he, just like tillery, shouldve always been an OT, but our recruiting is such that they could contribute more playing out of their natural position than in their true spot
Spoiler Notre Dame is winding down the last few weeks of summer recruiting as fall camp is set to begin the first week of August. The Irish got off to a hot start and have cooled off as of late, but could they end the summer on a high note? Here is a quick look at where we feel Notre Dame stands with right now with its 2018 defensive targets. If you missed Thursday’s look at the offense, you can read it here: The Forecast: 2018 Recruiting – Offense DL Calvin Avery: With Jayson Ademilola and Ja’mion Franklin in the boat, we don’t expect Avery is the board at this time. Forecast: Freezing DL PJ Mustipher: It’s no secret the four-star prospect struggled at The Opening, and it will be interesting to see his options after this summer. The Irish likely are running in his top group but not at the very top. Penn State seems like the favorite at this point, but the family ties to Notre Dame will keep them in the race. Forecast: Somewhat warm DT Sam Taimani: Notre Dame definitely likes the four-star prospect and will continue to pursue the Taimani. Taimani is expected to use an official visit to South Bend this fall and will be interesting to see what his reaction to Notre Dame is following the visit. The pull to stay local is a big factor for the Salt Lake City native, and that’s something Notre Dame will have a hard time topping. Forecast: Somewhat cold Irish Sports DailyThomas Booker DE Thomas Booker: Stanford offered late and most assumed that was the offer Booker had been waiting on. It’s clear it gave him something to think about, but the fact he didn’t pull the trigger for the Cardinal is good for the Irish. We feel the four-star prospect is still in line to make a summer decision. Forecast: Warm DE Joseph Ossai: We have heard from a source Ossai has an official visit locked in to South Bend and the only reason he hasn’t committed to Texas A&M is the fact he hasn’t seen Notre Dame. Ossai comes from a Catholic family that would love to see him stay close to home. There is an intrigue with Notre Dame, but right now, it would be tough to beat the Aggies. Forecast: Cold DE Jayson Oweh: The visit for Irish Invasion helped the Irish and put them in a spot to land the rising senior. Academics are very important to Oweh, and all his finalists have shown him the value of their respective opportunities to get a good education. Ohio State is loaded with defensive ends, but he’s a take for the Buckeyes and Larry Johnson Sr. isn’t an easy one to beat. Oweh plans to get back to Notre Dame at the end of July, and that could be one of the most important visits of the cycle. Forecast: Warm DE Richard Jibunor: Notre Dame was an offer the four-star prospect wanted, and Jibunor talked about a summer visit, but it hasn’t happened nor has there been solid plans made to visit. Auburn has a unique connection as Jibunor knew fellow Nigerian native, Prince Wanogho before both moved to the United States. Forecast: Cold DE Abdul-Malik McClain: The California native had set up a spring visit to South Bend, but had to cancel at the last second. McClain was definitely interested in Notre Dame when he received the offer, but the Irish may want to see senior film and see where Oweh lands before jumping back into the boat with McClain. Forecast: Somewhat cold Nike FootballAzeez Ojulari DE Azeez Ojulari: Much like Jibunor, Ojulari had been waiting for an offer from Notre Dame and was very excited to receive it. The four-star prospect visited Clemson in the spring, and the Tigers pulled ahead for the Georgia native. Ojulari then went on to have one of the best camp circuits in the country and likely is a larger priority for many schools as the summer winds down. We wouldn’t be shocked to see him in South Bend this fall, but it’s still a longshot he will sign with the Irish. Forecast: Cold LB Bo Calvert: It’s not often Notre Dame offers a kid that has been committed to USC for almost two years, but Calvert got the offer in the spring. The four-star prospect has openly said Notre Dame was one of the few schools that could get him away from his pledge to the Trojans. It’s worth noting that Notre Dame has offered Calvert’s younger brother (Joshua Calvert) and the two would love the chance to play together in college, but it’s not a complete deal breaker if they don’t. Calvert wanted to get to South Bend this summer, but no trip has been locked in. Forecast: Somewhat cold LB Eli'jah Winston: The four-star prospect was always going to be a tough pull from the West Coast and summer winding down, not much has changed there. Notre Dame has continued to recruit Winston, but the fact his brother plays for Oregon and is much closer will likely win out. Forecast: Cold LB Brandon Kaho: Notre Dame seemed to be making traction with the three-star prospect in the spring, as Kaho was familiar with Brian Polian from his time at Nevada. The Reno native has remained committed to BYU despite actively looking carefully at other programs, and right now, we have heard Alabama has his interest. He doesn’t have the offer from the Crimson Tide, but it will be a big one. Notre Dame should get an official visit from Kaho, but at this stage, we see him sticking on the West Coast. Forecast: Somewhat cold LB Jack Lamb: Getting the California native on campus in June was a huge ordeal and one that had been a long time coming. Lamb wanted to get out in the spring, but couldn’t fit it into his schedule and the fact he made an unofficial is all you need to know. The four-star prospect loved his time in South Bend, and it will come down to distance for him, as UCLA is the closer option. Forecast: Warm Nike FootballChanning Tindall LB Channing Tindall: The four-star recruit made his way to South Bend for an unofficial in June and came away impressed with what he saw and heard from defensive coordinator Mike Elko. It’s going to be tough to pull him away from in-state South Carolina. The good new for Notre Dame is Tindall’s dad has already spoken about a return trip to Notre Dame and the Irish need to show him something different. An example would be, if Tindall didn’t see the academics in-depth, then that’s what they are looking for. Or it could be the opposite and Tindall wants to get more time with players. If Tindall gets out of the summer uncommitted and returns to South Bend for an official, I think Notre Dame fans may want to start paying more attention because Tindall is an ideal fit on and off the field. Forecast: Cold LB Cameron McGrone: Notre Dame was in good shape for the four-star linebacker before Michigan offered in late June. The Indianapolis native definitely hasn’t written Notre Dame off and could visit before the season starts for an unofficial visit. Notre Dame is in a good spot even if they are second, but they just have to show him the importance of his commitment. Forecast: Warm LB Shayne Simon: After two visits to Notre Dame in the last couple months, some of us at ISD feel Notre Dame leads, while others aren’t so sure at this stage. The four-star has wanted a summer decision but never locked in a specific date, so it’s hard to tell if he is looking at other programs harder or simply on his timeline. The low-key visit to Michigan wasn’t ideal for Notre Dame, but the fact he let the staff know in advance was an interesting move if the Irish were playing catch up like some feel. Forecast: Hot CB Chris Mitchell: The three-star prospect doesn’t have a large offer list, but it didn’t stop the Irish from offering. Mission Viejo has been kind to Notre Dame recently, as Max Redfield comes from the program and it will be interesting to see how hard the Irish push heading into the fall. Forecast: Somewhat warm CB Chigozie Anusiem: The three-star prospect has a good relationship with Polian, and Notre Dame will likely get an official visit. We believe Notre Dame likes his length and potential, but much like D’Angelo Mckenzie, we feel there Anusiem might have small things to take care of away from the field. Forecast: Somewhat warm CB Donte Burton: It’s a big weekend for Notre Dame with the Georgia native on campus. The three-star prospect said he would like to make a decision after official visits, but if he felt the time was right, he could pull the trigger this summer. We do expect Notre Dame to impress him, but it will be interesting to see which coaches speak with him, as coach legend Bob Elliott will be laid to rest this weekend. The Irish need cornerbacks and Burton willing to pay his way to campus is a good sign. Forecast: Hot CB Kyler Gordon: If Notre Dame had got the four-star on campus this summer, it would have been huge. The Washington native is a top of the board prospect and would be the type of player the Irish are looking for to headline the cornerback class. If Gordon gets to Notre Dame for an