Chat Transcript: More Moore, more NIL and counting stars at Notre Dame
Eric Hansen: Welcome to Notre Dame Football Live Chat. Please remember to include your name and hometown with your questions. Let;s get started.
Marie from Atlanta: Hi Eric. I hope you’re having a fantastic week. With NIL running amuck, do you foresee a scenario in which the conferences develop their own rules regarding NIL, which must be followed in order to play in the conference with severe penalties if not followed, as a way to circumvent the NCAA ‘s spinelessness and to regain control of the situation? Included in those rules to prevent over-signing and pushing kids out, now that class size limit has been eliminated. Do you feel that scholarships should be guaranteed for four years if the player remains in good academic and personal standing? Finally, on an unrelated topic, if Dante Moore continues to drag out his recruitment, do you think ND gets to a point where they say, 'We really want you, but we are going to aggressively pursue others. And if they are interested we may take them. And you will miss out, or we will have two QBs in the class.' Who will have to compete for the job? Thanks for the great Insights and for hosting the chat.
Eric Hansen: Hi Marie, doing great here. Hope the same for you in Atlanta. There's a lot to unpack here. Let me attack these one at a time.
I'm going to write extensively about NIL in Part IV of our Big Picture Series. That's scheduled to run late next week. Part II (Arms race) will run this Friday. ... I don't see the NCAA enforcing NIL effectively — at least not without court challenges. There's also very sudden momentum and an urgency for Power 5 schools to break away from the NCAA. If that happens, it WILL be up to the conferences. The added benefit of that is you're on more solid legal ground when it comes to antitrust challenges in court. These next few months are going to be really interesting to watch in this regard. There is a consensus among Power 5 teams for NIL to be reined in, but there's not unanimity.
Yes, I would think there's going to be oversigning and abuses in that regard. It's hard to guarantee a four-year scholarship with the portal. Does the contract only go one way? Again, this is something the conferences are going to have to take control of.
OK, let's get into the Dante Moore topic. Whether people feel it's a good idea or not, the Irish are essentially all in on five-star prospect Moore as their quarterback in the 2023 class. If that doesn't work out, I'm sure they have QBs committed to other schools in mind who they like and who they feel they have a shot at. There won't be an elite uncommitted QB left by the time Moore makes a commitment somewhere. I maintain ND feels good about eventually landing him no matter how long it takes. At this point. the reason why I can buy into this strategy is: 1) ND believes Moore is a QB that can help them win a national title. 2) The Irish are well-positioned with more than one elite QB in the 2024 class. With Tyler Buchner only being a sophomore this season, adding a five-star QB in 2024 and not in 2023 is not the end of the world as we know it.
Nick from Granger: Five stars vs. three stars for 2023? We have one five and zero three stars to date. Do we end up with more five, three or the same for both? Would be awesome to stay the course on all four and fives.
Eric Hansen: There really aren't many three-stars in play with visits scheduled so far in June. And you could argue that the ones who are — OL Elijah Paige, RB Jeremiyah Love and CB Micah Bell -- could all end up as four-stars before the cycle ends. As for five-stars, Rivals has only designated 16 five-stars so far. That number should be 32 at the end of the cycle. They're pursuing current five-stars Dante Moore (No. 6 overall) and Samuel M'Pemba (No. 7). Commit Brenan Vernon is player No. 17, so he'd be in line to be a five-star if his rating holds. Safety Caleb Downs (No. 24) and running back Richard Young (No. 28) are visiting this month. That doesn't mean they'll get them, but they're at least in play. LB commit Drayk Bowen (34) is close enough to the top 32 to make the jump. So are targets LB Jaiden Ausberry (39) and DT Jason Moore (44). So I would anticipate the five-stars winning out.
Jonathan Thie from Sioux Falls, S.D.: Eric thank you so much for your chats and expertise. I really enjoy them. Ddo you think there is a realistic chance that Notre Dame does not get a ninth scholarship player at wide receiver and uses Michael Mayer and Crhis Tyree in the slot along with Eli Raridon and Holden Staes???
