All A Boyd!

There wasn't much suspense to this recruitment. Spencer Boyd, a 5'10" 175 lbs. cornerback from Cape Coral Florida, is Irish. While Boyd was planning on a press conference to announce his college of choice- some people were too eager to stand pat. His father was the first to come out and say that ND was the school that Spencer was committed to, and then his high school coach told Cape-Coral-Daily-Breeze.com that he spoke with Boyd and Spencer said he was Irish.

So I'm pretty confident that I can write about his commitment 12 hours before he does so verbally/publicly.

Boyd is the 13th verbal commitment for the Fighting Irish's incoming class of 2010. He is the second cornerback to have committed in this class after friend, Lo Wood, gave ND his pledge three weeks ago. In a class that has room for 3 corners, this commitment starts to really put some pressure on two other Irish prospects in Joshua Shaw and Cody Riggs. Both Shaw and Riggs hold some top-notch offers and both are scheduled to officially visit ND in the fall. (With Shaw's size, he could be used as a safety as well).

Notre Dame is locking down some serious depth at cornerback. This is refreshing considering the lack of depth that ND had for about 4 years. Depth allows for competition, which allows for the best player playing, which allows for development and possibly an extra year of eligibility for those on the bottom end of the chart, which allows for depth. It's an awesome circle, that allows programs to become very good for longer periods of time. WOO-HOO!

Welcome to ND Spencer!!!

ESPN evaluation of Spencer Boyd:

A natural athlete with good speed and ball skills, Boyd could likely get recruited on either side of the ball at the next level. Lean, rangy frame and will need to add size. Has longer arms for pressing and he utilizes them well extending to make plays in deep coverage as a defensive back. Knows how to position himself properly between the ball and the receiver. Shows good recovery quickness and burst. Soundly anticipates the throw and reads the quarterback. Breaks on the pass in front of him with good closing speed and direct angles to the ball. Good acceleration and makeup speed. Will stick you as a tackler and drive his hips through. Really has good form, particularly as an openfield tackler. Aggressive and has experience making reads down in the box. However, pedal is very high hindering transitional quickness and we did not see good cover corner technique on film. Can struggle getting off the stalk block when filling on run support and does not bring much explosiveness to the point of attack. Good ball-hawker and strong solo tackler who make a reliable last line of defense but he could struggle playing down in the box if employed at strong. Needs to work on filling out his narrow base and improving upper-body strength. Quick, smooth, fluid and fast with the ball in hands as a running back and return specialist adding to his upside. As a running back, he is very slippery to wrap up when he picks and slides his way through traffic showing very good vision, balance, hips and elusiveness. Gears down very little cutting laterally. Flashes a good downhill burst as well and his ability generate speed and momentum quickly through the hole allows him to break his fair share of initial contact. Does lack great in-line power at this time though and we question his in-line durability if asked to carry the load. Boyd projects more as a great change-of-pace, multi-purpose back in the spread with his great receiving skills, perimeter speed and ability run the zone effectively. A very good prospect who will add coveted versatility to the future roster he lands on.

Video of Boyd:





View The State of Recruiting 2009 in a larger map

Lombard Support

The first commitment for the incoming class of 2010 is not a Golic. He is a giant. Five star Christian Lombard is a 6'5" 285 pound offensive tackle that is certain to put on 20-30 pounds before he even arrives in South Bend in 2010.

Christian chose Notre Dame over some other early offers from the likes of Michigan, Iowa, and Arizona. The Palatine, Illinois native is one of the top 10 prospects for 2010 as ranked by Scout.com.

This commitment is a huge stride toward developing a top class for 2010 early in 2009. More and more, the top High School prospects are committing to their school of choice early on in the recruiting process. Lombard will be a key figure in helping the staff recruit other players for 2010.

Welcome To Notre Dame Christian!!!

Where's Gina? Martin's On Board!

I put my foot in my mouth... and got some results!

Notre Dame's lack of commitments from offensive tackles was making me a little nervous especially since 4 of the 8 offered prospects had committed elsewhere.

I can breathe a little easier. Zach Martin from Bishop Chatard High in Indianapolis committed to the Fighting Irish today. The 6' 5" 270 lbs. 4 star (Rivals.com) lineman is the 13th verbal commitment for Notre Dame's incoming class of 2009.

The Irish are in desperate need for tackles to ensure the future depth at the position. Zach is a very tough and aggressive blocker, but as with a lot of young prospects, he will need to work very hard on improving his pass blocking skills.

Martin chose the Irish over Michigan, Iowa, and Kentucky to name a few of the offers. The icing on the cake is that ND locked down a highly rated player from the state of Indiana. Indiana is no recruiting hotbed when it comes to football talent, but it does offer very good prospects every year that can qualify academically for Notre Dame. The Irish must continue to keep their in-state talent in their state.

Welcome To ND Zach!!!

MARTIN!!!...MARTIN!!!...MARTIN!!!

Trevor Robinson Turns His Back On Nebraska...

