There is a lot of negativity circulating among ND fans right now. Most of it centers on how ND's 2016 recruiting class finished. I certainly understand the disappointment of not landing a Caleb Kelly, Ben Davis, Jeff McCollough, etc, etc on signing day and I feared this could be the reaction as Notre Dame's class ranking fell out of the top 10 by most services and left recruitniks feeling like ND came up short, again.
While I've long argued on the side of those that feel there is a direct correlation between modern day recruiting rankings, landing top players and playing championship caliber football, an argument only further supported by at least 5-6 mentions of "star ratings" by ND assistant coaches yesterday during interviews, that is not the point of this thread. That argument has been had many times and can be left alone, for another place and time.
The point of this thread is for everyone to take a deep breath, realize that program is comprised of players from 5 classes (6 in rare cases) and the recipe for contention at Notre Dame, is probably going to look a little different from the recipe at a school like Alabama or Ohio State. Unfortunately, in this age of modern football, 3-and-done players and the "quickest" and "easiest" the NFL, an academically responsible institution like Notre Dame is going to have a bumpier road to annual contention, and we may simply have to concede that with the inability to sign JUCO's to plug holes and even Notre Dame now being affected by some it's players leaving early, that playoff caliber teams may not be possible every year in South Bend.
With that said, Notre Dame landed a number of guys that I think can be key contributors, among players from 4 other classes, to help Notre Dame to a similar season next year to the one ND had this year and really sets ND up to make a playoff run, with a talented, veteran team in 2017 and 2018.
Here are my picks for five of the guys that are going to give Irish fans hope for future runs to the playoffs.
1. Tony Jones Jr.: I can't count the number of times that I've spoken to an ND fan that has asked me "when are we going to land one of those big, strong, SEC type power backs?". ND just got one in Tony Jones Jr. at 6'0, 220lbs, Jones is only going to get bigger and stronger in a college weight room and he's got that type of competitive drive that will force him onto the field at some point. I love that he's faster than you might initially think and he's willing to run to edge if there is daylight, or take it up between the tackles and drag a couple defenders. Don't be surprised if he's one of the strongest players on the team before he leaves ND and I expect him to be a major contributor as well. Tony reminds me a lot of Julius Jones, who had a special season at ND and would have done more had he not had academic issues. His running style often also reminds me of former USC tailback Lendale White, who formed a dynamic duo with Reggie Bush. Oh yeah, Jones Jr also has exceptional hands for a big back.
2. Javon McKinley: While the "homer" in me wants to pick my fellow Canadian Chase Claypool here, I have to see how he translates to the competition down there before I'm ready to talk about him as a game changer (although I think he has a Kelvin Benjamin type ceiling). Instead, my pick here is McKinley, simply because he's too talented not to be productive as long as he stays healthy. At 6'1, 210lbs (the weight I see Javon playing at) he's going to be a beast with the ball in the air and physical receiver, with better than average speed and the ability to adjust to the ball in the air better than anyone I can remember at ND since Michael Floyd. I'm going to say his downside is somewhere between Rhema McKnight and Davaris Daniels, and his upside is Michael Crabtree (who he is clone of in terms of measurable). Either way, I think ND got a good one here. McKinley has the size, skill set and God-given talent to be as good as he wants to be. From everything I hear, he's an extremely driven kid. I'm betting that translates into success at ND.
3. Tommy Kraemer: All playoff caliber teams have quality offensive and defensive lines and Kraemer is going continue in ND's lineage of great offensive lineman. If ND needed him to start this year, I would be comfortable with that. Hell, he may end up making his way into ND's top 7-8 guys in 2016 regardless. My hope is that he's not needed and can be redshirted and learn the system, but at 6'5, 315lbs he's readymade to play tackle or guard. An easy comparison is Quenton Nelson, a fellow former stud OL recruit, who has the measurables to play tackle, but the skill set to be a dominant guard. I'm already drooling over a potential 2018 offensive line consisting of LT: Alex Bars LG: Quenton Nelson C: Tristen Hoge RG: Tommy Kraemer and RT: Liam Eichenberg. However it shakes out, look for Kraemer to be not only ND's top lineman of the future, but also one of the best 2-3 nationwide after a couples years with Harry Hiestand.
