Per 247 Sports, the last 5 classes (including '21) had/have exactly (2) 5-stars (THIS is a problem, imo), (54) 4-star, and (41) 3-star recruits.
Top 15ish recruiting. Top 15ish program. Not good enough. And even if Fisher gets a fifth star, the trajectory isn't changing. Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina and Maryland are currently ranked ahead of Notre Dame in the class of '21. And this was going to be the class where Kelly was going to turn the tables. Right.
Was reviewing the former 5 star guys we've had and ran into this article from a few years ago on James Aldridge - HS Girls Basketball coach.
"covers a vary broad market". But I know it doesn't make a 3-star ranking the same as a 4-star ranking. And none of this makes a Kelly a "3 star recruiter"- he's not. It just illustrates that Kelly has not recruited well enough. Period.
Some of the fanboys talk about how ND recruiting is held back by limitations such as academics,location,culture, etc.
Excuses.
The main thing limiting ND's ability to recruit is the HC.
He is a loser and the top recruits know that.
He's surrounded by 3-star or worse recruiters.
You might be able to get away with the head coach being below average or less involved if you have a topflight staff, but we know that's not the case.
Then you're going to see things really take off.
rather than Rice in recruiting battles
he will fit right in with the other RB's at ND.
Don't get where you say he was 'highly rated.'
He was rated a 3 star by Rivals,247,and ESPN coming out of HS.
Aside from Tyree, none of ND's RB's would have a prayer of making a 3 or 4 deep rotation at schools like Bama, Clemson,OSU,etc.
Instead of relying on Grad Transfers, ND needs to recruit much better.
RB is a glaring weakness on the roster and doesn't get much better when you add another 3 star to the mix.
just like Clark Lea has a "plan" at LB.
we have 10 LB with 2 or more years eligibility left. All 4 frosh LB were red shirted. So I get the rationale of not taking a LB last year especially if numbers were tight. We'll see if it pans out in 3 more years.
RB and CB are the real issues IMHO. Lots of 3* projects.
Quasi
Write down the names, and look at their recruiting credentials and current college achievements. Also consider that any 5th year LBs will be of the not-good-enough-to-go-the-NFL-after-their-senior-year ilk, much less junior year.
Lea is recruiting like he is still at Wake Forest or, perhaps, like he is bailing on ND the minute Derek Mason gets fired.
Just a hunch that this grad transfer might prove to be the best one this coming season. Not sold on Jafar as the go-to back and Tyree just a frosh. Speights had some injury issues and Stanford has been pretty mediocre for a couple of years. Better o-line for sure to run behind.
The fact that Jafar even played this year is an indicator that we're short on talent. I think he has Procise-like physical ability, but he's such a disappointing player out there - so tentative and scared.
I do really like C'bo's reckless abandon, but he's very undersized and not quick enough to make up for it. Jahmir looks serviceable, but hasn't flashed much beyond what I would expect from a second-stringer.
I don't think Tyree will be ready, so it's Speights' time. I think he'll start on day one and will remind us all of Dexter Williams.