Notre Dame going to finish 15th per the 247 composite ratings, just behind Ohio State.
USC is 18th and could fall to 21 if they lose a four star receiver who is looking at Washington. They've only brought in two lineman, the highest rated being #299 nationally, and the lowest rated having ~the same composite score as our punter.
Alabama is signing the best class they've ever had, so that's cool.
Replies to: Notre Dame going to finish 15th per the 247 composite ratings, just behind Ohio State.
Good class. Really solid at DL and OL, which is most important
Failed to get a couple prime time guys so the class won't rate as high.
Keep recruiting well along the lines and the other positions will work themselves out.
Good class, maybe, but far from elite.
No difference makers, and way below what is needed at the skill positions. 2020 will be a crucial class. There are several difference makers at the skill positions that are on the board. If we can't land them, then we are in trouble for the next few years. Elite teams have difference makers at the skill positions in addition to highly rated lines. I can't name one difference maker that plays or will play for Notre Dame this year. I don't think these positions will just take care of themselves as you state.
IMHO
The skill position haul last year was really good. I like a few of the guys they have this year. There wasn't a lot of spots for that in this class (not that you wouldn't take great players). And as you stated, there will be an emphasis on those positions next year.
However, if ND wants to have success they must do two things. Use their ability to recruit great OL classes and succeed. They did that. Last year and this year OL classes combined is extremely exciting.
ND has to find ways to recruit well along the DL. Not only in talent but in quality depth. This has been a major change the past few years.
ND will land skill players. Always have. QB, OL, and DL. Do that, you're in the game. ND has had too many years they've failed in that department, and been left out the game.
^^This^^
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Agreed
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Some good background
The link explains the 3 most commonly used rating systems FYI: https://www.cougcenter.com/wsu-football-recruiting/2013/2/5/3956800/rivals-scout-espn-247-star-rating-system-national-signing-day
Personally think the best use of this kind of info is to array it in a what that I've never seen done for ND or any other program on a every year basis.
-Think of these ratings as a measure of talent at a point in time ... how the potential develops or doesn't depends on a lot of factors. Remember as a FR in 1961 seeing a most informative but depressing medical documentary about how in the late 50s ND changed the stadium turf and wound up with a boatload of lower body injuries that were too often career ending (most would be operable by the 70s) ... something like this makes the initial class rating pretty much useless.
-See it more about talent coming in and talent going out with the object being to have these players stay in the program for their four playable years. While some positions have a really small sample (QB, kickers) others can be described in terms of what kind of talent we have there (like offensive lineman) and how much program experience each player has.
-Remember reading an article that showed what would happen under various if a team brought in a bunch of Jr college transfers but had a recruiting class of 11 (the best 11 CFB coming out of high school). Among other things the use of stars/player got a max of 55 vice 66 for a normal (22) "haul."
In the end think is about the talent and depth at each position that actually gets on the field.
Most 5 stars are only interested in the easiest path to the big $.
And that's probably the wisest choice they can make.
Where do the speedy 4 stars go then?
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Well, 3 of them committed to ND last year.
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Speedy 4 stars receivers all believe they deserve 5 stars
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On paper this is the worst class since 2012..coming off a 12-1 year.. Tennessee got a better class.
The Vols have been a shit program for 15 years...but managed to get 2 five stars.. Clemson took a zillion kids and only managed to be 10th..head scratcher to me..Kelly can develop the under the radar prospect s to a good extent...he can't or won't aim high for the top prospect s ...his recruiting is below average for a place like nd..this class is a disappointment after coming off 2 good years
This year ND had the highest rating average for recruits since ‘13.
It looks like a good class to me. Thin at RB is the biggest problem. WR isn’t that big an issue because ND brought in a bunch last year.
The 2020 class is geared to be the payoff for 12-1
All but four of the 22 who eventually signed in 2019 were committed before Notre Dame's first game last season.
Notre Dame has a legitimate chance at nine players in the composite top 120 next year, with three in the top fifty, two of those all-purpose backs and one receiver. They already have three in the top 120 committed.
I'm not disappointed by the 2019 class because there was evidence of a number 15 ranking in March/April of last year. Just the way the board was shaping up. This year is a big year to land some top level talent at the positions they've been missing on, receiver and running back.
Most of the SEC did better.
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Half did better.
Going by overall ranking. ND did have a higher average player rating than Tennessee — and higher than Clemson, by the way. It’s kind of weird. ND had a higher ranking last year (#10) even though the average player rating was lower last year. A function of a top-heavy overall recruiting year and ND only bringing in 22 recruits this year.
A couple things..
1) there is going to be a lag between the great on the field performance a 12-1 season is and the expected recruiting boost because most of the recruiting for the kids who just committed was done following the '17 season. The kids who's heads were turned by the '18 performance are the ones who will commit next cycle (unless '19 is a down year and turns them off).
2) '17 is only a good year when you look at it in a vacuum as it was 10 wins, but actually '17 was quite a disappointing year (based on the first 3/4 of season) that was only saved from being another 4+ loss season capped with a bowl loss, by a once in a lifetime (individual effort) one handed catch and score.
As time passes memory will fade on what a let down 10-3 was that year and if Kelly keeps stacking 10 win seasons on each other a couple years from now no recruit will be aware of that disappointment and will only see 4-5 straight 10+ win seasons (hopefully) and then we'll be feeling the recruiting swell reflecting our on the field performance.
However, to think the '17 season was good enough to impress the class of elite recruits who just committed, requires some serious eye squinting that unbiased recruits looking for the best opportunity to win a lot and go pro just aren't doing.
Aboslutely! Read this man's post! Completely on point!
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New coaches at storied programs usually have really good classes in their first year
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Tennessee pays better.
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We took 22 with the top dog Kyle Hamilton running a 4.62. OSU only took in 17 total. No great speed
at the skill positions and a couple of fillers.
Link: https://www.onefootdown.com/2019/2/6/18214648/national-signing-day-projecting-forward-the-2019-notre-dame-football-recruiting-class-fighting-irish
Team Speed is definitely a concern.
Posted at 10:51 am on Feb 7, 2019
Lateral speed is particularly significant.
Our skill position speed seems average. The elite teams have burners.
Team Speed means nothing if you dont use it. BK has had it..he doesnt use it.
BK is a one-trick pony. Under him there have been numerous speed guys but BK uses one. Doesnt seem to grasp the idea of having multiple guys touch the ball who can beat a defender or take it deep. No reason why Finke, Young, Lenzy and Keys couldn't have touch the ball 3-7 times a game. All four of them should've seen a total of 15-20 balls in a game. Not just target Finke and maybe Young once. Prior...it was just Stepherson, or just EQ, or just Fuller, or just Chris Brown, or just Mike Floyd. I mean there was time where this team had CJ Sanders, Corey Holmes who could fly, Stepherson, EQ, Finke, how explosive was that team? Or when there was Chris Brown, Will Fuller, DaVaris Daniels, TJ Jones, and then WR. CJ PRosise...cmon...thats a TON of speed. There are other squads BK has had with tons of talent guys who can run. And dont say anything about them being young and not knowing the system or whatever cause those elite schools dont have that issue. They figure a way to get the guy the ball in an easy situation and let them make a play. They'll learn the nuances of route running and how to read the defense quicker on the field than in a training room. That's why Bama, Clemson, Oklahoma, etc seem to always have a couple guys stepping in to make plays...they let them.