I've always respected Jack Johnson because the high dude at Audio Specialists. made me listen to his album on vinyl on their highest end system in the building while they did some work on my car. It was really good.
On class size, ND should take around 22-23. I'm thinking QB 1 RB 2 WR 3 TE 2 OL 4 DL 4 LB 2 CB 2 S 1 ATH 2 That's a class of 23. QB and TE are done. They already have the 3 WR earmarked (Henning, Johnson, McMullan). You can add these to the probable list LB Simon DL Mills And these to the possible list OL Baker OL Christ From there, ND can swing for the fences on guys. And Wicket there was a list, but I can't find it now. Most of what I'm seeing is it went well and most are planning an official now.
Feb. 23 — Junior Day Four-star DB Lathan Ransom (2020 - offer) Four-star OL Reece Atteberry (2020 - offer) Three-star DB Justin Robinson (2020 - offer) Three-star RB JuTahn McClain (2020 - offer) Three-star CB Landen Bartleson (2020 - offer) Three-star WR Maliq Carr (2020 - offer) Three-star RB Kyle Edwards (2020) Three-star DE Cameron Large (2020) Three-star WR Jay Brunelle (2020) Three-star DE Jaden Hardy (2020) Four-star QB Tyler Buchner (2021 - offer) Four-star DB Derrick Davis Jr. (2021 - offer) WR Lorenzo Styles Jr. (2021 - offer) OL Ben Christman (2021) OL Harisen Miller (2021) LB Patrick Turner (2021) RB Drapher Cribbs (2021) WR Eric Kumah (Virginia Tech graduate transfer — immediately eligible) Feb. 21 Three-star OL Levi Rogers (2020)
Sinclair's recruiting thoughts today Spoiler Monday Notre Dame Recruiting Thoughts VIP ByKEVIN SINCLAIR 3 minutes ago 0 (Photo: Matt Cashore, 247Sports) With 2020 recruiting developing rapidly, I’ve taken a step back and written my general, frank thoughts on how each position group is coming along. Notre Dame has loaded the offer board with plenty of raw talent at important position groups, defensive end and wide receiver for example, while options at running back feels much deeper than any recent recruiting class. With five commitments, Notre Dame may have filled one quarter of its 2020 class, considering 20 spots may be a decent estimation of what staff is working with. In that, the offensive side of the ball is where a large portion of the focus should be, and where I’ll begin this review. QUARTERBACK It’s my opinion that Drew Pyne’s ranking as the No. 6 overall quarterback in the country while being just outside the Top 100 is accurate. That’s not to say that he won’t rise in those rankings, having plenty of opportunity to showcase his talent through upcoming camps, combines, and his senior year. Pyne has the fundamental talent, prostyle release, and accuracy to build on. As he matures, adds strength, and becomes more familiar with how to best quarterback a football game, his potential could soar. RUNNING BACK Simply put, with Lance Taylor at the helm, high four-star prospects and those who are located in regions that are generally difficult for Notre Dame no longer feel unattainable. That means there’s a new confidence in the odds on Bijan Robinson, Chris Tyree, and others – those guys are in the cards now. It’s been interesting to see Jeff Quinn added to the mix with some running back recruits, adding a strong recruiter to the mix (a smart move) while Chip Long is always a positive presence. I like Notre Dame’s chances with additional names like Mullings and Murphy while new names like DeaMonte Trayanum are in the picture thanks to Taylor. WIDE RECEIVER Notre Dame’s wish list is Jordan Johnson, Jalen McMillan, A.J. Henning, and one more. It’s my understanding that the Irish are very high on Maliq Carr (including Bill Rees) who will likely visit several schools before deciding. A few others worth keeping tabs on are John Humphreys, who ND could go head-to-head with Stanford for, and Xavier Watts, a sneaky-fast junior from Nebraska. More generally speaking, I like the Irish for Henning and feel cautiously confident that staff will score one of Johnson or McMillan – adding both certainly being a plausible possibility. TIGHT END Not a lot to say here other than it’s important not to forget just how consequential the acquisition of Michael Mayer and Kevin Bauman was for Chip Long. They missed on what I believe was a weaker-than-usual tight end class of 2019 before hitting a two-run homer with this pair. I wager at least one will move up in the rankings while no program will sign a better tight end class. OFFENSIVE LINE I feel Notre Dame has a real shot at landing an extraordinary tackle combination in Tosh Baker and Jimmy Christ. Combining ultra-athletic tackles in the 6-8 to 6-7 range would give Jeff Quinn the raw talent to build the next