My Prediction For ND's Recruiting Class

[IrishInOntario]

Just based solely on what I've seen, read, heard and my gut instinct, I think ND is going to close their recruiting class with...

3/4 Star WR Nate Johnson
3/4 Star LB Jonathan Jones
5 Star LB Caleb Kelly

So where is Demetris Robertson in all of this? While I would love to be wrong about Robertson, and would gladly eat some crow for this prediction, I think he'll either recommit to Alabama following an official visit, or if he knocks out his SAT retake, I could see him going beyond NSD and signing with Stanford (per recent info). Kelly has already used his in home visit, and although the Georgia reporters are CB'ing Robertson to ND, the fact that Steve Wiltfong still has not and we're getting all kinds of information regarding Robertson's plans over the next couple weeks, it just doesn't feel like this is inevitably going to swing ND's way... Again, I sincerely hope I'm wrong.

Regardless, if my final 3 are indeed the players that close ND's class and there no surprise
commitments,

ND should have a composite top 6-7 class come Feb 3rd. I would give the class a very good A- rating, with the only negatives being....

1. The lack of a top tier DT prospect (or any DT prospect for that matter) in the class.

2. Only one top tier linebacker in the class in Kelly (would have loved McColough), after Hayes makes the seemingly inevitable transition to defensive end.

3. The fact that arguably the two best players in Indiana (Austin Mack and Auston Robertson) are leaving the State, with ND finishing second in both recruitments.

4. ND's biggest position of need year-in-and-year-out is defensive line and two of ND's top 3 targets (Auston Robertson and Josh King) are heading to MSU.

If the class finishes like I expect it will, it will definitely a very solid recruiting effort by ND's coaching staff. If you couple the class with what should be a smaller (in terms of numbers) but elite (in terms of talent) class in 2017, ND should be in very good position to compete within top 10 for the foreseeable future.

Here are some of my early "must haves" that I think ND will have a shot at in building an elite 2017 recruiting class, to build on a very good 2016 class...

RB: A.J. Dillion (Tom Gatewood's grandson)
WR: Osiris St. Brown (Equanimeous' brother)
WR: Isaiah Robertson
TE: Cole Kmet (committed)
TE: Brock Wright (committed)
OG: Dillan Gibbons (committed)
OG: Josh Lugg (committed)
OT: Trey Smith
WDE: Robert Beal (committed)
WDE: Josh Kaindoh (please, God)
DT: Haskell Garrett
DT: Jeron Cage (Daniel's brother. Have to flip him from OSU)
SDE: Corey Malone-Hatcher
ILB: David Adams
OLB: Antjuan Simmons
S: RJ Potts (Have to keep him in state)
S: Ben Stewart (Gut feeling)
S: Paris Ford (Darrin Walls' brother. Have to flip him from Pitt)
CB: Jaylen Kelly-Powell (Counting rosaries)

 

[Walruzz]

Maybe we could pull Austin Matthews? (Future Oiler...)

 

[D_Master]

I'm not sure if auston Robertson and josh king were able to get into ND. nothing solid, just something I remember reading at 1 point. My 2017 most wanted of the non committed is the Kaindoh kid. Pair him with Beal and and Haskell (who I think we'll get too) and we'll have a helluva dline class. Add them to Kareem and Hayes and now we're stockpiling talent.

And I think you're selling NDs chances short w/ Robertson. As an ND fan I get it. we like to assume we wont get a kid just to not be disappointed when they don't come. But its trending ND in a big way right now. I hope I'm right at least.

 

[Bodizephax]

No way Robertson goes to Stanford. That ship has sailed.
Robertson, Kelly, Nate Johnson !!, and Jonathon Jones to the Irish is my prediction.

 

[PolishIrish23]

Ara he loves on the west coast and is announcing at a ceremony at his elementary school. 8:30 is still early considering the time change. He will choose ND

 

[SALittleGiant513]

I have an Eddie Vanderdoes feeling about Kelly. I just read on another site that he'll not be announcing his choice until 8:30 South Bend time on NSD. Is he turning into a drama guy and should ND wait around for him? I keep thinking that Coach Kelly knows something and that's why they keep pursuing other targets. I think our best shot is with Robertson. His compass seems to always return to pointing North towards ND.

Kelly is doing his thing on his local time. He has been pretty low profile for the duration of the recruitment process not sure this is a drama guy situation except that it creates artificial drama for people who don't know what he is thinking.

 

[Telx1]

Personally don't like the staged announcements on NSD, but it's become pretty common with five star recruits. When Clausen did his thing, I thought we were getting a me first drama queen, and he turned out to be a really tough team oriented player with good leadership skills. Ever since, I don't read anything into how these young men and their families choose to announce/celebrate their decision. I thought Haye's video was a classic.

 

[perseverare]

Kelly has been pretty solid with everyone. There are far more bizarre prospect anttics.
Wait till next week! National De-Commit and Flip week!

 

[domw]

No way Robertson goes to Stanford. That ship has sailed.
Robertson, Kelly, Nate Johnson !!, and Jonathon Jones to the Irish is my prediction.

This is spot on.

 

[twalsh]

Kelly has been pretty solid with everyone. There are far more bizarre prospect anttics.
Wait till next week! National De-Commit and Flip week!

Perse are you really expecting negatives for ND at NSD? Or just trying to under promise and over deliver?

 

[IrishInOntario]

Like I said, I definitely hope to be wrong regarding my Robertson prediction!

Whethere ND gets him, or not, I still think ND lands a solid class ranked just outside of the top 5, which I'll grade as an A-.

Very solid class missing only a couple players from being elite... Btw, if you're interested in the difference between an A- class and an A+ class in my opinion... It's noticeable, but not an enormous leap.

