24th Apr 2008
Wow. What a week of recruiting this has been so far. Charlie Weis has landed three outstanding players in Cierre Wood, Tyler Stockton, and most recently, Theo Riddick. Each one of these athletes is ranked in the Rivals.com Top 250 of 2009 and were given at least four stars. The Irish now have four commitments early on in the recruiting process; three offensive and one defensive.
Cierre Wood is without a doubt the most impressive of the commits. This 6′0″, 192 pound running back out of California is considered the third best player in the country according to Rivals.com. They ranked him number three in the entire 2009 class as well as the top running back of his class. Both Rivals.com and Scout.com awarded him five stars and his commitment is nearly as big as Jimmy Clausen’s two years ago. I will try to post some YouTube videos of him later on, he is a stud.
Tyler Stockton is a big pick up for Notre Dame because of his power. He’s not the biggest defensive tackle at all but he has the explosiveness to succeed. Tyler is a 6′1″, 290 pound lineman who may remind people of Trevor Laws according to Mike Frank. His hands and quickness are the key attributes that make him an outstanding commit for Charlie Weis and the Irish defense.
Theo Riddick is the latest Irish commit after making his announcement last night. He is he second and most likely the only other running back that will be taken in the 2009 class. Theo is a little on the short side at 5′10″ but makes up for it with his strength and power. He currently weighs in at around 185 pounds and was given four stars from Rivals.com.
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23rd Apr 2008
The Captains for the 2008 Football season were named just before the start of the Blue-Gold Spring Game. They are Maurice Crum Jr., David Grimes, and David Bruton. Crum the defensive captain, Grimes the offensive, and Bruton as the special teams.
Maurice Crum Jr. decided to return for a fifth year and is named captain for the second season in a row. He is the 17th player in Notre Dame’s football history to be named a two-time captain and it is certainly deserved. Maurice has played in 37 games for Notre Dame and has started everyone of them. He is a leader and should have an outstanding season this year.
David Grimes is the most experienced receiver on the Irish and has made some very athletic plays in his career. He has yet to put up big numbers in any season but that could change this year with a healthy Jimmy Clausen. Grimes has played in 22 games for the Irish and has started 15 of them.
David Bruton is one of the most hyped players for the Irish heading into the ‘08 season. He recorded 85 tackles last year which was third best on the team and he is an outstanding special teams player. David has made 444 special teams appearances in his career according to UND.com.
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20th Feb 2008
Four Notre Dame players will be taking part in the NFL Scouting Combine coming up. They are John Carlson, Trevor Laws, John Sullivan, and Tom Zbikowski. The NFL Combine is a fair in which the nation’s top players are invited to participate in events which will be evaluated by NFL Scouts. This years Combine will have 13 parts which are the 40-yard dash, Bench press, Three cone drill, Broad jump, Vertical leap, 20-yard shuttle, 60-yard shuttle, Position specific drills, Physical measurements, NFL team interviews, The Wonderlic Test, The Cybex Test, and Injury evaluation. It gives these players the opportunity to prove to NFL teams that they are a worthy draft pick.
John Carlson was considered one of the top Tight Ends in the nation after his impressive 2006 season. He was predicted to be a first round pick if he had decided to enter the 2007 NFL Draft. Instead he chose to return to Notre Dame for a fifth season as a Captain and leader of a very young Irish team. Obviously, that didn’t go so well due to the constant change of quarterbacks and struggle on offense as a whole. But John’s 2006 season is certainly enough to keep him among the top tight ends, if not the best, in this year’s draft. However, John missed an important event recently, the Senior Bowl, due to food poisoning which led to major weight loss. He lost at least 17 pounds but thankfully, has now gained that weight back and is ready to take part in the more important, NFL Scouting Combine. Mel Kiper Jr. listed the 6′5″, 255 pound Carlson as the number two tight end in this years draft behind Fred Davis of USC. John could sneak into the first round if he impresses the Scouts, but either way he should go on the first day.
