I am perplexed by how this staff is using its scholarships:
1. Why would you go 2-deep at kicker, punter and long snapper (5 scholarships I believe)? 2 wasted at a minimum.
2. Why would you have a guy like Powlus' kid on scholarship (unlikely to see the field), the result being that we're very heavy on young QBs and not on upperclassmen? 1 scholarship wasted.
3. Why would you recruit a 5th RB if we overwhelmingly run a 1-back set? 1 wasted.
Add this to the Salerno scholarship, and you see a lot of scholarships that seem like they'd be better used on a nose tackle, 2 WRs and a veteran QB in the grad portal. We are too young at QB, too thin at WR and too thin at NT.
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point by point
1: I believe grad transfer kicker and Vinson are both out of eligibility after this year, so ND will have 3 next year. ND projects it will have the room in 2022, so why not?
2. Agreed. Kelly did this as a way to pay Powlus more without paying him more,
3. I don't think they are recruiting a 5th RB just to have a 5th RB. They are recruiting the kid b/c they think he's the best player available, regardless of position.
Re: NT ND will be 5-deep at the position in 2022. Given that NT typically comes off the field on 3rd down, that's plenty of bodies.
Re: WR, ND really needs more guys for the 2023 team since the 2022 room includes 4 5th/6th year seniors that will leave. They don't need a grad transfer unless that guy has multiple years of eligibility. They pushed for Lowe, but didn't get him.
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1) if you are only at 4, things can get dicey quick -- especially in the age of the portal. A late transfer or an injury (or two) can make you vulnerable fast. One of ND's top 2 RBs (projecting) for '22 doesn't seem like a "20+ carry per game" type player (Tyree). And two of the other four have little (Estime) to no (Price) experience. I get your point, but I also see why ND would want a 5th RB.
2) if you believe the RB you are going after is going to be star, you go after him regardless. IMO. Paul is only rated as a low 3*, but his recruitment has exploded recently. He had a monstrous SR season (nearly 3000 yards rushing) and has started to get recognition. He was named Texas POY this season, after being relatively unknown going into the season. Right now many top programs are after him, and pushing hard to get him.
I'd suggest watching Paul's SR highlights. There is a lot to like there. And he looks like a solid, sturdy guy despite the quickness he shows on film. He's listed at 5'10 221 at Rivals and 5'11 220 at 247. I, personally, would be thrilled if ND landed him. But I think it is a longshot.
Link: https://247sports.com/college/oregon/Article/Andrew-Paul-recruiting-Clemson-Michigan-Notre-Dame-Oregon-180885895/
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this was another case of Kelly being too loyal to his troops to be running a $100M franchise.