official visit in the fall, it could very well be huge, but right now the Irish trail Washington and Stanford. Forecast: Cold CB Telly Plummer: The Georgia native is somewhat in the same situation as Kyler Gordon and has talked about a summer visit, but never set one up. Notre Dame did make his final group, and the three-star should be in South Bend on an official visit. Forecast: Somewhat warm CB Nasir Peoples: The Virginia Tech commit was in South Bend for the Blue-Gold Game and was impressed with what he saw. There is a good chance he projects at safety, so we can see Notre Dame waiting him out a little bit to see what the safety situation looks like in a few months…aka what happens with Alohi Gilman. The good news is if the Irish do ramp up the heat, Peoples told Irish Sports Daily that Notre Dame is the only school outside of the Hokies he is considering. Forecast: Somewhat warm Nike FootballAnthony Cook CB Anthony Cook: Cook might be the nation’s best cornerback, and it’s just hard to see Notre Dame landing him at this stage. The four-star prospect is in the middle of a heated battle between Ohio State and Texas. The Buckeyes likely lead right now for Cook, but it’s going to tough to turn down the home-state. Forecast: Cold CB Houston Griffith: Notre Dame has recruited the four-star prospect since he was a freshman and it had paid off until recently. For whatever reason, Griffith has cooled on the Irish and didn’t make a return trip (as of yet) to South Bend, while he made trips to Nebraska and Ohio State when he was home in Chicago. There were also reports he was close to choosing Florida State a few weeks ago, so the Irish need to dig deep here and have a good season. Forecast: Cold CB DJ Johnson: Many, including us, felt the Indianapolis native was a lock to Notre Dame when the Irish offered at the end of the spring. However, we believe Notre Dame has cooled on Johnson and Iowa has jumped back into the lead. Forecast: Somewhat cold DB Tariq Bracy: The California native is likely one of the names circled on Notre Dame’s board regarding want. The three-star prospect wants to visit South Bend, and the Georgia game could be the date. If Bracy makes it to Notre Dame, we expect him to like it. Forecast: Warm Nike FootballTalanoa Hufanga S Talanoa Hufanga: The four-star safety says he plans to go out of state for college, but Oregon and Oregon State will be hard for the in-state kid to turn down. Notre Dame should get an official visit, but an unofficial visit to South Bend would have us excited. Hufanga visited Alabama and Nebraska this spring. Forecast: Cold S Julius Irvin: The Servite (Calif.) star is best friends with Amon-Ra St. Brown so that could bode well for the school St. Brown commits to, but we don’t think it will be a major factor in the grand scheme. The four-star has an interest in Notre Dame and hopes to get to South Bend in the fall. Will probably have to do some work away from the field too. Forecast: Somewhat cold S D’Angelo Mckenzie: Notre Dame leads for the four-star prospect after visiting this week. The California native told Irish Sports Daily he has work to do in achieving a SAT/ACT score, but he’s willing to do the work to come to Notre Dame. If he hits his score, the Irish are in a great position. Forecast: Warm S Paul Moala: The Penn (Ind.) star wanted an offer from Notre Dame and earned it at Irish Invasion. Notre Dame likely expected a quick decision but Moala seems content with taking his time. It will be interesting to see if Moala drags it out to the fall and takes official visits as Iowa is his second biggest offer to date. Forecast: Warm Spoiler Bob Elliott passed away last Saturday at the age of 64, and it was very clear his former players respected him not just as a coach, but as a man. As you have heard, Matthias Farley was on a trip across Europe and cut his trip short to make sure he was with Elliott’s family in the hours before his passing. Farley might have been one of Elliott’s success stories on the field, but former Notre Dame safety Nicky Baratti felt the love from his coach away from the field. “I’d say no matter how big, or small you were, Coach E always treated everyone the same,” Baratti said. “After all four of my shoulder surgeries, he was the only coach who would come and see me in the hospital. “He and Momma E would show up with smiles and home cooked meals.” The sincere personality was felt by other members of the defense including defensive end Romeo Okwara, who is now with the New York Giants. “I can’t remember any specific stories, but his character stood alone,” stated Okwara. Former linebacker Jarrett Grace experienced a moment that many of his teammates experienced, but it’s something he will likely never forget. “At graduation in May of 2015, him and Joey (Elliott’s wife), were running around all over campus to track down all the guys to individually congratulate them,” recalled Grace. “I remember him saying how proud he was of me and he wanted to make the point that we really accomplished something by receiving a degree from Notre Dame. “Something like that was so routine for him.” Grace and Baratti both shared the unfortunate setbacks of major injuries during their time at Notre Dame, but it was Elliott that was there for them during the toughest moments. “He made a difference in my life knowing that I had someone how cared at such a high degree.”- LB Jarrett Grace “He was always investing in his guys, and he would ensure that whatever we needed to succeed would happen on and off the field,” explained Grace. “He made a difference in my life knowing that I had someone how cared at such a high degree. It actually helped push me to be my best because I knew he believed in me and had my back in everything. When Baratti was crying in Elliott’s office before his senior year because he wanted to quit football, the words of encouragement got him through the season. “He was always there for me from the highs to lows,” Baratti said. “When I didn’t think I was going to make it to play my senior year, it was him who pushed me and kept believing in me to finish what I started and never give up.” Cornerback Cole Luke experienced many of the same memories as his teammates and attributes his enjoyment at Notre Dame to Elliott. “He just changed my entire Notre Dame experience for me when things weren’t looking up,” stated Luke. “There are too many stories to tell. That man is the reason I committed to Notre Dame in the first place. He will be missed.” The college football world will miss Elliott impact on and off the field. “He was truly the best guy I’ve ever met,” said Baratti. "He really was, along with Momma E.” OSSAI VISITING EARLY: A couple weeks back, Joseph Ossai announced a top three of Texas A&M, Texas and Notre Dame. A good friend of ours down in Texas was able to pass along some info on Ossai this week, and while the 2018 defensive end remains a strong lean toward Texas A&M, Notre Dame is one school that is causing him to take give his decision a lot more thought. In fact, we’re told Ossai will be visiting Notre Dame the first weekend of the season. Ossai has said it’s a visit to “put a face to a name.” He added that he probably would have already had his recruitment wrapped up if he’d already had a chance to visit South Bend. Being the biggest Catholic program in the country holds weight with Ossai. Now, Ossai is going to be in College Station multiple times over the next couple months with his family, and those close to the recruitment continue to say they’d “be very surprised if he doesn't pick A&M early this fall,” but Notre Dame will get a chance to change the Nike Football2018 LB Jack Lamb LAMB LEANING TOWARD EARLY DECISION: Following his first visit to Notre Dame last month, 2018 California linebacker Jack Lamb felt confident he’d be able to stick to his plan of making a decision before his senior season, but he still wanted to take some time to let everything settle in. “He wanted to take a little more time because he doesn’t want to just pick the one that was freshest,” Lamb’s father, Dan Lamb, told Irish Sports Daily. “He wants to say, ‘Hey, do I still feel like this in two weeks?’ He’s had really, really good visits everywhere.” Lamb has a top five of UCLA, Notre Dame, Penn State, Washington and Oregon and recently said the Bruins and the Irish have the edge, but even his father doesn’t know for sure. “I honestly think it still changes for him on a pretty regular basis,” Mr. Lamb said. “He really does want to make a decision before the season.” But there is a chance that timeline could get pushed back just a bit. “About the only thing I think he might need to see would be some gameday atmospheres,” Mr. Lamb said. “If he doesn’t make the decision before the season starts, his bye week is Sept. 9th and would likely go on an official visit somewhere if he feels like he needs to see something else.” It’s unlikely UCLA would be a place he’d need to use an official visit to see. “We’ve been to UCLA games before, so I don’t think he really needs to go to a game,” his father said. “We’ll probably go to games anyway because we’re fans and my daughter goes there, but I don’t feel he needs to go on something like that.” But Lamb hasn’t been to games at any of his other finalists, including Penn State, where both of his parents went to school. “He’s never been to a Penn State game,” his dad said. “We’ve watched plenty on TV and knows what it’s all about. The Irish are hosting Georgia on Sept. 9 in a primetime showdown while the Nittany Lions host Pittsburgh that same day. “If it comes down to that, he may want to go see a game for that gameday atmosphere. But I think Jack is pretty close to making a decision within the next few weeks. He told me the other day he just wants some time to be away from it.” Mr. Lamb said he’s been “blown away” by the effort and sincerity from the staffs at each of his son’s favorites. “I could honestly tell you I could send my son to any of these five schools that he’s narrowed it down to and feel really good. I know these coaches from watching them on TV, but now that I’ve gotten an opportunity to meet some of them and talk to them, man, they’re some really, really good people, so I feel really good about anything he picks. I’m all in.” McGRONE MAY TAKE A LITTLE LONGER:Meanwhile, 2018 Indiana linebacker Cameron McGrone doesn’t plan to make his commitment until the fall. “He’s looking at toward the mid to end of his season to make his decision,” McGrone’s mother, Lynn Redd, told us. “I think that’ll give him time to take on a few more visits.” Last month, McGrone narrowed his list to Notre Dame, Michigan, Indiana, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, and Tennessee. He made trips to South Bend and Ann Arbor last month but has plans to get back on the road again before he finalizes his decision. “There are some things he wants to see when he goes on visits over the next few months,” his mother said. “He wants to see an actual practice, a training session with the team and the gameday atmosphere. “He’s been to a couple of games at some of his final six schools. He just wants to see the gameday atmosphere and see how the coaches and players mesh together.” McGrone remains in contact with the Irish staff about setting up a return trip. “We don’t have anything set yet,” Mrs. Redd said. “Notre Dame doesn’t start their real practices until August I think, and that’ll be Cameron’s first week of school. We just want to make sure his schedule and Notre Dame’s schedule mesh. We are probably looking more at August than we are July.” McGrone’s mother knows what the Irish offer on the field, but her focus is on the opportunities off the field. “I like the academics and the tradition of excellence at Notre Dame,” she said. “Aside from the football program, it’s a great university. They have a longstanding tradition and strong alumni network. Those are the things I like about it. The football tradition is awesome as well. They’re investing a lot of money into the stadium. “They’re doing a lot of stuff around campus that is going to help out the football team as well the other athletic programs there. I still like all of the academics Notre Dame has to offer.” She thinks her son is a few months away from a decision. “His season is over mid-October, and then they start sectionals. It’ll probably be something he comes out with in October at some time. We haven’t had a set date because we’re months away. We just want to make sure he gets to take on a few more visits at his favorites, and then he’ll have to make the choice from there.” NOTRE DAME TRIP MEANINGFUL FOR GRAY FAMILY: Earlier this week, we told you about 2019 safety Jeremiah Gray following the footsteps of his father, Derwin Gray (Gray Taking Care of the Root Before the Fruit). The former NFL safety played at Notre Dame in college when he was in a BYU uniform but seeing the campus was something special for the elder Gray. “Throughout the years, I have shared with Jeremiah what that was like for me,” said Gray. “I had no idea that the campus was as beautiful as it was. It is a gorgeous campus. Jeremiah likes wide open spaces, so he really liked the campus. “Looking at all the Heisman trophies and history was amazing. It’s like an arms race to have the best facilities, so I am sure Notre Dame’s facilities to come are going to be exceptional.” The trip also had an emotional side. As they walked through The Gug, they stopped to see the wall of Notre Dame alum that has played in the NFL and the All-Americans. Gray is the minister at the church former Notre Dame legend Bryant Young currently attends. Both families have gotten close over the years and it was Gray who was there to comfort the family as Young’s son, Colby, passed away from cancer last October. “I actually officiated the gravesite ceremony,” said Gray. “I know the Young’s incredibly well. One of the blessings is before Colby passed away, he asked his dad to call me to the house because he wanted to have communion one more time with the family.” FROM THE BUSHES-FRESHMAN EDITION: The Class of 2017 has arrived in full in South Bend, and we’ve been able to track down some notes on many of them. It’s important to remember the vast majority of the class has only been on campus for a couple of weeks now and while it’s too early to glean much for some guys, including quarterback Avery Davis, even the notes we do have are extremely preliminary looks. Rick Kimball/ISDRB CJ Holmes Running back C.J. Holmes arrived on campus back in January and was starting to flash when he hurt his shoulder. But, as we reported before, the Irish still got a look at his potential, and there are reasons to be excited. He’s a “fantastic athlete” who could “really develop into a great weapon.” Holmes has made great progress since his surgery, and while it’s hard to say for sure if he’ll be 100 percent for the opener, he should definitely be all of the way back within a couple of weeks of the season. It sounds like wide receivers Jafar Armstrong and Michael Young have both impressed so far and showed up in really good shape. Both players look like they belong and have good attitudes as well. There’s no doubt Notre Dame scored big at the tight end position last cycle with Brock Wright and Cole Kmet. Wright was on campus for spring ball and has demonstrated a ton of potential. He’s a physical kid who is mentally tough and works hard. The Irish have to be pleased with what they’ve seen from Kmet so far as well. He's already 245 pounds, but still, has that quickness and smoothness he showed as a much lighter player. He runs well for his size and has really soft hands. It doesn’t sound like Notre Dame missed at offensive line either with all four signees having the chance to earn considerable minutes. Robert Hainsey and Aaron Banks enrolled early, and most expect Hainsey to actually play this season. Hainsey has displayed an extremely high football IQ, not just for a freshman either. Banks could also get on the field this fall but needs a bit more work with his hands, but many are convinced his future is massive. Dillan Gibbons and Josh Lugg haven’t disappointed at all either. Gibbons is a strong kid who was huge before and has only gotten bigger in recent months. Lugg has developed quite a bit physically over the last year. Both could be guys who play considerable minutes in the future. So far, it sounds like Kurt Hinish may be the defensive lineman who is most ready to play. He has a good motor, works hard, moves well for his size and has been coached well already. Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa is another first-year defensive lineman who moves really well for his size. He’s a really good athlete who has never really lifted, so he’s going to get much, much bigger. It may take some time, but he’s a fantastic piece of clay with a great attitude. Darnell Ewell hasn’t really lifted much either, certainly not to the level he will be now. It may take him some time to adjust to the level of competition, but he has a good frame and has a ton of upside. Notre Dame may have gotten a steal with Kofi Wardlow. He’s displayed some great athletic ability so far and a ton of quickness and speed. He’s a better athlete than initially thought, but is still raw and has a long way to go in technique and knowledge of the game. On the other hand, Jordan Genmark-Heath is the athlete he was expected, but that’s a good thing. He’s very fluid, runs very well and has a good attitude. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has also impressed. He’s a “very smooth athlete,” who runs really well for his size. At this point, he’s definitely a Rover. There’s also reason to be really high on Isaiah Robertson. He's a big kid who could grow into a Rover. He's a very smart football player, and he's physical. He’s a good athlete who has the desire to be a good player.