Trevor Laws had the most impressive season for any Notre Dame player in 2007. He was also a fifth year senior, but instead of decreasing his draft stock like Carlson, he increased it tremendously. Trevor recorded 112 tackles as a defensive end, and was named the 2007 Team MVP in his final season in South Bend. I was absolutely furious when he wasn’t named to any major All-American teams after having that number of tackles as a defensive lineman. Trevor must have taken this as an insult because he has worked harder than anyone else, preparing for the Combine. In the past two months he has lost body fat and added thirty pounds of solid muscle to his build. According to the Chicago Tribune Laws works out up to three times a day and always eats five meals. Mel Kiper Jr. has noticed him and thinks that he will go in the third round, which seems pretty reasonable. Trevor should go early on the second day of the draft, but you never know, it could be the first if he does well in the Combine.
John Sullivan returned for a fifth year and became a Captain just prior to the start of the 2007 season. He started 43 of the 47 games he played in his career at Notre Dame and his most recent season wasn’t his best. John, an offensive center, led the nation’s worst offensive line in 2007. The inexperience along the O-Line had a great effect on his play and forced him to change his style, which greatly decreased his draft stock. However, he blocked well in the past and has good size to be taken at some point in the draft. Mel Kiper Jr. said that Sullivan’s stock dropped, but due to the weak year at center, he could be taken on the second day. I think that if John can prove himself at the combine and impress the Scouts, he could be taken as early as the fourth round.
Tom Zbikowski has always been one of the fans-favorite’s and chose to return for a fifth year at Notre Dame. He is a two-time Captain for the Irish but did not make the right career decision. He struggled in his final season in South Bend after three very impressive years in which he displayed his toughness and will. He could have been taken on the first day of the draft if he left a year, possibly even two years earlier. But it’s too late for that now and Tom is going to have to really prove to the Scouts that he is worth their pick after his rough 2007 season. Mel Kiper Jr. believes that he may have dropped to a fifth, maybe even sixth round draft pick. I belive that Zibi could get taken in the fourth round if people recognize his toughness and special teams ability. If the NFL doesn’t work out for him, he can always go with boxing, but I don’t think that should be a problem.
Keep updated on the NFL Scouting Combine by checking out the NFL Network and other major sport networks. I will have the results of each Irish player when the Combine is finished. As always, Go Irish!
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7th Feb 2008
Charlie Weis has performed another miracle, finishing with arguably the number one recruiting class in the country. This is the head coach of a Notre Dame team that finished 3-9 in 2007, one of the worst in school history. Somehow, somehow, Weis was able to convince 23 of the nation’s top players to sign a Letter of Intent to attend the University of Notre Dame.
According to Rivals.com, Scout.com, and Tom Lemming of CSTV, the 2008 Signing Class of the Fighting Irish is second best, behind only Alabama. Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide have signed 32 players thus far, compared to Notre Dame’s 23. That is the reasoning behind the Irish being number two. Alabama managed to get more players, but in the end Notre Dame has a higher average star ranking according to all three major sources.
The biggest accomplishment for Weis and staff was not only signing top talent, but filling the holes in the depth chart to a great extent. The defense will have much greater depth in all aspects with the addition of 11 players on that side of the ball. Five of those are defensive lineman, three linebackers, and three defensive backs. The Irish defense should be stacked considering the success of the young players that saw time last season, such as freshman-All-American Brian Smith.
The 3-9 season was often blamed on the play of Notre Dame’s offensive line. The O-Line struggled throughout the entire season, allowing more sacks than almost any other team in College Football. Charlie’s attempted to solve this problem by adding four of the country’s best offensive lineman in this 2008 Recruiting Class. This means that the fight for a starting spot on the line will become much more competitive, resulting in the positive development of each player.
Quite possibly the most impressive addition to the Irish squad is the collection of specialty receivers. Thanks to Weis, Rob Ianello and others, Notre Dame received LOI’s from three big time receivers. One with incredible speed, one with big play potential, one with overall talent, three with bright futures. Duval Kamara and Golden Tate were among the freshman receivers last year who saw action and these three will have the chance to see the field as well. There will most definitely be tough competition for playing time as a receiver next season.
