It’s well-known that this position is a crucial need for Mike Elston who has teamed-up with Clark Lea, Brian Kelly, and others to bring a full-court press on the Braiden McGregor recruitment - an athlete who would boost the future group a full letter grade. Still, there are additional strong-side ends on the board with interest, including Xavier Carlton, a 6-foot-7, 250-pound prospect who appears to be an excellent fit for Notre Dame. Catching up with Carlton last night, the four-star Californian was excited to say that he will be visiting Notre Dame during the last week of March. This is a long-discussed trip which Carlton and his family tried to make happen during the season - a plan that was disrupted with his playoff run. As a junior, Carlton posted 81 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, six sacks, 13 hurries, two pass defenses, three fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble while his offer list includes Cal, Michigan, Notre Dame, Stanford, Texas, UCLA, and USC. It would be no surprise if this private school star chose a high-academic option. Both Carlton and his parents have a very high opinion of Notre Dame, especially Mike Elston. Side note: Wide receiver Xavier Watts also tells Irish Illustrated that he plans to visit Notre Dame in March, although a date hasn’t been pinned down. GREAT OPTIONS AT SAFETY You’d think Notre Dame will sign a relatively small safety class. Surely, Terry Joseph will add one athlete to his group in the 2020 class, two seeming like a maximum. In that search for the next backfielder, a large handful of promising prospects are showing interest in the Irish, including some that were offered recently. Yesterday, the Irish offered a fiery, hard-hitting ballhawk in Myles Slush, a Top 150 talent in Oklahoma. And earlier in the week, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound safety from a great program fit in Elijah Gaines - assuming the boarding school cornerback would play safety (a move that he feels is likely). Next weekend, the Irish will host its top safety target in Lathan Ransom, an exciting development for the coaching staff. Also attending that same Junior Day is Darius Snow, who could play rover linebacker in a defense like Notre Dame’s. It’s worth noting another 6-3 safety in Enzo Jennings while Penn State has pushed into the discussion, and Alabama athlete Kristian Story who will be speaking with Irish Illustrated for an update shortly. Terry Joseph is recruiting Story at safety. And don’t forget Makari Paige, a mature, long safety out of Michigan with a solid connection with Todd Lyght. The Irish have the opportunity to push the safety roster into a special place. LANCE TAYLOR HITTING THE TRAIL RUNNING The day he was announced officially as the new running backs coach, Lance Taylor was in contact with multiple running back prospects, including Tirek Murphy. “I spoke with the running backs coach and will definitely get down (to Notre Dame) this spring,” Murphy Jr. said. “He seems pretty cool.” If you follow Notre Dame recruiting, you know darned well the Irish need to produce at the running back position in 2020. Currently, it’s crucial that Taylor gets connected with Chris Tyree while a long list of top programs take a run at the five-star back. In the gap between Taylor’s hiring and Autry Denson’s departure, Chip Long and others have kept Taylor’s seat warm during the vetting process when it comes to Tyree’s recruitment. It’ll also be key to establish a bond with additional running backs including Bijan Robinson, a teammate of Lathan Ransom which could play a role in both of those recruitments. Robinson tells Irish Illustrated that the only two visits he has so far discussed this off-season are Ohio State and Notre Dame - the Buckeyes trip set while Notre Dame will likely come by way of an official visit this summer. All eyes are on Taylor this off-season. BODY TYPES / LENGTH / ATHLETICISM Three distinct traits discussed often: Body Types, length, athleticism. As Brian Kelly stated in his Early Signing Period press conference, length equals development, going on to essentially explain that with a 6-foot-4 linebacker, hitting the 240-pound mark while increasing power and explosiveness is a more attainable task than working with a 6-foot-1 linebacker, for example. With that in mind, who are the plus-body type, plus-length prospects in the 2020 class? There are several on defense. Here are three who were offered in recent weeks. 