great Notre Dame O-line. If the Irish were to miss on either (or both), prospects like Roger Rosengarten, Bryn Tucker, and Andrew Gentry are excellent talents who will visit this off-season while Zak Zinter and Reece Atteberry offer nice options inside, both owning center experience. DEFENSIVE LINE Looking to add one or two (more likely, in my opinion) defensive ends, Notre Dame has accumulated loads of interest from a long list of candidates: Braiden McGregor, Xavier Carlton, Cullen Coleman, Deontae Craig, Cam Large, Jalen Logan-Redding, Mitchell Melton, and others. In a sense, it feels like the Irish will comfortably put together the D-end class they need while I predict Notre Dame will pair Aidan Keanaaina with Rylie Mills to boast the fourth impact D-tackle class in-a-row. Mike Elston is on a roll. LINEBACKER Until recent weeks, my thoughts on linebacker recruiting was simple – that the Irish would sign Cody Simon as their lone 2020 linebacker. But recent offers in Mohamed Kaba, Trenton Simpson, and others, have me wondering if a two-linebacker class may be possible. We know Notre Dame wanted a fifth 2019 linebacker in Asa Turner for the rover spot. And newly-offered athlete De'Rickey Wright sure looks like a great fit for that role at 6-3, 220. Recent success gives Clark Lea plenty of time to plan his moves and build bonds. I have to add that whether he were to play drop end or linebacker, it doesn’t matter – Jordan Botelho is one of my favorite prospects in the 2020 class and I’m confident he’ll visit South Bend. CORNERBACK I feel like we know Isaiah Rutherford has big-time potential but as for the other 2018 and 2019 class corners, it’s my opinion that it’ll take time to know exactly what the Irish have. In that, I think the 2020 cornerback class is more important than most perceive it to be, and Jalen Kimber is on the top of my board followed by Ryan Watts. Of course, Texas programs will be tough to tango for those two, but athletes like Jalen Huff, Dontae Manning, and others are intriguing as well. This position group will take time to develop this cycle SAFETY I’m very impressed with the safety board, the excellent variety of talent, body types, personalities, and demographic backgrounds. From my Saturday conversation with the top safety in Lathan Ransom, his excitement around Terry Joseph, Matt Balis matched with his hangout with Alohi Gilman, Jalen Elliot, Houston Griffith, and others went a long way. I predict Notre Dame will be within a Top 2 or 3 regardless if he makes such a top list public. Aside from him, even though he’s a few pegs down the board, my personal opinion of Elijah Gaines is higher than most while Enzo Jennings and Justin Robinson are real options for the Irish. They may only need one in the class, but I think Joseph will hit a home run again in Year Two.
and please ignore the star rankings right now, they really don't mean anything as it's too early for it to matter
also really sounds like we are going to land Tyler Buchner. He plans to visit Stanford soon and then a decision will most likely be made
Loy's recruiting scoop Spoiler Notre Dame hosted a bunch of talented prospects on Saturday for Junior Day. There were prospects in town from the 2020 and 2021 classes, as well as a graduate transfer. With the weekend complete, here’s the latest buzz coming out of the visit. SLIDE 1 of 12 1.jpg (Photo: 247Sports) — In talking with sources connected with Notre Dame, Ohio State and the prospect himself, the feeling is that these two programs made an incredible impression on four-star safety Lathan Ransom. He visited Notre Dame on Saturday and then Ohio State on Sunday, two trips he was looking forward to for a long time. My gut feeling is that the Fighting Irish have a slight lead at this point, but he’s not ready to make a decision any time soon. Look for him to take a few more unofficial visits and then narrow things down to a final five. He’ll take official visits after that. Notre Dame and Ohio State should get a second visit. Both schools seem to think his final decision will come down to these two schools. It’ll be interesting to see how this plays out, but it’s hard not to like safeties coach Terry Joseph in this one after what he’s done so far. That said, Ohio State’s Jeff Hafley and Tony Alford will do everything they can to get him on board with the Buckeyes. If looking for a potential dark horse here, one that could create a problem for the other two schools, keep an eye on Texas. SLIDE 2 of 12 2.jpg (Photo: 247Sports) — It looks like another Notre Dame-Ohio State battle for four-star offensive lineman Reece Atteberry. While I think the Irish have