4. Khalid Kareem: You want an "Alabama type of player". This kid was committed to Alabama and was highly coveted by them. People seem to think he's a Isaac Rochell clone, but I'm telling you, he has more athleticism than that. Is he ever going to be Justin Tuck? No. But will he rush the passer from the SDE spot and be able to shift down inside ala Sheldon Day on passing downs? I believe he will. I see Kareem as a 275+lb guy before he's done and while I don't know if he'll ever be Isaac Rochell good on running downs, I expect him to develop into a 5+ sack per year player, something sorely needed off the strong edge of the defense. Expect Kareem to work his ass off all winter, spring, and summer and be an immediate contributor on passing downs this year in the fall as he is groomed to be the starter in 2017, after Rochell's departure. This kid is as surefire, IMO, as any player in the class not named Tommy Kraemer. An excellent piece in a defense that needs to improve and re-tool.
5. Devin Studstill: Of all the DB's in the class, Devin is the one that I think will have the most immediate and longest lasting impact in ND's secondary. Being an early enrolee helps quite a bit regarding some much needed physical development. What do I love about Devin's game? He's a football player. Not an athlete masquerading as a football player. A tough, instinctual, violent, fluid, football player. From head to hips and feet to hands, he has the full package, something we don't often see in ND DB's. So why not a higher ranking? He's 5'11 attended virtually no camps down in Florida and instead focused on his academics so that he could enroll early. This kid is not about the spotlight, he's about playing under the light. I think he'll end up playing strong safety eventually and as he develops physically, he's going to be imposing. I haven't seen film of a DB (I watch lots) in the 2016 class that runs the alley more instinctually and a friend of mine down in Florida confirmed to me that he has better makeup speed than you might think, but rarely has to use it because he's generally positioned so well in coverage. If I have any concern, it's his height if he's matched up against at TE in the slot but I don't think ND will leave him in that position all that often. You want to know how good I think Devin is? I think he'll play as a freshman and before he leaves South Bend he'll develop into one of the country's best safeties and will remind you of former Florida star safety (and now Cincinnati Bengal) Reggie "the eraser" Nelson.
JMO. Love making predictions.
While I've long argued on the side of those that feel there is a direct correlation between modern day recruiting rankings, landing top players and playing championship caliber football, an argument only further supported by at least 5-6 mentions of "star ratings" by ND assistant coaches yesterday during interviews, that is not the point of this thread. That argument has been had many times and can be left alone, for another place and time.
The point of this thread is for everyone to take a deep breath, realize that program is comprised of players from 5 classes (6 in rare cases) and the recipe for contention at Notre Dame, is probably going to look a little different from the recipe at a school like Alabama or Ohio State. Unfortunately, in this age of modern football, 3-and-done players and the "quickest" and "easiest" the NFL, an academically responsible institution like Notre Dame is going to have a bumpier road to annual contention, and we may simply have to concede that with the inability to sign JUCO's to plug holes and even Notre Dame now being affected by some it's players leaving early, that playoff caliber teams may not be possible every year in South Bend.
With that said, Notre Dame landed a number of guys that I think can be key contributors, among players from 4 other classes, to help Notre Dame to a similar season next year to the one ND had this year and really sets ND up to make a playoff run, with a talented, veteran team in 2017 and 2018.
Here are my picks for five of the guys that are going to give Irish fans hope for future runs to the playoffs.
1. Tony Jones Jr.: I can't count the number of times that I've spoken to an ND fan that has asked me "when are we going to land one of those big, strong, SEC type power backs?". ND just got one in Tony Jones Jr. at 6'0, 220lbs, Jones is only going to get bigger and stronger in a college weight room and he's got that type of competitive drive that will force him onto the field at some point. I love that he's faster than you might initially think and he's willing to run to edge if there is daylight, or take it up between the tackles and drag a couple defenders. Don't be surprised if he's one of the strongest players on the team before he leaves ND and I expect him to be a major contributor as well. Tony reminds me a lot of Julius Jones, who had a special season at ND and would have done more had he not had academic issues. His running style often also reminds me of former USC tailback Lendale White, who formed a dynamic duo with Reggie Bush. Oh yeah, Jones Jr also has exceptional hands for a big back.