1. An athlete discussed in the safety note above, Elijah Gaines is an athlete with 6-foot-3, 200-pound measurable with loose hips, nimble feet, and cornerback cover skills. This means a future at safety makes perfect sense while rover linebacker doesn’t feel like a stretch. Keep your eye on this Episcopal prospect who says he would love line up alongside Litchfield Ajavonagain, who he described as an exemplary teammate. 2. At cornerback, Ryan Watts is drawing national attention with his combination of length, smarts, and athleticism. Appearing to be all of his 6-foot-3, 187-pound listing, this is a long, thick-built corner recruit with upscale potential. 3. Although he’s listed a 210-pounds currently, a source in North Carolina says hard-hitting linebacker Mohamed Kaba is all of his 6-foot-3 listing while showing the frame that can easily accommodate 235-pounds or more. Kaba is athletic enough to make big plays at wide receiver and quarterback while owning a pass rushing element for his past at the defensive end position. Without a doubt, Irish Illustrated will be watching his recruitment closely. It’s worth considering that with Notre Dame adding 25 athletes to the defense over the last two classes, including a long list of upper tier talent, Notre Dame can take its time in finding the right pieces in 2020. With that, shooting for those long, athletic, high-potential prospects to fill out depth with size makes sense. ROGER ROSENGARTEN It’s important to know this towering tackle out of Colorado is you follow Notre Dame recruiting closely. Yes, Tosh Baker, Jimmy Christ, Bryn Tucker, and others are excellent talents for Notre Dame’s early tackle board. But the Irish also love the potential of Roger Rosengarten, a 6-foot-7, 275-pound, tough-as-nails, two-way athlete from what many believe to be the best program in Colorado: Valor Christian. 1COMMENTS As a three-sport athlete without bad weight, also playing basketball and baseball, Rosengarten surely has the feet and mobility to develop into a tackle while owning the intensity, grit, and fierce physicality to kick inside at guard. A blue-collar type, Rosengarten appears to mesh really well with Jeff Quinn in the early goings of his recruitment as he’s told Irish Illustrated that he ‘can’t wait’ to hit South Bend after his basketball season. I expect Rosengarten’s stock to soar in the future, currently overlooked nationally by some. Be sure to check out his junior season highlights (click here for that film).
re-ranking the 2014 class by Coach D Spoiler Looking Back: Re-Ranking Notre Dame's 2014 Recruiting Class Bryan Driskell • BlueAndGold.com @BGI_CoachD Get a FREE 30-day trial using promo code BGI30 Nkoct6gi54l6moyyytmf Photo by Angela Driskell The last of Notre Dame's 2014 recruiting class finished their careers in 2014. Some with Notre Dame, some with other programs and others have been gone even longer. But with the last members of the class finally moving on from college football it is time to look back at the class and do a final re-ranking. The class ranked 11th in the country by Rivals. It had a strong offensive line haul, with three players in the Rivals250 and two more in the Rivals100. Notre Dame signed seven defensive linemen in the class, but only one was ranked as a four-star recruit. The Irish staff failed to sign a running back in the class and landed just one cornerback and one safety. Only two members of the class have been drafted into the NFL, with offensive lineman Quenton Nelson being selected by the Indianapolis Colts with the No. 6 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft and quarterback DeShone Kizer going to the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Linebackers Nyles Morgan (Chicago Bears), Greer Martini (Green Bay Packers) and defensive end Andrew Trumbetti (Chicago Bears) were all signed as undrafted free agents, but none are currently on an NFL roster. Expect the list of draft picks to expand by two in the upcoming draft, with offensive lineman Alex Bars and linebacker Drue Tranquill expected to be selected. Others from the class could sneak into the late rounds of the draft or get picked up as free agents. Five players from the class have already seen their football careers end for various reasons prior to the 2018 season. Notre Dame signed four members of the Rivals100, and three of those players ended up being named captains (Nelson, Bars, Morgan). It signed eight players from the Rivals250, and six of those eight players emerged as starters for the Irish. With that being said, here is a re-ranking of the class and a brief recap of each player's career. NOTE: The "Class Rank" refers to how Rivals ranked each player in the class. I did not rank the 2014 personally, so I am only including their Rivals rankings. 