ND's team is getting a little long in the tooth as you can see here above. Hey, but they have the experience to get to a BCS game this season.
As a Michigan fan I like to keep updated on all their rivals recruiting classes. Do I have the hate for ND like I do for Ohio? Absolutely not, a matter a fact I have respect for their program because their fans don't wear jean shorts and jersey's. ND's alumni are known to greet the opposing teams bus as they pull up with handshakes and "welcome to South Bend". That's a far cry from ohio's tradition of a pepper spray to the face and a possible five on one beating after the game , win or lose. I love evaluating anyways and ND is off to a hot start. There is a surprise player on this list that tickles my fancy and may just have ND fans smiling after I point out some details to his game.
Steven Elmer - OL 6'6" 297lbs Midland, Mi
http://youtu.be/pmyo4_tOYgY
Half these highlights are Elmer destroying #54, it's pathetic. Elmer is massive at 6'6" and pushing 300lbs. Elmer plays very physical until the whistle blows. Watch him at the 1:02 mark, yea that's number 54 again. Excellent run blocker and adequate in pass protection also. He deals with the cut blocking real well, keeping his man at arms length or getting lower than him. All the potential is there for Elmer to become a starting lineman at ND in a couple years.
Hunter Bivin - OL 6'7" 287lbs Owensboro, Kentucky
http://youtu.be/nJGz6DN1CHw
WOW, here I was preparing to watch some fat hillbilly beating up on some chumps. I was sadly mistaken my friends. Bivin is one of the most well rounded OL I have seen on film up to this point. His pass protection skills are great, he gets out of stance and retreats with good balance and footwork. He's athletic, playing the center position at 6'7"? It's impressive the way he gets off the line after he snaps, he's out in front of everybody and watch the way protects the whole middle of the field. Then there is his run blocking, very solid, he's strong and gets low. His posture is nice and high when pass protecting, keeping his man at arms length and low during run blocking. At 290 lbs, Bivin can easily hold more weight and looks to be a true LT.
Colin McGovern - OL 6'6" 290 lbs New Lenox, Ill
http://youtu.be/1E4wGdHAaHY
Hate to throw a Michigan reference in here but I have to. I understand why Michigan offered all the same kids that ND did and McGovern is a perfect example. You would never know he is 6'6" by the way he plays, great pad level once again out of another recruit. He's physical, violent, strong and isn't lazy. He brutalizes a couple DL in this clip and then goes to the next level to wax a LB. This kid is passionate about his game and plays with attitude. Quick off the snap, drives his man out of the picture a couple times.
Mike McGlinchey - OL 6'7" 265lbs , Philadelphia
http://youtu.be/4aiG8ByzHnA
Short clip here, three plays. Your probably thinking what the hell can I see in three plays. Let me tell you, he needs weight. He is the biggest project of the four I think simply because he doesn't move guys the way the other three do. He gets stood up in one of these plays by a smaller player. He has the all the tools to work with and coaching is everything , his frame can't be coached. He also has another year of high school to grow into that tall body.
Jacob Matuska - TE 6'4" 220 lbs, Columbus, Ohio
http://youtu.be/5nSZpZYYFLs
Matuska is a nice player, first time I watched his film. He's getting no competition here. He's outrunning the whole secondary, out jumping the DB's on fades, yet if you pay attention you'll notice he catches the ball with his hands. He has a couple nice blocks also, pretty much manhandling the opposition. This is a kid who could flourish, he doesn't look to be challenged by these other kids. I know what league he plays in and it's not full of studs, but he looks to be one.
Corey Robinson - WR 6'4" 195 lbs, San Antonio
http://rivals.yahoo.com/video/recruiting-football/Corey-Robinson-commits-to-Notre-Dame-1103522
Yes this is my sleeper. This video is not a game situation and there are no pads on either but please tell me you see what I see. Watch his veteran move off the line, quick, his hands are deadly, watch him smack those corners hands down with authority, this DB stands no chance. Robinson looks like a NFL WR in this film. He runs strong, tight routes and his hands are soft. He kills the press coverage and does a great job of cutting his routes short against soft coverage. He absolutely glides when running, very controlled and soft upper body. In one clip he comes out of his route just in time for the ball to hit his hands and he doesn't miss a step. He can run, jump and uses his big body to shield dB's off. I love this kid and cannot believe he isn't higher than a three star recruit.
James Onwualu - WR/RB 6'1" 185 lbs , St. Paul Mn
http://youtu.be/TMxQS9PCt2g
Well, Onwualu does some good things on the field, decent vision and speed. He's not the total package by any means. Not big or physical enough to play RB and uses his body to catch the ball on a couple tough throws in this clip, just makes you wonder how much confidence he has in his hands in clutch situations. To say the least, I'm not very impressed with his skills, he's not close to being a game changer. Has potential to be a possession receiver but doesn't look to be much more than that.
Rashad Kinlaw - RB 6'1" 180 lbs , Absecon, NJ
http://youtu.be/ghAo1HYOrDg
Sometimes it's hard to judge a QB's RB skills because it's a totally different running situation. Kinlaw looks much bigger than 180 lbs and runs bigger also. He is the best athlete in all these clips which is why he is playing the QB position, they want the ball in his hands at all times. He does show good RB instincts, he's quick and fast and isn't timid about hitting the hole's quick. He will need size and still has another year to grow before hitting campus. Kinlaws athletic ability is at a higher level than Onwuala in my opinion and if RB isn't his primary position he does have the ability to play elsewhere.
Malik Zaire - QB 6'1" 190 lbs, Kettering, Ohio
http://youtu.be/3Nyd6LSCBtU
This kid makes great throw after great throw in this film. I was thinking I was going to see a run first pass second type of QB here, that wasn't the case. I said Kyle Kempt was the best QB in Ohio for 2013 but I'm not so sure after seeing these highlights. It doesn't take a genius to see the details of why I am thoroughly impresses by this young man. I will let you in a few, when the ball hits his hands from the initial snap, he gets the ball up by his ear and ready to release. His footwork in his drops are quick and controlled, his eyes down field. Watch his presence and poise in the pocket, immature, young QB's will tuck and run if the pocket starts to collapse quickly, not Zaire, he gets rid of the ball to an open receiver. Look at the throw on the run at the 1:00 mark, look at the 45 yd dart he throws at the 1:15 mark, right over the hand of an outstretched safety and in front of the cover man. The next pass is a 10 yd out that is perfectly thrown and a pass that only a handful of high school juniors can make. At 2:12 mark, that's a tight window folks, at 3:23 mark, looks off two receivers to find a third one wide open, at 3:38 mark, he escapes the trouble in the pocket with ease and keeps his head up and eyes downfield. This kid is beyond his years.
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