Signed, Sealed and Delivered ND Commits – Offensive Line

With over 190 days till kick off against Temple, we have a lot of time to speculate how players will do.  Talking Irish will start with reviewing the group of incoming freshman who have recently signed their letters of intent or who have already enrolled.  Let’s start where it really starts in my book, the offensive line.

Kelly and his crew did a great job getting one of the most impressive classes across the O-line in the country.  They are big, tall and athletic.  Although the Irish have some good returning talent along the offensive line with a bit of depth, there are still a few question marks for both this season and beyond.

Steve Elmer was the first verbal commit for this class and has not only stuck firm to his commitment but has been a huge factor in recruiting other players.  At 6’6” and 305 lbs. with a 40 time of 5.02, he has a great look for the ideal Offensive Tackle and the physical attributes to start at the collegiate level immediately.  Because Elmer committed so early (September 2011) and was so adamant about his commitment, his offer sheet was not as long and distinguished as many others at his level of talent.  He was a solid four-star prospect, and was the winner of the Anthony Munoz Award as top prep lineman of the year in 2012, and award presented at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  He was also selected as the high school player of the year in Michigan by the AP. I like everything about this kid’s size, attitude and personality.  Even though he blocks aggressively, finishing blocks then going down field looking for someone to hit adding a little bit of a nasty streak may be an area for improvement.  There is little doubt in my mind that Elmer will be a positive force for the Irish along he offensive lines for several years.  See for yourself.

At 6’8” 280 lbs., Mike McGlinchey has length and a frame to add 20 or more pounds and become a specimen at tackle.  The word is McGlinchey has a mean streak when mixing it up in the tranches that will serve him well at the next level.   Mike should take a year to add weight, work with Longo and become one of the best offensive linemen in the country.  He is not a major project for Offensive Line Coach Harry Hienstand, but the end result will be fantastic.  Don’t expect to see McGlinchey on the field in 2013, but he should be a dominant force for the Irish offense soon thereafter.  See for yourself.

Colin McGovern is another tall lineman now at 6’7” and still has room to add weight at 290 lbs.  McGovern chose Notre Dame over an impressive offer list including Ohio State, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Michigan and BCS Championship opponent Alabama.  Colin committed to the Irish after experiencing Notre Dame’s Junior Day and never wavered in his desire to attend ND.  Although he is listed as a tackle, don’t be surprised to see him end up at guard after spending a season working on technique.  See for yourself.

John Montelus could see time at guard (played tackle in high school) for the Irish in 2013 and at 6’5” 300 lbs., he very well may see meaningful snaps next fall.  He does need some conditioning and technique work.  John committed to Notre Dame during the Blue and Gold Game weekend and was selected for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  See for yourself.

Hunter Bivin was selected as a Parade All-American, and had offers from virtually every big-time college football program in the country.  Bivin is 6’7” 290 lbs. with a tough nasty streak that plays into is toughness for his offensive line play.  Hunter played tackle in high school but impressed everyone by offering to play center in the Under Armour All-American Game.  Bivin will see the field sooner than later, the question is where.  See for yourself.

Overall, the Irish have done an excellent job shoring up the future of the offensive line.  Early indications lead us to believe that each of these recruits will contribute to the success of the Irish offense.

Signing Day in the rearview mirror

After navigating the NCAA recruiting process, signing day went off without a hitch, topped off with a bonus five-star defensive tackle from California.  Every verbal commit signed on the dotted line as expected, with the exception of Folston (who we knew was planning on signing in the afternoon) by 10:30 am EST.  The only hiccup was that Notre Dame released Eddie Vanderdoes as a signed commit, and then retracted it long before his official announcement.

Each year (often throughout the year), fan(atic)s follow the progress of high school athletes reviewing their highlight films, find out about their family connections to different colleges, all the while cheering or jeering their choices.  Last year, Notre Dame had a couple of late de-commits who decided to go elsewhere and were cursed by Irish fans, whereas this year, South Bend picked up two Five-Star USC de-commits who were praised.  My favorite outlook this year comes from an article from Her Loyal Sons website.

There were a couple of prospects out there that could have jumped on board at the last minute, mostly long shots, but we could have had some jump off as well.  Overall, I would give this year’s signing day an 8 ½ out of 10 and a significant improvement over last year.  Brian Kelly and his staff, which goes beyond the coaching staff (admissions, academic and of course the compliance department), should be proud of their work recruiting this class from Steve Elmer (first verbal commit) to Eddie Vanderdoes (last commit and signed LOI).  Truth be told, the players themselves also deserve some credit in the success of this class as they reached out to fellow recruits to help build relationships.

We will take time to review these young men starting with the five who are already on campus and who will take part in spring practice.  Some will be expected to make an impact and play this upcoming fall while others will be expected to redshirt and develop, but as history has shown, anything can happen.  Anything from injuries (seemingly half of the defensive backfield), transfers (Aaron Lynch) to a spectacular preseason, can project a freshman into action with a wide range of results, not to mention with the kind of players Kelly recruits, players may take a side of the field in a position they were not even recruited to play (Troy Niklas and KeiVarae Russell).

