2018 SDE Thomas Booker

[IrishInOntario]

Probably the SDE I want most in this class. A little bit lower in the rankings than some others because he plays two positions, but he's a friggen stud. Grown ass man at 16-17... Looks a little bit like another #7 ND fans might remember coming off the edge in South Bend... Also happens to be a 4.0 student at The Gilman school in Maryland, a perfect academic fit for ND.... Offers from the entire East Coast and big boys like Clemson, Ohio State and LSU. Will be a 40+ offer guy before all is said and done. Legit 6'4, 250lbs right now, with a frame to be much bigger... Elite run defender.

Enjoy.

http://www.hudl.com/profile/4594763/thomas-booker

 

[1Redrum]

Not a lot of Crystal Balls yet for him but I like a guy who wears a tie for his pictures.....makes him seem serious....
http://247sports.com/Player/Thomas-Booker-91788

 

[REMND]

Probably the SDE I want most in this class. A little bit lower in the rankings than some others because he plays two positions, but he's a friggen stud. Grown ass man at 16-17... Looks a little bit like another #7 ND fans might remember coming off the edge in South Bend... Also happens to be a 4.0 student at The Gilman school in Maryland, a perfect academic fit for ND.... Offers from the entire East Coast and big boys like Clemson, Ohio State and LSU. Will be a 40+ offer guy before all is said and done. Legit 6'4, 250lbs right now, with a frame to be much bigger... Elite run defender.

Enjoy.

http://www.hudl.com/profile/4594763/thomas-booker

I have been thinking that Justin Ademilola would be our SDE. He strikes as an Issac Rochell bull type. I don't see him as a WDE. Do we have room for another SDE?

 

[IrishInOntario]

I'd like to see 3 DEs in this cycle. 1 SDE, 1 WDE and the next best guy you can get. This is a strange cycle in that there are a lot of kids that ND is in for and a lot more that they will be in for if they choose to offer. The staff would be silly, IMO, to pass up on a top 20 defensive end (strong or drop) regardless of numbers. Most years ND is trying to find a diamond-in-the-rough DE at the end of the cycle... This year we're talking about passing on a top 200 prospect that we'd normally kill for?

No thanks! Ademilola, Vann, Smith, Ossei, Booker, Abdul-McClain, O'Rourke, Waggoner, etc, etc.. Make sure you can get three!

 

[NDIRISH53]

I have been thinking that Justin Ademilola would be our SDE. He strikes as an Issac Rochell bull type. I don't see him as a WDE. Do we have room for another SDE?

He's an outside linebacker to me... we should be running a 3-4!!!

 

[TXNDFan88]

This is ND - take every DL you can get your hands on!

 

[Bodizephax]

I'd like to see 3 DEs in this cycle. 1 SDE, 1 WDE and the next best guy you can get. This is a strange cycle in that there are a lot of kids that ND is in for and a lot more that they will be in for if they choose to offer. The staff would be silly, IMO, to pass up on a top 20 defensive end (strong or drop) regardless of numbers. Most years ND is trying to find a diamond-in-the-rough DE at the end of the cycle... This year we're talking about passing on a top 200 prospect that we'd normally kill for?

No thanks! Ademilola, Vann, Smith, Ossei, Booker, Abdul-McClain, O'Rourke, Waggoner, etc, etc.. Make sure you can get three!

O'Rourke is a Monster. I hope we get him..

 

[IrishInOntario]

O'Rourke is a Monster. I hope we get him..

O'Rourke doesn't even have an offer yet because he is quite a bit down ND's board... That says something about DE's ND is in on. Normally and consensus top 20 defensive end, who happens to be an Irish, Catholic, white kid, from Illinois, would be a lock for an offer. ND may pass up on him entirely, however, for better athletes.

Same with John Waggonner, the composite #15 defensive end, a Catholic kid from Iowa, who admittedly grew up with ND as his dream school.... Doesn't even have an offer from ND, because they like about 6-7 defensive ends on their board more right now.

Those guys may get offers later in the process,mutually it just speaks to the type of DE class ND thanks it can land in 2018, as of now.

 

[TPF523]

O'Rourke is a Monster. I hope we get him..

We are in good spots with many SDE's and Justin Ademilola probably ends up there too, O'Rourke and Waggoner both will end up at SDE and not as ND's drop DE (which is really the need). Basically no reason to move on those guys just yet. Sucks for guys who dream of ND but it's all part of the biz.