Eric Hansen: Jonathan, thank you. Yes, there's a chance Notre Dame does NOT add at the wide receiver position, even though they've been trying. In part 1 of my series with Jack Swarbrick, I highlighted that it's almost impossible to get a junior or senior with no degree to align with the admissions department. So then you're looking mostly at grad transfers and, to a lesser extent, freshmen and sophomores. There haven't been any great matches with mutual interest to this point and there's nothing overly promising on the horizon. The positional and formational flexibility of Chris Tyree, Jadarian Price, Michael Mayer and Eli Raridon do give the Irish more options that it would first appear. So yes, you're right on point with that thought.
Jeff from Phoenix: Hey Eric, really enjoying all the coverage from your group. My questions are regarding the recent news that the NCAA Division I Council announced that it is waiving the initial counter scholarship limits (25 per year) for two years within Division I football. First, do I have this correct and does this mean ND can go over 25 scholarships in 2023 and 2024? With NCAA president Mark Emmert leaving by June 2023, could this policy change with a new president and create planning problems for that 2024 class? Will this make it easier for ND to work in the transfer portal or is the portal largely restricted at ND by academic transfer requirements? Whoa, getting close to the question limit ... thanks!
Eric Hansen: Hi Jeff. Thanks for the feedback. We appreciate you. And you are WAY under the 17-part limit (though anything over seven makes my head hurt — still good). So yes, this is in effect for the 2023 and 2024 recruiting cycles. It was done to address the massive attrition of some schools with outgoing portal transfers. And yes, ND can go over the 25-player limit in a signing period without loopholes. The overall 85-scholarship limit remains in place. I think ND will largely take advantage using high school prospects and dabble in the portal for incoming transfers when there's a hole in the roster. You're right, that's not always easy. ND is an attractive destination, but matches from the portal beyond grad transfers can be challenging. The change really has nothing to do with Mark Emmert, so there won't be a 2024 cycle reversal. In 2025 and beyond, I highly doubt it. I think it's here to stay.
Paul from Wichita, Kan.: Has Dante Moore silently committed? It seems entirely too calm throughout ND land when he is taking this much time. What do you think is happening? What are the chances he commits to ND? Thanks.
Eric Hansen: Paul, I don't think there's a silent commitment. And if there were, it's inconsistent that ND would put up with Dante taking official (paid) visits to other schools (they do tolerate unofficial ones). Their read is that Moore will end up at ND. They could be wrong. I still would say with 70 percent certainty that he's Irish — eventually.
Dan from Plymouth, Mich.: Hi guys! I'm back this week with another O-Line question. I am intrigued by the potential move by Jarrett Patterson to guard from center. Do you think that will really happen? And if so, what guard spot does Patterson fill? And are you hearing if Rocco Spindler might factor in the mix this fall? Thanks!
Eric Hansen: Hi Dan. Bring on the O-line questions. I have not brought up the Jarrett Patterson speculation in story form or on our board yet, because I am not convinced YET that it's a likely option. At least one other site has, and it is viable. ... So here's a couple of pathways where that could happen. O-line coach Harry Hiestand wants his best five linemen on the field, and he'll retro-fit them to positions. Joe Alt and Blake Fisher are easy choices to place at tackle and are also in the best five. So what about the guards and center? Zeke Correll surged at center under HH this spring and with Patterson out. Andrew Kristofic at left guard did not have as strong a spring as Correll had at center. Now, he could bounce back this summer, so ...
Let's say he does not. What do you do with Correll? Play him at center when Patterson comes back healthy and move perhaps the best returning center in college football to guard? Or keep Patterson at center and let Correll and Kristofic battle it out at left guard, which happened last year? Harry told me in the spring that Rocco Spindler is also good enough where he could overtake an established guard, but it hadn't happened by the end of the spring. I'm not sure right guard Josh Lugg lit the world on fire in spring, but he was physically compromised at times. I like Patterson at center calling out protections and fronts. We'll see if HH agrees. But the guard battles, however they play out, are going to be VERY interesting.
