Tell me who you guys think will be the players from this years class to make the biggest impact..Mine is Darnell Ewell...This kid IMO is going to see the field often this season..if he stays healthy..could be in the rotation all season..thoughts??
Robertson needs to put on some weight first but he may be the best talent in the class. I don't think I trust the 2 safeties we signed in 2016. Especially studstill, but Robertson may get the nod if he gets bigSafety Isaiah Robertson. Big and long safety looked great at the Blue Gold game.
Not sure I agree with this. Studstill did a nice job last year playing as a freshman. Elko demands more of his safetys and Studstill is learning to play a different position.Robertson needs to put on some weight first but he may be the best talent in the class. I don't think I trust the 2 safeties we signed in 2016. Especially studstill, but Robertson may get the nod if he gets big
Robertson needs to put on some weight first but he may be the best talent in the class. I don't think I trust the 2 safeties we signed in 2016. Especially studstill, but Robertson may get the nod if he gets big
The 2017 Irish are loaded with upper classman with exceptional talent so the frosh will have to wait their turn !! With that said David Adams will be a standout on special teams ! A FUTURE AllAmerican linebacker in 2020 !
Bodi,
I'll actually be shocked if Adams isn't redshirted. He recently had surgery and won't be full go to lift for a while. I think the staff will be cautious with him and give him a full year to recr9ver from the surgery. I think he'll see his first real action next year in spring practice.
Adams needs to play this year. There is no depth at linebacker. Its May. How long does it really take to heal?
Freshman may have more opportunity than we think. Yes, many returning players from a 4-8 team. Experience does not necessarily translate into improvement.We have a ton of returning players so it is hard to break into the rotation. Defensive line and safety seem to be where we are the most shallow. Those are hard positions to break into the rotation as freshman though. Ewell and Isaiah Robertson have a chance.
Doerer is the guy I think that has the best chance to see the field right away. He has a booming leg for KOs and I want to protect Yoon's leg for FGs.
After that, I think Ewell has a good chance because guys like Mokwuah, MDT, Taylor and Tiassum have not stepped forward. Ewell could allow Tillery to play more 3T.
He had a two part surgery and he won't be able to lift with that shoulder for weeks. Probably won't even be cleared to lift fully in his upper body come time to report. He's going to lose a lot of strength.
I don't buy that we lack linebacker depth. ND plays with two total linebackers in their scheme.
Mike: Nyles Morgan
2. Greer Martini
3. Jamir Jones
4. Johnathan Jones
5 Josh Barajas
Buck: Greer Martini
2. Te'Von Coney
3. Asmar Bilal
4. Drew White
How many teams are playing more than about 5 linebackers in their rotation? Not many. And those teams have at least 3 linebacking spots with a SAM in place of ND's Rover, which will be manned by Tranquill, Crawford, Bilal and Owusu-Koramoah.
Of the linebackers I listed, Clark Lea probably feels good about playing Morgan, Martini, Coney, Bilal and Jamir Jones. The rest will have to continue to develop, as is the case for every linebacking group, on evey campus in North America.
Adams doesn't need to play this year and they weren't counting on a true freshman Mike linebacker.
Freshman may have more opportunity than we think. Yes, many returning players from a 4-8 team. Experience does not necessarily translate into improvement.
I agree with your premise, but I'd count the ROVER position as an LB spot (for this discussion) and I'd also analyze the DROP END position with the LBs (again, just for this dicussion) because I expect that position to affect the depth chart projections of some payers listed as LBs.
I expect the depth chart to shake out a little differently.
DROP END (DE/OLB Hybrid)
1. Dealin Hayes
2. Julian Okwara
3a. Ade Ogundeji OR
3b. Jamir Jones
MIKE LB
1. Nyles Morgan
2. Greer Martini
3a. Jonthan Jones
3b. Josh Barajas
BUCK LB
1. Greer Martini
2a. Tevon Coney OR
2b. Asmar Bilal
4. Josh Barajas
ROVER (LB/S Hybrid)
1a. Drue Tranquil OR
1b. Asmar Bilal
3a. DJ Morgan OR
3b. Jeremiah Owusu
Returning defensive players who will be Surefire contributors this year.
SDE Jay Hayes
SDE Andrew Trumbetti
SDE Khalid Kareem
WDE Daelin Hayes
WDE Julian Okwara
WDE Ade Ogundeji
NG: Daniel Cage
DT: Jerry Tillery
DT: John Bonner
Mike: Nyles Morgan
Mike: Jamir Jones
Buck: Te'Von Coney
Buck: Greer Martini
Rover: Drue Tranquill
Rover: Asmar Bilal
FS: Nick Coleman
FS: Devin Studstill
SS: Jalen Elliot
CB: Nick Watkins
CB Julian Love
CB: Shaun Crawford
CB: Donte Vaughn
CB: Troy Pride
Potential freshman contributors.
NG: Darnell Ewell
SS: Isaiah Robertson
Specials: Jordan Genmark-Heath
Specials: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
Offensively, Brock Wright could see time as the 3rd / 4th tight end behind Mack, Smythe and in a battle with Weishar. And both freshman wide receivers may see special teams work. CJ Holmes would have also seen time on specials teams, but his shoulder injury makes him an obvious redshirt.
Adams is not physically ready to play. He needs probably 2 years of physical conditioning.
Ewell had better not be 'needed' in '17.
None of the Fr. are close to being contributors for '17.
If 1 is thought of as a possible contributor it might be CJH.
Adams is not physically ready to play. He needs probably 2 years of physical conditioning.
Ewell had better not be 'needed' in '17.
None of the Fr. are close to being contributors for '17.
If 1 is thought of as a possible contributor it might be CJH.
Well, when they report, we can revisit the 'vital stats'. And if Ewell has to play in '17 then that does not bode well for the ND depth chart. And, Ewell is more run stop than pass rush.
geez, you guys post raves about talent and this guy and that guy, and in the next post your saying a kid in the program a few months is going to be a big contributor right out of H.S. And your not even talking about a kids recruited in the Top 100 or Top 5 at his position. What are you saying about the upper classmen you raved about last summer?
Keep in mind, i have never seen Adams or the other new guys play. But given the fact that no one is proven other than Morgan then i would not red shirt him. Adams was considered an elite prospect so we need him now. His shoulder will have plenty of time to heal over the summer. After a 4 and 8 season you gotta go full throttle.