2017 Recruiting

[Duo]

Samples of a few 2017 recruiting classes thus far:

tOSU--one 5*, seven 4*, plus a kicker

Bama--one 5*, seven 4*, one 3*

FSU--three 4*, one 3*

USC--three 4*, one 3*

Clemson--one 5*, three 4*, two 3*

ND--four 4*, one 3*

In recruiting the best get out early and the very best are recruiting 2018, 2019 and beyond. Bama and tOSU have half of their 2017 class filled already! This is one of the primary reasons the rich get richer. There is no such thing as waiting for the best players to come to you and that has been the case for the past 20+ years.

 

[TheDecker]

Samples of a few 2017 recruiting classes thus far:

tOSU--one 5*, seven 4*, plus a kicker

Bama--one 5*, seven 4*, one 3*

FSU--three 4*, one 3*

USC--three 4*, one 3*

Clemson--one 5*, three 4*, two 3*

ND--four 4*, one 3*

In recruiting the best get out early and the very best are recruiting 2018, 2019 and beyond. Bama and tOSU have half of their 2017 class filled already! This is one of the primary reasons the rich get richer. There is no such thing as waiting for the best players to come to you and that has been the case for the past 20+ years.

We're off to a very strong start to the 2017 class

Really only Bama and Ohio State have better 2017 classes committed at this point

With another strong year in the field this should be a high level class

 

[Duo]

One thing we don't know about is the number of silent commits but we must assume there are some for various reasons. They won't begin to show up until sometime much later or on NSD. And it seems logical to assume the big power houses are the ones with the most silent commits as well. More and more championships are about recruiting.

 

[Duo]

It was not so very long ago that a naïve poster on this very board wrote, "We don't have to go out and recruit. The recruits come to us because We are Notre Dame".

Oh my goodness, how the landscape and perceptions have changed in CFB. Especially at ND with so many changes happening relatively recently.

 

[TheDecker]

One thing we don't know about is the number of silent commits but we must assume there are some for various reasons. They won't begin to show up until sometime much later or on NSD. And it seems logical to assume the big power houses are the ones with the most silent commits as well. More and more championships are about recruiting.

I think making any assumptions about "silent commits" 12 months prior to NSD is beyond worthless, and not at all something that should be weighed in to "how is [insert team here] doing in the 2017 class]".

The reality is, even commits this early are fluid.

 

[Duo]

I think making any assumptions about "silent commits" 12 months prior to NSD is beyond worthless, and not at all something that should be weighed in to "how is [insert team here] doing in the 2017 class]".

The reality is, even commits this early are fluid.

Agree. Early on this year Miami had the #1 recruiting class. 23 decommits later that all changed big time.

No way to evaluate silent commits. I only mention it in passing because we know they exist.

 

[Mac034]

Lets get some quality DTs in this class.... come on down Haskell Garrett! I also like that Crosby kid from Virginia. He grew up an ND fan. LBs and another stud DE feel free to join as well.

 

[twalsh]

With eight defensive tackles on scholarship this season and only one senior with fifth year potential, there's not much room for another DT unless he's special elite talent.

We need at least two in this class, and I would aim high.

 

[IRISH_FRIAR]

I think it is time to start thinking about the 2018 recruiting class. I think we are going to have an outstanding class. Can't wait.

 

[Mac034]

There will definitely be DTs in the '17 class. You can't go back to back classes without taking a couple tackles. Would also love another rush DE to pair with Beal. Defensive front 7 players should be the targets for '17. Took care of DBs in '16.

 

[TheDecker]

With eight defensive tackles on scholarship this season and only one senior with fifth year potential, there's not much room for another DT unless he's special elite talent.

Do you mean that in reference to the 2017 class?

We'll likely only have 6 DTs (at most) from the current roster in 2017, with J. Jones graduating and Matsuka unlikely to be back for a 5th year

We need at least 2 DT's in the 2017 DL class, and ideally we'd get a DE/DT "tweener" as well (imo)

I think the initial "target DL group" was
DE - Robert Beal
DE - Corey Malone-Hatcher
DE - AJ Epensa
DT - Jarron Cage
DT - Haskel Garett
DT - **Luxury Take, if we can find someone**

Now, multiple of those players have committed elsewhere, so we'll have to work on other guys.......but I think that was the initial target

 

[TheDecker]

All this talk about what we need in the 2018 class made me stop and see who will depart after class 128 finishes it's business. Departing for sure: Cole Luke, Devin Butler, Max Redfield, Terean Folston, Corey Robinson, Steve Elmer, Issac Rochell, and Doug Randolph. 5th years: Jarron Jones and Scott Daly. Possible 6th year: Avery Sebastian.