the edge for Ransom, I get the vibe that the Buckeyes still hold a lead for Atteberry. Notre Dame absolutely tightened the gap on this one though. He’s been to Columbus multiple times and is very familiar with that program. He’ll be there again in March. For what it’s worth, Notre Dame seems to think they have the edge right now. I’ll take Jeff Quinn all day long in the battle of offensive line coaches recruiting him, but like with Ransom, Tony Alford is very much involved here and will team up with Greg Studwara and recruit the heck out of Atteberry. This one is far from over. I expect him to use official visits to both schools. SLIDE 3 of 12 3.jpg (Photo: 247Sports) — The recruitment of four-star athlete Justin Robinson seems pretty cut and dry. Notre Dame wants him as a safety and made that very clear while he was on campus. There was no talk about playing wide receiver. He’s very much open to both positions. Any chatter about Robinson preferring wide receiver at this moment is false according to the sources I’ve spoken with. Terry Joseph and Clark Lea are very high on this young man and want to land him. In the end, if he wants to play safety I believe he’ll pick Notre Dame. If he wants to play offense, he’s heading elsewhere. From what I gathered, him ending up with the Fighting Irish would be a decision very well-received by his father, a diehard Notre Dame fan. Mom is completely on board with the Irish after this weekend’s trip as well. SLIDE 4 of 12 4.jpg (Photo: 247Sports) — Electric three-star running back JuTahn McClain was in town over the weekend and everyone told him that he’d enjoy it. Coming out of the visit, he said it was the best visit he has ever been on. Notre Dame did a great job of showing him the love. Chip Long and Lance Taylor are doing really well at this point. There is no denying that Chris Tyree is the top priority right now and the staff badly wants to land him, but if the staff misses and wants to find an option with similar traits, McClain would be a terrific addition. If Notre Dame eventually pushes here, the Irish are going to be tough to beat after this weekend. SLIDE 5 of 12 5.jpg (Photo: 247Sports) — “If we make a move for him, he’ll end up in the class,” is what a source told me about three-star cornerback Landen Bartleson. The staff really liked this young man and he is a “perfect fit” within the program from what I’m told. The staff is still getting to know him and continues to evaluate him, which is ideal seeing as though neither side is in too much of a hurry at this point. Notre Dame has a couple of cornerbacks higher on the board right now, but that could change this offseason. We’ll see if the staff goes all-in for the Kentucky talent. SLIDE 6 of 12 6.jpg (Photo: 247Sports) — Notre Dame likes three-star wide receiver Maliq Carr a great deal. The staff believes he has the athletics tools to have a really good college career. However, I’m told they are unsure about his future position. I’m told he checked in over the weekend at 6-5 and just about 230 pounds. That may eventually be too big to play wide receiver. He is pretty open about the fact that he has no interest in playing tight end, so he wants to play wide receiver. That said, there are some on the defensive side of the ball that are very intrigued about his upside over there and is trying to figure out if he can play elsewhere. That’s probably the one hold up here for Notre Dame. Just trying to identify the perfect fit for him is currently what the staff is kicking around. SLIDE 7 of 12 7.jpg (Photo: 247Sports) — I said it over the weekend and believe it to still be the case. Louisiana three-star running back Kyle Edwards made a great impression on the staff and essentially has an offer, although it’s not to a point where he could pull the trigger and commit right now. He has some work to do and if things go as expected, he’ll have the opportunity down the road. Edwards is a tremendous young man and the staff genuinely enjoyed spending time with him on Saturday. On his end, he loved the visit to Notre Dame and one source believes he’s simply waiting for the offer to commit. If things go well and is eventually offered, look for him to lock in an official visit and likely commit during that trip down the road. SLIDE 8 of 12 8.jpg (Photo: 247Sports) — Keep an eye on three-star defense end Cam Large. He’s a tight end for some schools, but the Fighting Irish absolutely love this kid on the defensive side of the ball. His athleticism, length, overall size, and tape is why Notre Dame is high on him. He made a great impression this weekend. For me, I’m waiting for the staff to push for him