Hey Tim -- Are ND Guys Poachable?
I was wondering, if Weiss does get the boot, does that re-open Notre Dame's latest recruiting class, especially if, say, we pick up one of their position coaches or something?
I don't think we really went head-to-head on any of these guys except perhaps Lo Wood.
It drove me nuts when our 2008 class suddenly became a target for poachers (and it ended up giving us a terrible defensive class). I guess I feel differently, though, when the shoe is on the other foot.
| Name | Pos | Stars | Ht | Wt | 40 | RR | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Martin | DE | ***** | 6'4 | 240 | 4.65 | 6.1 | Aurora, CO |
| Giovanni Bernard | RB | **** | 5'9 | 198 | 4.5 | 5.8 | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
| Andrew Hendrix | QB | **** | 6'3 | 220 | 4.7 | 5.8 | Cincinnati, OH |
| Tai-ler Jones | WR | **** | 6'0 | 184 | 4.46 | 5.8 | Gainesville, GA |
| Blake Lueders | DE | **** | 6'5 | 250 | 4.79 | 5.8 | Zionsville, IN |
| Kendall Moore | LB | **** | 6'2 | 232 | 4.6 | 5.8 | Raleigh, NC |
| Cameron Roberson | RB | **** | 6'1 | 215 | 4.55 | 5.8 | Newbury Park, CA |
| Prince Shembo | LB | **** | 6'2 | 232 | 4.62 | 5.8 | Charlotte, NC |
| Alex Welch | TE | **** | 6'5 | 225 | 4.85 | 5.8 | Cincinnati, OH |
| Chris Badger | DB | *** | 6'0 | 178 | 4.65 | 5.7 | Provo, UT |
| Spencer Boyd | DB | *** | 5'10 | 178 | 4.56 | 5.7 | Cape Coral, FL |
| Toney Hurd Jr. | DB | *** | 5'9 | 184 | 4.48 | 5.7 | Missouri City, TX |
| Bennett Jackson | WR | *** | 6'1 | 165 | 4.44 | 5.7 | Hazlet, NJ |
| Tommy Rees | QB | *** | 6'3 | 192 | - | 5.7 | Lake Forest, IL |
| Lo Wood | DB | *** | 5'10 | 160 | 4.58 | 5.7 | Apopka, FL |
| Christian Lombard | OL | *** | 6'5 | 290 | 5.4 | 5.6 | Palatine, IL |
| Daniel Smith | WR | *** | 6'4 | 205 | 4.6 | 5.6 | South Bend, IN |
| Justin Utupo | DT | *** | 6'2 | 240 | - | 5.6 | Lakewood, CA |
November 13th, 2009 at 10:33 AM ^
But I think that he meant Tim because ya know he does update the recruiting board and does Wednesday Recruiting...
November 13th, 2009 at 10:48 AM ^
I am naming my first born son "Antonio Benderas-Regnery XIV" just to avoid situations like this.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:32 AM ^
I remember there was some talk awhile back that if Weis left, Chris Martin would be back on the proverbial market. He would be a big time catch for us.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:41 AM ^
It seems next to unthinkable -- or more than unthinkable -- that a recruit would choose ND because of Charlie Weis. I would think that Charlie Weis's departure would actually solidify a recruit's allegiance to the Irish. Oh well. I don't understand the popularity of professional wrestling either.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:42 AM ^
How do they continue to get such high rated recruits when they have been so awful?
November 13th, 2009 at 10:45 AM ^
Easy admission into ND's B-school and free access to Jimmy's Rogaine gel.
November 13th, 2009 at 12:35 PM ^
that to some extent if ND offers a kid, the kid's rating automatically goes up. To some extent, the same thing happens which Michigan (or OSU or USC) offers. The recruiting services see a nationally recognized school offering a kid; ergo, the kid must be good and up pop the ratings. We're seeing a little of that with Carvin Johnson. Thus, the question is which comes first: the highly rated recruit or the offer leading to a high rating.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:45 AM ^
LOL what is this a buffet line?
November 13th, 2009 at 10:51 AM ^
Hopefully?
November 13th, 2009 at 11:17 AM ^
Charlie Weis knows a thing or two about buffet lines :)
November 13th, 2009 at 10:43 AM ^
it it imperative that we secure a commitment from Prince Shembo.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:43 AM ^
That’s the 1st time I’ve seen the ND recruiting board.
I’m just amazed that the slob-ass can recruit that well.
November 13th, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^
Enough said!
