Irish Recruiting Really Hitting Stride
By Randy W. Hall

Five weeks ago many Irish fans were pulling out their hair in regards to recruiting (including Dave Klotz from the show) and wondering where all the momentum and goodwill Charlie Weis & Co. had built up had gone. Then the Irish went out and made matters worse by getting their asses handed to them (again) in California by Poodle & the Condoms (sounds like a bad punk-rock group), USC. However, ever since that low-ebb Irish recruiting has magically started to clear up and get better. Much better.

Now granted there is still much work to be done before now and National Signing Day (February 7th, 2007) when seniors in high school can sign a binding letter-of-intent. But the Irish have reversed what looked to be a downward spiral to a mediocre recruiting class, which would’ve dampened the early buzz brought about by Jimmy Clausen’s commitment in April. Following the defeat to the Trojans Weis immediately (if not sooner) hit the recruiting trail with gusto and was able to combat some of the negative recruiting that has been going on (as it always historically does) from the other schools. Also once a lot of the kids got a chance to sit one-on-one with Weis and the other coaches who got to make their case, they really got a three-dimensional look at Notre Dame vs. the other colleges. After a long drought following Gary Gray’s commitment the Irish have since picked up verbals from Ath Greg Little, OL Emeka Nwankwo, RB Armando Allen, DT Ian Williams (a huge get considering he’s the first true DT commit since Derrell Hand in 2004), Ath Golden Tate and OL Taylor Dever. And more are forthcoming. Below you’ll find a list of guys that ND still has a realistic shot at. As per the show I’m going to classify them as Green Light (I believe they will come to ND), Yellow Light (50/50 they come to South Bend) and Red Light (don’t think they’ll select the Irish).

Green Light
-S Lorenzo Edwards – While hardly a slam-dunk but I’ve had a good feeling regarding him for a long time.
-OL Chris Little – This Georgia native brings a toughness and nastiness that will be welcome in an Irish uniform.
-S Harrison Smith – His parents supposedly really want him to get an education at Notre Dame. He would be a great upgrade in the secondary.

Yellow Light
-OLB Chris Donald – My #1 guy on the want list. This guy is a dynamo and a one man pass rush. What’s so strange about his recruitment is that both Notre Dame and Tennessee are solidly convinced he’s theirs. He would be the crown jewel on defense if he goes to ND.
-RB Robert Hughes – With the commitments from Tate and Allen this isn’t as big a need, but he would definitely be a welcome addition. He has the attitude that Charlie Weis is looking for.
-DT Will Blackwell – Before Ian Williams said he was coming this was an essential must-get. I still view him as a huge priority as the numbers at DT are incredibly low and he would be a Derek Landri-type with a non-stop motor. You can’t have enough guys like that.
-OL Matt Romine – If he has any desire to leave home he will be Irish. However it’s always tough to pluck one out of Bob Stoops backyard. Some say he’s my lookalike so I’d love to see him in an Irish uniform.
-OL Matt Summers-Gavin – He would be a nice luxury to have. Thanks to Ty Willingham’s recruiting “efforts” the numbers on the OL are still pathetically low.
-CB Michael Williams – There was a time he was a green light, but you don’t hear much about him anymore. Ron English may have turned him for good.
-OLB Malcolm Smith – A lot of people thought ND was out of this race. Still it’s come to light that he thinks highly of Weis and the Irish and his brother Steve’s experience at USC may actually be a drawback to get his signature. He’s also a hell of a player and would be my sleeper pick of the class if he ends up here.
-DE Ben Martin – One of the first names to become prominent to Irish recruitniks, his recruitment has been quite an odyssey with dalliances with Tennessee and Florida, among others. Still after all the posturing it looks to come down to an Irish-OSU battle as it was in the beginning.

Red Light
-Athlete Joe McKnight – This might be an amber light as he’s yet to make an official trip to campus (scheduled for January). As we all know until a southern kid sees the Golden Dome it’s not over. Still would be surprising to end up with this speedster.
-DE Everson Griffen – While we made his final three he’s all but a USC lock.
-DE Martez Wilson – It looked like a lost cause, then we got a second wind when he came in for his official at the Banquet. ND must really covet him as they sent the entire staff to see him in Chicago a few days ago. Still it looks like the Zooker was able to sway another one to Champaign (hint to NCAA investigators: follow the money. See caption).
-DT Marvin Austin – The reddest of lights possible. He’s a Miami-USC type through-and-through.
-CB Ronald Johnson – A freakish athlete who has yet to qualify for any school. No way he even gets past Dan Saracino even if he wanted to come here.
-OL Lee Ziemba – Doesn’t want to leave home. No shot.
-S Major Wright – I could be wrong, but I don’t think I am. If we get Smith and Edwards who cares really?
-DT Jason Peters- Got in really late with Peters. Thought we had a chance due to his serious desire to be a student-athlete and we have ample opportunity at DT, but alas it appears he’s destined to be a Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket
-WR Deonte Thompson – Ha. Don’t make me laugh.

While the recruiting game is a crazy one that can take some hair-pin turns (i.e. Arrelious Benn & Gary Gray) this is the best info I’ve been able to gather. As always it will be gut-wrenching to geeks like myself who live for this stuff. If you’re not a hard-core recruiting follower be sure to tune into the U.S. Army All-American Game on January 6th on NBC at 1pm where a whole lot of guys on this list will be declaring their college choices. Should be a good one for Irish fans!