Friday, February 5, 2016

#2 North Carolina Comes to Town Tomorrow!



Game is sold-out -- watch it on ESPN beginning at 7 PM ET.

GO IRISH!

"Star Ratings" of SB 50 Starters vs. ND Starters


This should show you how important player development is -- or, how bogus some of the star ratings are for a number of high school recruits.

Here's an analysis of the STAR rankings of the starting offense and defensive units for the Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos from their days back in high school.  It's an eye-opener:

DENVER BRONCOS Offense -- Avg Star Rating: 2.6 Stars
  • Five Stars:  (0)
  • Four Stars:  (2) Harris (ND), Schofield (MICH)
  • Three Stars:  (3) Thomas (GT), Vasquez (TEX TECH), Hillman (SD ST)
  • Two Stars:  (3) Paradis (BOISE), Green (NEV), Sanders (SMU)
  • One Star:  (0)
  • Zero Stars:  (0)
  • No HS Star Ratings:  (3) Manning (TENN), Daniels (WISC), Mathis (BAMA) 
Please note:  if we were to give Manning 5 stars coming out of HS, Daniels 3 stars and Mathis 4 stars -- Denver's Offensive Star Rating would be 3.3 stars.

DENVER BRONCOS Defense -- Avg Star Rating: 2.3 Stars
  • Five Stars:  (0)
  • Four Stars: (1) Williams (NC)
  • Three Stars:  (3) Jackson (TENN), Miller (TEX AM), Stewart (S CAR)
  • Two Stars:  (5) Marshall (NEV), Trevathan (KEN), Talib (KAN), Harris (KAN), Wolfe (CIN)
  • One Star:  (0)
  • Zero Stars:  (1) Ward (ORE)
  • No HS Star Ratings: (1) Ware (TROY)

Please note:  If we were to give Ware 3 stars coming out of HS -- Denver's Defensive Star Rating would be 2.5 stars.

CAROLINA PANTHERS Offense -- Avg. Star Rating:  3.5 Stars
  • Five Stars:  (4) Stewart (ORE), Ginn (OSU), Oher (MISS), Olsen (MIA)
  • Four Stars:  (3) Newton (AUB), Brown (OSU), Norwell (OSU)
  • Three Stars:  (2) Kalil (USC), Turner (LSU)
  • Two Stars:  (0)
  • One Star:  (1) Tolbert (COAST CAR)
  • Zero Stars:  (1) Remmers (ORE ST)
  • No HS Star Ratings:  (0)

CAROLINA PANTHERS Defense -- Avg. Star Rating:  3.3 Stars
  • Five Stars:  (2) Johnson (GEO), Thompson (WASH)
  • Four Stars:  (1) Coleman (OSU)
  • Three Stars: (3) Lotulelei (UTAH), Short (PUR), Kuechley (BC)
  • Two Stars:  (1) McClain (UCONN)
  • One Star:  (1) Norman (COAST CAR)
  • Zero Stars: (0) starters
  • No HS Star Ratings:  (3) Allen (IDAHO ST), Davis (GEO), Harper (BAMA)  

Please note:  If we were to give Allen 2 stars coming out of high school, Davis 4 stars and Harper 4 stars -- Carolina's Defensive Star Rating would still be 3.3 stars

 
Now, let's compare Notre Dame's starting line up this past season for GAME #1 vs. Texas and how the Fighting Irish players were rated coming out of HS -- using RIVALS Star Ranking System:

NOTRE DAME OFFENSE -- Avg. Star Rating:  3.8 Stars
  • Five Stars:  (1) Nelson
  • Four Stars:  (7) Stanley, McGlinchey, Elmer, Zaire, Fuller, Folston, Carlisle
  • Three Stars:  (3) N. Martin, Brown, Smythe
  • Two Stars:  (0)
  • One Star:  (0)
  • Zero Stars:  (0)

NOTRE DAME DEFENSE -- Avg. Star Rating:  3.6 Stars
  • Five Stars:  (2) Smith, Redfield
  • Four Stars:  (6) Day, Rochelle, Onwualu, Russell, Shumate, Luke
  • Three Stars:  (2) Okwara, Cage
  • Two Stars:  (0)
  • One Star:  (0)
  • Zero Stars:  (1) Schmidt

LINK:  SUPER BOWL 50 STARTERS -- HS STAR RANKINGS

Notre Dame's New Women's LAX Uniform


Not a bad look from our friends at Under Armour!

Photo: ESPN's College GameDay at Notre Dame


The big red motorhome has rolled onto campus -- parking next to Corbett Family Hall at Notre Dame Stadium.

ESPN will be broadcasting LIVE from Notre Dame all morning tomorrow -- as they lead into Saturday night's big game between our Fighting Irish and the #2 ranked North Carolina Tar Heels.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Brian Kelly's Signing Day Press Conference


Coach Brian Kelly's Signing Day Show Interview




Notre Dame Assistants Talk Recruiting Class


Coach Mike Elston


Coach Todd Lyght 


Coach Keith Gilmore 


Coach Mike Denbrock 


Coach Brian Van Gorder

Notre Dame's QB & Specialist Recruiting Haul


Ian Book -- El Dorado Hills, CA


John Shannon -- Lake Forest, IL

Notre Dame's Defensive Backs Recruiting Haul


Spencer Perry -- Newman, GA


Julian Love -- Westchester, IL 


Tony Pride, Jr. -- Greer, SC 


Jalen Elliott -- Richmond, VA 


Devin Studstill -- Rivera Beach, FL 


D.J. Morgan -- Norwalk, CA 


Donte Vaughn -- Memphis, TN

ND FB Recruits Declaration: "Joining the Fight"

Adetokunto Ogundeji -- West Bloomfield, MI

Jamir Jones -- Rochester, NY

Liam Eichenberg -- Cleveland, OH

Tommy Kraemer -- Cincinnnati, OH

 John Shannon -- Lake Forest, IL 

Tony Pride, Jr. -- Greer, SC 

Spencer Perry -- Newman, GA 


Julian Love -- Westchester, IL 


D.J. Morgan -- Norwalk, CA 


Donte Vaughn -- Memphis, TN 


Javon McKinley -- Corona, CA 


Tony Jones, Jr. -- St. Petersburg, FL

ND Coaching Staff Congratulating Recruits!


Julian Okwara -- Charlotte, NC


Deon McIntosh -- Pompano Beach, FL


Jalen Elliott -- Richmond, VA 


Liam Eichenberg -- Cleveland, OH


Parker Boudreaux -- Winter Garden, FL 


John Shannon -- Lake Forest, IL


Ian Book -- El Dorado Hills, CA 


D.J. Morgan -- Norwalk, CA 


Julian Love -- Westchester, IL 


Chase Claypool -- Abbotsford, B.C. 


Jonathan Jones -- Ocoee, FL

Notre Dame's Running Back Recruiting Haul


Tony Jones, Jr. -- St. Petersburg, FL


Deon McIntosh -- Pompano Beach, FL

Notre Dame's Wide Receiver Recruiting Haul


Kevin Stepherson -- Jacksonville, FL


Chase Claypool -- Abottsford, B.C. 


Javon McKinley -- Corona, CA

Notre Dame's Defensive Line Recruiting Haul


Kahlid Kareem -- Pontiac, MI


Julian Okwara -- Charlotte, NC 


Adetokunbo Ogundeji -- West Bloomfield, MI