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Irishmark
The Unimpeachable Source
(Administrator)
USA
20399 Posts |
 Posted - 07/29/2010 : 14:03:42
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Pete Sampson
IrishIllustrated.com Editor
Looking for the reason behind Notre Dame perpetual struggles of the past decade? Check out the coulda, woulda, shoulda recruits the Irish just missed on defense. Irish Illustrated presents its All-Miss Team of the past 10 years, a run loaded with frustration along the defensive line, although one of the biggest losses might have been a kicker.
We formed our team based on talent, but that's not the only factor. Notre Dame's needs at their positions also played a part, as did the buzz these prospects created and how close the Irish appeared to signing them, at least in the virtual opinion of the fan base.
Defensive Line
Shaun Cody
The decade's first must have recruit that Notre Dame didn't get. Cody took his official to South Bend in late January, a tough sell for a Southern California kid. The first-team USA Today All-American decided to stay home as Pete Carroll's first mega-recruit. From there Cody developed into a four-year starter at defensive tackle without taking a red shirt. The Pac-10 defensive Player of the Year as a senior, Cody went in the second-round to the Detroit Lions, moving to the Houston Texans last year and starting 13 games. The Irish landed just one true defensive lineman in Jeff Thompson, but they signed an under-the-radar linebacker named Justin Tuck too.
Gerald McCoy
Some think Charlie Weis would still be employed by Notre Dame if he signed McCoy during the '06 recruiting cycle. That's a stretch, but maybe not by much. The third overall pick in this year's draft visited for the USC epic in '05 but the Irish couldn't get the defensive tackle to leave Oklahoma. Missing McCoy meant the Irish whiffed at the position, didn't go hard after four-star lineman Butch Lewis (now starting at USC) and passed on Lawrence Marsh (part-time starter at Florida). The pain of losing McCoy wasn't just the Irish missing on an All-American and instant starter. It's the fact it cost them a shot at two other prospects too
Chris Martin
A five-star rush end with Indiana roots willing to commit a full year before signing day? Too good to be true. The fact Jon Tenuta never developed a relationship didn't help. Neither did Notre Dame's 6-6 season. Or Weis' firing. Or Urban Meyer's continued pitches. Or pressure to stay close to home at Cal. Martin de-committed in the days after Weis was fired but had mentally checked out on Notre Dame weeks and maybe months earlier. He lasted all of two months at Cal before transferring to Florida. He's the Gators' fifth five-star commit on defense in the '10 class and will work at outside linebacker.
Omar Trattou
Justin Trattou and Omar Hunter feel like the same prospect to Notre Dame fans. Trattou's de-commitment in '07 probably hurt more because it was so unexpected from a Don Bosco prospect. Hunter's switch to Florida a year later almost felt inevitable. Regardless, both would have been starters in South Bend. Notre Dame didn't sign a better defensive end under Weis until Ethan Johnson in '08. The Irish didn't sign a defensive tackle in Hunter's league until Louis Nix. The Trattou/Hunter combination has started 29 career games the past three years. Considering the talent in Gainesville, that's impressive. Some recruiting misses don't come back to haunt you. These did.
linebacker
Dan Connor
It was Notre Dame or Penn State for Connor with the five-star linebacker opting to stay home with the Nittany Lions, enrolling early in January of '04. As a four-year starter, Connor set the Penn State tackles record (419 stops), was a two-time All-American and won of the Bednarik Award as the nation's top defensive player in '07. As a senior Connor sacked then-freshman quarterback Jimmy Clausen in a Happy Valley rout. Now the two are teammates with the Carolina Panthers, where Connor is a back-up and former third-round pick. Notre Dame landed a four-year starting linebacker in this class in Maurice Crum.
Chris Donald
The talk one month before signing day in '07 had Donald and defensive end Ben Martin headed to Notre Dame to start a defensive renaissance. Instead they both signed with Tennessee, with the five-star linebacker devolving into a historic bust. Donald transferred to Tennessee Chattanooga this off-season, where he was listed as a back-up defensive end during his first spring practice. He didn't make a single tackle during his Tennessee career, a shocking fall for a prospect ranked as the nation's No. 18 recruit out of high school. The Irish caught a break here as Donald's January decision fueled a late push for Brian Smith.
