With Lombard, Martin, and Smith already coming our way... who is left on everyone's top 5.

 

 

I'm not sure who my top 5 would be as of yet but I know I'm putting Barr as my number one right now.... his YouTube clip is beast-like. The kid could be plugged into many positions and dominate.

I think we need more playmakers. We have two with Floyd and Tate but we really don't have any other "playmakers" on the field. Yet.

 

I think that will change in 2009.

 

I expect Rudolph to be one of our biggest playmakers very soon.

Id say we have 4 on offense Floyd, Tate, Rudolph & Allen -- Rudolph will make huge strides next year and Allen will be awesome if he's used right esp screen game

 

Id say we have 6 on defense Walls, Blanton, Fleming, H. Smith, & now Teo -- Walls was our biggest playmaker in 07, Blanton made some big plays, Fleming showed great promise and will continue to get better, same goes with EJ, H. Smith is going to be light years better (great athleticism), and TE'O will make plays no doubt here.

 

Id say we have 4 on Sp Teams Anello, S. Brown, K. McCarthy, & Motta -- Anello has proven it again & again, S. Brown gives us a threat at punt blocking, K. McCarthy is a sure tackler, & Motta is going to be a Sp Teams stud.

 

 

Let's not forget Mike Ragone. This kid would have been a 5 star player out of high school had he not been hurt. If he recovers from his injury it would be awesome to have him on the field at the same time as Rudolph.

A couple things,

 

First, to all you people saying nose tackle? I think you mean DE. Nose tackles on are roster are Newman, Williams, Stockton, H. Williams. Our DE is so much in more need of players. We need playmakers on the outside. PRESSURE ON THE QB. Sadly enough, it's one position we haven't targeted that many people outside of Chance Carter.

 

Second, I'm just not on the Heaps bandwagon. I wouldn't mind getting him but I just don't know actually how good he is. Maybe his senior year blows me away but I think we need to go after the other big guys, particularly from the South and West to get a gamer at QB. To Heaps credit, he is a gamer. He does perform well in games but at camps he really hasn't impressed all too much.

 

Third, WE NEED A PLAYMAKING SAFETY.

Top ten for me:

 

1. Seantrel Henderson

2. Anthony Barr

3. James Hurst

4. Chance Carter

5. Corey Cooper

6. Kyle Prater

7. Deitrich Riley

8. Sean Parker

9. C.J. Feiderowicz

10.Tai-ler Jones

 

Lombard and Chris Martin would have been top 5 had they not committed yet.

 

Actually there are a few Heap doubters. Whether that group will grow or shrink will likely be determined this Spring. His competition, among other things, has been questioned.

Let's not forget Mike Ragone. This kid would have been a 5 star player out of high school had he not been hurt. If he recovers from his injury it would be awesome to have him on the field at the same time as Rudolph.

 

Also, don't forget Jimmy Clausen...almost because he HAS to be THE playmaker on the team

Small point, but I'm not sure where you're getting "Sadly enough, it's one position we haven't targeted that many people outside of Chance Carter" patches. Right now, it looks like we're aiming for 3 end prospects, and we've got offers out for Carter, Martin, Wilson, and Lemonier. Yes, I know Martin plays LB right now, but his frame screams end. Its where he worked at during the 1-on-1 drills at the USC rising stars camp.

 

If we're talking positions I'd feel best about if they committed...

 

1. LT (Lombard might be the guy, but he might end up more of a RT prospect too)

2. S (getting 2 S prospects in 3 years hurts. A couple guys might flip over from corner, but the point remains.)

3. DE

4. QB

5. DT

 

If we're talking specific players, regardless of position, #1 would have been Martin, but of those with offers...

 

- CJ Fiedorowicz

- Kyle Prater

- James Hurst

- Anthony Barr

- Khari Fortt

- Aramide Olaniyan

 

I know, you're thinking where is Henderson. Physically he's probably #1 on the charts, but there've been enough red flag like whispers for me to be a little worried about him upstairs.

 

If you combined current need with talent, probably comes out something like this.

 

1. James Hurst (still need another T before I can breathe easy)

2. Anthony Barr

3. CJ Fiedorowicz

4. Aramide Olaniyan

5. Reggie Wilson

6. Devin Gardner

1. Chris Martin (I know he already verballed, but with his long list of offers, you know Les, Carrol, Neuhisel, etc... are gonna be wispering in his ear; we need to keep this one)

2. Seantrel Henderson

3. Anthony Barr

4. Chance Carter

5. Kyle Prater

 

I just put Chris MArtin in there because I saw his video at the USC camp and he just DOMINATED. He straight up bulled over Senior (and 5-star) OL Xu'FiLo into the QB dummy and dominated him...we need to hang onto him

Let's not forget Mike Ragone. This kid would have been a 5 star player out of high school had he not been hurt. If he recovers from his injury it would be awesome to have him on the field at the same time as Rudolph.

 

Or Jonas Gray. Guy showed us something at the end of the bowl game.

 

Any more intel on Heaps -- someone wrote that our chances were slim.

 

Also, I noticed Scout lists Henderson as having no offer from us. Is that still true?

Edited February 7, 200916 yr by 2lakes

Or Jonas Gray. Guy showed us something at the end of the bowl game.

 

Any more intel on Heaps -- someone wrote that our chances were slim.

 

Also, I noticed Scout lists Henderson as having no offer from us. Is that still true?

