Updated since NSD:
I agree with @Bryan Driskell when he says that you need to look at the combination of two classes to gauge how a team has done in recruiting. What grade would you give ND for the past two years?
QB: B
Ideal Quantity: 2
Actual Quantity: 2
2016: Ian Book (3 Star - 0.8681)
2017: Avery Davis (4 Star - 0.9053)
Analysis: These are two, solid B grade players. Can they, and they alone, lead Notre Dame to a national championship? No. But could they be serviceable enough to manage the offense? Absolutely. They filled a need two straight years.
RB: B+
Ideal Quantity: 2
Actual Quantity: 2
2016: Tony Jones (4 Star - 0.8926)
2017: CJ Holmes (4 Star - 0.9036)
Analysis: Jones and Holmes compliment each other extremely well. Jones is a power back that ND has been missing. Holmes is versatile and can line up in the slot and be extremely effective. These are two guys that can be a very good compliment to one another in 2019.
TE: A+
Ideal Quantity: 2
Actual Quantity: 2
2016: None
2017: Brock Wright (4 Star - 0.9665) | Cole Kmet (4 Star - 0.9589)
Analysis: While Notre Dame didn't get a tight end in the 2016 class, they got arguably the two best tight ends in the 2017 class. I believe Brock Wright is going to be a star and Cole Kmet can be as well. These are two special prospects.
WR: B+
Ideal Quantity: 6
Actual Quantity: 6
2016: Javon McKinley (4 Star - 0.9464) | Chase Claypool (4 Star - 0.9258) | Kevin Stepherson (3 Star - 0.8615) | Deon McIntosh (3 Star - 0.8524)
2017: Jafar Armstrong (3 Star - 0.8709) | Michael Young (3 Star - 0.8706)
Analysis: The 2016 class has potential stars. We've already seen glimpses from Kevin Stephenson (who was only rated as a 3 star). I think Chase Claypool is going to be a star this year. Since they were able to land Jafar Armstrong, they were able to meet their target number at wide out.
OL: A-
Ideal Quantity: 7
Actual Quantity: 7
2016: Tommy Kraemer (4 Star - 0.9819) | Liam Eichenberg (4 Star - 0.9603) | Parker Boudreaux (3 Star - 0.8802)
2017: Robert Hainsey (4 Star - 0.9600) | Joshua Lugg (4 Star - 0.9417) | Aaron Banks (4 Star - 0.9251) | Dillan Gibbons (3 Star - 0.8847)
Analysis: There's not much you can say about offensive line recruiting. Notre Dame, in my opinion, is top 3 in OL recruiting over the past two cycles. They have absolute studs up front. Now, it's up to the coaching staff to run a scheme that best utilizes their skills. I originally gave them an A+. But after seeing Alabama's class, it's not fair to put ND on the same level.
DE: B
Ideal Quantity: 6
Actual Quantity: 6
2016: Daelin Hayes (4 Star - 0.9371) | Khalid Kareem (4 Star - 0.9207) | Julian Okwara (4 Star - 0.8976) | Ade Ogundegi (3 Star - 0.8584)
2017: Jonathon MacCollister (3 Star - 0.8459) | Kofi Wardlow (3 Star - 0.8427)
Analysis: I went back and forth on if this as a C+ or a B. Over Kelly's tenure, it's been a C. But the past two years have been good. Daelin Hayes is an elite level talent. Khalid Kareem was committed to Alabama and has a chance to be a hell of a strong side end. From a numbers and talent stand point, they have gotten talent to compete for a BCS bowl. Adding Kofi Wardlow met the numbers they need.
DT: B
Ideal Quantity: 3
Actual Quantity: 3
2016: None
2017: Darnell Ewell (4 Star - 0.9328) | Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (3 Star - 0.8708) | Kurt Hinish (3 Star - 0.8671)
Analysis: This is hard to gauge. They will have 9 defensive tackles on the roster in 2017 so it's not like they are short on numbers. Darnell Ewell is the type of the prospect that ND needs to land every cycle if they want to compete for a playoff spot. Kurt Hinish, in my opinion, is extremely underrated. I think he is going to flourish in Elko's system. Landing Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa would be the cherry on the top (which they did - changing their grade from a C+ to a B). That kid has really good potential.