It is done. Yesterday Trevor Robinson, 6'6" 306 lbs. offensive lineman from Elkhorn Nebraska, committed to Charlie Weis and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Trevor is the 22nd verbal commitment for Notre Dame and is a very welcome addition to a young offensive line in need of depth. He will also be an Early Entry to Notre Dame, joining Sean Cwynar in South Bend in January.

This ends what was one of the most interesting recruiting battles of the year.

Robinson gave a verbal commitment to Nebraska earlier in the year and then decided to keep his options open and decommitted before the season started . He then continued his search for a home. The Skunkbears of Michigan, Nebraska, and Notre Dame were his top 3 choices as he pressed on towards a decision.

Trevor visited the Irish 6 times before he came to the annual awards banquet for Notre Dame as the only visitor that had not already pledged themselves to the Irish.

During this process, an interesting thing happened that you don't see everyday. After the disaster that was the Nebraska season, The University hired Nebraska coaching legend Tom Osbourne as interim Athletic Director. The writing was on the wall and Bill Callahan was promptly fired as the season ended. Osbourne then made himself the Head Coach of the Football program so that he could go out and recruit Trevor himself. This is what makes Trevor's decision so amazing.

Imagine this scenario... You are an 18 year old highly ranked prospect from Fort Wayne Indiana. You are not a hardcore crazy, but have been a lifelong fan of Notre Dame. After a miserable 2007 season for the Irish, ND fires Kevin White as Athletic Director and hires Lou Holtz as an interim AD. Holtz then fires Weis and places himself as the Head Coach so that he can come visit and recruit you to ND. Then you commit to Tennessee. Wow.

This has been a gut wrenching time for Trevor and his family. And he should be commended for following what he felt was the best decision for himself.

His father, Wade, spoke to the South Bend Times:

"He's very relieved and excited to make a decision, and
excited for the decision he made."

His mother, Vicki, spoke with the Lincoln Journal Star:

"I think (Trevor) just felt comfortable there,"

Now Trevor can concentrate on a new school and playing for the Irish as he leaves his home state of Nebraska and plays for the Fighting Irish this winter.

Welcome To Notre Dame Trevor!!!

My Name Is Jonas!

Jonas Gray is Irish. After decommitting from Nebraska just a short while ago, the Detroit running back made a new commitment to Charlie Weis after being courted by Corwin Brown (this guys recruiting skills are just sick).

The 5'10" 215 pound back is the 21st commit for Notre Dame for the 2008 incoming class. He turned down offers from Florida, Wisconsin, and of course MICHIGAN! This is becoming the BEST freshman class since the days of Holtz.

$crot wanted a "Todd" like player, and I think the Irish just got one. After watching his game film, one name came instantly to mind... Julius Jones. He has great speed and an extra gear that he uses to either explode through a hole or to pull away from defenders. This is definitely a fantastic pick up by the Irish.

Nebraska's loss is certainly our gain. Jonas Gray may not be the only one to head to South Bend from the Cornhusker commitment list. Trevor Robinson (OT) and Will Compton (LB) are interested in the Irish as well. Robinson has already decommitted from Nebraska and Compton may still pick up a late offer from Notre Dame if he decides to decommit from the Cornhuskers as well. This is not a "Urban" legend. (If you didn't understand that reference, I'm talking about poaching). While Robinson is a HUGE need, Compton would be icing on the cake for an already solid linebacker haul (if not the best in the country).

At any rate, Gray is a welcome addition for Notre Dame as it continues to improve on its depth at every position. Depth = Competition = Production.

Welcome to Notre Dame Jonas!!!

Pretty Boy Floyd

Finally. Irish Fans have been waiting on this day since offers went out last year. Notre Dame is still going full speed on the recruiting trail despite its lack of steam on the field. 5 star wide receiver, Michael Floyd, committed to the Irish over the weekend.

The Irish won out over Ohio State, Minnesota, Florida, and of course... Michigan, for the talented wideout from Minnesota.

This gives the Irish their 20th verbal commitment for the incoming 2008 class, and solidifies their number 1 ranking on both Scout.com and Rivals.com recruiting services.

Back in July, I wrote a piece that discussed how important Floyd was to the future of this team as well as 3 others in Newman, Filer, and Flemming. Take the time to read it again... I'll wait.

Along with John Goodman, this is already an excellent haul at WR for the Irish. Floyd has been their number one guy from the start at this position and it could get better with guys such as Walker, Baldwin, Harper, and Robinson in the mix as well. One more of those 3 would give the Irish the players at WR they were looking for from last year when they lost out to Greg Little and "Don't call me Regis" Benn.

Other Recruiting Tidbits...

• 3 other prospects ( Trevor Robinson, Kenneth Page, and Jonas Gray) had a visit with the Irish on Saturday.
• Robinson and Gray are both Nebraska commits that are now wavering after seeing the sinking ship that is Cornhusker football.
• Page has said that his visit was great and ND is rising fast on his list.