1. QUENTON NELSON, OT 29 NATIONAL 2 STATE 3 POSITION QUENTON NELSON RANK 6.1 6'5" | 301 LBS | OT RED BANK CATHOLIC RED BANK, NJ CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 5/2/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: No. 29 Class Rank: No. 1 Career Stats: 38 career starts Overview: This one was easy. If anything, one could argue that Nelson was underrated even as a five-star recruit and the No. 29 player in the country. Taken sixth overall by the Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft, only three players from the 2014 class nationally were taken higher (Myles Garrett, Solomon Thomas, Leonard Fournette) and another player (Jamal Adams) was also taken sixth, but a year prior to Nelson. The former Irish star had a brilliant career in South Bend, and twice he was part of arguably the best line in the country. A 38-game starter, Nelson earned unanimous All-American honors following his senior season and second-team All-American honors after his junior campaign. How about this for an impact statistic. In the 37 games that Nelson played at Notre Dame, the Irish offense averaged 215.8 rushing yards per game and 5.5 yards per rush. During the other 80 games of the Brian Kelly era that Nelson did not play in, the offense averaged 159.8 rushing yards per games and 4.5 yards per rush. Nelson finished his career as one of the all-time great offensive linemen to wear an Irish uniform. 2. DRUE TRANQUILL, S - NATIONAL 6 STATE 32 POSITION DRUE TRANQUILL RANK 5.7 6'2" | 205 LBS | S CARROLL FORT WAYNE, IN CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 11/20/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 14 Career Stats: 292 tackles, 25 TFL's, 5.5 sacks, 11 break ups, 8 hurries, 3 interceptions Overview: Tranquill certainly out-played his three-star ranking and No. 14 player in the class status. His impact was felt early on, with Tranquill earning a role in the nickel defense and on special teams as a true freshman in 2014. He racked up 33 tackles and intercepted a pass in the first 11 games before a knee injury against Louisville ended his season. Tranquill battled back from that knee injury only to see his sophomore season end after three games with yet another knee injury. A quality safety in 2016, Tranquill registered 79 tackles and another pick as a junior, but when the staff changes were made following that season, Tranquill moved to the rover position, where he shined in 2017. A captain that fall, Tranquill registered 85 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and another interception. He moved to inside linebacker as a senior, and the two-time captain made 856 stops, nine tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and four pass break ups in 12 games. Tranquill started at four different positions during his Notre Dame career, and whenever he was healthy he was productive. His leadership alone made him a valuable asset to the team, but combine that with his production and you have one of the best defensive players of the Kelly era. 3. ALEX BARS, OT 98 NATIONAL 4 STATE 10 POSITION ALEX BARS RANK 5.9 6'6" | 309 LBS | OT MONTGOMERY BELL ACADEMY NASHVILLE, TN CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 5/18/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: No. 98 Class Rank: No. 3 Career Stats: 32 career starts Overview: Bars had a really good career at Notre Dame, but if not for a knee injury in game five of his final season, Bars would have had an even better career and likely would get drafted even higher in the upcoming NFL Draft. When Bars went down in game five against Stanford he was playing the best football of his career and was playing like an All-American. Like Tranquill, Bars was a versatile player for the Irish. He started two games at left guard in place of Nelson in 2015, and the following season he moved to right tackle, where he started 12 games. The Nashville native moved to right guard for