LB: C+
Ideal Quantity: 5
Actual Quantity: 6
2016: Jonathon Jones (3 Star - 0.8743) | Spencer Perry (3 Star - 0.8671) | Jamir Jones (3 Star - 0.8415)
2017: David Adams (4 Star - 0.9089) | Jeremiah Owusu (3 Star - 0.8721) | Drew White (3 Star - 0.8452)
Analysis: I added Spencer Perry to the linebackers because I think he will move to the Rover spot this spring. While they've done well from a numbers stand point, they haven't recruited at an elite level the last two cycles. David Adams has a chance to be really good. And the late addition of Owusu was huge for the new Rover position. But I am not overly impressed with Jonathon Jones, Jamir Jones and Drew White. The 2018 linebackers they have committed are both better than the five kids from the past two seasons. So, that gives me hope.
CB: C+
Ideal Quantity: 5
Actual Quantity: 3
2016: Troy Pride (4 Star - 0.9089) | | Donte Vaughn (4 Star - 0.8949) | Julian Love (3 Star - 0.8711)
2017: None
Analysis: Secondary recruiting has been a dumpster fire for years. While they get good talent, they always have holes in the roster because of the poor planning by the coaching staff. What has helped is how talented Troy Pride, Donte Vaughn and Julian Love are. If they can finish with Russ Yeast in this class, I will rank this as a B overall.
S: B
Ideal Quantity: 5
Actual Quantity: 5
2016: Jalen Elliott (3 Star - 0.8721) | DJ Morgan (3 Star - 0.8711) | Devin Studstill (3 Star - 0.8709)
2017: Isaiah Robertson (4 Star - 0.8986) | Jordan Genmark-Hearth (3 Star - 0.8649)
Analysis: Numbers wise, they've done a much better job the past two years than they have in the past. And while they have some talented players, it's not the kind of talent they need to be a dominate secondary. But don't get me wrong, these kids are talented enough to be on a Top-20 defense and make it to BCS level bowl games.
Overall: B
Analysis: It's pretty much the same story as it's been over Kelly's tenure. He recruits offense at a playoff level but he will never be a consistent winner with the way they recruit defensively. But hear me clearly: A good coach can go 9-3 (at worst) every year with this kind of talent. The fact that Kelly went 4-8 last year is insane.
I agree with @Bryan Driskell when he says that you need to look at the combination of two classes to gauge how a team has done in recruiting. What grade would you give ND for the past two years?
QB: B
Ideal Quantity: 2
Actual Quantity: 2
2016: Ian Book (3 Star - 0.8681)
2017: Avery Davis (4 Star - 0.9053)
Analysis: These are two, solid B grade players. Can they, and they alone, lead Notre Dame to a national championship? No. But could they be serviceable enough to manage the offense? Absolutely. They filled a need two straight years.
RB: B+
Ideal Quantity: 2
Actual Quantity: 2
2016: Tony Jones (4 Star - 0.8926)
2017: CJ Holmes (4 Star - 0.9036)
Analysis: Jones and Holmes compliment each other extremely well. Jones is a power back that ND has been missing. Holmes is versatile and can line up in the slot and be extremely effective. These are two guys that can be a very good compliment to one another in 2019.
TE: A+
Ideal Quantity: 2
Actual Quantity: 2
2016: None
2017: Brock Wright (4 Star - 0.9665) | Cole Kmet (4 Star - 0.9589)
Analysis: While Notre Dame didn't get a tight end in the 2016 class, they got arguably the two best tight ends in the 2017 class. I believe Brock Wright is going to be a star and Cole Kmet can be as well. These are two special prospects.
WR: B+
Ideal Quantity: 6
Actual Quantity: 6
2016: Javon McKinley (4 Star - 0.9464) | Chase Claypool (4 Star - 0.9258) | Kevin Stepherson (3 Star - 0.8615) | Deon McIntosh (3 Star - 0.8524)
2017: Jafar Armstrong (3 Star - 0.8709) | Michael Young (3 Star - 0.8706)
Analysis: The 2016 class has potential stars. We've already seen glimpses from Kevin Stephenson (who was only rated as a 3 star). I think Chase Claypool is going to be a star this year. Since they were able to land Jafar Armstrong, they were able to meet their target number at wide out.
