Notre Dame Football 2011: The Brian Kelly Era...Ascends?

• karen lotz

  

  I'd also add that Smith would be a lock to be back due to his play down the stretch as well as the lack of depth in the secondary.
• Tobias Fünke

  

  There is no way the three starters who are eligible to return will be let go. It would be asinine.
• karen lotz

  

  Dan Wenger also has applied for a 6th year. Kelly said he expects that decision to be made by the end of February at the latest.
• Tobias Fünke

  

  Harrison Smith, Gary Gray, and Mike Ragone have been granted fifth years.
  
  Emeka Nwankwo has been denied.
• karen lotz

  

  Kind of surprised by Ragone. Hasn't really contributed much on the field and has had his share of issues off of it. Any word on any of the offensive linemen?
• Tobias Fünke

  

  I too was surprised by Ragone's fifth year. I would have thought that Eifert, Welch, and Koyack would have been just fine. Ragone is no stud,but he is probably the best blocker. Kelly has been hinting that Notre Dame will run the ball next year due to the"identity" they had down the stretch in 2010. I think that's code for he needs a quarterback who can do the job and isn't afraid to play possession ball if he has to.
  
  The OL hasn't been decided yet. I would think they're waiting on Niklas and Huggins.
• Tobias Fünke

  

  [video=youtube;u1bn6NcZK_Q][/video]
  
  Oooooh goodness. Cierre Wood is going to be a monster in 2011.
  
  Wood in the backfield, Floyd out wide, Eifert underneath, and Riddick moving all over. Can we please get a quarterback?
  
  Since Allen went down, here are Wood's notable games.
  
  WMU - 123 total yards, 8.5 rushing average, 1 touchdown
  Tulsa - 115 total yards, 2 touchdowns
  Utah - 96 total yards
  Army - 88 rushing yards, 6.3 average
  USC - 89 rushing yards, 5.9 average
  Miami - 81 rushing yards, 6.8 average, 1 touchdown
• karen lotz

  

  [video=youtube;lN9G_lqWL18][/video]
• Tobias Fünke

  

  http://www.maxpreps.com/signingday/top_teams.aspx?ssid=12962347-09a5-472f-9657-920aeaafd78b
• karen lotz

  

  lol, that should help the perception of ND's recruiting classes. They lead the country in "Tom Lemming Top Players".
• OneBuckeye

  

  karen lotz;654145 wrote:lol, that should help the perception of ND's recruiting classes. They lead the country in "Tom Lemming Top Players".

  
  Tom Lemming. What a joke. He could be good if ND's class didn't rank #1 on his list every year.
• rock_knutne

  OneBuckeye;654983 wrote:Tom Lemming. What a joke. He could be good if ND's class didn't rank #1 on his list every year.

  :rolleyes:
• karen lotz

  

  http://www.irishsportsdaily.com/football/football-articles/4056-fifth-year-applicants-announced
• Tobias Fünke

  

  I initially would have preferred Romine over Ragone, but I'm thinking Kelly wants to play a little bit of power football and doesn't want to rely on having Welch and Koyack block the big uglies should he use a two TE set.
• Tobias Fünke

  

  Also, how the hell would Notre Dame fit Bryce Hanes and Troy Niklas in, let alone Wenger?
  
  Take a hike Montana.
• bababooey

  

  Niklas down to ND and USC
  
  http://usc.ocregister.com/2011/01/27/recruiting-troy-niklas-down-to-usc-notre-dame/59938/
• karen lotz

  

  How is USC still in play for any recruits? They already have 25 commitments, aren't they supposed to lose 10 scholies a year as part of the NCAA's penalty?
• Tobias Fünke

  

  They can technically get early enrollment players and put them on last year's class before the penalty took effect. They are also appealing and so it's not affecting them yet, technically, since they penalties could be undone.
  
  Of course, they could lose the penalty and screw ten or more of their recruits mightily.
• karen lotz

  

  But how many EE's do they have? Surely it isn't 10 and they have already started classes so we should have an idea.
• Tobias Fünke

  

  I agree, I think they're largely basing their recruiting on belief that the penalties will be lessened.
  
  Personally I would hope for two things, 1) that recruits see the Seantrel Henderson episode from last season and see what Kiffin tells players about USC's NCAA troubles and 2) that USC's NCAA troubles are not lessened and if at all possible they add on more for being so fucking arrogant about their appeal.
• rock_knutne

  Pat Hayden fully expects the NCAA to decline their appeal.
• Tobias Fünke

  

  He's a smart guy. I thought I read 10% of appeals are successful. The NCAA was pretty thorough with its investigation so I'm not sure what they're thinking.
• bababooey

  

  Shocker of the Day
  
  Savon Huggins to Rutgers
• karen lotz

  

  Not a shock at all
• Tobias Fünke

  

  Definitely not a shocker, this is a shocker:
  
  
  
  Bryce Haynes chooses Ohio State over Notre Dame. Notre Dame currently has four guys on the roster who long snap, I think they'll be fine. Rumor has it he was going to announce Notre Dame but the scholarships filled up.