Coach D's CB Big Board Spoiler 2018 Big Board: Cornerback Bryan Driskell | Football Analyst Georgia cornerback Donte Burton is one of the most underrated corners in the country. Nick Lucero Notre Dame was on a bit of a roll with its cornerback recruiting for a number of years, but striking out with the 2017 class has put the Irish in a precarious position. The Irish landed highly ranked cornerback Cole Luke and Devin Butler in the 2013 class and followed that up with Rivals250 corner Nick Watkins a year later. The 2015 class was even better, with the Irish landing the nation’s No. 82 player in Shaun Crawford to go along with Nick Coleman and Ashton White. Head coach Brian Kelly and the Irish staff reached its pinnacle in regards to cornerback recruiting with the 2016 class. Notre Dame landed talented four-star cornerbacks Donte Vaughn, Julian Love and Troy Pride as part of that class. That momentum came to a crashing halt when it failed to land a single cornerback in the 2017 class. To make matters worse, the Irish were on the verge of a really good cornerback class. At one point the Irish had public commitments from Rivals250 cornerbacks Paulson Adebo and Elijah Hicks, and the staff had received a silent commitment from Thomas Graham, the nation’s No. 127 player. None of those three players ended up in the class for a variety of reasons, which means Notre Dame must bounce back with a strong class in 2018. Notre Dame needs at least two cornerbacks with starting ability in this class, and a third would certainly be a plus. This breakdown is focused on the Irish recruits from a talent standpoint. To get the latest on their recruitment check out the Defensive Back Hot Board. Below is how I rank the cornerbacks on Notre Dame’s board: 1. Anthony Cook, 6-1, 170, Houston (Texas) Lamar 2A. Houston Griffith, 6-1, 192, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy 2B. Donte Burton, 5-11, 173, Loganville (Ga.) High School 4. Christian Tutt, 5-11, 184, Thomson (Ga.) High School 5. Joseph Wilkins Jr., 6-2, 175, North Fort Myers (Fla.) High School 6. Tariq Bracy, 6-0, 170, Milpitas (Calif.) High School 7. Kyler Gordon, 5-10, 175, Everett (Wash.) Archbishop Murphy 8. Telly Plummer, 6-0, 185, Fairburn (Ga.) Langston Hughes 9. D.J. Johnson, 6-0, 170, Indianapolis (Ind.) North Central 10. Chigozie Anusiem, 6-2, 175, La Habra (Calif.) Sonora 11. Chris Mitchell, 6-0, 190, Mission Viejo (Calif.) High School PLAYER BIOS 1. ANTHONY COOK, 6-1, 170, HOUSTON (TEXAS) LAMAR Anthony Cook Cornerback 5 STARS Lamar Houston, TX RR: 6.1 Ht: 6'1" Wt: 170 lbs Class: 2018 2 POSITION 9 NATIONAL 1 STATE Commitment status: UNDECIDED BGI GRADE: 4.0 UPSIDE GRADE: 5.0 Top Offers: Notre Dame, Clemson, Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, Texas, USC, Florida, Florida State, Baylor, Michigan, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Penn State, TCU, Tennessee, Texas A&M Some players just have a feel for playing in coverage, and Anthony Cook is one of those players. He has outstanding traits, but the thing that separates him from a lot of other players at the position is his feel for the game. Cook reads routes well and makes excellent plays on the football. Players like Cook tend to be playmakers that get their hands on a lot of passes at the next level. Cook is a physical player at the line of scrimmage and shows himself to be a quality tackler. Cook is listed at 6-1 but he checked in this summer at the Houston Opening at 5-11 and 173 pounds. He has very long arms so at 5-11 he still has very good length for the position. The Lamar standout is a top-notch athlete that has exceptionally quick feet and change of direction ability. There is enough hip tightness to keep him from being elite as a transition player, but his quickness is good enough where it is not an issue for him. Plus, Cook shows the recovery speed to quickly make up for the times where his turn technique gets him in trouble. Cook holds way too much in coverage, and when he’s not holding he’s trying to get his hands on the receiver. I’d like to see him trust his skills and technique and stop holding, and when he does he’ll be even better as his desire to reach out and grab gets him in trouble at times against better players. JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS RIVALS 5-STAR CHALLENGE HIGHLIGHTS 2A. HOUSTON GRIFFITH, 6-1, 192, BRADENTON (FLA.) IMG ACADEMY Houston Griffith Safety 4 STARS IMG Academy Bradenton, FL RR: 6 Ht: 6'1" Wt: 192 lbs Class: 2018 4 POSITION 44 NATIONAL 13 STATE Commitment status: UNDECIDED BGI GRADE: 4.0 UPSIDE GRADE: 4.5 Top Offers: Notre Dame, Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Georgia, Florida State, Nebraska, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Texas, Oklahoma, USC, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin Grading Griffith isn’t as easy as one would think, mainly because of the question about what position he best fits. There is a lot to like about his game, and Griffith's overall grade is high, with Griffith earning a 4.0 grade with a 4.5 upside. But truly understanding his grade requires some explanation. Griffith and Donte Burton tied for overall grade, with Burton grading out higher as a pure cover corner while Griffith gets high marks for his elite size, position flexibility and technique. The question with Griffith is whether or not he can stick at cornerback, which is the position Notre Dame is recruiting him to play. He has outstanding size for the position and he’s a technically sound and smart football player. Griffith brings impressive physicality to the position, which is one reason he projects so well to safety. If a team is willing to keep him at cornerback and let him play off coverage he can excel, as he is able to plant and drive on the ball, and he makes good reads. Griffith also plays the ball well. Where he gets into trouble is when he has to come up and press. He’s long and strong, so if he can get his hands on a receiver he can survive. What his film and his summer camp work shows is that if he can’t get a jam he isn’t fast or sudden enough to stick on downfield throws. He can overcome it to a degree with his length, but it’s just not something a team should ask Griffith to do a great deal, especially against the better athletes at receiver. Griffith could thrive at safety, but if used properly he could also not only start at cornerback, he could be highly productive. JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS 2B. DONTE BURTON, 5-11, 173, LOGANVILLE (GA.) HIGH SCHOOL Donte Burton Cornerback 3 STARS Loganville Loganville, GA RR: 5.6 Ht: 5'11" Wt: 173 lbs Class: 2018 65 POSITION - NATIONAL 82 STATE Commitment status: UNDECIDED BGI GRADE: 4.0 UPSIDE GRADE: 4.5 Top Offers: Notre Dame, Oregon, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Louisville, Vanderbilt, Colorado, NC State, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State, Kansas State Burton is without question one of the most underrated cornerbacks in the country. Only ESPN ranks him as a four-star prospect, but his film is quite impressive. The Loganville standout is an impressive athlete that posted a 4.19 in the pro shuttle and a 35.6-inch vertical jump at the Nike Football The Opening Regional in Atlanta. That quickness carries over onto the field, where Burton is very smooth and fluid on the football field. He transitions with ease and his change of direction is outstanding. Quick feet are essential for a cornerback, and Burton shows impressive foot quickness. From a technique standpoint he does a good job of keeping his pedal quick and low to the ground, which helps him maximize his quickness. At