This is a big difference from the Holtz years, where the TE was used almost solely as a blocker. CB is having a huge impact on this program already.
GB | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 10:13 am | #

Great pick up. This kid is TALL. What TE recruit could turn down the Irish with the succes the position has had under CW?
Gabe | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 10:38 am | #

Keep 'em coming!!!
Smitty2183 | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 10:41 am | #

He is not small.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 10:42 am | #

What happens to the tight ends that fall out of this competition?
jake | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 10:51 am | #

With that much potential talent at TE, what looks to be a stable of RB's, and a green QB under center for the next two years, anyone else see us running A LOT of two TE sets?

It will be interesting to see how many pounds Mendoza can pack on Rudolph's 6'7" frame.
JohnWA | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 11:13 am | #

Can't wait to see Charlie's new, patented 4 Tight End Set. Just beat the hell out of people and then toss one up high every now and then.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 11:20 am | #

It almost sounds like Rudolph could even line up at WR from time to time, as tall and athletic as he is, and apparently runs a pretty good route, as well.
Gabe | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 11:21 am | #

Well Jake, Reuland and Yeatman will be juniors when Rudolph is a freshman, so it's not like everyone is lumped together. Given how often Weis uses two and even three tight end sets, having four TE's in three classes isn't all that much. Considering how ND had to use Paul Duncan and Michael Turkovich as tight ends against USC, I think finally having some quality depth at tight end is a great thing.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 11:31 am | #

I thought I saw a quote from Rudolph saying ND might take another TE this year.

Since ND only took 1 last year, I wouldn't be surprised if ND took someone that doesn't fit the 5* TE mold, but DID fit the 5* TE potential (Think Yeatman, you know, ND's leading lacrosse scorer . . .)

Maybe ND will pick a guy that fits the project/multi position possibility.

Back to the main discussion, Rudolph looks like a great pick up for ND.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 12:13 pm | #

Bringing in offensive talent with Charlie at the helm shouldn't be too difficult. Cwynar's great, but Corwin needs to bring in more defensive players and from FL, TX and CA especially.
Sam | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 12:19 pm | #

Any coach worth his salt can never have too many tight ends.
Those that don’t measure up to blocking and receiving standards always appear to metamorphize into linemen with an attitude through the judicious application of cheeseburgers and Krispy Cream donuts.
Five recruits of choice by March? Unheard of. Damn I love Notre Dame football.
23 Days and Counting
Subway Alumni | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 12:31 pm | #

Honestly, I'm not impressed by this recruit. I was expecting a TE who was at LEAST 7'5". Come on Corwin, work!
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 12:57 pm | #

There are so many things to like about having quality depth at TE. For one, the ability to provide extra protection for the quarterback without taking away the pass threat. Plus who doesn't like watching tight ends hammer linebackers and safeties on those short routes?

I'm excited about how successful the ND recruiting program looks now that we are caught up enough to be developing early relationships with top kids. If we get a top defensive recruit by the Blue and Gold game, I'm cutting back on the Lunesta.
indy | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 1:05 pm | #

oops. That-a-way to screw up a post with a link, self.
indy | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 1:06 pm | #

I second that WR remark--how fast is this kid? 6-7 230, no reason to pack anything on him if we can make him a WR/TE "tweener" like Miami has used so often. Sounds like a good way to replace the Mo Sto jumpballs we so sorely missed last year.
Anonymouse | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 1:27 pm | #

Don't be surprised if we have 3 solid defensive recruits in the fold by the end of Blue-Gold weekend.

Steve Filer, Darius Fleming, and Anthony McDonald and all LB's on Rivals 250 to watch (Filer is on the Top 100 watch list and potential 5 star) could all commit by then. All 3 are ND leans as of right now although after last years debacle, you never really know until Signing Day.

Also, Trevor Robinson, of Omaha is deciding sometime soon and is choosing between ND, Nebraska, and Michigan although Michigan's probably not a serious contender. He's visited ND 5 times already but grew up a Huskers fan so tough call there.
Jason | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 2:54 pm | #

Good point, Anonymouse. Despite Rhema's surprising ability with the jump balls, we (or at least I) haven't felt comfortable not having a beast to send downfield and catapult balls at. And as much as I dislike him, there is something intimidating about a guy like Kellen Winslow Jr, a guy that can either run faster than or over you.
AS | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 3:24 pm | #

If Filer commits that would be a huge pick up for the Irish.
Regarding that whole "you never really know until Signing Day," that is a good point. I know CW is taking great measures to avoid a fiasco like this year's signing day, but these are still teenagers.
That said, I'm pretty confident that the guys we've got so far are for real.
Gabe | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 3:35 pm | #

If Chuck wants to avoid "another fiasco" winning a bowl game would be the recipe...
Schwap | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 4:07 pm | #

Steve Filer, Darius Fleming, Anthony McDonald, and Trevor Robinson would all be great pickups, but I remember how last year's recruiting season ended.

I just can't hyped for this years recruiting class yet, especially considering how Urban Cryer seems fixated on going after ND guys. (What's Florida's graduation rate?)

However, it would be super awesome to see those guys step up and commit to ND.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 4:45 pm | #

I must've missed something about fiasco and thispast year's recruiting. Anyway, this pickup shows that we are back into normal ND recruiting momentum, a far cry from much of the previous decade. If we can coach an OL, I'll put money on CB to do notable work on the d side.

Hopefully I won't have to author the now clamored-for "Special Teams: Corridors to the NC," unless the advance money does indeed reach a tipping point.

Go Irish
Bill H. | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 7:32 pm | #

No one said fiasco.

However, what was expected to sign and what singed are 2 slightly different things.