Len from the Jersey Shore: Hi Eric. Thanks for hosting. I was trying to get a head start on the first game of the season, so I found Buckeye talk and listened to see what they were saying about the Sept. 3 game. And guess who was their guest? None other than Eric Hansen. It was a fun listen. Good job by you, as always. My question is a general college football one concerning the recent verbal feud between Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher. Years ago Wellington Mara, the owner of the football Giants, agreed to share revenue with the entire NFL. The Giants could get, as the New York team, a lot more money than other franchises. The SEC did a phenomenal marketing job and put forth a great business model to promote that conference creating money and notoriety for its members. And now Saban is concerned about parity as soon as another team's leverage has passed his. Is he trying to head off the money from Stanford tech billionaires? Isn't he a little late to the parity party? Your thoughts?
Eric Hansen: Len. Thanks for the feedback on the OSU podcast. ... Nick Saban used the word parity, but his issue was cheating. The misuse of NIL. That was his accusation, as I see it. I think a lot of people can get behind that concept. Where it got ugly was in Jimbo's denying there was cheating, Jimbo Fisher implied that Alabama was doing some of that PRE-NIL and that he had evidence of such.
Matt from Kansas City, Mo.: Coach Hansen, can you help me understand better what makes a "dynamic" recruiter. I hear all about this coach is a dynamic or (insert synonym here) recruiter. I imagine all coaches talk to prospects and travel. What makes someone like Al Washington or Tommy Rees, or Marcus Freeman really stand out from peers?
Eric Hansen: Coach Matt. Longtime recruiting analyst Tom Lemming (he's older than me!) tells me constantly that being a great recruiter starts with hard work and perseverance. I'll add to that the ability to evaluate talent and fit, the ability to build strong relationships — where it's very difficult for a prospect to tell you no, the ability to build trust and .. authenticity. Kids can spot a phony. Every recruit we talk to lauds Marcus Freeman for his genuine interest in their lives beyond football and the frequency that he keeps in touch.
Tom from Kennesaw, Ga.: Hi Eric, I hope that you have a great summer. Confidence by a team in the team's QB is an important factor in the overall success of any given season. Do you think that Tyler Buchner has shown enough in his play thus far to generate that confidence? Given his role as a backup last season, if he wins the starting job as most expect, how important do you think that it will be for him to get off to a good start in the first 3-4 games? Even with a possible loss at OSU, what do you expect him to see in his play that says he is a playoff caliber QB? I am presuming that he is well respected by his teammates, what do you say? Thanks again for all of your hard work to give us the news behind the scenes. What is your favorite food and two sides at a summer cookout??? Mine are burgers, with dogs a close second. The sides are a good potato salad and baked beans. Go Irish!!!
Eric Hansen: Tom. I hope you have a great summer yourself. ... I think one of the reasons Marcus Freeman didn't frame the spring quarterback competition as Tyler Buchner's to lose was so that the team could see who the better QB was when each was on equal footing with equal opportunity. ... As far as getting off to a good start, that certainly builds confidence. And given that the best four defenses that the Irish face in 2022 (based on 2021 rankings) could be in games 8-11. So he's going to have to be better in November than he is in September. The qualities that playoff quarterbacks share are a very high passing-efficiency ranking and minimal turnovers. Think top 15 nationally in passing efficiency. I do think Tyler Buchner has the respect of his teammates. And I think Drew Pyne does too — for his work ethic and attitude.
Favorite food at a BBQ? 1. A boneless ribeye steak, medium rare, and No. 2. Ribs. Sides? 1. Baked beans. 2. Mac 'n' Cheese, with a close third bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers on the grill.
Tom from Maryland: One thing that really shocked me in part one of the Big Picture Series was the comment about the player who transferred from Northwestern. You implied that some of his credits did not align with the admission department at ND. If this is the case with Northwestern, then ND needs to make some changes in admissions policy. He wasn't coming from some institution that offered "basket weaving." I have some personal experience with this issue. In 1980 I decided I wanted to transfer from my college to another one. I had taken Financial and Intermediate Accounting and received an A in both classes. The school I wanted to attend would not accept these credits, even though they used the same textbooks that I had used. I was indignant and thought it was preposterous. I concluded the school was run by elite snobs. I took my Division II ability to a different school and received my degree from them.
Eric Hansen: Tom, thanks for sharing your story. ... I was floored when Brandon Joseph told me about his credit transfer ordeal. I can understand setting high standards, but there needs to be reason applied. And I believe from talking to Jack Swarbrick that he feels it's his job to talk to the deans and look at the credits with a more open mind -- not compromise standards, but look at them more fairly.