times he will lift up a bit, but that can get coached out of him in a hurry. Overall, Burton is a fundamentally sound player that excels in press and off coverage. He’s an instinctive player and projects to be a playmaker at the next level. Burton is a smart player that makes very good reads on routes and plays the ball well. He needs to play the deep ball better and he has to get a lot stronger, but his game is impressive and he’s only going to get better as he physically matures. Burton has above average size with decent arm length, but he does have fast hands. JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS SPRING HIGHLIGHTS 4. CHRISTIAN TUTT, 5-11, 184, THOMSON (GA.) HIGH SCHOOL Christian Tutt Cornerback 4 STARS Thomson Thomson, GA RR: 5.8 Ht: 5'11" Wt: 184 lbs Class: 2018 30 POSITION - NATIONAL 37 STATE Commitment status: UNDECIDED BGI GRADE: 4.0 UPSIDE GRADE: 4.5 Top Offers: Notre Dame, Alabama, Florida State, Georgia, Ohio State, LSU, Florida, Michigan, Nebraska, Auburn, Baylor, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, USC, UCLA, Wisconsin, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Penn State Christian Tutt is an intriguing prospect. He played safety at Thomson High School but is being recruited as a cornerback. The vast majority of film on him at cornerback takes place during summer events, and he handles himself quite well in those situations. This versatility is one of the things that stands out most regarding Tutt. He projects as a starter at both cornerback and safety depending on the defense of the school that lands him. The biggest knock on Tutt is his lack of length. He checked in this summer at 5-10½, which is only an issue when his average to slightly below average arm length is taken into account. Tutt has traits that help him overcome his lack of ideal size, with his strength and physicality being the first thing that stands out. Tutt is physical in coverage and he is physical as a run defender. The knock on him as a run defender is that he is too aggressive and goes for big hits instead of wrapping up. Tutt is an outstanding athlete that shows top-end speed and vertical explosiveness. He comes down hill in a hurry and shows good redirect skills, although he does have a little bit of hip tightness, but his other skills overcome that with ease. This is especially true of his foot quickness and balance. JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS 5. JOSEPH WILKINS JR., 6-2, 175, NORTH FORT MYERS (FLA.) HIGH SCHOOL Joseph Wilkins Jr. Wide Receiver 3 STARS North Fort Myers North Fort Myers, FL RR: 5.5 Ht: 6'2" Wt: 175 lbs Class: 2018 - POSITION - NATIONAL - STATE Commitment status: UNDECIDED BGI GRADE: 4.0 UPSIDE GRADE: 4.5 Top Offers: Notre Dame, Louisville, Michigan State, South Carolina, Pittsburgh, NC State, Maryland, Arizona, Kentucky, Iowa State, Washington State Wilkins is one of the more solid all-around cornerbacks on the board for Notre Dame. He lacks any elite or special traits, but his game also lacks any discernable weaknesses. He's at the very last good in every department. That all-around skill set makes him a highly effective player, and he still has plenty of room to develop and grow as a player. If he works at it Wilkins has a chance to far out-play his current ranking. The first trait that jumps out for Wilkins is his length. He’s listed at 6-2 and checked in this summer at 6-0½, and he has long arms and he knows how to use his length to his advantage. Wilkins isn’t a burner, but he gets to full speed in a hurry and has loose hips, which help him quickly open up and run. His vertical speed and ball skills make him an effective receiver for North Fort Myers, and he could actually play the position in college as well, although he’s a better cornerback. Wilkins is a smooth athlete with very good body control. He possesses quick feet and he’s pretty physical for a skinny player. Once he adds more weight and strength he’ll be a legitimate player in the run game. He’s a smart player that stays under control, doesn’t overreact to receiver moves and makes good reads on the ball. Wilkins has the makings of a ball hawk at cornerback thanks to his combination of intelligence, instincts and length. JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS 6. TARIQ BRACY, 6-0, 170, MILPITAS (CALIF.) HIGH SCHOOL Tariq Bracy Athlete 3 STARS Milpitas Milpitas, CA RR: 5.5 Ht: 6'0" Wt: 170 lbs Class: 2018 - POSITION - NATIONAL - STATE Commitment status: UNDECIDED BGI GRADE: 4.0 UPSIDE GRADE: 5.0 Top Offers: Notre Dame, Utah, Washington State, California, Boise State, San Diego State I try to avoid comparisons of high school players to proven college or NFL players, but it was hard not to think about former Notre Dame standout KeiVarae Russell when watching film of Tariq Bracy. Like Russell, Bracy is a standout running back that dabbles as a cornerback at this point in his development. Look at his junior year numbers, when Bracy had 1,177 rushing yards, 1,036 receiving yards, 24 offensive touchdowns, 46 tackles, five interceptions and a kick return for a score. Bracy lacks the size to be an every down back in college, so playing wide receiver or cornerback are his best bets for stardom on the next level. He could certainly be a good offensive player, but his skillset is an especially good fit for cornerback. Bracy’s size immediately becomes a strength as a cornerback, and as he gets stronger and improves his technique he will become an effective run defender. The Milpitas standout is an explosive athlete that shows an excellent initial burst and a top-notch second gear. He is a sudden athlete that shows top-notch change of direction ability, staying light on his feet and showing elite balance. Bracy can flip his hips with ease from an athletic standpoint, but he must really improve his technique. He has a lot to learn when it comes to the finer points of cornerback play, but all the athletic skills are there. JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS 7. KYLER GORDON, 5-10, 175, EVERETT (WASH.) ARCHBISHOP MURPHY Kyler Gordon Cornerback 4 STARS Archbishop Murphy Everett, WA RR: 5.8 Ht: 5'10" Wt: 175 lbs Class: 2018 25 POSITION - NATIONAL 2 STATE Commitment status: UNDECIDED BGI GRADE: 4.0 UPSIDE GRADE: 4.0 Top Offers: Notre Dame, Stanford, Oregon, Washington, Nebraska, TCU, UCLA, Utah Gordon reminds me a great deal of current Notre Dame starting cornerback Julian Love. He isn’t an elite athlete, he lacks ideal size and he really lacks any top-level physical trails, but at the end of the day he is simply a football player that knows how to make plays. Despite a lack of size, Gordon is a physical football player that is strong for his size. He’s one of the top run defenders on the board and he plays much bigger than his size. Athletically Gordon is a solid all-around player that lacks any truly top-end physical traits. The Archbishop Murphy corner is an efficient athlete that gets the most out of his physical traits. Gordon shows solid foot quickness and his lateral movements are quite good, but his balance and lower body strength are his two best physical skills. His suddenness isn’t what you want at cornerback, and his ability to plant and drive isn’t quite as good as others on the board. Gordon is a good technician and a high-IQ football player. This is where his athletic efficiency comes from. He wastes very little motion and he takes very good angles to the football as both a pass defender and run defender. JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS 8. TELLY PLUMMER, 6-0, 185, FAIRBURN (GA.) LANGSTON HUGHES Telly Plummer Cornerback 3 STARS Langston Hughes Fairburn, GA