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As I stated in another topic I think that we are going to end up with 24 total recruits this year. So here are my selections, reasoning, and impact for the team: (rubbing my hands together like Mr. Burns)

 

1. Michael Floyd...It's not going to be easy, but I think CW pulls this one through on just his track record with receivers. (Look what he did with Givens in New England) This kid is a superstar in the making! Enough said!

 

2. Etienne Sabino...Just getting him up here from the depths of hell, i.e. Florida, speaks volumns to where the program is headed. Be it that I live in Orlando, you have no idea of the pressure that these kids are subjected to. Everyone is pushing for their fav Florida football mill. Quietly, this kid becomes great in college, but becomes even better after a few years in the NFL.

 

3. Dan McCarthy...Hey the kid is Irish and he gets to play with his big bro to boot. Not to mention the fact that he will press for playing time early...probably as a KR or PR. Quality player that could easily turn into a John Lynch type.

 

4. Matt Patchan...I think he has the same intangibles that we see in Ethan Johnson. I don't believe that he plays into all of the promises and hype that most schools feed recruits these days. However, this is my sleeper pick. Imagine this kid on one end of the line and Sam Young on the other. Can we say dominance. IMO he will rival Joe Thomas in ability, but he is much nastier.

 

5. Jeremy Brown...He commits during his visit. All he needs to see is the campus and its all over. The word in Orlando is that his Dad is sold on CB and ND. Jeremy just wants to make sure. Can't blame him. JB is the type of kid that will leave it on the field for his team and coach. Plays within the system and is the unsung hero. Solid get.

 

6. Jonathan Baldwin...I think that playing time may play into this decision. We all know that our present crop of receivers is so so, Kumara excluded, Baldwin has to realize that playing time would most likely be in his future as a freshman. He could really showcase his stuff. I think that's too hard to pass-up. Gets the call to play on Sundays on the first day of the draft.

 

7. Shayne Hale...I truly believe that this kid is playing the recruiting game as close to his vest as possible. I think that he is another Hunter for this class. Didn't really give ND a thought till he got to campus, then can we say 180. I acknowledge that this is my long shot pick, but I'm ok with that. This kid belongs on defense for the Bears or Steelers.

 

Note: I think all of these are locks, except Hale and Patchan. If Patchan doesn't pull the trigger for ND than I see Page sliding into his slot. I also know that I will catch slack for not putting Filer up there, but I just have a feeling about the kid. Sorry all but the only time he could be running through the tunnel will be with the "Skunkbears"! That said, Hale is a bit of a stretch, but one I consider do-able. But if it doesn't happen, it's gonna be Compton.

 

Let the comments begin. I'm gonna get a drink!

nice ndgirlzrock...

 

I think Compton will also be Irish along with Sabino. I dont think Patchan is Irish, but I do think we will get another surprise guy. 24 sounds about right. nice breakdown.

Do you know that Jeremy's high school teammate is one of the best kickers in the country next year... Josh Pruitt...

Do you know that Jeremy's high school teammate is one of the best kickers in the country next year... Josh Pruitt...

 

 

no, did not know that AA, that is good info, wonder if they are good friends or not. maybe if JB comes he can help w/ Pruitt.

Let the comments begin. I'm gonna get a drink!

 

Why did you start so late?

 

I'd probably call Sabino a likely but not a lock. We still have a lot more work to do there and hopefully he loves his visit.

D Fence...that avatar of yours has always been in my top 5.

can hear the air leaving his chest in that pix...probabaly ndwuke best hit of his ND career.

I'll take a shot in the dark at this...

 

I think we pick up either Ryan Williams or Carlton Thomas, Mike Floyd, John Baldwin, Sabino, Filer, Brown, and McCarthy.

 

I think we miss on all the remaining Offensive lineman as well as Forston, Brown, and Hill.

I like your post NDGirl...great job. Now lets hope that at least 60% materialize into commit's?

Haha. 60% wouldnt be bad at all. I think after everyones visits we will have a better idea of our chances with some of the longer shots Forston, Patchan and Sabino

A great list there NDGirlz - definitely has some optimism behind it. Let me give it a try myself:

 

1. Michael Floyd - I think this'll be easier than some of us think. Then again, I just had a nice tall glass of ND Kool-Aid, so take it FWIW. The only schools that I'd worry about right now are OSU and UF - but its pretty apparent that we're ahead of OSU at this point, and I simply think that Florida is too far away. They'd need to be worlds ahead of the rest of the pack for him to forefit the opportunity for his parents to see him play. He's a virtual lock.

 

2. Etienne Sabino - He's not a native Floridian, so that probably makes this easier than with, say, T.J. Bryant. Sabino is my favorite linebacker on the board still, since he's the only guy the staff is looking at to play OLB that actually plays the position in HS. The Irish are loaded with transplanted defensive lineman (John Ryan, Morrice Richardson, Kerry Neal, Darius Fleming), who while talented will experience some growing pains while playing upright, let alone in space. If we got Sabino along with the next guy on my list, I'd honestly be happy if we didn't get another player out there.

 

3. Dan McCarthy - I know you think I'm copying and pasting the list here, but it'll change soon enough. He's got a brother on the team, his last name is McCarthy, he's the only pure safety that we're seriously in on, he compares to Tom Zbikowski... I want him, pretty bad. A lot of fans, both Buckeyes and Domers, are forecasting an ND verbal soon enough. I hope (and think) they're right.

 

4. Kenneth Page - Thats right, you heard me. I'm the driver for the Kenneth Page fanbus, for sure. Patchan is a freaky athlete, but the way Page continues to talk about the emphasis on academics, and how he projects as a pure offensive guard... I think this kid screams "ND kind of player. He's the first person on my list of guys who I'd love to see senior film on, to see if he's progressed. Not a finished product, but the way he run blocks excites me.