Filling Up With Fist Pumps

Steve Filer is Irish. All of ND nation can breath out now. This has been THE commitment we all have been waiting for since September of last year. Steve chose the Irish over Ohio State and of course Michigan. The Irish were pegged a lock for Filer for quite some time, but appearances can be deceiving.

''In the beginning, Notre Dame wasn't at the top of my list. I liked Ohio
State and Michigan,'' Filer said. ''But I got a good feeling for the players and
coaches. In the end, I felt Notre Dame was the best move for me and my family.
It is close to home and it will give me a good education.''

Filer is a 5 star prospect and the #2 ILB in the country. He plays with good speed, but most importantly, instinct and violence. When Filer gets to the ball carrier, the ball carrier goes down. Although he is an ILB in high school, Steve may see his action at OLB at ND. He has good range, and with McDonald, Fleming, and Posluszny in the mix, some of the guys may be interchangeable. (Especially if Etienne Sabino would commit to ND).

This is one of the 4 players I pegged as MUST gets for the Irish in my piece 4 To Score and he is the 19th overall commitment for the incoming 2008 class. The importance of his commitment can not be overstated. This leaves only Michael Floyd from those four to still make the decision to attend ND. With only about 4 to 5 spots remaining, he may pull the trigger before the start of his senior year. Other top prospects on the board for the Irish include; Trevor Robinson (OL), Jonathan Baldwin (WR), Jeremy Brown (WR/DB), and a trio of running backs that include Cyrus Gray, Ryan Williams, and Carlton Thomas. Don't be surprised if one or two of these players mentioned, commits to ND before the Georgia Tech game. For a complete list of prospects check out Irish Eyes or Irish Illustrated.

VIDEO OF STEVE FILER

Welcome to ND Steve!!!

Quote Source

McCarthy Is Not A Buckeye...Hell, He's Not Even A Skunkbear

Notre Dame received its 18th verbal commitment yesterday from Dan McCarthy. McCarthy (6'2" 190lbs) a safety from Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown Ohio made the pledge at a press conference at his high school. Dan chose the Irish over in-state power Ohio State as well as offers from LSU, Oklahoma, and the theme of the year... the Skunkbears of Michigan.

Check out the FREE videos at Irish Illustrated.

WOO HOO! Fist Pumps and Shots All Around!

Welcome To ND Danny Boy!!!

No Condoms For Johnson

In what is turning out to be a whirlwind recruiting class for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, another top prospect has committed to Our Lady Of The Lake. Ethan Johnson, a 6'4" 265 lbs. defensive end from Lincoln High in Portland Oregon, made the decision final Wednesday night and became the 17th prospect to commit for the incoming 2008 class. Johnson is rated as a 5 star by scout and is the 48th overall player by Rivals.

Ethan turned down offers from UCLA, Oregon, Skunkbears (what else did you expect), and wait for it......U$C. Apparently, Snoop Dogg and Will Ferrell are not high on Johnson's priorities.

This is a HUGE pickup for the Irish, which needed to shore up its front 7 this year. That makes it 3 DEs, 2 DTs (NG), and 3 LBs. Expect at least another LB, if not 2.

I would add more, but I am in "shock mode" with 17 commits before July. Please do not attempt to wake me!

Irish Slaughter The Competition

Notre Dame received its 16th verbal commitment for the 2008 incoming class on Tuesday. Jamoris Slaughter, a 4 star prospect (Rivals & Scout), is a 6'1" 185 lbs. defensive back from Tucker High School in Georgia. Most sites recruiting services has him listed as a safety, but the Irish like him at cornerback.

Jamoris chose the Irish over Georgia, LSU, and oh by the way...SKUNKBEARS. What's the tally now? It is amazing how many good defensive players are now flocking to ND with Corwin Brown directing the "D". It can not be said enough..."Corwin Brown is KICKING ASS."

ND now has 9 defensive standouts already in this class. If this 3-4 thing works as well as the recruiting, we may have a nice surprise on our hands this year. Well, I won't get ahead of myself...yet.

The Ides Of Commitments

Robert Blanton is Irish. The 6'1" 175 pound, 4 star prospect chose the Irish over Virginia Tech and...Skunkbear University. Lllloyd Carr- suck on that! Some have Blanton listed as free safety, but the Irish like him at cornerback. There are a lot of similarities between Robert and a former Irish player... Bobby Taylor. The size and speed this kid possesses is fantastic, but his hip movement and foot speed are what sets him apart as a CB as opposed to a FS.

This is the 15th Notre Dame commit for the 2008 incoming class. Our 15th commit last year was actually this year when Matt Romine chose ND at the Army AA Game. This class is filling up in a heartbeat. The Irish do have needs at WR, OL, and LB still to fill, but with every commit it adds pressure to those sitting on the fence to follow suit. (cough-Floyd-cough-Filer-cough-Page).

Click here to see video on Blanton.

WELCOME TO NOTRE DAME ROBERT!!!