I am predicting a big class this year between 26-28 commits. Could even be higher with a magical year this year.
With the recent roster moves, the roster is at 80 right now. Add Ishaq 81. Add Bryant 82. Add VanGorder 83. Add Cavalaris 84. So, there are another free scholarships available for 2 or 3 more walk-ons this year depending on how Ishaq and Bryant factor this year to the 85.
Wrap your head around that one. I think the projected roster was something like 92 last April.
Let's say Bryant returns in 2016. Let's exclude VanGorder's scholarship as an annually renewable thing -- a walk-on ship only if there is a spot.
That would mean the 2016 recruiting class starts at the count of 2 plus the following players who are out of eligibility:
3. Brown 4. Carlisle 5. Hounshell 6, Martin 7. Okwara 8. Ishaq 9. Day 10. Grace 11. Schmidt 12. Farley 13. Shumate 14. Sebastien 15. Cavalaris Plus:
16. Daly - not going to have 2 Long Snappers on scholarship with Shannon coming in - 5th
17. Turner - not a likely 5th year candidate - 5th
18. Baratti - not a likely 5th year candidate - 5th
19. Harrell - will he want to stick around? - only Martin & Stanley likely leaving - 5th
20. Russell - he'll go pro - 5th
21. Jaylon - likely go pro early - Sr.
22. Jones - he might go pro - 5th
23. Stanley - he'll go pro - 5th
24. Folston - he might go pro early - Sr.
25. Fuller - he might go pro early - Sr.
26. Prosise - he might go pro - 5th
27. Plus who knows from among Redfield, Elmer, Rochell and Luke? They could all leave early too with a strong season.
Toss in some injuries, some transfers, some decommits after Signing Day, and you can see this recruiting class might be driven close to 30 recruits on Signing Day. Perhaps an offset factor in some 5th year transfer-ins like Sebastien and Riggs, and potential 6th year eligibility from Hounshell and Grace.
Of course, Kelly's hardest recruiting will be on trying to keep the current players from going pro and using their eligibility at ND.
However, we have already established that Kelly will add more commits than there appears to be open spots.
Anyway you look at it, we're headed for a BIG class. IMO.
With the recent roster moves, the roster is at 80 right now. Add Ishaq 81. Add Bryant 82. Add VanGorder 83. Add Cavalaris 84. So, there are another free scholarships available for 2 or 3 more walk-ons this year depending on how Ishaq and Bryant factor this year to the 85.
Wrap your head around that one. I think the projected roster was something like 92 last April.
Let's say Bryant returns in 2016. Let's exclude VanGorder's scholarship as an annually renewable thing -- a walk-on ship only if there is a spot.
That would mean the 2016 recruiting class starts at the count of 2 plus the following players who are out of eligibility:
3. Brown 4. Carlisle 5. Hounshell 6, Martin 7. Okwara 8. Ishaq 9. Day 10. Grace 11. Schmidt 12. Farley 13. Shumate 14. Sebastien 15. Cavalaris Plus:
16. Daly - not going to have 2 Long Snappers on scholarship with Shannon coming in - 5th
17. Turner - not a likely 5th year candidate - 5th
18. Baratti - not a likely 5th year candidate - 5th
19. Harrell - will he want to stick around? - only Martin & Stanley likely leaving - 5th
20. Russell - he'll go pro - 5th
21. Jaylon - likely go pro early - Sr.
22. Jones - he might go pro - 5th
23. Stanley - he'll go pro - 5th
24. Folston - he might go pro early - Sr.
25. Fuller - he might go pro early - Sr.
26. Prosise - he might go pro - 5th
27. Plus who knows from among Redfield, Elmer, Rochell and Luke? They could all leave early too with a strong season.
Toss in some injuries, some transfers, some decommits after Signing Day, and you can see this recruiting class might be driven close to 30 recruits on Signing Day. Perhaps an offset factor in some 5th year transfer-ins like Sebastien and Riggs, and potential 6th year eligibility from Hounshell and Grace.
Of course, Kelly's hardest recruiting will be on trying to keep the current players from going pro and using their eligibility at ND.
However, we have already established that Kelly will add more commits than there appears to be open spots.
Anyway you look at it, we're headed for a BIG class. IMO.