the 2017 season and had some really brilliant moments that season. He became more consistent as a fifth-year senior in 2018, now back to left guard where he began his Irish career. Bars graded out as the team's best blocker for five straight weeks, and his ability to add power in the run game and shut down the opposition pass game showed he had finally developed into the outstanding all-around player he had always flashed he could be. Bars was also named a team captain during his final season in South Bend. 4. DESHONE KIZER, QB - NATIONAL 17 STATE 9 POSITION DESHONE KIZER RANK 5.8 6'4" | 205 LBS | DUAL QB CENTRAL CATHOLIC TOLEDO, OH CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 6/12/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 10 Career Stats: 5,809 passing yards, 47 passing TD's, 19 INT's / 992 rush yards, 18 rush TD's Overview: Kizer had an interesting career at Notre Dame. He was productive, passing for 5,809 yards and racking up 65 total touchdowns in just under two seasons. When starting quarterback Malik Zaire went down in week two of the 2015 against Virginia, Kizer stepped in and led the Irish to an 8-3 record in games he started, and he led a fourth-quarter comeback in the win over Virginia. From a pure talent standpoint, Kizer was arguably the best quarterback of the Kelly era. His ability to beat teams with the deep ball combined with his ability to run (992 career rushing yards) made him hard to defend when he was on his game. Kiser and receiver Will Fuller were a fun combination to watch during the 2015 season. All three of the teams that beat the Kiser-led Irish in 2015 finished the season ranked in the top five. A second round pick in the 2017 Draft, Kizer will likely be the second highest drafted player in this class, but the fact he played less than two full seasons worth of games and some of his leadership issues - or lack thereof - knock him down a couple of spots. 5. SAM MUSTIPHER, G 203 NATIONAL 3 STATE 12 POSITION SAM MUSTIPHER RANK 5.8 6'4" | 292 LBS | OG GOOD COUNSEL OLNEY, MD CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 4/16/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: No. 203 Class Rank: No. 6 Career Stats: 38 career starts Overview: A better fifth-year likely would have pushed Mustipher past Kiser, but the two-time Irish captain was not on top of his game in 2018. Mustipher started 38 straight games at center, and his durability, accountability and dependability cannot be overstated. He had some good moments as a first-year starter in 2016 but Mustipher's game took off in year two in 2017, where he was a key cog in an offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award, which goes to the nation's top offensive line. Despite earning second-team All-American honors by the Football Writers Association of America and ESPN, Mustipher did not grade out as well in 2018 as he did in previous seasons. His pass protection was effective but he took a step back as a run blocker. While that part of his game was disappointing, his leadership and character was a driving force in the team's 12-1 season. Mustipher was known just as much for his off-the-field accolades as he was for his on-field exploits, which speaks volumes about the kind of high-character young man he proved to be. 6. NYLES MORGAN, ILB 72 NATIONAL 2 STATE 5 POSITION NYLES MORGAN RANK 5.9 6'1" | 222 LBS | ILB CRETE MONEE CRETE, IL CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 1/5/2014 NOTRE DAME National Rank: No. 72 Class Rank: No. 2 Career Stats: 246 tackles, 16.5 TFL's, 6 sacks, 5 break ups, 7 hurries, 2 forced fumbles Overview: Morgan had a solid career at Notre Dame, but he didn't quite live up to his Rivals100 ranking and No. 2 player in the class status. He made at least 90 tackles in each of his final two seasons as a starter, but Morgan started just one season under the current defensive staff. I would have liked to see how he and Greer Martini would have performed had they been able to play their entire careers under the Mike Elko/Clark Lea defense and with Matt Balis as the strength coach. An injury to Joe Schmidt forced Morgan into the lineup as a true freshman in 2014. He made 47 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss that season, earning freshman All-American honors. Strictly a special teams player in 2015, Morgan stepped back into the starting lineup for the final 25 games of his career. He registered 90 tackles and six TFL's as a junior (2016) and career-highs with 92 tackles, seven TFL's and six hurries as a senior (2017). Morgan was named a team captain for the 2017 season, a year in which the Irish finished 10-3. 