5th Year Candidates: Malik Zaire, John Montelus, Mike McGlinchey, Colin McGovern, Hunter Bevin, Durham Smythe, Torri Hunter, and John Matuska.

Juniors leaving for NFL Draft: ?!?

It does explain Mike Elston's comment about 2018 being a small class.

Do you have the class years messed up?

We just signed the 2016 class and the 2017 class would be the one impacted by the players you're talking about

The 2017 class will likely end up being between 21-24 prospects

 

[TheDecker]

89 Jacob Matuska - Senior with possible 5th yr.
93 Jay Hayes Jr
96 Peter Mokwuah Jr
75 Daniel Cage Jr.
94 Jerry Tillery So.
97 Micah Drew Treadway So.
77 Brandon Tiassum So.
58 Elijah Taylor So. = 8

Matsuka likely won't be asked back, since he's not expected in the 3-Deep in 2017.
Additionally, there has been a lot of talk about Hayes playing at SDE from the coaches.

We'll have 6-7 DTs in 2017 from the current roster......and that's if there is no attrition at the position (which there likely will be)

When all of that is considered, you're likely looking at ~6 DTs on the 2017 team from the current roster

 

[justacollegefan]

2017 is off to a much better start and hopefully if the team looks good this season maybe some more jump on board. Just an example is the fact we got 3 top 100 recruits in 2016 and we have 3 already listed in 2017. Basically it means you have kids ranked higher coming out of high school at their given positions which is the most important number. All 4 stars and even 3 stars are not equal because of that number, it is where they rank coming out of high school.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Guys at the top of my list that ND should be in on...

RB: Stephen Carr
RB: A.J. Dillon
WR: Osiris St. Brown
WR: Tarik Black
WR:Isaiah Robertson
TE: Cole Kmet (committed)
TE: Brock Wright (committed)
OL: Dillan Gibbons (committed)
OL: Josh Lugg (committed)
OL: Trey Smith
OL: Wyatt Davis
OL: Jedrick Wills
OL: Austin Deculus
DE: Robert Beal
DE: Josh Kaindoh
DE: Corey Malone-Hatcher
DT: Haskell Garrett
DT: Jerron Cage
DT: Eric Crosby
LB: David Adams
LB: Antjuan Simmons
DB: Paris Ford
DB: RJ Potts
DB: Ben Stewart
DB: Jeff Okudah

 

[theskibro]

89 Jacob Matuska - Senior with possible 5th yr.
93 Jay Hayes Jr
96 Peter Mokwuah Jr
75 Daniel Cage Jr.
94 Jerry Tillery So.
97 Micah Drew Treadway So.
77 Brandon Tiassum So.
58 Elijah Taylor So. = 8

Why do you say Folston is gone next year? He got a med this year

 

[coolirish9]

Beal is transferring down to florida to play on Kaindoh's team and so our irish will have a really good shot with Beal helping to recruit him and plus Kaindoh was already high on our irish. Haskell Garrett is rated one of the top 5 DTs in the nation and has our irish as the leader and is on commit watch when he visits this spring. Osiris St. Brown is rated anywhere from the ninth to the 12th best WR according to various recruiting rankings and should be ours if the irish really push for him according to insiders with his brother being on the team already and liking it in south bend

 

[Mac034]

I really like the idea of Beal helping with the recruitment of Kaindoh. Can you imagine the DL with those two coming off the ends...

If ND can get 5 or so more off the list that IIO just provided to go along with the 5 current verbals, that would be an unbelievable start. Love the fact that Kelly and Co are getting on the recruits earlier. I really feel like Kelly has developed a good understanding of how this recruiting thing works. Not that it is getting any easier with Harbaugh and Meyer battling with ND for every recruit.

 

[kellys heroes 35]

I really like the idea of Beal helping with the recruitment of Kaindoh. Can you imagine the DL with those two coming off the ends...

If ND can get 5 or so more off the list that IIO just provided to go along with the 5 current verbals, that would be an unbelievable start. Love the fact that Kelly and Co are getting on the recruits earlier. I really feel like Kelly has developed a good understanding of how this recruiting thing works. Not that it is getting any easier with Harbaugh and Meyer battling with ND for every recruit.

