Pat, dont forget Cwynar. We have already gotten more DL commits for next year than we have had in the last 5 years I think. I am glad that Charlie is finally focusing on the "D". I believe with Corwin Brown, ND's D will be a force within the next two years. We have some outstanding talent coming in on the defensive side of the ball. Keep up the good work with this site and Go Irish!
Doug | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 9:36 am | #

B-E-A-utiful!
Jim | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 9:46 am | #

I left off Cwynar since he's coming in as a defensive end, not defensive tackle.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 9:50 am | #

I believe it was The Rock Report that said our most important defensive recruit last year was Corwin Brown...he looks like a genius now.
NDLNA | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 10:01 am | #

What's the 2008 verbal commitment count up to now? If all these guys honor their word, signing day in February should be pretty uneventful. Hallelujah!

The athleticism of all these DL's is extremely exciting. The Intimidation Factor that ND possessed for so many years is gradually returning. And just in time, too, because we owe so many teams a good old fashioned beatdown.
Voice in the Wilderness | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 10:15 am | #

Over on cbssportsline, dodd is saying that the final two QBs are definitely clausen and DD - anyone know if this is a fact, or just dodd being, well, dodd?
MOC | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 10:41 am | #

Great article cause this kid is from my state.

Dodd? Dodd is guessing like everyone else does but pretends to know from "insiders." It's his biz to pretend
Sir John | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 11:02 am | #

Whoa at 6'1", 305 pounds, this gentleman is a cross between a brick-shit house and a fire hydrant. Show him some game film of Chris Zorich fighting off double-teams. Man, I hope some of these guys can step in next year and start. Any word on early enrollment from the 13 so far?
Subway Alumni | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 11:17 am | #

Dodd has no clue and is just trying to stir up interest in his articles. Pay him no mind.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 11:21 am | #

Interesting article here in Fort Worth today...it appears the off-site game in Texas is nearly set: ND vs. Baylor.

http://www.star-telegram.com/col...ory/ 119246.html
Chris | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 11:31 am | #

Baylor? That's horrible. With Texas Tech, A&M, and UT there is simply no reason to play Baylor.
PM | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 11:46 am | #

Baylor? That's horrible. With Texas Tech, A&M, and UT there is simply no reason to play Baylor.

Except for the fact that Baylor is probably the only one of the four willing to sign a one-game deal.
DJ | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 11:53 am | #

good pt...any news on the QB situation?
PM | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 12:32 pm | #

All -

Last night's Power Hour with Mike Frank was excellent for the recruitniks who read this site.

Mike and....Jeff [?] talked extensively about ND only having about 9 spots open and who to take. With so many LB's and DL already ND could be in the position to turn down a top guy from one of those positions down the road.

If you're into that kind of thing you can down load the show here -

http://irisheyespowerhour.blogspot.com/
jaisn | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 12:57 pm | #

Exactly Pat.

Dodd's guess is as good as yours, mine or anyones.

Only charlie chooses. I have to laugh everyone, me too, thought Young would move to left tackle so what did charlie do?

Guesstimits abound but it's fun to speculate.
Sir John | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 12:57 pm | #

I'll take anyone on the "D" line that Brown can get, but all of the hooplah over this guy is indicative of how badly the Irish need help on defense. Him committing to USC or Florida would have barely sent a ripple amongst their fans, assuming such school would have even offered him a spot. The 5 star defensive lineman will come with time, and my guess is that Mr. Newman wouldn't even have gotten an offer if this was 2009, just as Darius Walker would not have gotten an offer from Charlie if he were a high school junior now. Of course, ND has got to crawl before it can run, and the big talented "D" line kids aren't showing a lot of love for ND right now due to the poor playing the last couple of years. Hopefully, Corwin will change this and the 5-star kids will line up to play for CB, just as the prima donna QB's are lining up to play for Charlie now.
galland | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 1:02 pm | #

"just as the prima donna QB's are lining up to play for Charlie now" I think Clausen is getting a bad rap and seems like a very good kid. Give him a couple of years at ND before you make the prima donna judgement. Crist also seems like a great kid.
WALKER | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 1:10 pm | #

PM - There is supposed to be a press release shortly.
Pat | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 1:10 pm | #

Last minute predictions? Clausen/Sharpley.
indy | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 1:12 pm | #

"Prima Donna QB's" may have been a poor choice of words. It was plural, so not directed at JC per se, but any of the highly touted QB's who were BMOC's of their respective high schools. Actually, I meant it as a compliment, but it didn't come out that way.
galland | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 1:12 pm | #

Got it
WALKER | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 1:16 pm | #

Clausen / DD ... just my guess
Smitty2183 | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 1:36 pm | #

The following is a quote from Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis:

"After concluding spring ball evaluations, Evan Sharpley, Demetrius Jones and Jimmy Clausen remain as the main contenders. Each of these three young men brought something unique to the QB competition. Evan ran the operation the best, Jimmy threw the ball the best, and Demetrius made the most plays. For these reasons, they will compete for playing time.