Who'da ever thought Trattou, a Jersey kid, would diss CW.

Don't get me wrong, ND had a great haul. It was a top 10 class, which is what ND needs.

I just know verbals don't mean squat. I'm looking forward to see who inks it for ND.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 9:22 pm | #

Anonymouse... Scout has him running a 4.7. Not crazy fast, but quick enough play some hybrid TE/WR.
Any word on his blocking ability? That will be a huge key as to how soon he will see the field.
Jon | Email | Homepage | 03.28.07 - 10:12 pm | #

Getting a sweet TE is great... but we need D. 8 defensive recruits in the 2006 recruiting class. 7 in the 2007 class. And only 1/5 is on the defensive side for the current recruiting. 26 offensive recruits in the 06/07 classes combined. I really think that we're doing great on the offensive side of the ball. But seriously, to say that ND recruiting is back in full swing can't be supported. Maybe its just me, but didn't we used to have a D too?
Keenan | Email | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 12:37 am | #

I think alot of the defensive recruits are taking a wait-and-see approach to CB's new 3-4 scheme.

I don't have a problem with the offensive recruits pouring in though. CW can cover all the bases on that side of the ball early and then use the whole summer/fall to concentrate on the defensive recruits.
Schultz | Email | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 7:54 am | #

We thought they'd sign, and we got singed. Probably the best typo we'll see all year. Maybe I'm naive, but I have to believe with Charlie's new, tough line on public commitment that the guys giving us their verbal now are less likely to back out. The fact that we have as much or more quality as we did last year at this time despite (because?) of this approach I think has to be taken as a good sign.

As far as the defense goes, my guess is we are setting our sights high this year and to impress the blue chippers Corwin will have to do more than a great living room presentation. When and if he shows real improvement on the field, we will be on a lot of guys short list. So what if it takes another 10 months to land 'em? as long as in the end, they get in the van.

I predict right now that the improvement in our defense will be the national story of the fall, and Brown will land enough of his defensive targets to impress us.
indy | Email | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 11:19 am | #

First of all, is it really a jumpball if you're tall enough that you don't need to even jump to get it? I mean, he could just raise his arms and no one will be able to get the ball before him.

Secondly, I think Brown will land some big-time linebackers. College kids have seen the 3-4 in the NFL from teams with great D's like San Diego, Pittsburg, and NE. Great LBs like Joey Porter, Shawn Merriman, and DeMarcus Ware have made the edge position in the 3-4 hip. Take a beast of a high schooler and tell him you're gonna put him at Shawn Merriman's position and let him play crazy all over the field (blitzing, dropping, swapping with DEs, lining up down as a DE) and you are going to excite the hell out of some people to come to Notre Dame. It will happen.
Brad | Email | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 1:20 pm | #

I would be surprised if we got too many D recruits until shortly before signing day. The good news is CB can obviously recruit when he has the track record of our great Offense behind him. I think he will be great at recruiting defensive players, if he can first prove he can coach it.

Bottom line: Our D looks good next year and plays "nasty", and our defensive recruiting skyrockets; our D looks bad, confused, or lackadaisical, and we're screwed on recruiting defensive players for at least a couple of more years. Since I choose optimism, I say: here's to a young, hungry defense with plenty to prove and nothing to lose!
JM | Email | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 4:46 pm | #

Atepesm, Schwapp called a fiasco just like 3 posts above yours.

One thing people don't really say about the defense is that it really DOES fit our personnel better than a 4-3. It's not just a switch for the hell of it, with the players we have, we have a better chance of succes in this defense.
Kyle | Email | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 6:17 pm | #

I think they were talking about Anthony Fiasco, the TE from Verona.
indy | Email | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 7:05 pm | #

Actually, the best 411 on our D recruiting seems to indicate we will get at least one probable 5 star LB by the end of April, with a second guy (probably going to be a 4 star) on the way in short order. I predict we have about 5-6 defensive recruits in the bag by the end of May. I would love to be more specific, but my sources would be pissed.
Thundershaker | Email | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 7:32 pm | #

thundershaker, are you sleeping with Tom Lemming?
tom | Email | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 9:00 pm | #

Rudolph is also a very good basketball player. He was named the Player of the Year the past two seasons in Cincinnati's Greater Catholic League Conference. You can see a few videos of Kyle in action on the hardwood here: http://www.ehsports.com/video.aspx

His one handed TD catch versus Cleveland Benedictine was featured in a Toyota commercial that aired at halftime on an NBC Sunday Night Football game this past fall: http://video.nbcsports.com/playe...layer/? id=43548
Kevin | Email | Homepage | 03.29.07 - 10:28 pm | #

I'm pretty sure Thundershaker is referring to Steve Filer and Anthony McDonald. McDonald is a near lock while we are the leader for Filer. Fleming also to be favoring us big time and I wouldnt be surprised if he committed at the BG Game.
Jason | Email | Homepage | 03.30.07 - 9:54 am | #

I'm pretty sure the 5 star LB has to be Filer. I agree, he would be a great pick up.

As for the fiasco comment, sorry, looks like I was the first to throw that out there. I was kind of exaggerating. I do think the class is very strong overall, but losing 3 commits in the final weeks (2 in the final minutes) kind of casts a shadow over the recruiting season.
Gabe | Email | Homepage | 03.30.07 - 2:06 pm | #

Jason is pretty much on the money. I think Fleming may give us the nod before Filer, but we'll have to wait and see how it shakes out.

No Lemming jokes - he is creepy enough as it is! Besides, I am way too old for him, we all know he prefers 17 year olds.
Thundershaker | Email | Homepage | 03.30.07 - 2:07 pm | #