and make it clear that he has the green light to jump on board. He’s intrigued by a few other schools, but I genuinely believe Notre Dame is going to be hard to top. SLIDE 9 of 12 9.jpg (Photo: 247Sports) — Notre Dame is in the driver’s seat for class of 2021 four-star quarterback Tyler Buchner. Stanford is in play and will host him early this March, but the Cardinal haven’t offered yet. At this point, him heading elsewhere would be a huge punch in the gut for Notre Dame, especially quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees. Nobody has recruited Buchner harder to this point nationally. All signs point toward the Fighting Irish landing his commitment regardless if Stanford offers or not, but we’ll see how well that visit to Palo Alto goes. That said, this recruitment, in my opinion, comes to an end in March either way. If he comes out of the visit unsure what to do, Notre Dame will likely extend another offer or two. If J.J. McCarthy is one of those offered quarterbacks, I’d expect him to jump on board quickly. HIs interest in the Fighting Irish remains extremely high. SLIDE 10 of 12 10.jpeg (Photo: 247Sports) — Maybe the best impression made on the staff by any single target was probably done by class of 2021 four-star safety Derrick Davis Jr. The Top100 talent, who now holds offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State, left campus knowing that the Fighting Irish staff was going to be all over him moving forward. One source called him a “program-changing type of safety” and added that Notre Dame will treat him like he’s the top player in the country. That’s major praise for the Pennsylvania talent. On his end, Davis loved the visit even more than he anticipated. It looks like this is one to watch for the Fighting Irish moving forward. SLIDE 11 of 12 11.jpg (Photo: 247Sports) — The recruitment of class of 2021 wide receiver Lorenzo Styles Jr. is very interesting. I’m told both Notre Dame and Ohio State coaching staffs are very confident that he’ll eventually end up with their respective program. Both schools are expected to host him again this spring and likely early in the fall. He has no decision timeline and will pull the trigger when he’s 100 percent on one school in particular. SLIDE 12 of 12 12.jpg (Photo: 247Sports) — Not much to report on Virginia Tech graduate transfer wide reciter Eric Kumah. The staff enjoyed getting to know him, had a great time as a staff when they took him out to dinner Saturday night, and believes he’d be a quality addition to the program. He has visits still to take and isn’t expected to arrive on campus until June. The good news for Notre Dame is that they can go through spring practice and truly figure out whether or not they need to bring in another wide receiver. If guys aren’t progression, they will make a strong push for Kumah. If guys emerge better than expected, they may decide to no longer pursue him.
So basically 2020 is shaping up to be one of our better quality classes in quite some time, assuming we don't shit the bed and/or have major coaching turnover?
That's what it reads like to me. If Book can avoid the PTSD from his shit ass run in Dallas we should be gucci.
You may very well be right but I feel like they write that same article every year and we only end up signing like 3 of the guys they mention.
ND is coming off back to back 10+ win seasons and has the depth to swing for the fences Ya the class should be good
gonna blow it again down the stretch unfortunately. also, these refs are fucking terrbile the last 2 or 3 minutes
Seriously though, that 10 second call and the associated falling apart that followed was a summary of the year. Tons of potential but no identity. The way Harvey drops his eyes when he gets the ball absolutely stops and you can just tell there is no connection between the old (Gibbs, Mooney)and the new. Rex was more of the glue than I thought/gave him credit for. Really feel like with the injuries this year you have to wonder if Brey wishes he had his summer trip back for this year.
Good point on Harvey, Grant and Pat were always eyes up, he can learn but they were special in that they never saw the floor, they always saw the rim.
Also on The Athletic, apparently Tillery played with a torn labrum since the Stanford game. Would explain why his production fell off a cliff.
For being a Twitter tough guy, I'd like to see the list of people Dakich has blocked on Twitter. Once I tweeted about how much of a blowhard he is and he blocked me. The funny thing is I didn't tag him, just used his name. So he, or someone he hired, is searching twitter and blocking people that say shit about him.