 

5. Jonathan Baldwin - If for no other reason than to play keep away from UM (yet again), I want him too. Whether he's too big to stay at WR, I'm not sure, but worst case scenarios are a) we have a big WR that we only use around the red zone, or b) we have another super athletic TE. I for one believe he'll stick at WR, and that they'll do all that they can to keep him there should he hop on board. Floyd at 6'3", Goodman at 6'4", Baldwin at 6'6"... I'll keep my fingers crossed, if you do too.

 

6. Jeremy Brown - I'm one of the guys that places an inordinate amount of emphasis on having defensive backs. Maybe it was watching the secondary disintegrate after Walton and Duff graduated after 2002 that has scarred my mind, I dunno, but I actually love the idea of bringing in 4 DB's - especially after bringing in just 2 last year. I think the most intriguing aspect of what Brown brings to the table is his return potential. I think he's the best realistic option on our board to man KR and/or PR duties. I think he pledges towards the end of this month as well.

 

7. Steve Filer - Even though his recruitment has been difficult to follow (first we were assuring ourselves he was a strong lean, then we started getting cold feet - myself included - then we were expecting a long haul, now we're hearing he might speed it up), I still have shreds of optimism if he's deciding early. If a visit wasn't on the docket, I'd worry, but he'll be up with the rest of the Floridians later this month. I'm willing to bet that Steve will get personal attention from Corwin when he's on campus.

 

And just so we're clear, if you average the ratings of scout and rivals together for all of these prospects, it comes out to 4.14 stars. Its scary to think that these guys would still improve the bottom line of this class, and it doesn't even include 5 star "long shots" like Hale, A. Brown, Hill, Bryant, Forston, etc.

Calves, I totally agree with your list but would consider adding either Ryan Williams or Carlton Thomas to it. I know many think we can forego a back this year, and we probably can but I am a big proponent of taking a stud back each year. That woud get us to 25 schollies and while I think that may be too many, there is a possibility of substituting one of the RBs for someone on your list.

 

Also, while I think Page is the most likely OL recruit, I think we may have a better shot at Patchan than most people think.

Calves, I totally agree with your list but would consider adding either Ryan Williams or Carlton Thomas to it. I know many think we can forego a back this year, and we probably can but I am a big proponent of taking a stud back each year. That woud get us to 25 schollies and while I think that may be too many, there is a possibility of substituting one of the RBs for someone on your list.

 

Also, while I think Page is the most likely OL recruit, I think we may have a better shot at Patchan than most people think.

 

I totally agree on Patchan. It just so happens I'd have to pick him over my personal, "fan favorite" if you will, OL recruit (which includes guys that have already committed), and I'm not prepared to do that

 

With the RB deal... it depends on who verbals when. Lets say we're setting here mid December, Filer hasn't verballed anywhere, and a RB wants to pledge with the last spot amongst 24. I don't think Weis would say no on that front, and still give a Filer more time - sacrificing a 5th year if need be. But if it happens the other way around, I'm not so sure a Thomas or a Williams could hop on board.

 

Plus, if Thomas is angling to go somewhere that he can play immediately, that may prove to be a tougher sell than it looks right now. Armando Allen and Robert Hughes aren't going to make it easy to play right away, thats for sure. So Ryan Williams may be ND's best bet, if not Cyrus Gray.

I pass on an RB if it means keeping Crum or Lambert one more year.

I pass on an RB if it means keeping Crum or Lambert one more year.

 

I completely agree. Both players are going to be vital to our D this year and could even play themselves into good draft standing in the spring. But the bottom line is, you keep experienced and talented players for the entirety of their eligibility and if both want to come back, they get a spot over another freshman. That would be like ND telling Zibby thanks but no thanks.

 

I actually read somewhere that a guy said that this would be Crum's last year in Blue and Gold because CW wants to get a roster full of his own recruits and do away with Willingham's guys. Yeah right. Crum is far and away our best LB on the roster and its not even close. Lambert has really progressed as well and I expect to see him back for a 5th year in '08 as well.

Here's an interesting quote from Brice Butler's coach...

 

Norcross coach Keith Maloof had not spoken with Butler on Thursday, but said the list was about what he expected it would be.

 

When asked if Southern Cal was the favorite to land Butler, Maloof said, "I try to stay out of it, so I don't have to lie to anyone."

Here's an interesting quote from Brice Butler's coach...

 

Norcross coach Keith Maloof had not spoken with Butler on Thursday, but said the list was about what he expected it would be.

 

When asked if Southern Cal was the favorite to land Butler, Maloof said, "I try to stay out of it, so I don't have to lie to anyone."

 

Hmmm.. So TAA what do yout think of that quote? That SC isnt the favorite but Butler wanted it to seem that way? and his coach didnt want to lie and say SC was the favorite?

Butler is going to USC, it's a done deal as I was told. He'll announce around August 1st for the Trojans.

Yeah, saw that quote a while back and wasn't sure what to make of it, it can probably be read either way, good or bad for USC, we'll see. I think he's SC all the way.

While he may be more college ready from a coaching standpoint than any other WR out there, I'm not going to cry myself to sleep over Butler to the Trojans. Just some of the things he says... well, they don't leave me feeling warm and fuzzy. I'll have an easier time rooting against him than rooting for him, to be honest. I trust IK on this one - now lets just hunker things down on Floyd and Baldwin and move forward from there.

Butler is going to USC, it's a done deal as I was told. He'll announce around August 1st for the Trojans.

 

Which is exactly why i made that bet with TAA, he better enjoy his last month here and make it a memorable one

TAA isn't going anywhere, I pardon TAA.