One the most fascinating and intriguing things that I have read the past couple months through commitments, All-American games, and such, is about how close this class is. They have already created strong friendships and have talked to one another almost every day since they first chose Notre Dame. Each player supported one another and worked together to get even more student-athletes to attend the University. Along with this, education is important to every one of these players and is among the top reasons why each of them chose Charlie Weis and the Irish. They are all classy and respectful young men who will help revive the winning tradition at Notre Dame.
Only one commitment lost, a top five class, 23 talented athletes, all after a 3-9 season. I can’t tell you enough how remarkable that is. It’s unbelievable how Charlie Weis, Corwin Brown, Rob Ianello, and the rest of the staff were able to pull off something as prodigious as this. This is why Charlie Weis received the contract extension he did. This is why Notre Dame will always be the most prestigious program in college football. So without further ado, I present the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Signing Class of 2008.
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Robert Blanton is a 6′1″, 177 pound defensive back out of Matthews, North Carolina. He played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas and performed very well. The only trouble he had was against his new teammate Michael Floyd. As a senior in High School, Robert picked off seven interceptions and recorded a very high 128 tackles. Although, he had even more tackles in his junior year with 147 and seven interceptions again. He is a four star caliber player according to both Rivals and Scout. He is very athletic but definitely needs to put on some weight and add more muscle. There is a possibility that he could see some playing time freshman year as maybe a defensive back and/or on special teams.
Braxston Cave is a 6′4″, 295 pound offensive lineman/center from Mishawaka, Indiana. He participated in the Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando. Braxston is considered one of the strongest kids in the entire nation this 2008 Class. He is also considered a four star player on both Rivals and Scout, as well as one of the top centers in the country. He uses his strength to bully opposing lineman over and has good footwork as well. He could definitely see some playing time next year due to his size and strength. If he can learn the system quickly and adapt to the college level, he will see the field as a freshman.
Lane Clelland is a 6′5″, 270 pound offensive tackle from Owings Mills, Maryland. He as well was named to the US Army All-American Bowl as a player on the East Side. Lane is a four star caliber player according to Rivals.com and a three according to Scout.com. He is one of the best players to come out of Maryland this year and a great pickup for the Irish. Clelland is very explosive and aggressive, not afraid to mix it up. However, he most likely won’t make an immediate impact for Notre Dame but has a promising future ahead of him. The offensive line is looking strong for the next couple of years with the talent that is coming in.
Dayne Crist is a 6′5″, 228 pound quarterback out of Sherman Oaks, California. Many consider Dayne the top player from this year’s Irish class and Rivals and Scout agree. He is a five star quarterback on both websites and one of the top twenty players of 2008 according to most recruit rankings. Crist threw a couple touchdown passes at the US Army All-American Bowl, including one to new teammate, Michael Floyd. He has known starting Quarterback Jimmy Clausen for a long time, which will most certainly create some friendly competition between the two. Many believe that Crist could challenge for some playing time next fall, but I think that Clausen will be fully healthy and be able to show his full potential. Crist may not play until late in his Notre Dame career, but he is very, very talented.
Sean Cwynar is a 6′4″, 284 pound defensive tackle from Woodstock, Illinois. Sean played in the US Army All-American Bowl as well and was considered one of the best players in the Chicago area. Scout and Rivals gave him four stars because of his intensity, size, and effort. He is one of those players that never gives up on the play and does everything in his power to make something happen. As a senior, Sean tallied 93 tackles and 12 sacks for Marian Central Catholic. He will probably see little field time next year but will make a great impact at some point in the future. Another great pickup for Notre Dame.
Joseph Fauria is a 6′8″, 250 pound tight end from Encino, California. He didn’t attend either of the All-American games because he wanted to focus on basketball. He’s obviously an extremely tall athlete, but the downside, he isn’t the fastest or quickest tight end. He should definitely be a threat in the red zone and could see some early playing time because of that. Joseph is a four star caliber player according to both Scout and Rivals and one of two tight ends in this years class. As a senior, Fauria had 35 receptions for 516 yards and eight touchdowns. I look forward to seeing him tower over everyone on the field.
