Notre Dame is indeed looking good on the recruiting front Terry. Like you said in an earlier post Florida is hot after Omar Hunter, there are rumors he has committed to Florida. From the looks of your class though you should be able to spare a few! :lol: :lol: Just joking of course.
It's always the one that gets away that the faithful long for Bill. With Hunter who was/is probably one of the best if not the best in terms of talent and potential in our class it really hurts to lose him. The class is likely to add a couple of more guys who are very good before it's done so it'll be a great group...but Hunter would have made it an all time best group....at least in the minds of the fans...who have short memories!!
i <t>would be shocked if Hunter doesn't wind up at Florida.<br/> <br/> I've said it before, I'll say it again. I want guys who want to be Irish.</t>
That's pretty much what you'll read where ever you go...that's what Texas fans said when Ryan Peraloo stiffed Mack on signing day...oh that and they hoped he broke his leg!!
Another angel... and a highly coveted one... Notre Dame picks up another elite prospect, getting five-star receiver Deion Walker, who announced just minutes ago that he's going to play for the Irish... Christchurch (Va.) receiver Deion Walker will be taking his services to the Midwest next year, announcing just moments ago that he's committing to Notre Dame. Walker committed during the UnderArmour All-America Game in Orlando, announcing for the Fighting Irish. One of the elite receiver prospects in the nation, Walker is ranked #7 nationally by Scout.com. At 6-3, 185, he's got good size and speed and should be a big contributor in the offense. Penn State, Texas Tech, USC, Florida State and California were the other schools
I watched the 2nd half of the Army game, and peaked in a the Under Armour game. I was very happy with Michael Floyds play and Dayne Crist showed some good stuff as well, John Goodman also caught a TD. The kid Pryor was really the best player out there though. I was certainly glad to see Walker commit to the Irish. We have as fine a group of young WR's as I can ever remember at ND. Kamara, Floyd, Goodman, Walker, Parris and Tate are all very young and have a lot of potential. Hopefully the OL will develope and with Clausen being fully healthy next year as well as having the year in Charlies system we'll start to see the offense start to shine. I saw this number. In the last 3 years ND has recruited 26 4* or better players, in the previous 3 years we recruited 4 ....on that Charlie has done a great job. Things starting to turn on defense as well but they are still behind the offenese in terms of aquiring top talent. Which is why the loss of Hunter hurts. But there is no doubt Corwin Brown is a dynamic recruiter and if our defense can improve next year he can start selling the system to the top players. Our college opponents have used the 3-4 against us since Corwin came on board, told players that if they want to play in the NFL that's not a good defense. But I'm going to post an article that Charlie should give to every defensive player he recruits. Terry
Oh I did catch one thing in the Under Armour game...Braxton Cave pancaked Omar Hunter on one play....it felt goooooooooooooood to see that ..but no doubt Hunter will be a great player.
We've been watching BCS bowls for week where the teams were loaded with freshman and soph starters. The Irish have plenty of talent. The Ghost of Tyrone can no longer be invoked as an alibi. Time for Charlie to coach.
No doubt, while he still has a pretty young football team, his 4th and 5th year Sr's are a small not very talented group, but Freshman, Sophs, and Jr's are all going to be top 10 rated recruiting hauls. He doesn't have to win the NC next year, but a very solid season and a good bowl game with hopefully a win will likely lead to another very good recruiting class and his 5th year will be 100% Weis players, 5th year Sr's will be his transition class and the only class not ranked in the top 10, I don't think they were even ranked in the top 25. He needs to win 8 or 9 games and be competitive in his losses, no more of those big blowouts to USC and he needs his team to be on the rise at the end of the year so that people look at them and think top 10 to start the the 2009 season. Terry
hey Sid <t>Holy Cow on that Goodman kid.<br/> <br/> He carries the original sin in modern sports in that he is a white kid playing a skill position. All I keep reading about is his 'hands' but that kid can flat out run.<br/> <br/> I believe that RB doing the diary for rivals during this past week had a remark about Goodman's speed as well.<br/> <br/> The first DB that jumps that kid on an expected 8 yard curl better tune into the press conference because that will be the next time he sees Goodman.<br/> <br/> I'm excited about that kid.</t>
Terry and Corey, I've said ever since Weis got hired and turned things around in his first season that Notre Dame's future is bright. In addition to that he has recruited well every season capped by this recruiting season where Notre Dame is poised for the top class. If not the top class I don't see how you possible fall out of the top 3. You cannot recruit the kind of talent Weis is recruiting and not have it pay off.
Corey, I did not get to see the game, but I'm glad to hear that Goodman played well. The folks around here know about his speed, but you never know if it's going to be enough at the college level. He runs track and was very competitive beyond the local level in the 100 and 200 last year.
one would hope Bill <t>I am hoping that the guy is given the time for it to pay off. I don't honestly think people realize how much recruiting and talent is a part of all this. I know George referred to seeing BCS teams 'loaded' with freshman and sophs but I didn't see it. Not to the level that ND had this season. They are sprinkled here or there. They aren't the backbone, skill set and heart of those teams. I just don't think people realize how bare the cupboard really was. That isn't to say that Chuckles shouldn't have done better this year.. I'm just not sure what 'better' would be.. 5 wins?? maybe 6?<br/> <br/> Still, it all starts up front. The big uglies have got to get it done. I still contend that aside from FB, our skill people were not that bad.. and our defense was A LOT better than people realize.. Its about the offensive line.. without them, we will be nothing (again).<br/> <br/> One lesson I think Weis took away from his first three seasons in playing time for younger players. We will see as 'his kids' grow into upper classmen but I would hope to see a regular rotation of fresh young blood.</t>
Sid <r>Floyd (the kid from MN) burned Michigan's recruit at CB on a long TD ball from Crist. He looks to be good as well.<br/> <br/> One thing about Charlie's WR corps this year is that they are <B><s></s>HUGE<e></e></B>.<br/> <br/> These aren't the 'smurf' WRs that we have in some of the upper class..<br/> <br/> I was very surprised as well by Cave who really took it to Hunter..and that's not taking anything away from Hunter, he got his and will be a great player.. but B. Cave appears to be some of that nasty on the OL that we are looking for at ND.<br/> <br/> Robinson (the OL from Nebraska) just held his own all day..maybe the best thing you can say about an OL. You didn't really notice him but they never had trouble moving the ball behind him and his man was never in the backfield making plays.</r>
Didn't Georgia start three freshman and a sophomore on the O-Line? That's one example. Maybe I'm wrong . Floyd burned the future Wolverine yesterday and one of his own future team mates, Blanton. Goodman looked very good. He could be a real find. Golic looked good too; he needs to put on a lot of weight but could get long snapper time early on. Robinson could contend for time right away. If there was some way to get Sam Young back on the right side the O-Line could show a huge improvement. What did you all think of Crist? Looks like he has a cannon for an arm.
Georgia started at least two freshmen on their OL, I'm not sure it was 3. I'm with Corey on this, you can certainly start some freshmen but there needs to be some balance. It sounds to me like Notre Dame was pass the tipping point and the Gator defense just had way to many either freshmen or sophomores at crucial spots, in our case CB and DT, to overcome.