Not too long ago, one of Notre Dame’s problems in football recruiting was it couldn’t get enough people to buy into enlisting.
In 2004, the Irish managed to sign only 17 players, its lowest total since 1984. But even that ’04 haul involved “grab-bagging” in the closing week just to help fill out whatever one could in the class. The consequence is that only six players remain from that group as seniors in 2007.
The following year, in the midst of a coaching transition with newly-hired Charlie Weis, the Irish signed only 15 (14 of whom remain at the school) – the smallest number ever on National Signing Day for the Irish.
Now, here it is two years later and Weis and Co. already have 17 commitments on board at the start of July, eight months away from the signing date. The “problem” Weis now has is the demand might be outweighing the supply. It’s an issue all coaches aspire to have.
The NCAA permits 85 players to be on grant-in-aid – the term the late Notre Dame vice president Rev. Ned Joyce C.S.C. preferred to use so as not to cheapen the word “scholarship.” As it stands now for the 2007 season, Notre Dame has 75. The breakdown is as follows:
14 juniors: The lone transfer was tight end Joey Hiben (Minnesota).
27 sophomores: It was originally 28, but quarterback Zach Frazer reportedly will be transferring either to UConn or Cincinnati. (The Irish were allowed 27 because three early enrollees could be applied to the following year’s harvest.)
The balancing act for the current 2008 recruiting class rests mainly on how many fifth-year seniors Weis will want back in 2008. When you lose all nine fifth-year seniors after this season, the grant-in-aid number reduces to 66 – meaning you have 19 to give in February of 2008 for the full complement of 85.
If all seven fourth-year seniors are invited back by Weis and are approved by the University, that means there are only two more grant-in-aids to offer this year (17 plus 2 equals 19, which totals 85). Common sense and simple logic dictate that won’t be the case.
Unless you are a bona fide starter on offense or defense, the chances are extremely slim you will return for a fifth season the way the Notre Dame program is currently growing. Linebackers Mitchell Thomas and Nick Borseti could have returned this year and there would have been room for them numbers-wise, but the reality was they were not in line for action on defense. Chase Anastasio could have helped at receiver in 2007 as a fifth-year senior, but he’s getting married this summer and the prospect of an NFL career in his future was dim. He was ready to move on to the next stage of his life with his Notre Dame degree.
Conversely, Weis himself was amazed when defensive end Stephenson Jr. requested a chance to return for a fifth year despite totaling only 20 minutes of action in his first four seasons. The reality there was Notre Dame is extremely thin along the defensive front and needed every warm body it could get – and Stephenson emerged as a starter this spring.
Two years from now, a Stephenson would have virtually no chance of returning for a fifth season, primarily because the Irish football cupboards have been getting better stocked the past three recruiting cycles. When it comes to deciding between working with an excellent incoming prospect who has at least four years of eligibility remaining, or returning a fifth-year player who hasn’t quite yet emerged as a full-fledged starter, chances are a coaching staff will opt for the former 10 times out of 10.
Thus, the only two players we believe have the best chance of returning for a fifth season in 2008 are linebacker Crum and cornerback Lambert. Barring any transfers (which always occur), that means Notre Dame would have 61 players on grant-in-aid in the 2008 spring – with 24 to give this year for the 85 total. (Expect Weis to give a couple of grant-in-aids to a couple of walk-ons this year, but chances are they will be seniors who won’t be back for a fifth year in 2008.)
Who knows, maybe a Vernaglia or Brown might have breakout campaigns that might inspire a fifth year in 2008. But we’re of the belief that Weis wants to continue the recruiting momentum currently building and will continue to fortify the present roster with rising talent in the prep ranks.
It’s also conceivable that Crum and Lambert could have strong senior seasons which put them in a favorable position for next year’s NFL Draft. If that’s the case, then it’s not out of the question that neither will want to apply for a fifth year – and the Irish could go from a school-record nine fifth-year seniors in one year (2007) to none the next. That would then leave Notre Dame a full complement of 25 grant-in-aids, plus one left over, in the current 2008 recruiting class.
At worst, it’s safe to say Notre Dame can give out at least 24 if it wants to this year – provided they are to the prospects they have specifically targeted, not grab-bags at the 11th hour. Right now, the needs for the seven remaining grant-in-aids would be 2 receivers, 2 linebackers, 2 defensive backs and 1 running back.
Let’s say, though, that the Irish fill those seven areas – and then some esteemed prospect such as Miami, Fla. defensive tackle Marcus Fortson suddenly also wants to get on the train. In such a situation, we wouldn’t be surprised if Weis opted to go with the prized recruit over a fifth-year senior such as Crum or Lambert if he wanted to return.
It’s a blessing that Notre Dame might be reaching a point in its recruiting and talent base that it can deal with these types of dilemmas again.
With the numbers Notre Dame is currently recruiting, down the road it will have another class of only 16 or 17 allowed to sign. That’s a bridge Weis and Co. will cross when they reach it. For now, they're enjoying the ride on their recruiting train.
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The NCAA permits 85 players to be on grant-in-aid – the term the late Notre Dame vice president Rev. Ned Joyce C.S.C. preferred to use so as not to cheapen the word “scholarship.” As it stands now for the 2007 season, Notre Dame has 75. The breakdown is as follows:
Thus, the only two players we believe have the best chance of returning for a fifth season in 2008 are linebacker Crum and cornerback Lambert. Barring any transfers (which always occur), that means Notre Dame would have 61 players on grant-in-aid in the 2008 spring – with 24 to give this year for the 85 total. (Expect Weis to give a couple of grant-in-aids to a couple of walk-ons this year, but chances are they will be seniors who won’t be back for a fifth year in 2008.)