I appreciate your enthusiasm re this scenario but for the next three yrs Kareem and Hayes might having something to say about that

 

[coolirish9]

can you imagine though Kelly of our irish having a DE rotation of Kareen, Hayes ,Beal and Kaindoh

 

[Mac034]

That DE rotation would be incredible! Lets hope that Haskin Garrett is rotating on the inside. It sounds like Micah Dew-Treadway is showing some promise in his red-shirt year..Tillery will also continue to get better. DE and DT seem to be on the upswing (come on down Garrett). Keep recruiting the defensive front 7!! We know the offense is already there.

 

[SALittleGiant513]

So much for Garrett...

 

[coolirish9]

yeah top ten DT Haskell Garrett just surprise a lot of recruiting insuiders and plus me by just committing to Ohio State on twitter today. very few could have seen this coming as most insiders had our irish as the leader. Ohio State is already putting together a sick class which will make them even tougher to beat in the future. all the harbaugh fans that had Michigan competing for titles regularly under harbaugh better be looking at what Ohio State is bringing in for the 2017 class

 

[IRISH_FRIAR]

Hopefully people will now stop saying what a great class we are going to have in 2017. Haven't people learned. We'll have a nice class like this year but not a great class like Alabama or Ohio State to name two.

 

[Telx1]

Wonder if a ND win in the Fiesta Bowl would have Garrett committing to ND today instead of Ohio State. Bowl victories do matter.

 

[Shakin' Down the Thunder]

yeah top ten DT Haskell Garrett just surprise a lot of recruiting insuiders and plus me by just committing to Ohio State on twitter today. very few could have seen this coming as most insiders had our irish as the leader. Ohio State is already putting together a sick class which will make them even tougher to beat in the future. all the harbaugh fans that had Michigan competing for titles regularly under harbaugh better be looking at what Ohio State is bringing in for the 2017 class

Sigh... I'd like to say Garrett committing to OSU doesn't bother me, but it does. The most frustrating part is that he's going to a Midwest school. Oh well. Maybe there'll be a chance of him flipping to us.

 

[kellys heroes 35]

Wonder if a ND win in the Fiesta Bowl would have Garrett committing to ND today instead of Ohio State. Bowl victories do matter.

Tex - We have four high level committments at DE --If two of these kids are impact guys that will translate to ND being a playoff team which will mean we will have a continual flow of interest from high level DLineman moving forward

 

[Pennick4]

I think signing day is only 11 plus months from today.

 

[Mac034]

I know signing day is over 11 months away but that was a tough blow. Watching the superbowl made me realize even more how important DL recruiting really is. Need a pass rush! I really hope ND lands another solid DE and a stud DT. Go Irish!!

 

[Duo]

tOSU and Bama have their 2017 classes half filled with 4* and 5*'s. FSU continues working hard to sign 5* unsigned 6'6" 260 TE, J. Kongbo for this year's class and they are expecting visits from 4* and 5*'s for the classes of 2018 and 2019.

Better step it up and get after those 15 and 16-year-olds!

True story:

Bobby Bowden once visited the hospital for the birth of Dan Kandra III. His father had been an all star QB that played for Bowden at West Virginia.

"Florida State, now the home of Dan Jr.’s old coach, Bobby Bowden—a man well on his way to becoming the winningest coach in major college football history. After Dan III was born, Bowden had visited him in the hospital. Tucked under the coach’s arm was a teddy bear wearing a football helmet. Pinned to it was a note that read, "To my future quarterback." Also, Florida State had won the national championship the year before—led by a mobile quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward."

Dan Kendra III became the #1 recruit in the nation and went on to become the starting QB and later a 270 pound full back at FSU going undefeated and winning the NC in 1999.

Recruiting........it pays to start early!!!

 

[Granite45]

Wonder if a ND win in the Fiesta Bowl would have Garrett committing to ND today instead of Ohio State. Bowl victories do matter.

Didn't 3 of the starting DL form Ohio State leave early to go to the NFL Draft?

 

[R1950]

Didn't 3 of the starting DL form Ohio State leave early to go to the NFL Draft?

3 starting OSU DLs will enter the draft this year, but only Bosa was an underclassman. Washington and Schutt were senior DTs and missed the Fiesta Bowl while Bosa was a junior and played just the beginning of the Fiesta Bowl before his ejection. Don't let their departures fool you though as the depth last year on the DL was more than adequate as several players saw action throughout the year. Both Lewis (the 4th DL starter last year) and especially Hubbard are projected to be stars this year.