Did OSU have any?

But they have a 5 star coach

You need one or the other (preferably both).

So you agree we dont have "difference makers"?

I don't agree with that at all.

We have potential difference makers

None proven

potential difference maker is 4*

Solid starter is 3*. Thats most of our team.

Our Defense has proven difference makers returning.

Coney, Tilery, Tranquil, both Haye's, Bonner, Love.

All guys who can make plays. I think the Defense is going to be really good.

I don't know about OSU, although they were not in the

playoff this year. Alabama, Clemson and Georgia are setting the standard currently and they use 5 star players.

Their 2014 title team. I think Clemson had one

Watson was a big one. Could be wrong.

They had at least 4 more: Hyatt/Wilkins/Lawrence/Cain *

Per this link OSU had 6 Five star players in their 2017

class

They had 1 or 2 five star players in each year from 2013 through 2016

Click here for link at https://n.rivals.com/team_rankings/2017/all-teams/football

Starters on their 2014 title team? *

OSU Rivals Rankings

I am not taking the time to match whether these kids started at OSU or not, but Urban recruits 5 star players most years.

2013 – OSU - Rivals 2 five star players.

https://n.rivals.com/team_rankings/2013/all-teams/football

ND had 4 five star players – Eddie Vanderdoes, Greg Bryant, Jaylon Smith, and Max Redfield (How sad is that list?)

2012 – OSU - Rivals 2 five star players.

https://n.rivals.com/team_rankings/2017/all-teams/football

2011 – OSU - Rivals 1 five star player but ranked below ND who had 2 five star players (Tuit & Ishak Williams plus Aaron Lynch and Nick Martin – only 3 stars

https://n.rivals.com/team_rankings/2011/all-teams/football

2010 – Rivals Zero five star player and ranked far below ND - 25 vs 14

https://n.rivals.com/team_rankings/2010/all-teams/football

Quite a few in the top 50 overall, including many 5-stars.

Miller (QB) was #29, 5* (though out for season with injury)
Spence (DL) was #5, 5*
Washington (DL) was #19, 5*
Bosa (DL) was #37, 4*
Bennett (DL) was #49, 4*
McMillan (LB) was #22, 5*
Grant (LB) was #23, 5*
Bell (S) was #26, 5*

The larger ? is why doesn't ND attract 5-star talent ? *

Starters

The reason we don't get 5 star players is simple. We don't pay them or their parents enough

Yes we have such fine upstanding citizens...

Four more players unloaded under the Regime.

We have been off NCAA probation for almost 2 months!!! *

This is the question. I think there are two reasons.

Five star players have been told for a long time that they are special, the best of the best. They have been told that they are NFL bound before they get to college and so that becomes their priority. With that in mind my hunch is that some are just not that interested in the academic side of college and don't want it to interfere with the pursuit of glory on the gridiron. The second reason, and probably more important one, is that the top guys get a lot of advice from people in the know, and they all know that Kelly is not a top flight coach. He is not going to achieve what they want for themselves or their team. These players want the best coaching they can get, and they can't get it with Kelly. They also want to play for a coach that NFL people can rely on to coach them well and to be honest about the player's abilities. Once we replace Kelly with an elite level coach the 5 star players will return to ND.

Well said. *

Reasonable...thx.... *