Gunner Kiel re-opens recruitment, plans a visit
Per 247 Sport and Wilfong, Gunner Kiel has re-opened his recruitment and planned a visit (presumably to Notre Dame, since it's posted on the ND 247 board).
I presume Michigan won't try to jump back in, but you never know.
EDIT: Per Tim Sullivan at Rivals, there are rumors that Michigan coaches may visit a 2012 QB during the bye week. Query who that might be.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:12 AM ^
Sucks for Indiana, but not to surprising... being it is Indiana.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:40 AM ^
I would be surprised if Indiana is actually surprised by this. But at least they still have those Colts, right?
October 21st, 2011 at 12:19 PM ^
I lived in Michigan every Autumn until this year and had to live with the Lions. This year I moved to Indiana and have to live with the Colts. If past results mean anything, I plan on having a long stay in Dallas in the future.
October 21st, 2011 at 1:22 PM ^
If you would be so kind as to move to Green Bay?
October 21st, 2011 at 1:25 PM ^
perhaps Columbus if you could keep your sanity.
October 21st, 2011 at 1:30 PM ^
That would work since we are talking about pro teams with payrolls and everything.
October 21st, 2011 at 5:41 PM ^
I saw what you did there. Well played sir.
October 22nd, 2011 at 12:50 AM ^
No please not my Cowboys :)
October 21st, 2011 at 2:25 PM ^
It was strange seing their logo so high up on the recruiting lists.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:13 AM ^
Sucks for Indiana. Was hoping the kid would end up there. But I certainly can't blame him for looking elsewhere. The Hoosiers have lost to two mid-majors and have to win out to be bowl eligible - probably not the progress he was looking for under Kevin Wilson.
October 21st, 2011 at 12:46 PM ^
I'm with you here. While my better judgement wanted him to go to Michigan or at the very least a team Michigan never had to worry about, I was quietly happy when he committed to IU. I think on the inside, many of us feel sorry for Indiana and wouldn't mind seeing them being somewhat competitve on not just a B1G but a national level for once, even if only for a couple years at time. I though Kevin Wilson would be the guy, especially landing a top tier recruit like Gunner. Alas, it's never meant to be when in comes to IU.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:14 AM ^
... and now wants to talk to Beilema.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:14 AM ^
October 21st, 2011 at 11:17 AM ^
His brother Dusty is one of the many QBs that have lined up under center for IU this season. He probably took one look at the repeated beatings those guys have taken and said, "F that."
October 21st, 2011 at 11:44 AM ^
Dusty and Gunner...what a name duo.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:47 AM ^
I prefer Colt and Case
October 21st, 2011 at 2:40 PM ^
I perfer Champ and Boss.
October 21st, 2011 at 12:34 PM ^
You also have to realize, IU is 40 minutes from Columbus, IN. There are still athletes that consider proximity to home important.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:15 AM ^
Sucks to be IU. But Gunner had to notice, not only do they SUCK, but... after him, the next-highest recruit to IU was all 3 starts -- not a single 4* in sight. So the suckiness was going to continue into the future.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:17 AM ^
Damn. I really hope Kiel doesn't go to ND.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:23 AM ^
I personally enjoy blue chip, quarterback recruits who underachieve at Notre Dame.
October 21st, 2011 at 1:04 PM ^
in the first place - how does one underachieve against Army and Navy every year?
October 21st, 2011 at 2:48 PM ^
Ahem, By going to Notre Dame!
October 21st, 2011 at 5:09 PM ^
said Ron Powlus would win 4 (or some other ridiculous number) Heismans at ND, so Gunner wants to get a piece of that action. ND QB = instant Heisman.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:18 AM ^
October 21st, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^
I doubt it helps, but hopefully Payton can talk to him
October 21st, 2011 at 11:21 AM ^
Gawd DAMMIT!!!!!!
Oh, wait, wrong blog
October 21st, 2011 at 11:28 AM ^
So I'm not surprised.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:25 AM ^
October 21st, 2011 at 11:26 AM ^
This isn't that surprising given that it was a bit of a shock when he chose them in the first place and they haven't looked very good at all.