7. GREER MARTINI, ILB - NATIONAL 33 STATE - POSITION GREER MARTINI RANK 5.5 6'3" | 230 LBS | ILB WOODBERRY FOREST SCHOOL WOODBERRY FOREST, VA CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 7/4/2012 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 22 Career Stats: 191 tackles, 14.5 TFL's, 5 sacks, 2 break ups, 4 hurries, 1 interception Overview: Martini was a true jack-of-all-trades player at Notre Dame. A four-year special teams player and option specialist, Martini essentially played three different positions in his Notre Dame career. Considering he was never a full-time starter, his career production (191 tackles, 14.5 TFL's, five sacks) is truly astounding. Martini was also a team captain in 2017 and was part of a highly productive three-man rotation at linebacker that included Morgan and Te'von Coney. He started all six games against triple option opponents during his career, and Martini was outstanding every time. He totaled 61 tackles and three TFL's in those six games and never had fewer than eight tackles. 8. TYLER NEWSOME, K - NATIONAL 75 STATE 6 POSITION TYLER NEWSOME RANK 5.5 6'3" | 190 LBS | K CARROLLTON CARROLLTON, GA CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 6/22/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 23 Career Stats: 225 career punts, 44.0 career average Overview: This is high for a specialist, but Newsome had one of the most productive punting careers in Notre Dame's storied history. He finished ranked third all-time in total punts (225), second all-time in yards per punt average (44.0), and his 44.7 yards per punt average in 2018 was the third-best single-season effort in history. He also ranked fifth, seventh and eighth in single season yards per punt averages. Newsome was also named a team captain for his final season at Notre Dame, a year in which the Irish went 12-1 and made the College Football Playoffs. 9. NICK WATKINS, CB 186 NATIONAL 22 STATE 15 POSITION NICK WATKINS RANK 5.8 6'1" | 189 LBS | CB BISHOP DUNNE DALLAS, TX CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 11/1/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: No. 186 Class Rank: No. 5 Career Stats: 77 tackles, 4 interceptions, 13 break ups Notre Dame Career Stats: 35 tackles, 2 interceptions, 8 break ups Overview: Watkins was a good football player at Notre Dame, there is no question about that, but he played during an era in which the Irish recruited a number of very talented players at the position. An arm injury cost him the 2016 season, and during that year the 2016 recruiting class (Julian Love, Troy Pride Jr., Donte Vaughn) emerged. Watkins started the first nine games of the 2017 season, and he finished the season ranked second on the team with eight pass break ups to go with 27 tackles and a pick. With Pride slated to start over him in 2018, Watkins chose to play his final season at Houston. The Texas native registered 42 tackles, five break ups and two interceptions during his final season. He returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown in Houston's win over Navy. 10. ANDREW TRUMBETTI, DE - NATIONAL 12 STATE 17 POSITION ANDREW TRUMBETTI RANK 5.7 6'5" | 249 LBS | WDE DEMAREST DEMAREST, NJ CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 3/24/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 15 Career Stats: 90 tackles, 12.5 TFL's, 2.5 sacks, 19 hurries, 1 INT (returned for a TD) Overview: Trumbetti looked like he was going to have an excellent career at Notre Dame after earning a major role as a true freshman in 2014. The New Jersey native registered 5.5 TFL's and six hurries that season, and showed a lot of promise. Trumbetti could never build on that initial campaign, and he spent the rest of his career as nothing more than a key rotation player. Trumbetti was a key cog in the 2017 defensive line rotation, playing strongside and drop end while picking up 28 tackles, four TFL's and five hurries. He had a pressure in the 24-17 win over Navy that resulted in a rushed throw and an interception to put the game away. 11. KOLIN HILL, ILB - NATIONAL 36 STATE 21 POSITION KOLIN HILL RANK 5.7 6'2" | 222 LBS | ILB CLEMENS SCHERTZ, TX CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 12/16/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 13 Career Stats: 119 tackles, 19.5 TFL's, 10 sacks, 9 hurries Notre Dame Career Stats: 7 tackles, 2.5 TFL's, 2 sacks, 1 hurry Overview: Hill had a decent start to his Notre Dame career, earning a role in the nickel package, where he registered 2.5 TFL's and two sacks as an edge rusher. He chose to transfer closer to home after that season, and he played the final three seasons of his career at Texas Tech. Hill made 112 tackles, 17 TFL's and eight sacks during his tenure in Lubbock. 