Needs...

[bluester2000]

Presumably Carufel is in the fold, if not I feel like we can get another solid prospect (Sam Young? Dreaming, but it would be nice). I figure OL should be solid (we'll have 13-14 scholarship OL next season if nobody leaves early). We're not going to be particularly deep with experience, but we will be deep with talent.

What's next? My guess, Gerald McCoy or Micah Johnson. Both those guys are amazing. Unfortunately, according to Irish eyes they're the only big name DT we're going after, and they're solid 5 star guys. Meaning it's realistic we strike out with both of them. All of a sudden we're in trouble since we haven't even signed anyone else at the position.

Also maybe a big, big name WR prospect. As nice as guys like Jackson, Parris, West, and Gallup are none are highly regarded. Terrence Austin is a big name, but at this point we're also set to have 11 (11!) scholarship wide receivers. Plus 6 TEs if Fasano sticks around.

I figure we're still in the market for TE, OL, DT, LB.
What else are big priorities for you guys?

[Irish4life]

i agree with you on our needs but maybe TE isnt that much. i mean we might have fasano for another year, carlson will play next season, and then joey hiben. and as for a big WR prospect nah im ok with our core right now. i see big futures for hord and grimes. also jackson coming in to. woo hoo.

[bluester2000]

We also have Freeman as well unless I'm mistaken, but I would love to get Reuland though. He is an absolute stud, and no matter how deep you are at a position you have to do your best to get someone of his caliber. Hiben is going to be a very good traditional TE, but I think Reuland is the Jeremy Shockey / Kellen Winslow Jr. type tight end. Not a great blocker, but a guy who can dominate anyone in the passing game.

Grimes and Hord are nice players, but I don't think they're that close to Rhema and Mo. Rhema and Mo were the "gets" of that class. Fortunately they're being rewarded now by CW. Maybe my biggest concern is that I don't know what to expect from Bragg or Anastasio. Next year it looks like Rhema, Shark, ?, ?, ?. Based on who's been playing this season Hord and Grimes will be the 3/4 receivers, but they're still young and haven't proven to be great players yet.

[SirJohn]

I was following everything written. I only disagree with "These guys are not highly regarded." By who are they not? Some blank nameless scout at Rivals or Lemming, etc? This Recruiting thing is an imperfect system. We do need something and this happens to be it Meaning I too would be happy if all were five stars. But if the Coachs want these then I do and to heck with outside opinion.

It would be nice to have the #1 recruiting class by all these mags and media. If not..NOT.

The basic thing is Coach Weis in one of his past Pressers said (About thgese recruiting people) What do they know? I seldom even look at them. THUD!

I think after watching him train up junk from 2004 as long as he feels he sees more potential more usefullness in some one star then a five, so be it.i Recalling that quite a few 'stars' on Notre Dame's team were nobodiesw last year. :D

Go for it hope to get th3em but if they deciode otherwis they sure won't improve as much to the next level as at Notre Dame.

[bluester2000]

We really need to differentiate between the scouting gurus and the talking heads. Lemming, Scout, who ever actually know what they're talking about. It was the talking heads who said Notre Dame couldn't win anymore, that they're not talented, etc etc. Obviously it is an imperfect system when you're evaluating the talent level of 17 and 18 year old kids (look at the NBA draft). But honestly there's a correlation to talent (as judged by impartial sources) and success on the field.

As far as the big talent that's on the team now that wasn't last year, I disagree. I think we were always very talented. I think Willingham did a great job of recruiting skilled players, at least on offense. It just took a real coach to coach them up to their potential.

I've done a bit of research. Our strongest point is our offense so let's take a look at the starters and how they were rated on Scout:
Quinn: 4 Stars
Walker: 3 Stars
Thomas:4 Stars
Rhema: 5 Stars
Mo: 4 Stars
Shark: 4 Stars
Fasano: 4 Stars
Morton: 4 Stars
Harris: 4 Stars
Sullivan: 4 Stars
Levoir, Stevenson, Powers-Neal: No rankings available (rankings don't go back that far).

That's an overall average of 4 stars a position. I think it's pretty clear why we're able to win with these guys. Walker is the only 3 star player who's cracked the starting lineup. I think 1) he was underrated coming in, and 2) he's developed into a very solid player. My concern is that we've signed several guys who don't necessarily stack up with those guys. While you need 3 star guys to fill out the roster I think we spent too much time and energy getting up to 25 players, rather than getting the very best talent.

Another reason not to get too optimistic is our "Top 3" ranking. We've got more commits than most other places, so of course the rankings are inflated. Once the other places get up to 20-25 recruits, we'll fall further.

Then again, if Charlie lands WR: Austin, TE: Reuland, OL: Carufel/Young, DT: Johnson/McCoy, and maybe LB: Lewis, I'll shut up. I figure 5 more guys we really need to focus on will make this the best final recruiting class in 5 years.

[Rockne3d]

What's next? My guess, Gerald McCoy or Micah Johnson. Both those guys are amazing. Unfortunately, according to Irish eyes they're the only big name DT we're going after, and they're solid 5 star guys. Meaning it's realistic we strike out with both of them. All of a sudden we're in trouble since we haven't even signed anyone else at the position.



We are actually in on 4 top DT prospects: McCoy, M. Johnson, B. Lewis, and Kates. All 4 of these are VERY highly regarded players. Depending on the rating company (Rivals or Scout) these are mainly 4 and 5 star guys that we have a legit chance with each.

for Lewis, he likes Georgia and his mother really likes ND. Let's see who wins. We're still the favorite to land Kates. McCoy and Johnson, anybody's guess. but we have a legit shot with each.