Frank Leehung from Timberland N.H.: I hope all is well. My question relates to Xavier Watts, who became one of my favorite defensive athletes to watch late in the season last year. A dynamic playmaker with the ability to come up and play run support as well as provide a strong, fluid presence in coverage. With new blood in the secondary in Brandon Joseph, veterans like Houston Griffith remaining, and other younger emerging talent at the position, how do you anticipate Watts' role panning out this upcoming season? Has there been any sense of how he is being used thus far through X amount of practices and live looks? Also, excited to see Ramon Henderson play more and continue to develop haha! Good things on the horizon..
Eric Hansen: Hi Frank, thank you. I've got the Xavier Watts bug too, and am fascinated by his career path to this point. The fact he wasn't flipped back to receiver in the spring (and he had the choice) speaks to both his and the coaching staff's belief in his future at safety. Joseph, DJ Brown and Griffith all could be gone in 2023, which means Ramon Henderson and Watts likely as the starters that season, with Justin Walters, Peyton Bowen, etc., providing some quality depth. When I talk to other ND players (on offense), they rave about Watts' tackling and physicality. The area that needs the most work is coverage, which will come with experience. Safeties coach Chris O'Leary believes he can play at least five in a rotation. So Watts would be a part of that plan.
Hugh from Tennessee: With regards to depth at wide receiver, are the Irish still pursuing transfer portal candidates or is the roster essentially set at that position. Also, what do we think the probability is that Tobias Merriweather is able to secure some playing time this fall? Thx!
Eric Hansen: Hugh, Notre Dame is in a holding pattern at WR, but one may have emerged today that I haven't has a chance to check out yet (Charlie Jones of Iowa). There are rumblings about perhaps 2023 WR commit Braylon James reclassifying and playing this fall, but I think that's really remote and I don't think it's a great idea. As far as Tobias, he's smart, confident, mature and fast. He's recently run a 10.93 100 meters and has been under 22 seconds in the 200. My questions would be: Does he have the physicality and can he assimilate the playbook quickly? I'd bet on him, not against him, for both. But realistically how much production is a freshman wide receiver going to give you? If he can get you 15-20 catches, that's significant.
Steve From DFW: Hi! How will our guard lineup shake out? Crowded with three who all need to play! Thanks!
Eric Hansen: I went through that earlier, but I wanted to mention that freshman Billy Schrauth -- who should be fully healthy from foot surgery come June -- may have the highest ceiling of any guard on the roster. But he is a true freshman.
Matt from LA: Do you have any insight on timelines for guys like Charles Jagusah, Monroe Freeling, Jason Moore, Jaden Greathouse, Micah Bell, and Micah Tease?
Eric Hansen: OK Matt. All six of those guys you mentioned are scheduled to visit in June. Freeling, Moore and Tease are coming the weekend (June 10-12) that all the previously committed 2023 guys are coming. That could move up a timeline or two. Greathouse and Bell come in the next weekend, with Jagusah likely coming for a weekday visit after that. I'd say of those five Moore is probably closest to a decision. Jagusah wants to take all his visits. I don't see these six dragging things into the fall.
Joey G. Philadelphia, Pa: Hi Eric, I’ve seen lately on some sites game predictions on upcoming season for Norte Dame. They range from 9-3 to 11-1. I can understand the optimism for the defense, but I have some doubts on offense. The O-line will need to be vastly improved from last year. Receiving corps needs to be healthy and show dramatic improvement from last year. Then there’s the QB. If it’s Buchner, he’ll need to improve on his passing in order to match production of Jack Coan from last year. So looking at what production we have coming back and the inexperience at QB, I’ll say 7-5 with losses being Ohio State, BYU,Clemson, USC and North Carolina.
Eric Hansen: Joey, it doesn't sound like you're making predictions for entertainment purposes only. The trick in making season win total predictions is projecting. Tyler Buchner's not going to be the QB he was last year. Neither is the offensive line. But determining HOW MUCH better is the secret sauce. And August training camp will provide additional information on ND and other teams. Right now I have ND as a 10-2 team. My mind may change in August.