For as much as a blowhard Dan is, his brother Roy is 10x worse. Roy played LB at Penn State and was an alcoholic cop. He coached LB's at Andrean from 2003-2005. I easily had 4-5 concussions because of him. He was the worst! Huge blow hard always telling these self centered stories about Penn State and being a cop. He disappeared from Andrean when he got fired by Crown Point police
coach D's RB big board Spoiler When Notre Dame kicks off the 2019 season it won't have a single Rivals four-star running back on the roster. Stars are certainly not a direct indicator of talent, but the reality is Notre Dame's expected starting running back in 2019 is a converted wide receiver, and the Irish have missed on the majority of their top targets the last four cycles. Notre Dame now has a new position coach, with Lance Taylor recently being hired to replace Autry Denson. Taylor will be tasked with dramatically upping the recruiting success at the position, and the 2020 running back board is loaded. If Taylor can start fast he could lead an immediate overhaul at the position. With five running backs on the roster with eligibility beyond the 2020 season, depth isn't a need for Notre Dame in the 2020 class. Notre Dame needs an impact back in this class, but if the right two players want to jump on board the staff would jump at the chance at adding a major boost in talent at the position. Right now Notre Dame is in great shape at the position because every back in the current breakdown would provide a talent boost at the position. Chris Tyree and Bijan Robinson grade out as Top 50 recruits while Tirek Murphy, Kalel Mullings and Michael Drennen II grade out as Tp 100-150 caliber players. JuTahn McClain and Reggie Love are Top 250 caliber backs and Kyle Edwards has the potential to become that kind of player now that he will become a lead back for his senior season. The breakdown for each recruit contains a BGI grade, an upside grade, an offer list, a film analysis and link to film. The breakdown section lists backs alphabetically. The rankings are at the bottom of the article. (Note: As more backs are offered and become legit targets this board will expand) MICHAEL DRENNEN II, 5-11, 190, DUBLIN (OH) COFFMAN 142 NATIONAL 3 STATE 6 POSITION MICHAEL DRENNEN II RANK 5.8 5'11" | 190 LBS | APB COFFMAN DUBLIN, OH CLASS OF 2020 UNDECIDED BGI Grade: 4.0 Upside Grade: 4.5 Offers: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Georgia, Michigan, Florida State, Penn State, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, West Virginia, Boston College, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue, Duke, Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Minnesota, Vanderbilt, Indiana What I like about Michael Drennen II is his strong all-around game. There’s nothing he’s really great at, but I don’t see any weaknesses in his game either, which makes him a really good fit for the Irish offense. Drennen has good size (5-11, 190) and a good frame. He runs with impressive pad level and I really like the leg drive he uses as a between-the-tackles runner. Combine that with his strong balance, and Drennen does a good job picking up yards after contact. His willingness to mix it up between the tackles and to put his shoulder down in short yardage situations is what you need in an every down back. The Dublin Coffman star is not overly sudden and explosive, but he is a smooth and fluid athlete that changes direction with ease. His vision and feel for the game are arguably his best traits. Drennen is a patient runner and he shows top-level anticipation skills, which combined with the rest of the traits in this paragraph and you start to understand why he is so elusive. Notre Dame likes backs that can catch the ball, and that’s a legitimate strength of Drennen’s game. He’s not only effective coming out of the backfield, but he can line up in the slot and attack down the field. Drennen tracks the ball well for a running back and when he catches the ball in traffic he is dangerous. Junior Season Highlights KYLE EDWARDS, 6-0, 205, DESTREHAN (LA) HIGH SCHOOL - NATIONAL 14 STATE 24 POSITION KYLE EDWARDS RANK 5.7 6'0" | 205 LBS | RB DESTREHAN DESTREHAN, LA CLASS OF 2020 UNDECIDED BGI Grade: 3.5 Upside Grade: 4.0 Offers: Alabama, Kentucky, Utah, Louisville, Virginia, Arizona, Colorado Edwards was the No. 2 back at Destrehan in 2018, playing alongside 2019 LSU signee John Emery, the No. 36 player in the country. Edwards still rushed for 709 yards (6.6 YPC) and eight touchdowns.He is an efficient runner that makes decisions, shows good anticipation skills, reads the second level well and shows good timing as a runner, which helps him maximize available yards. He is a thick young athlete with room to add good weight, especially with his lower body. That suits the traits that OC Chip Long wants out of a back. Someone that is able to hammer teams between the tackles and open up perimeter opportunities for the pass game. Edwards has short legs and a longer torso, which makes his center of gravity better than most 6-0 backs. Edwards has good natural power and can take punishment. His size, balance and strength allow him to run through