Brian Toal
Does it even matter how long Ty Willingham sat on Brian Toal's couch trying to convince the five-star linebacker to come to Notre Dame? Probably not. It's the stuff of recruiting/living room furniture legend. Toal signed with Boston College in '04, but a shoulder injury and broken leg stalled his promising career. He spent last season as a back-up linebacker for the Las Vegas Locos of the United Football League and got a mini-camp tryout with the New York Giants this spring as a fullback. Notre Dame did sign a linebacker from New Jersey that year, but Abdel Banda was forced to call it a career because of a medical condition.
Defensive Back
Marlon Pollard
Easy come, easy go. Pollard took a surprise visit to Notre Dame as a UCLA commitment during the summer before his senior year, committing soon after. But combine the near firing of Weis in '08 with the hiring of Rick Neuheisel with some parental pressure to stay home mixed in, and Notre Dame had the makings of a de-commitment. Heading into training camp Pollard is UCLA's No. 5 cornerback following a red-shirt freshman year. He'd probably be No. 4 at Notre Dame. Assuming that same red shirt Pollard could have been staring at a three-year starting career in South Bend. The Irish didn't sign a true cornerback in the '09 class.
Gerell Robinson
Didn't the Irish want Robinson at receiver? Yep. But considering the former U.S. Army All-American is 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds heading into his junior year at Arizona State, it's easy to imagine a career at safety. The talk around the Army Game three years ago had Robinson locked up for Notre Dame, but the Irish wanted Deion Walker more. When Walker committed at the Under-Armour Game in Florida it meant Robinson's spot vanished from San Antonio. In the end, the Irish turned away the nation's No. 77 overall prospect. There was plenty of smoke about Robinson transferring to Notre Dame this off-season, but the fire never caught.
Byron Moore
The weekend before signing day Notre Dame held a lead for Moore only to watch it dissolve as the safety slipped away to USC. The loss was supposed to be crushing for the Irish depth chart, which was growing thin at the back. Facing Moore every season would compound the problem. Yet following a red shirt with the Trojans Moore bolted for Harbor College seeking a "fresh start." As long as it's off the schedule, the Irish won't mind. And considering Notre Dame took Manti Te'o away from USC on signing day, the loss of Moore has already faded from memory. That's saying something considering it was just 18 months ago.
Steve Brown
Imagine having the ultimate Notre Dame source that tells you a player is committing to the Irish. It's a lock. Only it isn't and the prospect commits to Michigan instead. Because that's what happened with Brown, the four-star Hoosier State talent that opted for the Wolverines back in 2006. The episode left many around South Bend scratching their heads, including us. While Brown never starred in Ann Arbor, Notre Dame's three-man safety class of Sergio Brown, Jashaad Gaines and Leonard Gordon combined for just 15 career starts in four years. There have been bigger safety names in the last decade, but Brown was still a tough loss.
Kicker
Kai Forbath
Sometimes recruiting ultimatums blow up in your face. In '06 Weis turned up the heat on Forbath for a commitment only to see the California kicker balk, then land at UCLA. Instead the Irish snapped up Ryan Burkhart. Four years later Forbath is the reigning Lou Groza Award winner and a consensus All-American. He's riding a 37-kick streak of field goals made from inside 50 yards. He's also 15 made field goals shy of the NCAA record of 87. Burkhart didn't hit a field goal or extra point during his four-year career. Forbath has nine field goals of 50 yards or more in his career. Notre Dame's last made field goal from that distance came in '03 from D.J. Fitzpatrick.
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Irishmark
The Unimpeachable Source
(Administrator)
USA
20399 Posts |
Posted - 07/29/2010 : 20:15:01
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While there were some big misses (Trattou, Hunter, McCoy) the lack of proper development was the biggest key here.
And we also got some. And with Ethan Johnson, Manti Teo' and company with a new coaching staff, I look forward to seeing what happens now. |
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Domer
The Curmudgeon
USA
15847 Posts |
Posted - 07/30/2010 : 09:12:46
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quote:
Originally posted by Irishmark
While there were some big misses (Trattou, Hunter, McCoy) the lack of proper development was the biggest key here.
And we also got some. And with Ethan Johnson, Manti Teo' and company with a new coaching staff, I look forward to seeing what happens now.
Agreed 100%.
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God, Country, Notre Dame |
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Recruiting misses at ND: Defense.
