Its early May, and we're done at two positions (TE, QB). We're already in the home stretch for two pretty critical positions (LB, OL), with probably 1 more target verbal for each position. Maybe 2 at LB if they decide to push this class #'s wise. We've got our foot in the door at DL and WR, and we're sitting pretty with 4 of our secondary prospects, the only targeted position without any verbals.

 

What are your guys thoughts on where ND's recruiting is? Am I drinking the cool-aid too much on this? Is this the best you guys can remember it? Are these guys not quite "elite" enough for where ND wants to be headed? How do we stack up compared to some of our rivals?

 

Guess I'm curious about a "bigger picture" perspective, primarily ND, but other schools are interesting to bring up too.

Calves:

whats with the Chris Rix? picture under your signature...

and what does your quote mean/who is Doug Adams?

This was in fact because reason went out to lunch." - Douglas Adams

Calves:

whats with the Chris Rix? picture under your signature...

and what does your quote mean/who is Doug Adams?

This was in fact because reason went out to lunch." - Douglas Adams

 

I can speak to the Douglas Adams part, he wrote "The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy", as well as many other, not as commercially popular sci-fi books. The Rix part has always intrigued me as well.

These guys are elite and will help Notre Dame win a National Championship. No doubt in my mind.

Agreed Calves. I can't believe this class has 12 verbals already. We really need one more offensive linemen in the class because every class should include at least 4. At LB, we need a commitment from Filer to finish up. He should be our #1 LB priority right now, but they should also swing for the fences and try to get a Shane Hale or Arthur Brown. Our class needs 1 or 2 more DL. From what I hear, Brandon Newman is ours, and Kabongo really likes ND. Four would be a good number for the DL, but if Ethan Johnson or Marcus Forston wants to come to Notre Dame you can't say no. Right now at WR, Floyd is the #1 priority. We are recruiting him harder than any other WR. I don't really know about our chances with Odoms or Butler. Our DB recruiting has been good the past 2 classes. We need to build depth now. I think Blanton is Irish, McCarthy will be, Slaughter really like us as well.

For the most part, I agree with you, I think were all drinkin' the kool aid. We do have elite talent in the class. Rudolph is elite, as is Fleming, McDonald, and Crist.

As far as our rivals go, Michigan has 3 commits, one is an elite CB from Detroit. The other 2 are good OL. Southern Cal has 7 commits, 4 of them I consider elite.

Chris Rix: The fact that a mega-idiot like that can open up a football camp for youth, and claim to have the keys to being a "champion", is funny as is. But when there's a picture from his website, this I have to make fun of. Chris Rix and "champion" should never be in the same sentence, even the phrase "will never be" is included, for fear that someone may miss crucial elements of that sentence.

 

Douglas Adams: That quote refers to reason itself actually stepping out to lunch. Any time an idea like that gets personified in a book, I have to give mad props.

 

In combining the two, I think its pretty clear that the world is devoid of reason of people will actually pay for Chris Rix's aid in tutoring young sons about the philosophies of being a good quarterback.

 

As for the topic of this thread, is a slow recruiting pace normal for Michigan? Can't say I've really followed their recruiting, but it seems like they're missing on a bunch of guys that've verballed to ND (Clelland, Goodman, Fleming, Cave, Crist, Rudolph), and there are more prospects that they could lose out on that are in the mix with both schools as well (Filer, Blanton, Floyd, Goebel). They're in the lead for prospects like Hunter, and have a decent shot at a couple of other guys, but head to head they look like they're getting smoked, and that their class just isn't going to stack up. Is it just me?

They have missed out on guys who went to ND and Ohio State. Ouch.

What are your guys thoughts on where ND's recruiting is? Am I drinking the cool-aid too much on this? Is this the best you guys can remember it? Are these guys not quite "elite" enough for where ND wants to be headed? How do we stack up compared to some of our rivals?

This class right now is no less than top 5 in the country (Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio St. and Georgia). There's a lot of time to go, but I think this class has the potential to be better than Weis' first two full recruiting classes. I originally thought we were headed for another top 8 class like the previous 2 years but I'm starting to think top 5 is realistic. It is starting to look like we can take 22 this year. Here's what I think our class looks like come February 6:

 

QB-Dayne Crist****

RB-Carlton Thomas***

WR-Michael Floyd*****

WR-John Goodman****

WR-***(Not sure who just yet)

TE-Kyle Rudolph****

TE-Joseph Fauria****

OT-Lane Clelland****

OT-?****(Not sure who just yet)

OG-Mike Golic Jr.***

C-Braxton Cave***

DE-Sean Cwynar****

DE-Hafis Williams****

NT-Brandon Newman***

DE-Kapron Lewis-Moore****

LB-David Posluszny****

LB-Anthony McDonald****

LB-Darius Fleming****

LB-Steven Filer****

CB-Robert Blanton****

CB-Jeremy Brown***

S-Dan McCarthy****

S-Jamoris Slaughter****

 

22 spots:

5*-1

4*-15

3-6

 

QB, TE, DL, and LB are looking great. If we could land 1 more stud OT, I'd be happy with our OL recruiting also. I'm not worried about DB recruiting, even though we don't have a commitment, because we are in great shape with most of the offers at that position. If we could somehow get another 4* WR, to go along with Michael Floyd, I don't think anyone would have any reason to gripe about this class.

I think a few more of those guys will be 5 stars by the end... if not earlier

I like the look of your list shark. Especially the fact that this could become a reality.

I dont know about a third receiver.

I dont know about a third receiver.

 

Yeah, your right. But two, especially Floyd joining Goodman would be great.

I think a good way to look at where we stand so far is that outside of a few OL and WR recruits, we have not missed out on many of our top targets. And even with the OL, Cave is a very versatile interior lineman and Lemming (for what it's worth) rates Cleland as one of the top OL in the country.

 

When the staff has their list of offers and we have already landed more than half of our targets in May, I'd have to say this is an amazing job thus far, and we appear to be sitting very well with more than several of our other top targets.

For Michigan, I'm probably concerned but not worried now. They have to be looking over their shoulder at ND and OSU, but there are still a lot of very good targets out there that they will get their share of. I'd be primarily having nightmares about that OL class OSU is putting together.

that'd be a great class shark. i like the chances we have with all the guys on there.

For Michigan, I'm probably concerned but not worried now. They have to be looking over their shoulder at ND and OSU, but there are still a lot of very good targets out there that they will get their share of. I'd be primarily having nightmares about that OL class OSU is putting together.

 

I think that part of Michigans problem is the uncertainty of Carr's furture. Recruits, like most everyone else, can't see Carr sticking around much longer and that uncertainty is leading kids to more stable programs, ie ND and OSU.