It's interesting that his first visit will be to ND. ND was one of the favorites when his recruiting started, but they didn't even make his final list of schools. That being said, ND doesn't have a QB in this class and Rees has been somewhat erratic, so maybe he sees an opportunity there.
OU and Alabama were his other finalists. OU has a commitment from Trevor Knight, who is a four-star to Rivals, 247 and ESPN and three-star to Scout. Alabama has a commitment from Alec Morris, who is a three-star. Both of those guys committed right around when Kiel made his decision, but are hardly blue-chippers.
I'll be interested to see if Michigan jumps into the picture, but given our other needs and the caliber of players still considering us, I'd be surprised if it happens. Still, if the best QB in the class is available, I think the coaching staff would still take a look.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:31 AM ^
Kiel must have realized he likes his body to stay in one piece. On a sidenote is really quiet on the recruiting front? Haven't heard anything from where the coaches are visiting. Read a rumour about Dunn possibly visiting for Purdue. Nothing else has really surfaced.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:32 AM ^
This guy just needs to be in the spotlight all the time. He needs to just wait until signing day.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:43 AM ^
hehehehe
October 21st, 2011 at 11:50 AM ^
October 21st, 2011 at 11:56 AM ^
ha, kid will never end up at ND, just coming to watch a game and hang out with the rest of the top recruits in the country
October 21st, 2011 at 11:59 AM ^
October 21st, 2011 at 12:06 PM ^
Hey Irish , why do you think that? Just curious
October 21st, 2011 at 12:54 PM ^
Personally, I wouldn't be totally shocked if he "re-opened" to take some free visits, see some good games, and then recommit to IU.
October 21st, 2011 at 1:44 PM ^
That wouldn't be too surprising, see a bunch of great looking campus', get treated like mini royalty for some programs, and fly around the country watching football games
October 21st, 2011 at 2:35 PM ^
"Sure, I'll take a free ticket to the first night game in South Bend in 20-ish years, against USC"
"Why yes, I'll take that free trip to Tuscaloosa for the LSU/Alabama game"
"Hey Oklahoma, any chance you can get me on the sideline for the Bedlam game?"
I mean, I sure as hell would take some of those opportunities. It's not like IU is going to say "go eff yourself" if he takes visits and then wants to recommit, his spot isn't going to fill up.
October 22nd, 2011 at 2:31 AM ^
I don't understand why all recruits don't take their five official visits, if they get the invitations. I think it would prepare them better for the College gameday (and otherwise) experience, and help prepare them to play the game the following year, even if they've already decided which school they will attend. Why sit around your high school for the weekend?
October 21st, 2011 at 11:51 AM ^
Notre Dame is where 5 star QB's go to wilt into obscurity. The few that don't provide great entertainment to the rest of the ND-hating college football world when said QB's NFL Draft stock plummets on draft day whilst the ESPN camera captures a new low of dejection with each successive pick. The humor continues through the QB's first and second year in the league, and only ceases when Colt McCoy/Cam Newton/someone else is picked to replace yet another epic ND QB failure.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:56 AM ^
October 21st, 2011 at 12:00 PM ^
haha, this is so awesome
October 22nd, 2011 at 2:00 PM ^
Does it fit it? He sounds more like a pocket guy to me, though it looks like he can run for touchdowns, I get the impression that's more 'Tebow' than 'Denard' running.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:46 AM ^
And this surprises people because?
October 21st, 2011 at 11:51 AM ^
October 21st, 2011 at 11:47 AM ^
If he doesn't go to Michigan, then I will actually be a little disappointed that he wont be at Indiana. I was looking forward to having that kind of talent play for a program like IU, and how it would affect their future.
Hope he finds the right fit though. (In Ann Arbor?) cough cough..
October 21st, 2011 at 11:53 AM ^
Michigan coaches are visiting him this week, FWIW.
October 21st, 2011 at 11:54 AM ^
Obviously it would seem ND would be a front runner, but according to our QB numbers, we really could use a QB in this class. Probably a long shot here, but there's always hoping. Maybe someone anonymous can send Kiel some photo's of Purple Face blowing up at his QB in the USF game.