- One of Austin Robertson, Oluwole Betiku, Or Josh King in place of Odenigbo.

- One of Aaron Hansford or Jeff McCollough in place of Jonathan Jones or Jamir Jones.

- Ben Bredeson in place of Parker Boudreaux.

- 1 quality defensive tackle.

- 1 of ND's first flight of QB's (Patterson, Haskins, Henry etc, etc).

Has a chance to be a very good class. A couple of the guys ND finished second for would have made it elite.

 

[perseverare]

Kelly has not been pretty solid with everyone. There are far more bizarre prospect anttics.
Wait till next week! National De-Commit and Flip week!

Perse are you really expecting negatives for ND at NSD? Or just trying to under promise and over deliver?

twalsh:
I missed the 'not' in my original post to be sure! I then saw it while reading a reply, and edited it.

To clarify, Kelly, the recruit, has been classy from everything I have read.

the comment about decommits was more National in nature, NOT directed at ND (ND looks very solid with it's class)

 

[BGI User 1596]

Like I said, I definitely hope to be wrong regarding my Robertson prediction!

Whethere ND gets him, or not, I still think ND lands a solid class ranked just outside of the top 5, which I'll grade as an A-.

Very solid class missing only a couple players from being elite... Btw, if you're interested in the difference between an A- class and an A+ class in my opinion... It's noticeable, but not an enormous leap.

- One of Austin Robertson, Oluwole Betiku, Or Josh King in place of Odenigbo.

- One of Aaron Hansford or Jeff McCollough in place of Jonathan Jones or Jamir Jones.

- Ben Bredeson in place of Parker Boudreaux.

- 1 quality defensive tackle.

- 1 of ND's first flight of QB's (Patterson, Haskins, Henry etc, etc).

Has a chance to be a very good class. A couple of the guys ND finished second for would have made it elite.

You have excellent standards!

 

[IrishInOntario]

I don't want to give Parker up either. A lot like Ruhland from last year, he looks like he could be a nasty guard... With that said, Bredeson is a prospect with more upside, IMO, and he was one of the very top guys on Hiestand's board, along with Kraemer and Eichenberg.

 

[perseverare]

Brederson struggled against elite at All Star camps. Parker dominated.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Bredeson is all about upside. He's a little light right now, but he has tremendous potential. He reminds me a lot of Zack Martin at the same age. Boudreaux will be a player, I'm sure of that, but his physical upside is somewhat limited compared to Bredeson's. Boudreaux is more ready made, with a lower ceiling. Bredeson will be a really good one down the road, with a chance to be elite. When you recruit like Harry does, you don't expect virtually any guy to play before year year unless he's elite, or unless there is a max exodus of juniors on your OL. That's why Harry liked Bredeson so much. Right now he's a raw kid, who hasn't faced the type of talent Parker has. In 3 years, when Hiestand actually needs these freshman to play, my money is on Bredeson being the more athletic, versatile lineman. He simply needs the gym time to catch up in the strength department and he'll get use to playing agains better competition.

 

[perseverare]

Brederson has to be a G; I think PB has a better temperment to be a G. Plays 'mean to rabid'

 

[IrishInOntario]

That we agree on. I'd love to see Ruhland and Bredeson develop because I love the attitude they play with. I have significant questions about both of their athleticism and size potential down the road, however.

I love Sam Mustipher for the same reason... My ideal future line at ND would be this OL in 2018...

LT: Alex Bars (SR)
LG: Quenton Nelson (SR)
C: Sam Mustipher (5th SR)
RG: Tommy Kraemer (JR)
RT: Liam Eichenberg (JR)

6th: (C/G) Tristen Hoge (SR)
7th: (G) Trevor Ruhland (JR)
8th: (T) Trey Smith (SOPH)

 

[Tru2Irish]

Like I said, I definitely hope to be wrong regarding my Robertson prediction!

Whethere ND gets him, or not, I still think ND lands a solid class ranked just outside of the top 5, which I'll grade as an A-.

Very solid class missing only a couple players from being elite... Btw, if you're interested in the difference between an A- class and an A+ class in my opinion... It's noticeable, but not an enormous leap.

- One of Austin Robertson, Oluwole Betiku, Or Josh King in place of Odenigbo.

- One of Aaron Hansford or Jeff McCollough in place of Jonathan Jones or Jamir Jones.

- Ben Bredeson in place of Parker Boudreaux.

- 1 quality defensive tackle.

- 1 of ND's first flight of QB's (Patterson, Haskins, Henry etc, etc).

Has a chance to be a very good class. A couple of the guys ND finished second for would have made it elite.

Where's the love for Boudreaux? I like his mean streak.Odenigbo will be good in time.Id on't think King can cut it academically at ND. Hansford ship has sailed. I really want McCollough but I fear he won't stray from Texas.Kelly has done a fine job of getting players that want to be Irish. Book might even surprise people down the road.

 

[BGI User 1596]

Where's the love for Boudreaux? I like his mean streak.Odenigbo will be good in time.Id on't think King can cut it academically at ND. Hansford ship has sailed. I really want McCollough but I fear he won't stray from Texas.Kelly has done a fine job of getting players that want to be Irish. Book might even surprise people down the road.

"Kelly has done a fine job of getting players that want to be Irish" - IF they already want to be IRISH this would suggest Kelly doesn't have to do anything to get them .... lets see him get some of those nice 5 star guys who are shopping around.

 

[SwlaDukie]

I think this class is exactly what ND needed. DBs and DE were the biggest needs in this class from the outset. Kelly has possibly 7-8 DBs and 5 DEs committed right now. This class gives ND depth and athleticism which was NDs biggest weakness this year. Hopefully ND ends the class some big time prospects as some icing on the cake. I really wish Brian Kelly could pull of a miracle with Davis.