In additional news, the team grade point average for the spring semester was 3.04, exceeding the 3.0 mark for the fourth consecutive semester. Gary Gray had shoulder surgery after exams, which is likely to exclude him from the upcoming season depending on recovery time. Training Camp will be held on our regular practice fields, not the fields by the bookstore. Finally, we will be using officiating crews from the Big East this season rather than Big Ten officials."
indy | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 1:36 pm | #

Everyone wins! Especially me, since I don't have to watch Big-Ten officials shank us at Neverland Ranch this year.
indy | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 1:37 pm | #

and then there were three.

also, is anyone else pumped about dropping the big ten officiating crews? for some reason, i never quite trusted those guys.
tyler | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 1:37 pm | #

Nice Seinfeld reference, Pat.
kmf | Email | Homepage | 05.30.07 - 2:57 pm | #

galland,

That has to be one of the worst posts I have seen on this site.

The kid verbally commits to ND and you degrade/berate him. Wtf? I can just imagine what Charlie Weis would say to someone as stupid as you.

Do you know anything about a 3-4 defense? Have you seen Brandon's films? Do you know what he brings to the table? He is a prototypical fit for the position that ND is filling. The kid has great grades and will probably excel at ND. Just cause he's not some trendy recruit does NOT mean he is second tier. It means you put too much weight in people OTHER THAN Charlie Weis and Corwin Brown.

The fact that CW/Corwin Brown went after Brandon Newman EARLY and INTENSELY should tell you what kind of quality the kid brings to the table.

Good ND recruiting gets the best from the Midwest and skims the cream of the crop from FL, CA, TX, Southeast etc. There are MANY MANY kids in the history of ND football that came in unheralded and went on to be major contributors to ND football. Why take potshots at these people?

Please, read more and POST LESS.

I think its awesome that Mr. Newman committed to ND. Congratulations, good decision and welcome aboard.

Now would someone go smack some sense into galland? Seriously. Get your head out of your ass man.
atepesm | Email | Homepage | 05.31.07 - 12:19 am | #

When you look at rivals, you'll see that there are only 4 DL recruits rated as 5 star prospects. If you go by scout, its only 3. All I'm saying is 5 star guys don't just fall out of trees.

We should be thrilled about Newman - a guy who is a prototypic fit for our defense. He eats space, is hard to move, and already has natural strength. With proper technique he'll be exactly what the doctor ordered.
Carl | Email | Homepage | 05.31.07 - 1:17 am | #

All this talk about star ratings is hilarious. They give a little indication of talent but that's it. If people didn't put so much stock in them there wouldn't be recruiting "experts". The fact of the matter is that each step up the latter the number of players drops. That's beause of the increase in talent, drive, coaching, competition etc... Part of the reason that these kids have the attitudes they do is the recruitng festivities and accolades even though they haven't played a down of college football. There are far more busts than sure things. I believe that coaches are far better at evaluating players for their system. Thus trust our coaches to recruit to suit our needs. We know there out there. I don't remember seeing a push pin on the ND golf course on the google map this year.
Domer Dan | Email | Homepage | 05.31.07 - 8:35 am | #

We know they're out there...sheesh good thing I teach math.
Domer Dan | Email | Homepage | 05.31.07 - 8:36 am | #

What needs to be done with recruiting classes is rate them 5 years after they are signed. That will tell you exactly how good the class was, rating them now is pure speculation. One thing also that will do is rate coaches by how well they develop players over a 5 year period. If you can't develop players then you are a salesman and not a coach.
Doug | Email | Homepage | 05.31.07 - 9:15 am | #

You all make good points but you do have to say that there is a correlation between number of stars and the potential to have a major impact. It is not "pure speculation." Yes, you will always have 5* "busts" and 2* hidden gems but in general the higher the star ranking the more likely that they will contribute. Someone on one of these blogs did an analysis last year but I can't remember where off hand.

I am definitely not saying "experts" know more than Charlie.
Notre D-Man | Email | Homepage | 05.31.07 - 10:51 am | #

Notre D-man,

You are exactly right, but until we see them on the field and performing against other players of their caliber it is all speculation. When a prospect comes out of high school he hasnt lined up against a team of 3 4 and 5 star recruits every down. While he has performed at an extremely high level in high school the fact is it isnt like facing a USC, Michigan, Penn St or even a Michigan St or Purdue. I always said that when playing college football D-III players are the best on their high school teams, some are the best in their city or conference. D-II players are the best in their conference, some in their state or region. D-IAA are the best in their state and some in their region. DI players are usually the best in the country. When you line up against Michigan, and USC you are playing against some of the best players in the country. So when these players are rated they havent played against competition on their level play in, play out game after game. That is why I say, rate them after they have played. All of the star ratings are potential, which leads to "pure speculation."
Doug | Email | Homepage | 05.31.07 - 12:42 pm | #

Boo-Williams born again?

Lets hope so!
BBM | Email | Homepage | 05.31.07 - 7:34 pm | #