12. JONATHAN BONNER, DE - NATIONAL 13 STATE - POSITION JONATHAN BONNER RANK 5.6 6'3" | 253 LBS | WDE PARKWAY CENTRAL CHESTERFIELD, MO CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 6/27/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 19 Career Stats: 63 tackles, 3.5 TFL's, 2 sacks, 2 break ups, 9 hurries Overview: Bonner jumped up this list the last two seasons. A non-factor his first three seasons (11 total tackles), Bonner became a key starter for Notre Dame over the last two seasons. In fact, Notre Dame went 22-4 in games that Bonner started. He wasn't a playmaker, but Bonner was a steady and dependable player. He finished his career with arguably his best performance, with Bonner thriving in Notre Dame's season-ending loss to Clemson, making three tackles, breaking up two passes and registering a hurry. 13. JAY HAYES, DT 233 NATIONAL 3 STATE 14 POSITION JAY HAYES RANK 5.8 6'4" | 265 LBS | DT POLY PREP BROOKLYN, NY CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 11/8/2012 NOTRE DAME National Rank: No. 233 Class Rank: No. 8 Career Stats: 42 tackles, 4 TFL's, 1 sack, 5 hurries Notre Dame Career Stats: 39 tackles, 4 TFL's, 1 sack, 5 hurries Overview: Hayes never lived up to his Rivals250 ranking, although he seemed on the verge of doing so after the 2017 season. He emerged as a starter that season and was one of Notre Dame's best run defenders. Instead of competing as a fifth-year player, Hayes instead chose to transfer to Georgia, where he played very little and made just three tackles. Hayes registered 27 tackles and 3.5 TFL's in the 2017 season, when most of his production came. 14. NIC WEISHAR, TE - NATIONAL 13 STATE 7 POSITION NIC WEISHAR RANK 5.8 6'5" | 230 LBS | TE MARIST MIDLOTHIAN, IL CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 4/24/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 9 Career Stats: 18 receptions, 128 yards, 7.1 YPC, 4 TD's Overview: Despite his lack of production, Weishar was actually a key part of the Notre Dame tight end rotation throughout his career. After redshirting as a freshman, he earned the most snaps at tight end as a sophomore in 2015. He never made more than nine catches or 52 yards in a season, Weishar was a good blocker and a quality leader. The work he did off the field alone made him a really important part to the Notre Dame community, but his on-field play was important as well, even though he didn't live up to his four-star startus. 15. DANIEL CAGE, DT - NATIONAL 27 STATE 27 POSITION DANIEL CAGE RANK 5.7 6'3" | 275 LBS | DT WINTON WOODS CINCINNATI, OH CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 2/5/2014 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 17 Career Stats: 32 tackles, 5 TFL's, 0 sacks, 1 hurry Overview: Cage likely would have ranked higher on this list had his career not been ended early by injuries. He was a co-starter at nose tackle in 2015, registering career highs in tackles (18) and tackles for loss (4). He played just nine games in 2016, which turned out to be his final season playing football. 16. NILE SYKES, ILB - NATIONAL 18 STATE 20 POSITION NILE SYKES RANK 5.7 6'1" | 219 LBS | ILB MONTINI LOMBARD, IL CLASS OF 2014 VERBAL COMMIT 12/16/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 12 Career Stats: 49 tackles, 10.5 TFL's, 8 sacks, 3 break ups, 3 hurries (never played at ND) Overview: Sykes showed up at Notre Dame for summer workouts and school, but he never actually made it to Notre Dame in the fall. His admission was rescinded and he ultimately transferred to Indiana, where he made 49 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks as a rotation player at defensive end. 17. TYLER LUATUA, TE - NATIONAL 52 STATE 12 POSITION TYLER LUATUA RANK 5.7 6'4" | 230 LBS | TE LA MIRADA LA MIRADA, CA CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 12/16/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 16 Career Stats: 32 games played/4 career starts Overview: Luatua played 32 games during his career and made four starts, but he never caught a pass in a Notre Dame uniform. Luatua emerged as a key blocker during his first two seasons, but his career was cut short because of concussion issues. He retired from football following the 2016 season. 