 

[IrishInOntario]

ND is basically passing of Malik Vann... Wow. This defensive staff is ballsy. No offer to O'Rourke or Waggoner and now they're passing on Vann, which tells you they're basically done at SDE with Ademilola...

That confidence on behalf of Elko given ND's problems recruiting DL...

Names to focus on are guys like Tyreke Smith, Joseph Ossei, Thomas Booker and Abdul Malik McClain... It appears this class will only have one SDE as of now and that's Justin Ademilola.

Interesting.

 

[Bumpdaddy]

Names to focus on are guys like Tyreke Smith, Joseph Ossei, Thomas Booker and Abdul Malik McClain... It appears this class will only have one SDE as of now and that's Justin Ademilola.

I just read on TOS that Daniel Carson is our #1 target at SDE. He's not as highly rated as Vann but size-wise - 6'5", 260lbs - he definitely fits the bill.

The coaches are apparently going to continue to push hard to get Micah Parsons to flip from PSU. That may be a long shot but Markese Stepp continues to be in his ear and he hasn't completely shut things down so maybe it's a shorter than normal long shot.

 

[Telx1]

ND is basically passing of Malik Vann... Wow. This defensive staff is ballsy. No offer to O'Rourke or Waggoner and now they're passing on Vann, which tells you they're basically done at SDE with Ademilola...

That confidence on behalf of Elko given ND's problems recruiting DL...

Names to focus on are guys like Tyreke Smith, Joseph Ossei, Thomas Booker and Abdul Malik McClain... It appears this class will only have one SDE as of now and that's Justin Ademilola.

Interesting.

Very interesting indeed. Van was a probable commit, so they must be getting some really positive feedback from more than one player they value more than Vann.

 

[TPF523]

They're still offering SDE's so IIO you're reading too much into it. Probably just doesnt fit the profile Elko is looking for, he took over after ND was firmly entrenched in his recruitment. Not saying I agree but he's awfully short.

 

[REMND]

ND is basically passing of Malik Vann... Wow. This defensive staff is ballsy. No offer to O'Rourke or Waggoner and now they're passing on Vann, which tells you they're basically done at SDE with Ademilola...

That confidence on behalf of Elko given ND's problems recruiting DL...

Names to focus on are guys like Tyreke Smith, Joseph Ossei, Thomas Booker and Abdul Malik McClain... It appears this class will only have one SDE as of now and that's Justin Ademilola.

Interesting.

I have read he may be 6'1+ 255. 247 says 5.3 speed. Now Bama offers. Scratching my head. Good player but his physical profile doesn't fit.

At SDE we have:

JHayes - 4th year Jr.
Bonner - 4th year Jr
Kareem - Soph
Ade - 2nd year Frosh
Justin A - 2018 Frosh

We can use one more so keep O'Rourke and Waggoner engaged in case we can't get an elite one or they elevate their upside.

Once again, WDE is proving elusive except DHayes and Okwara was a nice haul.

 

[IrishInOntario]

They're still offering SDE's so IIO you're reading too much into it. Probably just doesnt fit the profile Elko is looking for, he took over after ND was firmly entrenched in his recruitment. Not saying I agree but he's awfully short.

You're right here. It looks like they're only going to take big SDEs that project as guys who can put 270-280lbs on their frame and bump down as pass rushers. Guys like Carson and Booker... Those 6'4, Isaac Rochelle types.

 

[TPF523]

You're right here. It looks like they're only going to take big SDEs that project as guys who can put 270-280lbs on their frame and bump down as pass rushers. Guys like Carson and Booker... Those 6'4, Isaac Rochelle types.

It would be nice to have added Vann since he seems to be right with many of our current commits and we've been after him awhile but truthfully we're better off trying to find a better SDE profile fit. The staff obviously feels decently about offers they have out, we can probably wait around and make a late move to land either O'Rourke or Waggoner if it comes to it. Neither is a better player now but I think both have better ceilings as a SDE in Elko's D.

 

[IrishInOntario]

It would be nice to have added Vann since he seems to be right with many of our current commits and we've been after him awhile but truthfully we're better off trying to find a better SDE profile fit. The staff obviously feels decently about offers they have out, we can probably wait around and make a late move to land either O'Rourke or Waggoner if it comes to it. Neither is a better player now but I think both have better ceilings as a SDE in Elko's D.