Roger: When does summer camp start?
Eric Hansen: Ok Roger with no hometown, if you're talking about training camp? That starts in August. If you're talking about summer school? That starts June 13. The players have limited time with the coaches in the summer — some OTAs in June. But most of their time is spent with director of football performance Matt Balis in the weight room and then conducting players-only practice sessions with no pads.
David from New York: Thanks as always for these chats! My question. Why is Jimbo Fisher so irate about the Saban statements and news narrative about his recruiting class? Nothing illegal (I don’t think), and I was impressed reading about how organized they were with NIL packages. So why is he so insistent on trying to tell people NIL didn’t play a role in recruiting?
Eric Hansen: Because the implication is that NIL was applied for direct pay-for-play. And while there may be some legal loopholes, it's not as the rule was intended to be used. The NCAA has recently reiterated that Jimbo is offended over the suggestion that A&M is doing something unsavory.
Jose from Albuquerque, N.M.: Eric, thank you for taking my question. I've asked two previous questions in the chats, mostly centered around NIL/portal. You've graciously answered both questions and the theme of both answers centered around NIL not really being the issue — transfer credits, etc., being the bigger concern. Jack Swarbrick echoed that in a recent interview. I'm anxious to hear your personal opinion on the following: Why does Notre Dame pretend its student-athletes are the same as the students who get in based solely on academic achievement? If the university would be willing to admit that the vast majority of scholarship athletes wouldn't be admitted to the school if it wasn't for football (IE solely on academic achievement), why are they creating a "worst of both worlds" situation where you handicap yourself just enough to not be able to recruit the kids who could win a national championship but are lenient enough where the kids you do grant admission to in large part aren't on par academically with a "normal" student?
Eric Hansen: Jose, in answering your question, I am not co-signing on some of the phrasing in it. I disagree with some of that, but let me answer your question without delvinginto that. First, let's see how ND finishes the 2023 recruiting cycle. If the Irish end up with a top 3 class, does that make the question irrelevant? Second, it's not just about the admissions bar. If you let someone into Notre Dame who can't compete in the classroom or doesn't have the motor to work hard for it, then what do you gain when they flunk out in a year? Notre Dame — and this includes the coaching staff — evaluates a prospect's desire and ability to compete in the classroom. There aren't "jock" majors to hide in. So to admit someone who isn't a fit is a disservice to the academic mission of the university as well as to that individual.
Tom from Miami: Eric, do you think ND will put the players’ names on the jerseys? Seems like a great idea considering NIL opportunities.
Eric Hansen: Tom. I haven't asked (but I will), and I think it's kind of a cool idea that doesn't take away from the team dynamic.
Tony, from Lake Mary, Fla.: Hey Eric, glad to have these back. Hope you got a breather. My question I likely item No. 4,782 on your to-do list, but do you what hand signal the stadium is supposed to make during the playing of the 1812 Overture at the beginning of the fourth quarter. This is the one where we make the gesture of the initials, or some variation of them, and move your hands up and down with the time of the piece? I have been trying to play around with some options
Eric Hansen: Tony, I have to be honest with you. I should have left this question in the queue. Usually when the overture is happening, I'm making a mad dash for the men's room. Maybe one of the other chatheads can help. I know there have been times where the students made the L for Lou and the W for Wlllingham. M's and F's (for Marcus Freeman) seem like more of a challenge. Maybe just a generic chop?
Cheryl from Royse City, Texas: If ND doesn’t land Moore, which QB should ND try to get???
Eric Hansen: If they were to circle back to committed QBs who are elite and who they possibly have a shot at, I'd look at Jackson Arnold from Denton, Texas, currently committed to Oklahoma.
Damon from Nashville: Eric, thanks for doing these chats. Speaking of NIL, what is the best way (if I was interested in obtaining a player’s autograph, for example), to go about doing that?
Eric Hansen: Damon, shoot me your email, because I need to ask someone at ND. I know some of the players have an email listed for NIL inquiries on their Twitter or Instagram accounts, but a lot of them do not. My email is ehansen@insidendsports.com. Good question.
Pete Cuozzo, ND ