One of the top rated LB’s, Steven Filer out of Chicago, IL was the last verbal commitment Notre Dame received. The class of 19 already surpasses last years in terms of talent and quantity, yet something’s missing. Filer committed in late July, and it’s now October, with virtually no recruiting movement whatsoever. RB Carlton Thomas, who had Notre Dame high on his list, just recently just UGA. Then comes the big question. Will recruits decommit because of the horrific start the Irish have had to the season?
There are two ways of looking at this. Let’s start with the positive. Recruits have been noticing the transfers; they’ve been noticing the lack of skills at certain positions. Coach Weis leaves the depth chart open to change almost every week. Recruits can think that they can succeed at this level and beat out the upperclassmen for the job. This can happen as we’ve seen with the 2007 Irish team, mostly with freshmen and sophomore starters. Coach Weis has proven to recruits that they won’t automatically red shirt, and sit on the bench until a position opens up in age of seniority. They can compete right away, and that said, they have.
The downside to all of this though is obviously the 0-5 start and the struggles that the team currently has. Will recruits leave because the team has started 0-5, and could go 0-8 possibly? That shouldn’t affect most commits, as Kyle Rudolph and Anthony McDonald have both made it clear they’re sticking with the Irish. But others seem as if they’re wavering, with many decisions to make. Do I stick with a team that’s struggling? Where will they go from here?
If you’ve looked at the 2008 schedule for the Irish, it shows a pretty straightforward schedule. If Notre Dame gains enough experience in the next year, they could start off as well as 11-0 believe it or not. Just take a look at teams, losing many to seniority. USC QB John David Booty is leaving, which opens up a chance for the Irish to get some pressure in the newcomers face, and attack the USC defense, which has proven to be pretty dominant this year. Notre Dame will have sophomores and juniors next year, who have played the game and know what to expect. They know how to win, especially after most of their high school successes. It’s just a matter of time before Notre Dame explodes into greatness once again.
Alumni pessimists will tell you 2010 ‘could,” be the year, if any in the Weis era. But current Irish recruits and recruits looking at Notre Dame should take in consideration next year’s schedule, the depth chart, and most of all, the ability to be able to beat out a senior for a starting job.
Recruiting may seem over for Notre Dame, with only a few spots left to fill. But recruiting the 2008 class is far from over, if you’ve played the game before.
