M in Anthony Barr's top 5?
Brian mentioned this on the front page; anyone else just as surprised by this? My guess is we're still not likely to get him, but it would be a hell of a pickup.
Since we're on the topic, I'm all for keeping the dude at running back. Not right for this offense? Maybe, but just imagine running a triple option with Barr in the Schmidt role -- AN OFFENSE THAT WILL GIVE DEFENSES NIGHTMARES FOR YEARS TO COME MUAHAHAHA.
Seriously though, the thought of a guy his size running the ball just brings a smile to my face.
August 18th, 2009 at 2:42 PM ^
nevermind..
August 18th, 2009 at 2:20 PM ^
From the LA Times: "That’s because Barr is the son of former Notre Dame running back Tony Brooks, who was named Gatorade High School Player of the Year out of Tulsa, Okla., in 1986."
The only Barr who played for Michigan was the recently deceased Terry Barr.
August 18th, 2009 at 2:23 PM ^
Well, that indicates that Barr's interest isn't based on family meaning that he might have more genuine interest than I would expect compared to if the kid had family that went here.
Hopefully that means that he's not really interested in ND and is more listing them because of his father and not necessarily an actual personal interest in them. Somehow I doubt it though.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:11 PM ^
His mom also went to St Marys and his uncle Reggie was pretty good while he was at ND. :)
If he doesn't sign with ND there is something very wrong with our recruiting this year.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:18 PM ^
I like that he's waiting until the end of the season to make his choice. If Michigan has a good year and ND slips a little bit - and fires the coaching staff, that could really help our chances.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:53 PM ^
Yeah and its an understandable approach for any recruit to take. It also seemed to be the message the coaching staff was using early in the spring that they weren't pushing for commitments early and that no one should feel they need to jump on board now or be scared to lose their spot. That probably didn't apply to QB but unless the recruit was sure he was done the staff wouldn't take the commitment.
That said some were nervous as to why he hadn't yet verbaled all the way back in March and the feedback we got was that he really wasn't concerned at all with recruiting and that he already knew where he was going.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:19 PM ^
Well, sounds like ND is more in it than I'd hoped. Irish, it sounds like you're fairly informed on the kid, what do you think are the odds that he ends up at your school? And what do you make of the sudden addition of Michigan to his list, is it just to add a big name or might there really be something there?
August 18th, 2009 at 4:01 PM ^
Who knows why UM was listed. I haven't read the article which the 5 schools are listed in but the reporter could have just asked for 5 schools, if it was a UM reporter he might have been just telling him what he wanted to hear (pretty common occurrence) recently he listed 5 schools all but ND was on the west coast. He may even be genuinely interested and all the ND stuff was cannon fodder.
As for our chances I don't really like to give numbers, but Petey down at USC has put little effort into recruiting him, and its not out of a lack of interest on usc's part.
August 18th, 2009 at 4:17 PM ^
and was from a Cali newspaper aticle. I believe he attends Gerg's old HS if my memory serves me correctly.
August 18th, 2009 at 4:29 PM ^
I will have to check it out, thanks. Yeah he has visited ucla a couple times, most likely because slick rick's son goes to loyola too.
August 18th, 2009 at 2:22 PM ^
I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say that I wouldn't mind getting this kid.
I'm not exactly sure how hard it is to transition from RB to LB but I don't imagine it's the easiest thing in the world (although I do expect that it's significantly easier than other position switches). It would be very interesting to see what the coaches did with a talent like his. He's got the size to be a very good LB. Since he's was a RB for his school and apparently destroyed the competition, I assume that he's got some very good speed too.
Personally, I'd tell the kid that he can try either spot but if he's not working in one position that they'll switch him over to the other. That of course assumes that he doesn't have his heart set on either position. If he does, then let him play whichever one he wants; if you try to force him to switch he probably won't play as hard, won't be as good, and is a higher risk to transfer.
And for those stargazers out there (of which I am to at least some degree) he's 21 on the Rivals 100 and the last 5 star is 17, as long as he stays where he is he should definitely get that 5th star (maybe even in the next re-rank if he doesn't drop).
The problem with this, of course, is that we're competing with USC, UCLA, and Cal. All 3 are in California giving them a significant advantage. Does anyone know if we even have a coach assigned to California?
I'm also always wary when a team suddenly shows up on a kid's radar. I tend to think that those teams are generally in last place amongst the kid's leaders. Who knows though, I think Fred Jackson is a great RB coach so maybe they can form a nice bond and we can get him.
If he doesn't sign with us though, I'd hope he'd go to UCLA.
August 18th, 2009 at 2:41 PM ^
I just say running back because I want at least one running back that can go all "Reagan SMASH" on defenses.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:03 PM ^
Rivals has him listed as an Athlete (#3 overall), 6'4", 230 lbs with a 4.5 forty. That's freak of nature, scary good. Let him play whatever position he wants, just get him on the team.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:16 PM ^
We're recruiting him as an OLB who may move to Dline or could even become a safety. It looks to definitely be defense, but it will just depend on how his body fills out, on where he will play.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:13 PM ^
It would be awesome if we could get him on the team, the guy is just a beast but sadly I don't think we are going to get him.
August 18th, 2009 at 3:25 PM ^
We need to think happy thoughts.
August 18th, 2009 at 6:50 PM ^
Just my uninformed epinion. I'd rather he ends up with Slick Neuweasel out in Westwood, though.
August 18th, 2009 at 10:52 PM ^
He's 100% Irish as long as we don't tank this season.