18. JUSTIN BRENT, WR 84 NATIONAL 1 STATE 11 POSITION JUSTIN BRENT RANK 5.9 6'1" | 196 LBS | WR SPEEDWAY INDIANAPOLIS, IN CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 7/10/2012 NOTRE DAME National Rank: No. 84 Class Rank: No. 3 Career Stats: 27 tackles, 2 TFL's, 1 sack, 1 break up, 2 INT / 1 reception, 21 yards (No ND stats) Overview: Brent was a huge bust at Notre Dame, and he didn't do much at Nevada after transferring following the 2016 season. Brent didn't register a single statistic at Notre Dame, and he caught just one pass for 21 yards in 2017, his first at Nevada. He moved to defense as a fifth-year senior and made 27 tackles, two TFL's, a sack and two interceptions. 19. JHONNY WILLIAMS, DE - NATIONAL 24 STATE - POSITION JHONATHON WILLIAMS RANK 5.5 6'6" | 230 LBS | SDE BERRIEN SPRINGS BERRIEN SPRINGS, MI CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 11/27/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 21 Career Stats: 21 tackles, 5.5 TFL's, 4 sacks, 3 hurries (Never played a game at ND) Overview: Williams played his freshman season at Notre Dame but never played in a game. He transferred to Toledo but made just three tackles before then transferring to Grand Valley State. He made 18 tackles, 5.5 TFL's and four sacks this past season with the Lakers. 20. COREY HOLMES, WR 224 NATIONAL 35 STATE 29 POSITION COREY HOLMES RANK 5.8 6'2" | 174 LBS | WR ST. THOMAS AQUINAS FORT LAUDERDALE, FL CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 7/17/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: No. 224 Class Rank: No. 7 Career Stats: 12 receptions, 103 yards, 8.6 YPC, 0 TD's Notre Dame Career Stats: 11 receptions, 96 yards, 8.7 YPC, 0 TD's Overview: Holmes only saw real action came during the 2016 season, a year when the Irish went 4-8. He caught 11 passes for 96 yards that season. Holmes transferred to Purdue and caught just one pass in four games at Purdue before quitting the team. Like Brent, Holmes must be considered a bust considering his Rivals250 status. 21. PETE MOKWUAH, DT - NATIONAL 6 STATE - POSITION PETE MOKWUAH RANK 5.5 6'5" | 305 LBS | DT ST JOSEPH BY THE SEA STATEN ISLAND, NY CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 1/25/2014 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 20 Career Stats: 9 tackles, 0.5 TFL Notre Dame Career Stats: 1 tackle Overview: Mokwuah was a late addition to the 2014 class due to Notre Dame having depth issues at the position. He never cracked the rotation and made just one tackle during his Irish career. Mokwuah registered eight tackles and 0.5 TFL's this past season after transferring to Wagner, a FCS program. 22. JIMMY BYRNE, OT - NATIONAL 19 STATE 30 POSITION JIMMY BYRNE RANK 5.8 6'4" | 295 LBS | OT ST. IGNATIUS CLEVELAND, OH CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 12/9/2012 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 11 Career Stats: 3 games played Overview: Byrne only played just three games in his final season at Notre Dame, so he didn't live up to his four-star status. He was considered a well-respected part of the line, but the depth and talent in the classes before and after him kept him from earning playing time. 23. GRANT BLANKENSHIP, DE - NATIONAL 59 STATE 29 POSITION GRANT BLANKENSHIP RANK 5.7 6'6" | 252 LBS | SDE THE COLONY THE COLONY, TX CLASS OF 2014 SIGNED LOI 7/5/2013 NOTRE DAME National Rank: Not ranked Class Rank: No. 18 Career Stats: 12 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack Overview: Blankenship made 12 tackles and a sack during his freshman season at Notre Dame and showed a lot of promise, but his attitude issues resulted in him leaving South Bend for Oklahoma, where he never played and was again booted off the team. wow, the bottom of this class was awful, it really set us back a few years in terms of quality depth
Random Q - does Liam Eichenburg have one or two years of eligibility left? If two, is there thought of him leaving early / being a high draft pick?