A quick snapshot shows a relatively balanced class in terms of positions and talent.  Commits represent 15 states, 10 defensive players (three D-linemen, three linebackers and four defensive backs) and 14 offensive players (five O-linemen, four wide receivers, two tight ends, two running backs and one quarterback).  In addition to the two dozen scholarship athletes, the Fighting Irish also picked up two preferred walk-ons; punter Andrew Antognoli and kicker John Chereson.

The one thing I can say with some relative certainty is that this group is close and feels a special connection with each other, evident with the self-imposed tag of Irish Mob 13.  For now, let’s sit back and be happy with what we’ve got, but not for too long. The class of 2014 is getting ready for their shot.  And if you don’t believe me, be aware that Notre Dame has already nearly 100 offers out to current high school juniors with four commitments.

Our Two Cents with a Quarter Back

Here is what I expect to unfold with the quarterback position in the upcoming year.  There will be no quarterback controversy or really a competition, at least for the starting role.  Everett Golson has proven himself and will be the starter for the Irish.  Although there were some growing pains in 2012, he has grown and developed under Kelly’s leadership and I expect he will continue to do so in 2013.  In no way, shape or form is Golson done growing physically or mentally.  Everett will continue to work on his physical development along with every other player in South Bend, but I expect his mental development will show the biggest jump next fall.  Understand that Golson was an early enrollee and spent a spring, summer and full season on the scout team before facing Navy in Ireland. However, being able to work this offseason with a year of game experience should pay off in solid dividends next season.

I don’t think Golson will be looking over his shoulder for Tommy Rees as he did last season, but Rees will be the step-in if Golson needs to come out during a game.  Rees will not be the number two on the depth chart, but should be the next man in during an emergency (i.e. equipment issue, injury, etc.).  Tommy has the experience and composure to jump in at the drop of a hat but with only one year of eligibility left, Kelly would need to give any meaningful back-up time to someone else. 

Gunner Kiel will be the official back-up and will be put in between games if needed and go in for meaningful clean-up game duty snaps.  The clock will begin running on Kiel’s eligibility in 2013 and as the number one rated quarterback coming out of high school, sitting on the practice squad is okay (even for an early enrollee) for one year, but after that he probably needs to see the field with a legitimate chance to show what he’s got, or he’s got to think about going somewhere else.

Andrew Hendrix will be utilized for possible mop-up and emergency use (meaning everyone else is hurt and the game situation is not important enough to burn a year of eligibility for Malik Zaire).  He may get it on some specific running situations.  Do not feel overly sorry for Andrew though; he is pre-med and will leave South Bend with nice degree from a pretty prestigious institution of higher learning.

Finally, Malik Zaire will be redshirted.  Much like Golson, Zaire has enrolled early and will get a head start on his college experience.  From all accounts, Zaire is Golson 2.0, but is a little taller and a little better passer.

Looking Ahead - Wide Receivers

The wide receiver position in South Bend seems to have a bright future with some solid recruits, but there is some uncertainty and cautious optimism for 2013.  Losing Robby Toma, John Goodman and non-scholarship player Nick Fitzpatrick will not cripple the Irish passing game.  Five players with meaningful game experience at wide receiver (meaningful defined as having at least one catch) will return to the lineup next season.

T.J. Jones (godson of former Irish great Raghib “The Rocket” Ismail) leads the way for the Irish in experience and statistics.  Last season, Jones was tied for the team lead in receptions with 50 and receiving touchdowns with 4.  He was also second in receiving yards with 649.  T.J. will be entering his senior year with a respectable three-year career (111 receptions, 1321 yards, 11.9 yards per catch average and 10 touchdowns) with the opportunity to elevate himself in Notre Dame Football history.

DaVaris Daniels had a solid sophomore season before breaking his collarbone against Boston College.  Daniels, who redshirted his freshman year (31 receptions for 490 yards), did return to contribute in the BCS National Championship game against Alabama (six receptions for 115 yards).  Daniels is expected to be an important part of Notre Dame’s passing game in 2013.

Daniel Smith has yet to produce to the level he was expected to when he came to South Bend, but at 6’4”, 215 lbs. and with a junior season that saw him begin to contribute (7 receptions for 47 yards), he should be on an upward trend for his senior season.

Chris Brown saw limited action his freshman season but did have a big highlight play with a 50-yard reception against Oklahoma.  Brown is also an impressive triple jumper whose athletic ability will help him develop into a receiver getting more looks in 2013.

Justin Ferguson did see the field his freshman year, hauling in one reception for nine yards.  At 6’2”, 192 lbs. and with good speed, Ferguson should work his way onto the field in 2013 with some consistency.