 

Rivals has us listed as offered.

 

http://notredame.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=71634

I would love to see Chris Doyle as our S&C coach as well. My cousin made some HUGE gains in the weight room and on the field, which allowed him some shots at NFL camps, then played in Europe and the arena league. Doyle is a heck of a S&C coach, but I don't think he'll ever leave Iowa, he really likes it here. Nice guy from the couple times I talked to him and he came to a family gathering.

When it comes to recruiting, NEVER minimize the roll of mothers. In addition to his father's and uncle's connection with Notre Dame, Barr's mother is a St. Mary's grad. Three-of-a-kind is a difficult hand to beat!!! With an outstanding group of outstanding recruits from the Midwest (no issues with distance and weather) and a number who have Notre Dame connections, the combination of a winning season and a BCS bowl appearance - which will ensure Coach Weis's return - the class of 2010 could be a memorable one!!

 

Subway Alum - MA

Notre Dame Fan Since 1950

I really agree with you subway. Well put out.

When it comes to recruiting, NEVER minimize the roll of mothers. In addition to his father's and uncle's connection with Notre Dame, Barr's mother is a St. Mary's grad. Three-of-a-kind is a difficult hand to beat!!! With an outstanding group of outstanding recruits from the Midwest (no issues with distance and weather) and a number who have Notre Dame connections, the combination of a winning season and a BCS bowl appearance - which will ensure Coach Weis's return - the class of 2010 could be a memorable one!!

 

Subway Alum - MA

Notre Dame Fan Since 1950

 

Don't forget girlfriends. I've seen numerous guys follow their girlfriends for god knows what reason... Well, I know what reason. But it never works out for the guy, then he often transfers...

Love the topic...thinking big picture...DT isn't as pressing of a need because we have Ian Williams entering his junior season and he has been spectacular the whole way...Behind him is Sean Cwyner, who I really like...Brandon Newman and Hafis Williams are also potential diamonds in the rough with a new DL coach who may get a fire lit under them and a year in the weight room couldn't hurt...that's four young and solid players to build around...Sure we still need to sign a DT or two, but it isn't like we wouldn't be able to field a team without it...

 

That being said, here are my top five recruits...

 

1. Anthony Barr, I don't know if he plays RB with the stable of backs we have in front of him, but I would love to see him become our version of Taylor Mays at strong safety where he can just lay the lumber and knock fools out...Or we could put him at rush end/olb where he could play the James Harrison role in our 3-4 defense...either way we have a place for him and an inside track to get him.

2. Seantrel Henderson / James Hurst, either one of these two would be great 'gets' for our boys and after Te'o I firmly believe that nothing is impossible, and I think pairing them with Lombard would make for a great offensive line class, even if its a group of two...

3. Josh Furman, 6'2 195 4.37 safety/corner prospect who we will need to develop into a Bobby Taylor-like corner to matchup against USC's bigger physical wrs...I'm a sucker for a big corner who can run, and Furman has mad speed

4. Dominic Espinosa, 6'3 275 5.2, listed as a center, but I would like to see what he can do at Defensive Tackle, typically centers have good hand placement, quick feet and a nasty demeanor, all of which are key attributes for a defensive tackle...and he is built like an athlete, not like a butterball...

5. Brandon Linder, 6'3 275 center from St. Thomas Aquinas who can play some guard or provide Braxton Cave with some immediate competition at center...S.T.A has a little bit of a pipeline into South Bend, so this is especially important in order to keep the talent flowing North

 

In regards to Jake Heaps, not too worried about getting him...Sure he could turn into a great QB, but I think we will land Nick Montana who would fit the system well as he will come in behind Dayne Christ and Jimmy Claussen...And I think this is a fairly weak class for QBs anyway, so let's not tie our hopes to one guy.

 

I also would like to see us sign Blake Lueders, he seems to have the frame to put on another 20 pounds and play the DE position in the 3-4 and he is also from my high school, so I'm a little bias

 

Another player I would like to see us get that may be a little under the radar to this point could be VJ Fehoko who at 6' 225 could slide into the fullback spot, because we will need someone to open holes in the run game after Schwapp and Paskorz depart the program...and unless Schmitt receives a brain transplant, I don't think we can count on him much longer (concussion joke, not a reference to his intelligence)...

Edited February 8, 200916 yr by SpeedsterX

It sounds like Nick Montana wants to get out from the shadow his father casts, and doesn't have much if any interest in the Irish. I understand it too, as it'd be strange playing the same position as his older brother.

 

I'd like to get Gardner, but if that doesn't materialize, I'd like the way of Pete Thomas or Connor Wood. There are a few others too, and I wouldn't mind landing a 2nd QB within the class either.

A.Barr

S.Henderson

D.McCoy

K.Fortt

J.Heaps

 

Chris Martin was hands down #1!!!

Could you imagine Barr and Teo inside with Martin on the outside.

Can I include Mike Brey's replacement in the class of 2010. I've never liked the guy as a coach. He lacks any creativity or any way to truly utilize the team. I haven't liked him since we got him. I was willing to give him a chance this year thinking that things have changed, but they haven't. So, Bobby Knight, Matt Doherty, or some other coach is my most wanted for 2010.

Bobby Knight at ND? Yeah right. That relationship would last roughly 45 seconds. You think Doherty has what it takes to get it done? He had some of the best talent in the land at NC and drove the program into the ground. Do you watch basketball or were those the first two names you could think of?