Category: Football

Anzalone Commits To Irish #17 For 2013 Class

ND Editor July 9, 2012 Football Tagged commit 2013

Much to my surprise 4 star ILB Alex Anzalone announced on ESPN he will attend Notre Dame and plans to enroll this winter. This is a great pickup for ND–I was positive he was going to Penn State and stay close to home. While he cited academics and coaches, what really sold him were the other commits in this class–really tight group and the right kind of guys as they say. Looking like a monster class and Anzalone completes the LB’S AT 6’3″ 235 lbs, he will play inside with Michael Deeb while Smith and Mattingly will be the OLB’S. Looks like he will wear number 5 and continue the Manti tradition. Here is a good highlight reel:

Seem that 5 other will enroll early–QB–Zaire, WR’s–Onwualu and Robinson, TE–Heuerman and OT–Elmer. All will apply to last years recruiting class of 16 and too much math for me to figure how many they can take for 2013.

Now they need some defensive linemen which hopefully will include a big Nose Guard. They have the LB’s now get some help for them on the DL–believe we only have 2 now at DE–so some tackles would be nice. These kids follow recruiting and they too know the quality of this class and landing Anzalone might snowball the rest on wish board.

Recruiting Dog Days

ND Editor July 4, 2012 Football Tagged

While we are all anxiously awaiting Alex Anzalone’s decision to commit to Penn State we picked up an outstanding ILB recruit for 2014 class–Greer Martini 6’3″ 215lb from Virginia–1st commit for that class. Martini was a first team All Stater as a sophomore–which is saying something.

So sitting at 16 solid commits for 2013 with just a handful of places left we now have matched the 2012 class.

What player to look for this upcoming season—-Anthony Rabasa who will push for time as an ILB after sitting out his freshman year. Didn’t get a lot of press but he was a big big get for his class–breaks out this year.

Next up Fall Practice then Sept 1st so we are almost there.

Michael Deeb Commits–That’s 16

ND Editor June 29, 2012 Football Tagged commit 2013

Michael Deeb a very physical hitting Inside Linebacker 6’2″ 237 lb 3 star from Plantation Fla. visited ND last week and that sealed the deal–not just football but the academics especially the Business School. He calls himself a 4th quarter player–keep hitting harder from the start and finish by physical play especially the 4th quarter–he is a finisher and punisher and I really wanted this kid for inside. My opinion– a great pickup.

Deeb has about 30 offers including Florida State but he has now closed down his recruitment and is all in for Notre Dame. Okay we have the 2 OLB’s in Smith and Mattingly and Deeb as one ILB now just waiting on Anzalone for the other ILB spot. So c’mon Alex make this a super class.

All of the 2013 commits look very very solid and only 5 or 6 spots left–so I say again if you want ND you better get on board like NOW.

Mattingly Makes It 15 Commits

ND Editor June 27, 2012 Football Tagged commit 2013

Danny Mattingly 6’4″ 220 lb. 3 star from Spokane Washington commits on first visit to campus. Projected as line backer, Mattingly also can play tight end.
ND beat out Washington, Alabama, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Oregon. Mattingly joins Jaylon Smith as 2nd LB commit for 2013. Long time ND fan and nephew of Yankee great Don Mattingly has relatives in Indiana.

That leaves about 6 slots left for this recruiting class and so far they all look solid. So we need 1 LB, 1 CB, 1-2 DL, 1-2 WR’s and maybe a RB—not a lot left so whoever’s close better grab offer while they can.

Damn

ND Editor June 15, 2012 Football Tagged

Well 2 hot lb recruits off the board–Chan Cox staying home commits to Arizona State. Mastrogiovani commits to Oklahoma also close to home.

Alex Anzalone visiting ND now–nice to get him–not hopeful.

Soon to visit Deeb and Mattingly–maybe all we have left at LB position unless we can turn a few committed elsewhere.

You Gotta Check This Out— Golden

ND Editor June 7, 2012 Football Tagged Golden Tate, Jimmy Clausen

Eric Murtaugh of ONE FOOT DOWN has a terrific post today June 7th “30 Defining Moments” highlighting the great Golden Tate. Excellent–shows also why Golden was a 1st team All American. Also just look at Jimmy Clausen’s pin point passing–in my book Jimmy was as good as any ND QB.

Just imagine what Kelly’s 1st team would have looked like if Jimmy and Golden stayed–my bet National Champs. Play clip over and Jesus Christ look at our current QB’s.

Rochell Makes It 14 Commits For 2013

ND Editor Football Tagged commit 2013, Isaac Rochell

Isaac Rochell 4 star 6’5″ 260 DE from Georgia brings the class to 14 leaving maybe 7 scholarships open for this class. Big pickup for Notre Dame and just about every big time program wanted him. Now along with Matsuka that makes 2 defensive ends. Sure would be nice to get that big big motivated nose guard.

Rochell has been a lean for Notre Dame for some time and it was disappointing that he did not commit when visiting this past weekend.

We still need linebackers to compliment Jaylon Smith so hopefully Mastrogiovanne, Anzalone, Cox or Mattingly can now be reeled in, in light of the dwindling number of scholarships available. One more CB, a RB and a WR also needed. Like to also see another DE commit. We might be finished by the end of June and then just hold onto what we have.

Up To #13 Commits Irish Get LB Jaylon Smith

ND Editor June 3, 2012 Football Tagged commit 2013, Jaylon Smith

Notre Dame beat out USC and OSU for 5 star LB Jaylon Smith 6’3″ 220 lb from Ft. Wayne Indiana. This is a big deal as this kid might just walk in and start as a freshman and he can play both ILB or OLB. Rated best linebacker in the country and apparently he’s already helping in recruiting. With the commit of Smith, that just may be the impetus to land a few quality recruits still out there and push over a few fence sitters. Now if ND can land Anzalone we’ll be in business.

Smith has visited ND many times and it was starting to look iffy since he didn’t commit earlier, he also had Urban hot on his heels. Losing a nearby Catholic HS recruit would have really hurt.

Really need bodies on DL especially NG–those still out there will hopefully perk up interest with Smith’s commit. Wish he was coming in this year.

We’ll know by the end of June since many prospects visiting this month.

May Doldrums

ND Editor May 23, 2012 Football Tagged

Coaching staff crisscrossing the country on the recruiting trail–these guys have to have real organization to distinguish between the 2013/2014 recruits. They have a lot to squeeze in, in May.

Next up is the June invite–seems like a lot of prospects coming in and hopefully a few will pop.

No running back yet and seems Ryan Green the only option.

Need linebackers and Jaylon Smith seems closest hailing from Indiana but this should have been bagged long ago–waffling? We’ll see.

Inside linebackers–Anzalone and Mastrogavani would be excellent pick ups and the just offered Deeb fits the ND profile.

Defensive Line–really need a couple seems just about any offered will do and a big body Nose Guard–anybody–just big and in shape.

QB situation–up in the air with the Rees deal and I’m not that impressed with Hendrix or Golson. If Kiel can master the playbook and if he is as good as advertized, he may get the job. Relying primarily on the running game is a good way to ease him in. He’s a 5 star recruit and was looking for a school he could play early. To get him did Kelly offer him 1st string this year. His uncle, Blair played in his 1st year as did USC’S Matt Barkley. We will know in Ireland.

Other news Dave Casper(TE) will be inducted into College Football Hall of Fame. He is also in the NFL Hall.