Remember that Elko also passed on pursuing Jerron Cage at the end of last cycle as well. I think we're getting an idea of how he'll recruit. Not sure he's a fan of shorter DL. I think he wants long players, with big frames... I'm not opposed to recruiting high upside frames, I just hope he isn't married to it to the point where he'll pass up on a real stud, just because he's short.

Vann would be a nice addition, but I like about 4 SDE'S better and ND has more need at Drop anyways.

 

[1Redrum]

Bama offered like ND has offered. Now does he have an offer he can commit to and sign in February? That is the question.

 

[TPF523]

Bama offered like ND has offered. Now does he have an offer he can commit to and sign in February? That is the question.

He'll play 3-4 OLB in Bama's defense. They can afford a 6'1" guy there much easier than ND can afford a 6'1" SDE. To be brief ND requires a much more powerfully built player, at OLB he can convert speed into power in a way not afforded to him in ND's defense.

 

[stu4don]

Do we have any chance on DaxtheAx Hollifield? Watched his film -- kid is a Manti-beast!

 

[REMND]

Remember that Elko also passed on pursuing Jerron Cage at the end of last cycle as well. I think we're getting an idea of how he'll recruit. Not sure he's a fan of shorter DL. I think he wants long players, with big frames... I'm not opposed to recruiting high upside frames, I just hope he isn't married to it to the point where he'll pass up on a real stud, just because he's short.

Vann would be a nice addition, but I like about 4 SDE'S better and ND has more need at Drop anyways.

I never got that one since we were short on the targets. I just did not get it. Ii don't want to go back to some precise physical profile like Diaco had. Its a factor but can they play is the issue. I thought he had a highsr upside than Hinish. Day is the poster boy on production.

One think I do like is Elko imposing his will on what he wants. We need that.

 

[IrishInOntario]

I never got that one since we were short on the targets. I just did not get it. Ii don't want to go back to some precise physical profile like Diaco had. Its a factor but can they play is the issue. I thought he had a highsr upside than Hinish. Day is the poster boy on production.

One think I do like is Elko imposing his will on what he wants. We need that.

Nothing wrong with recruiting players who fit a profile of what you're looking for, as long as you're an active recruiter, who can land players with those measurables / skill sets cycle, after cycle. At this point we owe Mike Elko an opportunity to see what he can as a coach and a recruiter before we can be overly critical of who he recruits and who he passes on.

I'm a Malik Vann fan, despite his 6'1.5 frame, but I can totally understand why Elko may pass. Especially if he's confident that he can get 2-3 more DL in this class that are not only better players, but better scheme fits as well.

If he can get PJ Mustipher, Tyreke Smith and Thomas Booker.... Sign me up

 

[Telx1]

Remember that Elko also passed on pursuing Jerron Cage at the end of last cycle as well. I think we're getting an idea of how he'll recruit. Not sure he's a fan of shorter DL. I think he wants long players, with big frames... I'm not opposed to recruiting high upside frames, I just hope he isn't married to it to the point where he'll pass up on a real stud, just because he's short.

Vann would be a nice addition, but I like about 4 SDE'S better and ND has more need at Drop anyways.

Thought Jerron Cage did not meet the admission requirements as opposed to Elko passing on him.

 

[REMND]

Nothing wrong with recruiting players who fit a profile of what you're looking for, as long as you're an active recruiter, who can land players with those measurables / skill sets cycle, after cycle. At this point we owe Mike Elko an opportunity to see what he can as a coach and a recruiter before we can be overly critical of who he recruits and who he passes on.

I'm a Malik Vann fan, despite his 6'1.5 frame, but I can totally understand why Elko may pass. Especially if he's confident that he can get 2-3 more DL in this class that are not only better players, but better scheme fits as well.

If he can get PJ Mustipher, Tyreke Smith and Thomas Booker.... Sign me up

I wanted Vann before I read the recent opinions on his size issues and where he might play. Really liked his film. He knows how to play football. But 6'1.5 is too short for SDE. 5.3 and his film speed is too slow for WDE and dropping into coverage. 255 and his speed is not good enough to play probably Mike. I can't see him dropping into pass coverage. He has the speed, strength and short area quickness to be a good 3T but would have to add 30 pounds and that could take away the quickness he needs.

I am not sure where he would play and we already have 18 DL losing probably 4 after this season. We already have 2 on the way in. I don't see room for him even though he plays better than his measurables.

Oh, Mustipher for NT, Tyreke or Booker for SDE, then an Ossai type for WDE. Justin is an SDE in my mind.