arm tackles and pick up yards after contact. When he learns to dip-and-rip more effectively and show a bit better leg drive he’ll be even more effective with his power, and he also needs to learn to put the ball in the outside arm (it’s always in his right arm) and make better use of his stiff arm. The Destrehan standout is a bit of a slow starter, and not just because he has top-notch patience, which he does. His first few steps aren’t overly explosive, but once he gets rolling he shows impressive second level speed. His feet naturally point out more than usual, which keeps him from being an overly sudden back, but he’s smooth athletically and shows enough plant-and-go behind the line and on the second level to make plays. He is more than capable of making quick second-level cuts, which combined with his size and power makes him an effective YAC back. Junior Season Highlights REGGIE LOVE, 5-10, 185, ST. LOUIS (MO) TRINITY CATHOLIC 190 NATIONAL 3 STATE 13 POSITION REGGIE LOVE RANK 5.8 5'10" | 185 LBS | RB TRINITY CATHOLIC ST. LOUIS, MO CLASS OF 2020 UNDECIDED BGI Grade: 4.0 Upside Grade: 4.0 Offers: Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Penn State, Nebraska, TCU, Purdue, Syracuse, Louisville, Iowa State, Kentucky, Minnesota, Kansas State, Vanderbilt, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas Love is another player that lacks any elite traits, but his all-around game is something I really like. He is a slasher back in the mold of the Oregon backs under Chip Kelly a few years back, although Love lacks the home run speed those backs possessed. At 5-10 and 185 pounds, Love has good size for a slashing back. He is built low to the ground and has room to add much-needed size and strength, especially with his lower body. Love shows a good leg drive, and when he fills out he should improve his ability to run through tackles and pick up yards after contact. But he’ll compete, which he shows on defense and as a pass blocker. Love doesn’t have great long speed, but he can still make big plays because of his other traits, especially his ability to get to full speed in a hurry. He explodes out of his stance and gets downhill in a hurry, although I’d like him to be just a bit more patient at times. But when Love puts his foot in the ground and attacks the line of hurry he gets through the hole in a hurry. Love shows good foot quickness and makes impressive jump cuts, and shows above-average cutting ability on the second level. Love is a smart player that stays on his tracks and is decisive as a runner, sometimes a bit too decisive. He shows good vision and is an efficient player from a technique standpoint, which helps him maximize his speed. Love is good in the pass game in the traditional sense. He is good in the screen game, can catch the short routes and can block. Junior Season Highlights JUTAHN McCLAIN, 5-9, 176, FAIRFIELD (OH) HIGH SCHOOL - NATIONAL 10 STATE 10 POSITION JUTAHN MCCLAIN RANK 5.7 5'9" | 176 LBS | APB FAIRFIELD FAIRFIELD, OH CLASS OF 2020 UNDECIDED BGI Grade: 4.0 Upside Grade: 4.5 Offers: Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Missouri, Purdue, Louisville, Duke, Kentucky, Minnesota, Maryland, Rutgers Let’s get the knock on McClain out of the way right away. He’s just not very big. McClain is listed at 5-9 and 176 pounds, and while he has good leg size for someone with his smallish frame, he doesn’t really have the body that makes me think he’ll get to be over 200 pounds. He will have to work to build up his upper body as much as possible. His film had to grow on me a bit, and after watching it a couple of times I was sold on his ability based on his highlights. But it wasn’t until I watched a full game that I truly grew to appreciate what this young back brings to the table. He has impressive long speed even though he isn’t a burner, he can plant his foot in the ground and explode vertically at get to full speed quickly, he has top-notch foot agility, he has impressive balance and his body control is what you want in an all-around back. McClain is fundamentally sound and efficient, and everything he does is with purpose. He stays on his run tracks and doesn’t make unnecessary cuts. He makes his cut and gets vertical. His runs more like a north-south player than he does a scat back. It’s not until he gets in space that you start to see him moving all-around. He’ll put his head down and run with authority for his size and his leg drive is good. McClain is dangerous in the screen game because of how good he is in space, and in the game I saw he caught a back shoulder deep ball off a wheel route, showing the ability to track the ball and flip his hips. What I found most impressive about his pass game production was that he was willing to step up and be physical as a blocker, and more important he showed the pop to actually thrive as a blocker. Junior Season Highlights KALEL MULLINGS, 6-2, 220, MILTON (MA) ACADEMY 87 NATIONAL 2 STATE 6 POSITION KALEL MULLINGS RANK 5.9 6'2" | 220 LBS | OLB MILTON ACADEMY MILTON, MA CLASS OF 2020 UNDECIDED BGI Grade: 4.0 Upside Grade: 4.5 Offers: Notre Dame, Clemson, Ohio State, Michigan, Stanford, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Penn