Steven Filer is a 6′3″, 220 pound inside linebacker from Chicago, Illinois. He was selected as a US Army All-American Bowl game player and named the 2007 Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois. As a senior, Steve had 107 tackles, 7 sacks, and 1 interception which got him four stars on Scout and Rivals. He has a very quick first step and is a big, big hitter. His aggressiveness and size will be sure to lay some people out on the college level. I see Filer getting some playing time in his first year at Notre Dame but not as much as some of the other players of this class. He is going to be fun to watch, I can guarantee that.
Darius Fleming is a 6′3″, 230 pound outside linebacker from Chicago, Illinois. He was chosen to play in the US Army All-American Bowl game and performed exceptionally well. He recorded 69 tackles and 10 sacks as a Senior at St. Rita High School. Scout and Rivals gave him four stars and Scout even considered him the second best outside linebacker in the nation. He is very athletic, quick, and fast and also has a good first step. It’s going to be difficult for Fleming to play a lot as a freshman because of Kerry Neal and Brian Smith, but I think he will see reasonable time on the field. Fleming is one of the most talented recruits of this class and if he works hard enough, could contend for time.
Michael Floyd is a 6′3″, 195 pound wide receiver from St. Paul, Minnesota. He is going to be the most explosive receiver on the team next year as a freshman. He received five stars from Rivals and Scout and is one of the top receivers in the nation. He is a huge downfield threat with great hands and acceleration. He had an incredible game at the US Army All-American Bowl where he had over 100 yards and two touchdowns. I’m so excited to see this kid on the field and guarantee he will see a lot of time as a freshman. He needs to work on his route-running but there is no doubt that he will be a great target for Jimmy Clausen. He could also return kicks and/or punts for Notre Dame, considering his experience in high school.
Mike Golic Jr. is a 6′5″, 260 pound offensive lineman/center from West Hartford, Connecticut. He is the son of former Notre Dame star Mike Golic and played in the US Army All-American Bowl game. Golic Jr. received three stars from Rivals and Scout. Many consider him a little small for the offensive line but at the game he showed that he can play with the big boys. He does need to put on some more weight/muscle before he will be able to play. Mike most likely won’t play much or at all his freshman year but does have the tenacity and footwork to see action later one. If he can get a little bigger, he will have a successful career at Notre Dame.
John Goodman is a 6′4″, 192 pound wide receiver from Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was chosen to participate in the US Army All-American Bowl game and showed off his speed there. He doesn’t have the fastest forty time, but he has field speed which is more important. He’s quick off the line and because of this, is considered a downfield threat. John needs to put on some muscle in order to compete on the college level. Scout gave him four stars while Rivals gave him three. He played quarterback in High School, but is a great athlete and will move to receiver. Goodman could see a little playing time in the fall if he is able to bulk up and work hard.
Jonas Gray is a 5′10″, 213 pound running back out of Detroit, Michigan. He was selected to the US Army All-American Bowl game and named to the Parade All-America team. Rivals and Scout gave him four stars because of his power and ability to break tackles. He rushed for an unbelievable 2,485 yards and 31 touchdowns his senior season for Country Day High School. It’s most certainly going to be tough for him to play as a freshman because of the depth at that position currently, but you never know. He is such a powerful runner and you can never have enough talented running backs.
Ethan Johnson is a 6′4″, 266 pound defensive end from Portland, Oregon. He’s another US Army All-American Bowl game selection but couldn’t attend because of an injury. That didn’t hold him back though because Scout gave him a five star ranking, Rivals a four. He is among the best defensive ends of this class in the country and could have an immediate impact if the injury isn’t a problem. He has great technique, a quick first step, and would be best on the strongside. Johnson is going to be an outstanding player for the Irish because of his will and effort he gives day in and day out. I look forward to seeing Ethan in action.
Kapron Lewis-Moore is a 6′4″, 225 pound defensive end from Weatherford, Texas. He was the last commitment to the Irish and a surprise signing after he had committed to Texas A&M. Rivals gave him a four star rating while Scout assigned him a three star. KLM had five sacks and fifty tackles his junior season at Weatherford High School. He most likely won’t see time early in his career at Notre Dame but will eventually get his chance to play for Corwin Brown and the Irish defense.
