Hey in our heyday we weren't spending scholarships on specialists! There is no reason why we cant have a pipeline of rich kids from New Trier/Loyola/Lake Forrest who start going to these long snapping camps as their ticket to admission as a preferred walkon. Maybe get a scholarship for 1 or two years and then get a free MBA in your 5th year.
It kind of is. Little to no chance we make the playoffs but a Top 10 finish is definitely in the cards.
it's really this right here - those 3 wins still look very impressive, especially the USC win if they win the pac 12 which looks likely, that will be a big feather in our cap
Yeah I don't see that happening unfortunately. These last 6 quarters have just been so bad. It's crazy
Spoiler Recruiting Intel: On Tremble. It's going to be interesting to see what happens. His best friend is visiting with him. He's a guy who could be a potential preferred walk on. I've heard the kid is a pretty good player, so it's a possibility, but I think ND wants to see how big he is, etc. Also, with Tremble wanting to take a few more official visits, ND wouldn't take his commitment this weekend if he's visiting other schools later, so we'll have to see how that all unfolds. I asked about Payton Wilson. I've heard he's a guy they'd take. He was one of the top players on their board from the very beginning, so he's a guy they like quite a bit. ND has a lot of ground to make up, but his relationship with Clark Lea and Mike Elko has him at least interested in taking a look at ND. He's a guy they'd take for certain as long as everything checks out. I asked about numbers at this point. I was told that ND plans to just keep taking guys. They're really only recruiting maybe 15 guys tops, and they won't land all of them, so I think their strategy is to keep taking good players and then figure it out later. I asked about Houston Griffith. As we mentioned, ND is a player here, but I think there are some things to be worked out if he were to flip to ND. Heard the ball is in his court at the moment. Quick update on most of the rest of 2018 With Chase Cota, ND is still in it. Most likely a ND/Oregon/UCLA battle. He hasn't given any indication yet what he plans to do or announce, but I believe he's an early enrollee, so we'll know more likely when BK can have his in-home and we see where that goes. BK plans to be on the west coast after the Stanford game with his in-homes with all those players out west. Like Cota, the same holds true for Amon-ra St. Brown. I think in-homes will be the real key here to know if ND has a legit shot. I think we will know a lot more after the in-home. On Nicolas Petit-Frere: I think ND is still sitting in good position. Again, I think who Florida hires, and what else happens will certainly be cards left to be played, but I do think ND sits in good position, currenly. In-homes with he and his family will give us a better idea of where things stand. On Solomon Tuliaupupu: Heard still daily communication here with him. He's a guy they'd really like, and he's still communicating daily, so that's a good sign. He's another who will have an in-home, but not sure if it will be BK as he plans to announce late. On Jayson Oweh: I heard he's scheduled to visit for the banquet. I still think this is a long shot. I think it's another situation of the parents like ND more than he does, but ND will at least have a shot. On Tariq Bracy; Don't have anything new on his situation. Still don't believe he's 100 percent qualified for ND yet, but he's very much still on ND's board. ND will visit him for an in-home after Stanford. On Kyler Gordon: I keep hearing he's saying all the right things. I heard he plans to announce on his birthday, which is December 17th or 18th, some time around then. Lots of great communication here, but I don't think this is a "done deal" at this point, but ND is very much in good position. The in-home will be important as well. Yes, he did apply for Stanford. Could that change things? Don't know. On Avonta Crim: Again, not sure he's 100 percent qualified for ND yet, but he's still on the board. Still a guy to keep watching, but we'll see what happens with other DBs as well. On Julius Irvin: It still seems to be trending USC. ND not "out," but I think he's less likely to come to ND than before. I know I've left off a few, but I just don't have anything new to report on them at this time. Also, I've heard ND plans to have around 70 recruits in this week. A very large number of them will be 2019 and 2020 recruits. We should have more intel on some of these prospects soon.