OL: A-
Ideal Quantity: 7
Actual Quantity: 7
2016: Tommy Kraemer (4 Star - 0.9819) | Liam Eichenberg (4 Star - 0.9603) | Parker Boudreaux (3 Star - 0.8802)
2017: Robert Hainsey (4 Star - 0.9600) | Joshua Lugg (4 Star - 0.9417) | Aaron Banks (4 Star - 0.9251) | Dillan Gibbons (3 Star - 0.8847)
Analysis: There's not much you can say about offensive line recruiting. Notre Dame, in my opinion, is top 3 in OL recruiting over the past two cycles. They have absolute studs up front. Now, it's up to the coaching staff to run a scheme that best utilizes their skills. I originally gave them an A+. But after seeing Alabama's class, it's not fair to put ND on the same level.
DE: B
Ideal Quantity: 6
Actual Quantity: 6
2016: Daelin Hayes (4 Star - 0.9371) | Khalid Kareem (4 Star - 0.9207) | Julian Okwara (4 Star - 0.8976) | Ade Ogundegi (3 Star - 0.8584)
2017: Jonathon MacCollister (3 Star - 0.8459) | Kofi Wardlow (3 Star - 0.8427)
Analysis: I went back and forth on if this as a C+ or a B. Over Kelly's tenure, it's been a C. But the past two years have been good. Daelin Hayes is an elite level talent. Khalid Kareem was committed to Alabama and has a chance to be a hell of a strong side end. From a numbers and talent stand point, they have gotten talent to compete for a BCS bowl. Adding Kofi Wardlow met the numbers they need.
DT: B
Ideal Quantity: 3
Actual Quantity: 3
2016: None
2017: Darnell Ewell (4 Star - 0.9328) | Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa (3 Star - 0.8708) | Kurt Hinish (3 Star - 0.8671)
Analysis: This is hard to gauge. They will have 9 defensive tackles on the roster in 2017 so it's not like they are short on numbers. Darnell Ewell is the type of the prospect that ND needs to land every cycle if they want to compete for a playoff spot. Kurt Hinish, in my opinion, is extremely underrated. I think he is going to flourish in Elko's system. Landing Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa would be the cherry on the top (which they did - changing their grade from a C+ to a B). That kid has really good potential.
LB: C+
Ideal Quantity: 5
Actual Quantity: 6
2016: Jonathon Jones (3 Star - 0.8743) | Spencer Perry (3 Star - 0.8671) | Jamir Jones (3 Star - 0.8415)
2017: David Adams (4 Star - 0.9089) | Jeremiah Owusu (3 Star - 0.8721) | Drew White (3 Star - 0.8452)
Analysis: I added Spencer Perry to the linebackers because I think he will move to the Rover spot this spring. While they've done well from a numbers stand point, they haven't recruited at an elite level the last two cycles. David Adams has a chance to be really good. And the late addition of Owusu was huge for the new Rover position. But I am not overly impressed with Jonathon Jones, Jamir Jones and Drew White. The 2018 linebackers they have committed are both better than the five kids from the past two seasons. So, that gives me hope.
CB: C+
Ideal Quantity: 5
Actual Quantity: 3
2016: Troy Pride (4 Star - 0.9089) | | Donte Vaughn (4 Star - 0.8949) | Julian Love (3 Star - 0.8711)
2017: None
Analysis: Secondary recruiting has been a dumpster fire for years. While they get good talent, they always have holes in the roster because of the poor planning by the coaching staff. What has helped is how talented Troy Pride, Donte Vaughn and Julian Love are. If they can finish with Russ Yeast in this class, I will rank this as a B overall.
S: B
Ideal Quantity: 5
Actual Quantity: 5
2016: Jalen Elliott (3 Star - 0.8721) | DJ Morgan (3 Star - 0.8711) | Devin Studstill (3 Star - 0.8709)
2017: Isaiah Robertson (4 Star - 0.8986) | Jordan Genmark-Hearth (3 Star - 0.8649)
Analysis: Numbers wise, they've done a much better job the past two years than they have in the past. And while they have some talented players, it's not the kind of talent they need to be a dominate secondary. But don't get me wrong, these kids are talented enough to be on a Top-20 defense and make it to BCS level bowl games.
Overall: B
Analysis: It's pretty much the same story as it's been over Kelly's tenure. He recruits offense at a playoff level but he will never be a consistent winner with the way they recruit defensively. But hear me clearly: A good coach can go 9-3 (at worst) every year with this kind of talent. The fact that Kelly went 4-8 last year is insane.
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