RR: 5.6 Ht: 6'0" Wt: 185 lbs Class: 2018 62 POSITION - NATIONAL 65 STATE Commitment status: UNDECIDED BGI GRADE: 3.5 UPSIDE GRADE: 4.0 Top Offers: Notre Dame, Penn State, Ole Miss, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Virginia Tech, Kansas State, West Virginia, Maryland, Indiana, Wake Forest, California Plummer is a physically imposing cornerback whose game is built around his long 6-0 frame and his toughness. The Langston Hughes defender checks in at 6-0, and his long arms make him hard to throw over. Plummer isn’t all that fast and he shows the ability to use his length to make up for that in coverage. He is aggressive attacking downhill and he does an excellent job using his strength and length to manhandle receivers at the line and off the ball. Plummer can press effectively in high school but I question whether or not he’s quick or fast enough to do it in college. If he can it will be due to the traits previously listed. He is at his best playing off man where he can use his vision and ability to plant and drive on routes to be effective. Plummer doesn’t often backpedal, instead using a slide step similar to the technique used by Alabama’s corners. Plummer is a dynamic player against the run. He does an excellent job taking on and beating blockers, he’s a sound tackler from a technique standpoint and most important he obviously takes pride in it. Plummer shows some range and he’s a strong tackler, traits that combine with his lack of top-level athleticism that leads me to believe he might project better at safety. JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS 9. D.J. JOHNSON, 6-0, 170, INDIANAPOLIS (IND.) NORTH CENTRAL D.J. Johnson Cornerback 3 STARS North Central Indianapolis, IN RR: 5.7 Ht: 6'0" Wt: 170 lbs Class: 2018 37 POSITION - NATIONAL 5 STATE Commitment status: UNDECIDED BGI GRADE: 3.5 UPSIDE GRADE: 4.0 Top Offers: Notre Dame, Iowa, Duke, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, Syracuse Johnson lacks any top-level traits, but his all-around solid game is what has attracted Notre Dame and Big Ten programs like Iowa, Minnesota and Indiana among others. The best physical trait that Johnson brings to the game is his length. Johnson has good height at 5-11, but his long arms make him an effective coverage player. His ability to quickly get his hands up to the ball combines with his length to make him a tough defender to get the ball past. The North Central corner is a quality all-around athlete that has above-average speed, quick feet and good lateral speed. He comes downhill very well, showing the ability to immediately plant and redirect downhill, and he runs vertically toward the line of scrimmage than he opens up and runs. Johnson’s 36-inch vertical jump this summer tells me there is some potential for him to gain more explosiveness, which will result in more speed. Johnson needs work on his flexibility, which limits the speed with which he transitions in coverage. For this reason, Johnson really thrives in high school in off coverage. He is not at the top of his game when he presses, but with his length and strength there is potential there; he just needs some technical work. Johnson is a very good run defender, which combined with his range and instincts makes him a possible safety candidate down the road if he can’t stick at corner. JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS 10. CHIGOZIE ANUSIEM, 6-2, 175, LA HABRA (CALIF.) SONORA Chigozie Anusiem Cornerback 3 STARS Sonora La Habra, CA RR: 5.5 Ht: 6'2" Wt: 175 lbs Class: 2018 - POSITION - NATIONAL - STATE Commitment status: UNDECIDED BGI GRADE: 3.0 UPSIDE GRADE: 4.0 Top Offers: Notre Dame, UCLA, California, Arizona, Washington State Anusiem is all about projection and upside at this point. He’s an incredibly long athlete, checking in this summer at 6-2. He also has very long arms, which gives him the kind of length needed for a player his size to overcome a lack of elite athletic tools. His length allows him to get his hands on a lot of passes at the high school level. His length and range means he could eventually develop into a safety if he can't stick at cornerback. The Sonora cornerback shows good vertical speed, clocking an impressive 4.61 at the Nike Football The Opening Regional in Los Angeles, but he lacks a second gear at this point. Anusiem is very skinny and will have to get a lot stronger, but the room for physical development means there could be some untapped speed and athleticism, which could get brought out by a good strength program. Anusiem is a solid athlete that shows good foot quickness and agility. He’s more smooth than sudden, lacking explosiveness but showing the ability to open and run relatively well. His change of direction is good when he keeps his knees bent. When he keeps his base he can pedal quickly and easily get into his turn. When he lifts up and leans back his transitions aren’t as fluid. Anusiem is a solid technician but will need fundamental work at the next level. JUNIOR HIGHLIGHTS 11. CHRIS MITCHELL, 6-0, 190, MISSION VIEJO (CALIF.) HIGH SCHOOL Chris Mitchell Cornerback Mission Viejo Mission Viejo, CA RR: N/A Ht: 6'0" Wt: 190 lbs Class: 2018 - POSITION - NATIONAL - STATE Commitment status: UNDECIDED BGI GRADE: 3.0 UPSIDE GRADE: 3.5 Top Offers: Notre Dame, Washington State, San Diego State, Iowa State There isn’t a player on this board whose senior film I’m more looking forward to watching than Mitchell, for a number of reasons. Mitchell only played six games in 2016, and the limited film that is available isn’t overly impressive, which accounts for the lower grade and lower ranking. Getting to see more of him will help cement his ranking or show me whatever it is the Notre Dame coaches saw in him. Another reason is Mitchell had a very good summer from a testing standpoint. He ran a good 4.63 in the forty-yard dash, but his 4.09 in the pro shuttle and his 39.5-inch vertical jump are elite numbers. I want to see if his senior film shows that kind of athleticism, because his junior film did not. He’s a decent athlete with good downhill speed, but his change of direction and agility is limited based on junior film. Mitchell has good size, checking in this summer at 5-11½ and 189 pounds, and he’s a sound tackler. He plays both cornerback and safety for Mission Viejo, and right now he actually projects better at safety where he can keep everything in front of him. He shows solid foot quickness, but he’s not a natural open up and run guy. Mitchell also has to really work on reading receivers and playing the ball better. I'm keeping an open mind on Mitchell and will look to get senior clips as soon as possible. I really hope ND lands Burton this weekend...we need a solid CB in this class (or 3) but he'd be a good start
on jack lamb from Sinclair Spoiler I've done some digging around the Lamb situation and have come to a few conclusions. * It appears that Notre Dame and UCLA are his Top 2, even though he hasn't officially stated they are. From what I understand, the only missing component in Lamb's decision is a game day experience at Notre Dame. Lamb would really like to make a decision this summer, however being 100% confident in his decision would require a full understanding of both UCLA and Notre Dame. Lamb has been to several UCLA games and his sister attends the University. With Notre Dame coming in the picture late, Jack has only had the one visit to South Bend and would like to take in the atmosphere of game day at Notre Dame. It sounds like the Notre Dame staff has done a very good job of forming a strong bond and have sold Elko's defense in a big way. I believe that if the decision were to happen today, Notre Dame would stand a 50/50 chance. I also believe that if Lamb waits until he takes an official to Notre Dame, they will take the win. ***Interesting note: With Jayson Ademilola up front, Derrik Allen in the back end, if the Irish are able to add Lamb, they would have significant star power at all three levels of their defensive class. Lamb did really well at the opening which is really tough for LBs to do...would be a huge pickup for the Defense, a legit top 100 type player in the country