State, Michigan State, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, UCLA, Northwestern, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Virginia, North Carolina, Colorado, Duke, Maryland, Vanderbilt, Rutgers Size certainly isn’t something you have to worry about with Mullings, who was originally recruited to play linebacker. His size plays up extremely well at running back. He has solid linebacker size, but he doesn’t have that elite length that teams look for more and more on defense. At running back his size/frame grade is elite, and he has elite power potential, although continuing to refine his body and frame is a must. What stands out about Mullings game is how nimble he is as a runner despite being a big back. He moves really well for a 6-2, 220-pound running back. There are a number of jump cuts he makes that look like something you’d see from a smaller back. He shows the ability to make back-to-back cuts and then get vertical. Mullings can bounce runs to the outside and can take back cuts all the way out to the perimeter. You don’t often see that kind of fluidity and cutting ability from a back that big. Mullings is a natural runner that shows a strong feel for the position. He makes quick second level cuts and shows impressive anticipation as a runner. The Milton star sets blocks up well and shows the ability to quickly plant and burst vertically, and he has the ability to dip and rip, and once that improves he’ll become an even more effective weapon between the tackles. There is still a lot of room for Mullings to improve as a back, especially when he gets to college and commits to being a full-time offensive player. Once that happens I think his game is going to take even greater steps forward. You also can’t discount his versatility, with Mullings grading out as a four-star on both sides of the ball. Junior Game Highlights (vs. Belmont Hill) TIREK MURPHY, 6-0, 220, MIDDLE VILLAGE (NY) CHRIST THE KING - NATIONAL 4 STATE 20 POSITION TIREK MURPHY RANK 5.8 6'0" | 220 LBS | RB CHRIST THE KING MIDDLE VILLAGE, NY CLASS OF 2020 UNDECIDED BGI Grade: 4.0 Upside Grade: 5.0 Offers: Notre Dame, LSU, Michigan, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Miami (Fla.), Pittsburgh, Missouri, South Carolina, Boston College, Syracuse, Purdue, Baylor, Maryland, Duke, Arizona State, Indiana, Rutgers Murphy is one of my favorite football players in the 2020 class. He is just scratching the surface of how good he can be. Murphy plays for a program that just isn’t good, and it limits just how much he can do as a runner, but it doesn’t take much film watching to see the natural tools. His game needs fundamental work; he needs to improve his technique and he has to be a bit more patient, but those are things that are easily correctable, and when he gets good coaching his game is going to explode. I’m not sure if Murphy is the 6-0, 220 pounds that he’s listed at, but he has an outstanding frame. He’s not too tall and he runs with good pad level, and he possesses a thick and short lower body, which I like in a back. The Christ The King athlete runs with good leg drive and can dip and rip, and once he gets into a good weight program his power is really going to take off and could be elite. He shows a good stiff arm and has the lower body power to run through arm tackles with ease. Murphy doesn’t have home run speed, but he can get to top speed quickly, and his north-south running style suits his body and ability to plant and get vertical well. He shows a good burst as a runner and in space he’s a one-cut player that isn’t shifty, but he makes quick moves and gets vertical, which plays well with his power and size. Murphy has good vision and anticipation as a runner, and he’s nimble for a big back. Murphy is an elite pass catcher, showing the ability to not only make plays out of the backfield and to pass block, but he can legitimate line up outside and run routes like a receiver. Murphy also tracks the ball downfield well and when he gets the ball in space his combination of power and vision makes him a weapon. He’s not only versatile on offense, but he’s a pretty good high school defensive player as well. Junior Season Highlights BIJAN ROBINSON, 6-1, 205, TUCSON (AZ) SALPOINTE 55 NATIONAL 3 STATE 7 POSITION BIJAN ROBINSON RANK 5.9 6'1" | 205 LBS | RB SALPOINTE TUCSON, AZ CLASS OF 2020 UNDECIDED BGI Grade: 4.5 Upside Grade: 5.0 Offers: Notre Dame, Alabama, Oklahoma, Ohio State, LSU, Texas, Wisconsin, USC, Michigan, Washington, Nebraska, Utah, UCLA, Kansas State, Colorado, Arizona State, Arizona, Illinois Robinson doesn’t seem to be the 6-1, 205 pounds that he is listed at, but he has a good running back frame. He’s on the thin side, but he’s also muscular and has a good build with a well-defined upper body. The more he matures physically and when he gets some time in a college weight room he’ll have the size and strength to be an every down back that can hammer opponents and also be a home run hitter. There is a lot to like about Robinson’s game. He’s not a burner and his long speed is just above average, but he’s an explosive athlete that gets to full speed in a step, so