Luke Massa converted from quarterback to wide receiver after his freshman year (in which he was redshirted) after he was last in the logjam at quarterback.  Massa is a good athlete and has seen action on special teams, but even at 6’4”, 220 lbs. it will be tough for him to crack the depth chart for the Irish.

Davonte’ Neal did not make the kind of impact that may have been expected from Arizona’s two-time Gatorade Player of the Year.  Neal had one of, if not the most impressive high school highlight films I have ever seen.  I expect that at some point Davonte’ will show the Irish faithful how explosive he can be.

The Irish have a good lineup of recruits committed who should develop into a fine receiving corps.  Corey Robinson is still learning the game of football and the position of big time wide receiver, but after a good senior year and an impressive U.S. Army American Bowl, he is heading in the right direction on the learning curve.  He also has impressive size, at 6’4”, 195 lbs., and he may not be done growing since his father is David “The Admiral” Robison who stands at 7’1”.  Corey most likely will redshirt to add weight and continue to learn the game.  Robinson has enrolled early and has a head start on his college development.

Tori Hunter, Jr. is another son of a former professional athlete (father is Toru Hunter – Major League Baseball) who is hoping to make an athletic impact sooner than later at the receiver position.  However, it may be later than sooner as he is recovering from a broken collarbone from an injury suffered during practice for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.  He is athletic and talented, and I look forward to seeing him play at the college level where he will play both baseball and football for the Irish.

William Fuller is a four-star recruit out of football rich Pennsylvania, who, at 6’1”, 168 lbs., will need to add some weight.

Rashad Kinlaw and James Onwualu (early enrollee) are coming to South Bend listed as athletes, but at 6’1”, 180 lbs. and 6’2”, 205 lbs., we may see them line up as receivers.  Both are super talented and both are gifted athletes, so we may also see them coming out of the backfield as Kinlaw also played dual threat quarterback and Onwualu has also played running back in high school.

Along with all of that, the Irish still have a stable of receivers on their roster from last season waiting for their chance to show what they can do:  Josh Anderson, Eric Lee, Ryan Liebscher, and Gerald Martinez.

BIG WEEKEND

This was a big weekend in South Bend, commit Jaylon Smith (on an unofficial) and the Irish hosted several big targets including Eddie Vanerdoes, Durham Smythe, Kylie Fitts and Deon Hollins Jr. for official visits. 

Looking Ahead - Tight Ends

Our next stop looking at the Irish by position lands us at the Tight End.  Notre Dame is earning the title of Tight End U, a deserved reputation with the likes of Anthony Fasano of the Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings’ teammates John Carson and Kyle Rudolph, along with soon to be NFL first-round pick Tyler Eifert.  We also do not expect the Irish to have tight end Jake Golic back for a fifth year.

Troy Niklas moved from outside linebacker on the defensive side of the ball where he saw action in 12 games as a freshman to tight end last season.  The guy, who is called “Hercules” by his teammates because he knocks over blocking sleds in practice for fun.  At 6’7” 270lbs.+, Niklas was used primarily as a blocking tight end (a role he did very well considering he is still learning the game at the college level), but he also had a respectable season as a receiver.  Troy averaged 15 yards per catch with five receptions, one for a touchdown.  With two more years, Niklas has the potential to develop into the next NFL tight end prospect from Notre Dame.

Alex Welch came to South Bend with high hopes and expectations.  Welch redshirted his freshmen year then saw action in eleven games in 2011 as a sophomore with very limited results (one reception for eight yards).  Early on in preseason practice, Welch tore his right ACL, ending any chance of playing in the 2012 season.  At 6’4” 250 lbs. he is one of the smaller tight ends on the team, but he will get a chance to prove his potential and work himself into the offensive mix in 2013.

Ben Koyack looked to be the next great tight end coming into Notre Dame and at 6’5” 253 lbs. he had the frame to fit that hope.  During his freshman season in 2011, Ben saw action in 12 games, catching one pass for five yards.  His sophomore year did not bring the development we had hoped for, having had only three catches for a total of 39 yards along with below average blocking performances.  All hope is not lost for Koyack as he will have the opportunity to work and show Irish coaches he can be the player they hoped for when he was recruited.

Mike Heuerman will be coming to South Bend from Florida as a four-star recruit looking to make his mark in Irish Tight End lore.  With no clear cut lead horse (although Niklas is our pick) for a starting tight end or even a number two at this point, Heuerman has a chance to work his way onto the field in 2013.

Jacob Matuska was recruited as a tight end and coming in as a three-star, he may be the low man on the totem pole.  Expect him to redshirt in 2013.  Matuska was also a very solid defensive end in high school who I feel could play on either side of the line at the next level.

This sums up why Talking Irish has not commented.

http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/8864233/manti-teo-hoaxer-lied-stalking-manti-teo-bcs-title-game-miami-source-says