Dan McCarthy is a 6′2″, 190 pound safety from Youngstown, Ohio. His brother Kyle McCarthy currently plays for the Fighting Irish also as a safety and will be a senior next season. Dan however was injured his senior season in high school and recently had successful surgery on his neck. He played both quarterback and defensive back for Cardinal Mooney High School. He will be redshirted his freshman year and play for the Irish in 2009. Rivals and Scout both gave him four stars because of his athleticism and tackling ability.
Anthony McDonald is a 6′3″, 220 pound insider linebacker out of Sherman Oaks, California. He played for the same high school team as Dayne Crist and has great fundamentals. Rivals and Scout each gave him four stars because of his tackling technique and explosion. He also participated in the US Army All-American Bowl game on the West team with many other Irish recruits. Anthony could see some playing time his freshman year at Notre Dame because of his overall talent as a linebacker.
Brandon Newman is a 6′1″, 300 pound defensive tackle from Louisville, Kentucky. He was chosen as a US Army All-American and impressed a lot of people in the practices. Rivals and Scout game him four stars each because of his overall athleticism. He has great speed and quickness for a man of his size and played exceptionally well in High School. Brandon may see a little bit of time as a first year player for the Irish because he is a such a big boy.
David Posluszny is a 6′0″, 206 pound outside linebacker from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. He is the brother of Paul Posluszny who had a phenomenal career at Penn State and currently plays for the Buffalo Bills. Many expected David to follow his brothers foot steps, but he ended up choosing Charlie Weis and South Bend. He received three stars from Scout and Rivals and also played on the offensive side of the ball in High School because of his athletic ability. He most likely won’t see any time as a freshman but if he turns out like his brother, he has a promosing future.
Trevor Robinson is a a 6′6″, 304 pound offensive guard out of Omaha, Nebraska. He had first committed to Nebraska but after visiting South Bend, he changed his mind. Trevor was invited to the US Army All-American bowl game and showed how large he was compared to the other players there. Rivals and Scout gave him four stars a piece because of obviously his size and strength. He enrolled early at Notre Dame and could see a decent amount of playing time because of this. A great pickup for the Irish.
Kyle Rudolph is a 6′6″, 229 pound tight end from Cincinnati, Ohio. He was one of ND’s earliest recruits and the number one tight end of 2008 in the nation according to Rivals and Scout. Both sites gave him five stars because this kid is the complete package. Considering the suspension of Will Yeatman, Kyle could challenge for the starting spot in the fall. He has great hands, size, blocking ablitity, and will most definitely be an impact player for Charlie Weis early on. He could put on a little more muscle, but either way I’m very excited to see what this kid can do for the Irish offense as a blocker and a receiver.
Jamoris Slaughter is a 6′1″, 185 pound safety from Stone Mountain, Georgia. He played in the Under Armour All-American game in Orlando and was given four stars from both Rivals.com and Scout.com. He’s a hard, aggressive hitter who has great quickness and awareness. He recorded 56 tackles and three interceptions his senior year at Tucker High School. Jamoris is great in coverage and should have a very successful career. He will most likely see very little playing time as a freshman in Corwin Brown’s defense, but should be a reliable backup for the Irish.
Deion Walker is a 6′4″, 286 pound wide receiver from Christchurch, Virginia. He was invited to the Under Armour All-American game and made his decision there. After Gerell Robinson committed to Arizona State on the same day, the Irish desperately needed Walker. Deion is a four star caliber player according to Scout and Rivals. He has has great height, speed, and hands and could be a true star for the Irish. He was injured for most of his senior season of High School but has fully recovered and could see the field next year. I can just see it now. Clausen throwing a ball to the corner of the endzone and Walker jumping up pulling it down similar to Rhema McKnight who was two inches shorter. Deion is one of three receivers in this class, creating a strong receiving core for the Fighting Irish.
Hafis Williams is a 6′3″, 285 pound defensive tackle out of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Rivals.com and Scout.com both gave him three stars and Rivals named him a Junior All-American after his third season in High School. He finished his senior year with 78 tackles despite being double and even triple teamed on the line. He has great strength, benching 340 pounds and squatting 405. He will probably not see any playing time in Corwin Brown’s defense as a freshman, although he is a very hard worker, so you never know.
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