he maximizes the speed he does have. I also love his ability to make multiple cuts and then immediately get back to full speed. His balance and foot agility is special. Opponents hit him and he just keeps going and defenders have to get a clean shot on him to bring him down. There are so many plays where he works wide slowly, shows patience and then plants his foot and explodes through the hole in a flash. Robinson is a sudden athlete that seems to be running vertically and then just explodes into a cut and leaves defenders grasping at air. What makes him a special back is that he can not only do this in space, but he can do it in tight quarters, which makes him extremely hard to tackle and also allows him to maximize yards. Once he adds more weight and strength he’ll be a nightmare for defenders. The Salpointe standout shows impressive patience in space and behind the line, but when he commits to getting vertically it’s impressive to watch. He has a great feel as a runner and seems like a natural and smart runner. He can make impressive cuts and he’s elusive, but he doesn’t over do it and cut just to cut. When he sees green he gets vertical. Robinson is really effective in the screen game. Junior Season Highlights CHRIS TYREE, 5-10, 185, CHESTER (VA) THOMAS DALE 60 NATIONAL 2 STATE 1 POSITION CHRIS TYREE RANK 5.9 5'10" | 185 LBS | APB THOMAS DALE CHESTER, VA CLASS OF 2020 UNDECIDED BGI Grade: 4.5 Upside Grade: 5.0 Offers: Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Georgia, Ohio State, LSU, Florida, Florida State, Stanford, Michigan, Penn State, Nebraska, Tennessee, Boston College, Mississippi State, West Virginia, South Carolina, Pittsburgh, Michigan State, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, Duke, Maryland, Georgia Tech, Illinois Tyree is the one true home run hitter on this board, and that is why I believe he’s the top running back on the board for Notre Dame as well. He is the kind of player that just needs a step to turn any run or catch into a touchdown, no matter where he is on the field. Speed is the first thing that stands out about Tyree’s game, but he’s more than that. He isn’t very big and might not ever be a guy that can run the ball 20 times game after game, but he’s a tough runner with good strength for his age and size. He plays defense for Thomas Dale, and isn’t at all averse to mixing it up with the ball in his hands. His leg drive is impressive for a smaller back, and when you combine that with his top-notch athleticism, balance and vision it makes him incredibly dangerous with the ball. Tyree is an explosive athlete that can make sudden cuts even when going full speed. He shows good vision as a runner and is dangerous when working laterally and letting the blocks set up. What I like about his running style is that even though he’s a home run hitter and an elusive runner, Tyree is more than willing to attack north-south, and will put his shoulder down and move the chains when needed. This is what makes him a lead back and not a scat back that is only good for big plays. The Thomas Dale star is a home run hitter in the screen game. He catches the ball well and can do more than just hit check downs and screens. Tyree could be a Power 5 defensive back if he wanted to, which says a lot about his toughness, and his potential as a special teams player is elite. Junior Season Highlights RUNNING BACK GRADES/RANKINGS OVERALL/UPSIDE GRADE KEY 5.0 – Elite (Top 25 Caliber Player) 4.5 – Outstanding (Top 50 Caliber Player) 4.0 – Very Good (Top 250 Caliber Player) 3.5 – Above Average (Top 350 Caliber Player) 3.0 – Solid (Top 500 Caliber Player or Lower)
Coach D made it sound like we didn't get AJ Dillon because of Denson as well...that's a pretty big loss for us (especially considering Dillon is a legacy and had very serious interest in ND). Imagine our backs next year are Jafar and Dillon - that would be an impressive duo i had no idea it was that bad w/ Denson as a recruiter but he is a good coach
It's bizarre that he was a bad recruiter, he checks the boxes, played, young, Good career, he must just not have any charisma or something, or maybe he was just not aggressive enough.
Him being a bad recruiter shouldn’t be news to anyone. The results always spoke for themselves. Seems like a lot of fans just tried to justify it by blaming institutional issues despite our RB recruiting success prior to Denson’s hire.
Did I read once that his morals really held him from standing toe to toe with most everyone else he was up against and that when it got to needing to sell he laid down as to not be dishonest?
I think RB recruiting slipped away quickly before most people noticed because we had Promise, Adams, Dex at the time. Combined with dismissals of Mcintosh and Holmes and it got dire quick. You don't need several years of lead time with a back so it wasn't necessary to panic, the next big one just never came. I know for the last year I've been complaining that we should be targeting a top back since the class was mostly full so early.
I feel like Holmes has potential to be a guy we are going to be really bummed got away. Wasn’t Denson a part of his decision to not return?