I believe he has two years. The offensive line room seems to have a culture of coming back and improving their stock. Think the rise of Q and Glinch after returning could create a trend amongst that group.
That would be pretty good, with the young talent pushing and the d being a bit more mature(except de obviously). Really need to step up the skill position recruiting though.
He wasn't already? Dude is the best story we have had in my lifetime. I have dreams of him playing in a good defense like last year.
I get boners from these dreams... Jaylon at buck with lea as the coach, let him read and react. A blitz from time to time with the dline Nd has right now he would almost always go against a rb while blitzing.
Not a terrible display today. Still had the long stretches where we couldn’t score but not as bad as it has been. Are we seeing actual improvement?
didn't get to watch today, but can't be upset with that showing today. i thought we'd lose by 20 again. we just got run out of the building (at home) against this same team a couple weeks ago. and we had a chance to pull a huge upset this afternoon. like what we're seeing the last game and a half
can someone post? https://247sports.com/Article/Notre-Dames-Two-Year-Recruiting-Report-Card-128983718/
ND is going to have a tiny 2020 class (14-18 total), with 5 onboard already I'm gonna be pissed if they don't swing for the fences on the skill positions and OL
https://247sports.com/college/notre...-2020-Recruiting-Scholarship-Space-128839049/ Comes down to fifth year available: Ian Book, Liam Eichenberg, Tommy Kraemer, Tony Jones Jr., Javon McKinley, John Shannon, Alohi Gilman, Jon Jones, Ade Ogundeji. I think Book, Eich, Kraemer, Jones Jr, Shannon, Gilman, and Ogundeji all come back for 2020 Puts the class at 16 today- so gonna need some attrition to get to 20
I’ll bet against Book being on the roster in 2020. And Tony Jones for that matter. The other Jones could come back though. Edit: also I would be surprised if Gilman doesn't go pro after this season.
I could easily see 3-4 transfers after spring ball. I think some position battles will work themselves out and guys will see the writing on the wall. Then you have fuckery that will occur a la McKinley. Just always does. Say 1-2 of those. 1-2 guys will turn pro after the year, adding a few more to the class. ND should (and I believe will) be even more aggressive with the 85 line than they were this year.
ND goes 10-2ish this year, but he's just not a top 3 round QB to me. He can't hit the long ball and gets rattled so I think he returns. HOWEVER if Jurk is the real deal I could see Book 5th year transfer out
I think if he plays well he will decide to go pro, and if he doesn't he will get benched and grad transfer. I agree on paper that he seems like an ideal 5th year candidate, so I guess I'm just playing the odds. Plus apparently the staff really likes Golson Zaire Kizer Wimbush Jurkovich so there's that factor to consider.
It will be interesting, if jurk is the real deal book could be pushed out or he does what Rees did and sticks around.
2018: Book great 2019: Book sucks 2020: Jurk great 2021: Jurk sucks 2022: release me from this vicious circle into the cool embrace of death
We've been firmly stuck in that cycle since Dayne Crist threw that frozen rope to John Goodman in 2009. It's been exhausting.
Only way to break the curse: starter only gets to play 1 out of every 2 years. 2019: Jurk starts - Kelly happily runs the damn ball 2020: Book starts - Kelly begrudgingly runs the damn ball 2021: Jurk starts - Kelly surprisingly runs the damn ball 2022: New ND head coach Clark Lea, through group therapy sessions, convinces the QB room that the wrath of Kelly can no longer hurt them
Honestly interested to see how that goes. Book struggled against indiscriminate blitz packages last year.
also losing to wake forrest would immediately remove any good feelings i had from that close loss at virginia on saturday. this would be freaking awful