TV Spoiler Irish Illustrated insider Tom Loy and 247Sports Director of Recruiting Steve Wiltfong bring you the latest they’re hearing regarding Notre Dame on the recruiting trail. — Hillsborough (NC) Orange Top247 linebacker Payton Wilson is the lone official visitor this weekend for Notre Dame and the blue-chip recruit will have an opportunity be showered with attention across the board. Joined by his parents, the North Carolina commit is scheduled to arrive early in the afternoon on Friday. As we’ve written numerous times, linebacker remains a priority for Mike Elko, Clark Lea and this staff as they put the finishing touches on this 2018 class. Depth at the position is not where it needs to be. Wilson would certainly address that although it also wouldn’t be surprising if he developed into a menacing pass rushing defensive end on the next level. No linebacker at The Openings finals this past summer had the physical prowess of Wilson. Saturday’s game against Navy will be the second time Wilson sees the Irish play in person as he was at ND’s win over UNC in Chapel Hill. Wilson has a prior relationship with Elko and Lea as they were two of the coaches to target him the earliest when they were at Wake Forest. Notre Dame is playing from behind with Wilson coming into the visit. N.C. State is the program that looks to be in the best shape to flip him from the Tar Heels as it stands now. The game atmosphere for the Wolfpack is one of the things Wilson likes about N.C. State. He’ll get a feel for a game day in South Bend, a chance to see how he fits in with the staff and players, and will leave campus knowing whether or not ND is a fit for him. Wilson is also looking at potential officials to Ohio State and Clemson in December. — A source close to Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy Top247 safety Houston Griffith tells Loy that the family plans to visit Notre Dame again before the end of the month. If everything checks out academically for Griffith to enroll early, all indications are the Irish will be tough to beat. — Notre Dame wants another receiver in this class. Obviously five-star Amon-Ra St. Brown is target numero uno and Lawrence Keys is a name regularly mentioned but the staff is circling back on early targets and also evaluating senior tape on others. __ In last week’s Tunnel Vision we featured where Notre Dame stood with its top cornerback target Kyler Gordon. The Irish are right there in the thick of it as they battle in-state Washington. In that update we were told to keep an eye on Stanford. If Gordon were admitted they could ultimately be tough to beat. Wiltfong heard that those two parties may be going their separate ways here. — This weekend Notre Dame will get another opportunity to remind Norcross (Ga.) Wesleyan tight end Tommy Tremble why they lead. The athletic Tremble is taking an unofficial, his third time checking out South Bend, one trip in the summer and obviously official in October for the win over USC. Tremble is set to official to Michigan next weekend. The Wolverines have some ins with Tremble, but unless something drastically changes with this recruitment, ND figures to be tough to beat when Tremble decides. Making the trip with Tremble is a good friend of his and that young man’s parents. Tremble’s buddy wants to attend ND which could sweeten the deal for Tremble as well. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Tremble has laser-timed 4.6 speed in the 40-yard dash with a 4.2 shuttle and a 35-inch vertical leap. He has unique athletic traits. He probably doesn’t come in ready to contribute year one, but his upside is tremendous. — Three of Ohio’s best defensive linemen in the 2019 class head to Notre Dame this weekend in five-star Zach Harrison, Top100 recruit Cade Stover and Top247 defensive Rodas Johnson. Wiltfong and Loy have Johnson forecasted to the Irish on the Crystal Ball. Notre Dame coach Mike Elston has been recruiting him longer than anyone. He’s a priority recruit. Harrison’s interested in ND, Penn State and Michigan is genuine and although he lives 15 minutes from Ohio State, he is not a lock for the Buckeyes. We’ve been told in the past his mom is very impressed with the opportunity at Notre Dame. It’s hard to imagine to imagine Stover anywhere but Ohio State but Notre Dame will take their swing. — Other key 2019s that are expected this weekend include defensive end target Joseph Anderson and offensive tackle John Olmstead, two that ND has a great chance with. Top247 defensive end Marcus Hicks from Kansas is a guy on offer watch. Class-of-2020 defensive tackle Denver Warren will be on campus. The Illinois standout is one of the Midwest’s best in his cycle.
The competition might be interesting next year, wimbush really needs to step it up in the passing game. I am sure he will be the starter again but if he still completes 50% he will lose his job
The fashion choice of Brey has become a thing, that's awesome. Next Ugly Christmas sweaters, they're played out, but it would be great.
Kelly will go so air raid with this guy and completely ruin the team. I am sorry guys I am now scared of good passing qbs because Kelly is absolutely aweful at running an offense when Nd has a qb that can throw a good ball 60% of th time
Alright. Score prediction time. I'm feeling a decent bounce back on senior day. RBs are healthy. Wimbush shouldn't need to force things. ND 38 Navy 21
The defense looking tired is a concern of mine as well. Depth still isn't where we need it to be - but to their credit, they have really battled this year.
If the corners can do what they did to NC State and man up all game allowing everyone else to focus on the run game I think they should be able to handle them on defense. On the DL hopefully we can rotate enough bodies to stay fresh. On offense, when we've had a physical advantage they have mauled every time. Tired or not that should again be the case.
Yeah some of his quotes this week surprised me. He was a guy I just assumed would be back next season