I know this is late but i was on vacation - here are some of Sampson's thoughts from the opening Spoiler Opening Sunday Analysis: McGrone, Oghoufo, Hufanga, Allen, etc. 07/02/2017 (1 vote) – Dug into Cam McGrone’s recruitment more on Sunday after there was some buzz about Michigan moving into the lead following a recent offer/visit to Ann Arbor. After talking to his family here, I didn’t come away thinking Notre Dame had fallen off the pace behind Michigan. The family is looking into potential visits for the Temple and/or Georgia games, plus they’re looking into stopping by Culver if possible to watch training camp. The family’s perspective is that watching how the coaches interact with players will be critical in focusing McGrone’s final list. That means August visits for practices. From there, the game day experience may be what gets somebody over the line. That means September and October visits. As for Notre Dame’s target list at linebacker, I was told this weekend that the Irish would take Jack Lamb, Cam McGrone AND Shayne Simon to go with Ovie Oghoufo and Matt Bauer. How the Irish would make all those numbers work, I’m not sure. But I get the sense that the staff feels the need to upgrade athletically at those positions to make Mike Elko’s defense go. It will be curious to see how David Adams, Jonathan Jones, Jamir Jones and Drew White fit into the mix as guys the current staff didn’t recruit. Fun side note, Cam’s mother, Lynn, has been in touch with Sheldon Day’s mom about Notre Dame. And Carol Boyd can be very persuasive. – Spent part of the morning talking with Kevin Austin Sr. and Derrik Allen Sr. before the 7-on-7 tournament. Conveniently (for me), they were talking to each other so it was easy to chat them up at the same time. And yes, Allen Sr. said he was working on Austin Sr. Frankly, I’m not sure how much help Notre Dame needs to get this one over the line, but all hands on deck there for the Irish. – Watched Irish commit Ovie Oghoufo for the first time today in 7-on-7 and liked what I saw. Seemed comfortable in coverage and looks bigger than the lean prospect I’ve seen visit Notre Dame so many times in the past. He lined up at outside linebacker and even covered slot receivers at the line. Talked to Oghoufo about recruiting as well. Said Michigan and Penn State are still on him. Next trip to Notre Dame will likely be for his official visit. – Watched more of Jayson Ademilola and Ja’mion Franklin today and liked both. Each plays with good power, although Franklin’s power game is borderline great. Ademilola has more technique to his game than Franklin at this point. Easy to see them playing well off one another at Notre Dame. – Dug into the recruitment of safety Talanoa Hufanga as Notre Dame wants to make a serious push to get him out of Oregon. The four-star doesn’t have a public list that’s been cut down, but word is Notre Dame is in his unofficial top four with Oregon, Nebraska and USC. Look for the Irish to get an official visit, with the USC weekend the ideal time. Within that top two, the belief is Oregon (in-state) and Nebraska (connection to Mike Riley) lead. Family and community are both critical to Hufanga, which makes Notre Dame a tough pull. Still, the Irish know what they’re up against and think the kid is a very good fit for the defense and the locker room. - Not going to get carried away with what I saw from Houston Griffith in one 7-on-7 game, but what I watched from him Sunday morning wasn’t great. Got beat a few times for scores. He’s really well built and I’m not saying he wouldn’t be the best corner in Notre Dame’s class (yeah, yeah, I know…) but a combination defensive back feels like the outcome here. – Derrik Allen, meanwhile, is a safety all the way. I’ll have a story on him coming out of The Opening, but word is strength coach Matt Balis wants to take Allen and turn him into the next Obi Melifonwu, the former no-name recruit who turned into an NFL Combine star before getting drafted. Came into the weekend thinking Allen is the most important prospect in the class. I’ll leave feeling the same way. Allen’s dad told me that Mike Elko sealed the deal for that recruitment and they were highly impressed by him during the recruiting process. On top of that, Allen’s high school defense is similar to what Elko runs. When Allen last sat down with Elko he already had a grasp of the scheme, he just didn’t know the vocabulary. Think about that for a second. Elko runs a defense that he can teach to not only true freshmen, but also guys still in high school. Allen is not going early enrollment, though. Follow Derrik Allen ✔@DsmoothAllen another one 8:06 PM - 2 Jul 2017 · Beaverton, OR 1919 Retweets 167167 likes Twitter Ads info and privacy - Amon-Ra St. Brown jammed the ring finger on his right hand and missed some of the afternoon 7-on-7 work. Not sure if he’ll be back tomorrow for the championship tournament. For some reason his coaches are playing him at slot receiver, which might be his best position in college but is a waste of his talent here. It’s almost like he’s been used as a decoy. Talked to dad John Brown about a whole bunch of stuff today too. He said he’s not too familiar with the new strength staff, but Equanimeous has been positive about the changes. Wasn’t thrilled about the previous regime, that’s for sure. - Didn’t get to see a ton of George Takacs, but not a lot of action came his way during the reps I did see. I stand by what I said earlier in the week, that Takacs is closer to Smythe/Weishar than Wright/Kmet. Good tight end prospect. Probably a critical one too because that depth chart may turn over big time after the season. But in terms of blowing you away with pure athleticism, that doesn’t jump off the field. More a classic tight end, and it’s tough to stand out if you’re a classic tight end in 7-on-7. - Worst moment of the day, by far, was watching four-star defensive lineman Greg Emerson go down with what looked like a broken ankle. It happened midway through the linemen workout and the coaches ended the session for the day afterward. Emerson is uncommitted out of Jackson, Tenn., with offers from Tennessee, Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State.
Elko and Lea seem to be making their presence felt recruiting wise. This is a nice change from the BVG days. Kids seem to like them
Crowdsourcing. I'm doing the TMB podcast with Houndster on Wednesday evening. I've sourced several articles to draw from and make sense of, but anything you guys want me to talk about, etc? I don't plan to go micro but I obviously will go over losses/gains/coaching changes/My personal expectation/the new stadium, etc. etc. I'd love any input from you guys.
Posted in the random thoughts thread a few weeks back, but I quit my job and am moving back to the 574 in October. Could not be more happy. Never thought I'd be pumped to be back in Michiana.
I will happily include a short allaboutthecash segment. Cash, you type it. I'll read it. Keep it around 30s to 1m
I think you need to list your Top 5 new stadium anthems to play in our new and improved stadium. Note that "Crazy Train" cannot be among the top 5.
