Per 247 Sports, neither was a top-200 recruit. In fact, they were barely top-300. As such, they are permanently branded as "mediocrities".

I think we all agree that it would be better to have top-50 players at every position. But to dismiss high 3-star/low 4-star guys as "mediocrities" before they ever play a down is just dumb. As noted above, ND's best returning DB was also a 3 star. Sure would be nice to have another 3 star guy back in Julian Love. But like Tranquill, he will be playing on Sundays this year. Not bad for guys "so lowly rated".

You are dismissing all of the current LB recruits as "mediocrities" and "so lowly-rated" when their profiles are identical to, or in some cases, BETTER than those of Coney, Tranquill, Pride and Love? I am sure we can come up with others.

As Hanratty pointed out we are top heavy with 3-star prospects as a
matter of course. We should have higher rated prospects. Perhaps
mediocrities is too strong a word but LB recruiting needs better than plus 200 talent.

prospects. Asmar Bilal was top 200. All 3 were four stars. Not saying it's some amazing LB depth chart, but you overstate the case.

The biggest issue this year is the gap between the Elko/Lea prospects and those recruited under BVG; the 2016 and 2017 classes were duds.

man, who would have guessed?

Ok, let's go with that. Find me the recruiting profile of Gilman and Pride, Notre Dame's best defensive backs. The latter is making some pre-season All-American teams. Let's try Ian Book. No doubt he's among the best at his position. Again, I could go on and on, and we could contrast Gilman, Pride and Book with a bunch of top-100 high school guys. Pride, Gilman and Book would come out ahead. A lot.

Deciding whether a player is ever going to be good (enough) or bad based on a high school profile is absolutely stupid. As JT said, there is less margin for error with a lower-ranked guy, but that doesn't damn the entire position group. See Clemson example above.

Oh, and I love the suggestion that Todd Lyght be put out to pasture. Seems like Love, Pride and Gilman might have been coached up a bit.

And are fantasizing that they will be coached up, rememember that
BK has never won a NC or even a major bowl game. History repeats
itself when not addressed. I can't live on maybe,should be,could be
might be,etc. To me that is stupid. Why should ND settle for so
many 3-star players and then hope they are coached up? Sure,one
or two might develop into a good player,but you aren't going to win
a NC with that level of talent.

leads to a lot of dead weight as we saw under Charlie.

Based on the play of the linebackers the last two years and the defense last year, Clark Lea has earned some respect. If they don't think a kid, whose brother is on the team and plays at a ND feeder school, is worth the scholarship compared to the guys already on the team, I'm not sure why we wouldn't trust their evaluation. They've obviously scouted this kid extensively and know plenty about him.