2. Javon McKinley: While the "homer" in me wants to pick my fellow Canadian Chase Claypool here, I have to see how he translates to the competition down there before I'm ready to talk about him as a game changer (although I think he has a Kelvin Benjamin type ceiling). Instead, my pick here is McKinley, simply because he's too talented not to be productive as long as he stays healthy. At 6'1, 210lbs (the weight I see Javon playing at) he's going to be a beast with the ball in the air and physical receiver, with better than average speed and the ability to adjust to the ball in the air better than anyone I can remember at ND since Michael Floyd. I'm going to say his downside is somewhere between Rhema McKnight and Davaris Daniels, and his upside is Michael Crabtree (who he is clone of in terms of measurable). Either way, I think ND got a good one here. McKinley has the size, skill set and God-given talent to be as good as he wants to be. From everything I hear, he's an extremely driven kid. I'm betting that translates into success at ND.
3. Tommy Kraemer: All playoff caliber teams have quality offensive and defensive lines and Kraemer is going continue in ND's lineage of great offensive lineman. If ND needed him to start this year, I would be comfortable with that. Hell, he may end up making his way into ND's top 7-8 guys in 2016 regardless. My hope is that he's not needed and can be redshirted and learn the system, but at 6'5, 315lbs he's readymade to play tackle or guard. An easy comparison is Quenton Nelson, a fellow former stud OL recruit, who has the measurables to play tackle, but the skill set to be a dominant guard. I'm already drooling over a potential 2018 offensive line consisting of LT: Alex Bars LG: Quenton Nelson C: Tristen Hoge RG: Tommy Kraemer and RT: Liam Eichenberg. However it shakes out, look for Kraemer to be not only ND's top lineman of the future, but also one of the best 2-3 nationwide after a couples years with Harry Hiestand.
4. Khalid Kareem: You want an "Alabama type of player". This kid was committed to Alabama and was highly coveted by them. People seem to think he's a Isaac Rochell clone, but I'm telling you, he has more athleticism than that. Is he ever going to be Justin Tuck? No. But will he rush the passer from the SDE spot and be able to shift down inside ala Sheldon Day on passing downs? I believe he will. I see Kareem as a 275+lb guy before he's done and while I don't know if he'll ever be Isaac Rochell good on running downs, I expect him to develop into a 5+ sack per year player, something sorely needed off the strong edge of the defense. Expect Kareem to work his ass off all winter, spring, and summer and be an immediate contributor on passing downs this year in the fall as he is groomed to be the starter in 2017, after Rochell's departure. This kid is as surefire, IMO, as any player in the class not named Tommy Kraemer. An excellent piece in a defense that needs to improve and re-tool.
5. Devin Studstill: Of all the DB's in the class, Devin is the one that I think will have the most immediate and longest lasting impact in ND's secondary. Being an early enrolee helps quite a bit regarding some much needed physical development. What do I love about Devin's game? He's a football player. Not an athlete masquerading as a football player. A tough, instinctual, violent, fluid, football player. From head to hips and feet to hands, he has the full package, something we don't often see in ND DB's. So why not a higher ranking? He's 5'11 attended virtually no camps down in Florida and instead focused on his academics so that he could enroll early. This kid is not about the spotlight, he's about playing under the light. I think he'll end up playing strong safety eventually and as he develops physically, he's going to be imposing. I haven't seen film of a DB (I watch lots) in the 2016 class that runs the alley more instinctually and a friend of mine down in Florida confirmed to me that he has better makeup speed than you might think, but rarely has to use it because he's generally positioned so well in coverage. If I have any concern, it's his height if he's matched up against at TE in the slot but I don't think ND will leave him in that position all that often. You want to know how good I think Devin is? I think he'll play as a freshman and before he leaves South Bend he'll develop into one of the country's best safeties and will remind you of former Florida star safety (and now Cincinnati Bengal) Reggie "the eraser" Nelson.
JMO. Love making predictions.