by the way, we are apparently getting daddy rees added to the recruiting staff. Will be good to have some good football knowledge there to free up the coaching staff to stalk the recruits a bit more
not yet...tons of kids move up the rankings as they get older/better and more people get to see them in camps and film
Coach D on McNamara Spoiler I'm going to try avoid doing full evaluations on sophomores, want to wait until I see more junior film to do the full grades and film breakdown. For McNamara I've had a chance to look at his film and came away with some thoughts on his game. STRENGTHS: - Very easy thrower. He puts very little effort into throwing, which isn't always the case for smaller QB's at a young age. As he gets stronger his arm strength is really going to take off. - Release is very quick and compact outside of one issue (see below). Gets the ball out quickly and gets through the throwing zone in a hurry, but he's not rushed. - Can get a lot of zip on the ball over the deep middle. He had some impressive 20-25 yard in breaking throws where he drove off his back foot and got some easy zip on the ball. Part of this is because he does a really nice job using his core when he throws. - Already makes the tough over the top throws with good placement. - Shows impressive ball placement on downfield throws. Seems to do a better job with ball placement on deep balls than shorter throws. The shorter throws will come in time and usually are easier to learn, so this is a good sign. - Nimble athlete with advanced footwork for his age. Stays light on his feet, doesn't get heavy footed; allows him to buy time and move around the pocket when he gets pressured. - Highly productive - 3,577 passing yards and 46 passing TD's as a sophomore for a 12-2 team. AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT: - Obviously needs to fill out his frame. He's listed at 170 pounds and doesn't look any bigger than 175-180 on film. He does have a frame that tells me he can fill out, but right now he needs to get bigger and stronger. - Needs to improve his overall accuracy. The tools are there but ball placement and overall accuracy must be improved. - Would like to see him improve his running skills a bit. For the athlete he is he should be a bit better as a runner. - Reacts to rush a step late at times, will improve with experience. - Pats the ball in the pocket when he's about to throw. I'd like to see him stop doing that. OVERALL THOUGHTS: Good pickup for Notre Dame. He didn't enter camp season as their top guy, but he left camp as their top guy. I was told his workout was really impressive, which combined with good sophomore film to make him a guy the staff wanted to take. The reality is Notre Dame didn't need to take a QB this year, they could have easily let it play out and have their offense sell itself to 2019 players, but they liked this kid enough to make a push. McNamara should really see his game take off as he fills out his frame, but there are a lot of raw tools that jump off the screen outside of his size. Prister's Review Spoiler Cade McNamara – a quarterback in the Class of 2019 with two years of high school remaining who verbally committed to the Irish Monday – has raised the future "fun quotient" at Notre Dame a couple of notches. Listed at 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, but likely closer to 6-foot-1, 170 pounds, the junior-to-be from Damonte Ranch High School in Reno, Nevada is a daring, resourceful, gun-slinging young signalcaller who has never met a situation on the football field he didn't relish. When in doubt, McNamara goes for it by any means necessary, although usually with his arm as opposed to his feet, which are nimble enough to get himself out of trouble and into passing mode. After a freshman season in which he completed 150-of-284 passes (52.8 percent) for 2,042 yards (13.6 yards per completion), 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, McNamara upped the ante during his sophomore campaign, completing 218-of-374 passes (58.3 percent) for 3,577 yards (16.4 yards per completion), 46 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Following a summer tour that included stops at home-state Nevada, Notre Dame, UCLA, Washington and Wisconsin, McNamara chose the Irish over offers from Nevada, Hawaii, Wisconsin and San Diego State. There's no doubt his offer list will expand considerably in the upcoming two seasons, although his verbal pledge to the Irish will tame some of the outside enthusiasm. "For me, Notre Dame checked all the boxes for sure," said McNamara to Irish Illustrated recruiting analysis Kevin Sinclair. "I absolutely loved Notre Dame as soon as I set foot on campus. I knew there was something special about it. "My relationship with Coach (Brian) Kelly and Coach (Tommy) Rees was a huge part of it. Also, it's a great academic school with all the tradition. I want to play for a national championship and Notre Dame is definitely the school to do it." McNamara adds his name to a Notre Dame quarterback list that includes red-shirt sophomore Brandon Wimbush, red-shirt freshman Ian Book, freshman Avery Davis, and high school senior-to-be Phil Jurkovec. All things being equal and presuming Davis and Jurkovec each preserve a year of eligibility in their first years at Notre Dame, McNamara will be a true freshman in 2019 with Wimbush in his final year, Book a senior with two years of eligibility, Davis a junior with three years, and Jurkovec a sophomore with four years. The Irish are getting an untamed colt with two years of prep work ahead of him that should see him pass for another 7,500-to-8,000 yards before he's done playing for the appropriately-named Mustangs. McNamara doesn't throw footballs for Damonte Ranch High School, but rather, engages in a game of darts, usually on the run and often times with a pass rush in his face. He looks as if he's aiming for the triple 20 on the dartboard and is pretty darn sure he's going to hit it, even if he's scrambling to avoid a rush. Gunslinger is a term that comes to mind with McNamara. He uses all of his athletic skills to put himself in a position to sling the football downfield. He may have his ultra-quick feet set when he makes a throw; he may be backpedaling, on the run, or throwing off his back foot. He makes those less-than-perfectly-fundamental throws because, well, he can. McNamara, who works out of a shotgun formation, sets his feet quickly and gets off a rapid-fire throw when he's afforded protection. His snap-to-release time is fast and a huge asset. He looks at tight windows as a challenge worth taking, regardless whether the window is shutting or a defensive lineman is in his face. He is fearless when it comes to taking shots from defenders. He'll hang in there under pressure because he's confident he can get the football to a spot. He'll extricate himself from a jam, move within/without the pocket, and buy himself time to make a downfield throw. His escapability leads to some big shots from defenders, a trait that he'll want to fine-tune as he evolves from high school to college quarterback. McNamara plays the game with a win-at-all-cost spunk. He does an exceptional job of keeping his eyes downfield when he's under pressure and running to avoid it. Despite his youth, he shows a great knack for throwing on the run – to his right and his left – with the ability to find moving targets and receivers breaking open. The ability of a quarterback so young to square his shoulders on the run and make an accurate throw is very rare. McNamara's deep ball often looks like a raindrop. The deeper the ball, the more relaxed his throwing motion. His ability to find the right touch to allow his receiver to run under it is uncanny for a kid who was just a sophomore last fall. He can run, but he has just 96 yards rushing on 78 "attempts" with six rushing touchdowns. He'd rather use his excellent feet to buy himself some time, keep looking downfield, and find a receiver in Damonte Ranch's spread attack. He has superb bounce in the pocket and has a good awareness of where his receivers will be when he delivers the football. McNamara is unorthodox, but a good unorthodox. While a coach would love to tame some of that wild mustang in him, his resourcefulness is also one of his greatest assets. Listed as a three-star prospect, that will change in 2017. Only his stature is preventing the fourth star after two years of high school, and that won't be enough to halt his acclaim as he continues to put up monster numbers. If he's a three-star, he's a dynamic three-star; if he's a four-star, he'll need to get stronger and grow, which he probably will considering he's just midway through high school. In many respects, he's in the mold of current Irish red-shirt freshman Ian Book. Book's game is similar, but McNamara is much less likely to run the football. McNamara's game is advanced from where Book's was at that age. There's a Johnny Manziel resourcefulness in McNamara's passing game. Watching film of McNamara the next two years should be sheer delight in anticipation of his arrival to Notre Dame in 2019. also, they saw him throw twice (in spring and in camp) and apparently liked him more than all the campers that came through including Dylan Morris who is ranked in the 40's on Scout
from Lou Spoiler I heard from a source that Notre Dame's recruiting office could have a major new addition, and the name should be familiar: Bill Rees, father of ND quarterbacks coach Tom Rees. The elder Rees has been at Wake Forest the past three years — where new defensive coordinator Mike Elko and new linebackers coach Clark Lea also came from — and has had a distinguished career at the major college and NFL level. He served as the Director or Player Personnel for the Demon Deacons. From 1979-94 at UCLA, Rees and Notre Dame's Vinny Cerrato (1986-91) became perhaps the nation's two most esteemed recruiting coordinators and talent evaluators in the country. UCLA won three straight Rose Bowls in the 1980s under head coach Terry Donahue and continued to thrive most of his tenure. Rees then embarked on an NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he scouted tight end Tony Gonzalez, then the Chicago Bears' director of scouting, including finding Brian Urlacher, San Francisco 49, Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay and Chiefs again before returning to the college game at Northwestern (son Tom starred at Lake Forest High at the time) and then moving to Wake Forest. Nothing is official yet, but this is an announcement that might be coming soon.
all im saying is highly rated guys beget highly rated guys and im the only one saing anything negative
Everything I've seen so far as it pertains to the new stadium absolutely delights me. LEPROTRON - Check Dark and narrow visitor's tunnel - Check Ornate new buildings and fixtures - Check Widened concourses - Check Unobstructed view of TD Jesus - Check New press box for the blue hairs - Check Love it. This season can't get here soon enough.
All true. Plus a full Art Deco theme "inside". It's gonna be beautiful. My only complaint is that they have gone to urinals instead of troughs. So much less efficient.
The troughs will be missed. Who didn't enjoy a good, hearty piss next to 12 of their closest friends? I do agree they made getting in and out of the bathroom a breeze.
I learned to be a proud man with a heavy and vicious stream of (at the time) Sprite piss in those troughs at the age of 8. May they rest in peace.
we're going to need widened concourses when all the fans are leaving in the third quarter because we are down 42-14 to USC