The fact that ND is sometimes at a competitive disadvantage recruiting HS players due to its academic standards is well documented. This has caused ND to take players who are academic fits, but need protracted development to become contributors.
But the liberal graduate transfer rules may become the great equalizer. ND is a “destination school” for accomplished players who have graduated elsewhere, and the post-graduate degree earned from ND carries some weight.
But even without that, certainly players from universities like Arizona St, Duke, Oklahoma St, etc greatly elevate their national profiles by playing at ND, with its broad-based national appeal. Visibility is a good thing when you’re showcasing for the NFL.
Clearly Freeman considers this an option, and as long as the rules stay as there are, taking experienced grad transfers is a far better way to get an “immediate fix” to fill a roster hole that waiting on freshmen to develop.
It also allows Freeman to winnow out players who have earned their degrees from ND, but have failed to develop into “impact players”.
But the liberal graduate transfer rules may become the great equalizer. ND is a “destination school” for accomplished players who have graduated elsewhere, and the post-graduate degree earned from ND carries some weight.
But even without that, certainly players from universities like Arizona St, Duke, Oklahoma St, etc greatly elevate their national profiles by playing at ND, with its broad-based national appeal. Visibility is a good thing when you’re showcasing for the NFL.
Clearly Freeman considers this an option, and as long as the rules stay as there are, taking experienced grad transfers is a far better way to get an “immediate fix” to fill a roster hole that waiting on freshmen to develop.
It also allows Freeman to winnow out players who have earned their degrees from ND, but have failed to develop into “impact players”.