November 13th, 2009 at 11:09 AM ^
do you think toney hurd got teased a lot in elementary school? i bet the bullies called him "honey turd".
November 13th, 2009 at 11:12 AM ^
Does the OP mean by saying our 2008 class was a target for poachers and it ended up being a "terrible" class??
We lost two recruits because of the coaching change: Christian Wilson and John Wehnke--both offense.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:15 AM ^
...until signing day. RR is probably on his way to a reptile processing plant to get snake oil as we speak.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:20 AM ^
This subject has been broached several times over the past week or so.
Martin, Lueders, and Lombard have no interest in UM. Boyd and Wood were down to UM and ND before choosing. Welch was interested before getting offered by ND.
We haven't offered anyone else.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:29 AM ^
Shit son. Chris Martin, Coldplay singer AND 5-star DE?!?!? dude's got range.
November 13th, 2009 at 1:31 PM ^
and married to an Oscar-winning actress....everything is coming up Chris Martin!!!
November 13th, 2009 at 11:36 AM ^
Not only does Chris Martin have range, but he's his own security, too.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:40 AM ^
I don't think very many of these guys really considered Michigan. Obviously Wood might be an option, especially if we picked up a position coach from Notre Dame if you know what I mean, but I kinda thought he picked Notre Dame in part because Michigan had cooled on him a bit. He was all-Michigan, all the time, and then we stopped hearing about him for a couple months and he picked Notre Dame. I'm not sure if that's the actual explanation for why, but there has to be some reason, no?
Other than that, they might be interested in Christian Lombard because he's a decently-rated and athletic tackle, but most of the other guys never seemed to have much interest in Michigan.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:48 AM ^
Sorry to be naive, which coach of their is a likely pick up: Corwin? Or were you just speaking in general?
November 13th, 2009 at 11:45 AM ^
If a coaching change scares these kids off from ND I bet other schools jump in with negative recruiting telling the recruits that they'll be walking in to the same thing at Michigan, a coach on the hot seat and a program in peril. Don't know if this technique would be successful, but it would seem to present an obstacle.
November 13th, 2009 at 11:55 AM ^
didn't have Rice among his finalists, yet there he be. Of course, that's a close-to-home thing, but why didn't he go to A&M, who was probably the original runner-up? Once Weiss gets canned, contacts will be made through appropriate channels.
November 13th, 2009 at 12:06 PM ^
so if there is any chance we can get any of these kids off Charlie's gravy train we can start working on it now. That 5 start DE Martin is lookin mighty tasty right now for my Michigan appetite.
November 13th, 2009 at 12:22 PM ^
I would rather miss out on a couple recruits and continue having Charlie coach top rated classes into 7-6 teans then worry about what happens if ________ becomes the new coach.
November 13th, 2009 at 12:12 PM ^
while some tout relationships with their position coaches as reasons, I think an ND list of recruits is going to be pretty immutable regardless of coaching changes.
Not sure what happened when Fat Charlie took over from Willingham, but I dont recall a lot of recruits jumping ship.
November 13th, 2009 at 12:18 PM ^
SNAKE OIL!!
November 13th, 2009 at 12:51 PM ^
Weis uses whale oil.
November 13th, 2009 at 12:27 PM ^
Martin wasn't interested in us back when he wasn't committed, and TomVH said that when he talked to Martin, the kid said he's not/never was interested.
Just stop.
November 13th, 2009 at 12:43 PM ^
Yeah, that's correct. Martin isn't interested, no matter what happens. The only kid I could see is Lo Wood. Christian Lombard, although he showed some interest, I don't think Charlie Weis is the reason he's there. He loves Notre Dame.
November 13th, 2009 at 12:44 PM ^
my guess is it'd be b/c B Kelly's wiating/ready... If it happens, it'll likely happen quick, and before Bowl season, and if Kelly is announced (after his huge success in Cincy this year), I think it'd be hard to get kids away from him.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:14 PM ^
Chris Martin is visiting Oklahoma now. He's friends with Brennan Clay, who has been recruiting hard for Oklahoma.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:28 PM ^
Didn't Martin give that about a 15% chance of happening? Or are you saying you have seen it confirmed?
November 14th, 2009 at 7:18 PM ^
Sorry, I didn't get back to you. Yes, this was confirmed, and he definitely went. I believe he's still there.
November 14th, 2009 at 7:43 PM ^
thanks, yeah I found the scout and rivals articles after posting
November 14th, 2009 at 7:39 PM ^
No offense, but if I'm a recruit leaving a volatile situation at Notre Dame, I'm probably thinking twice before I choose U-M.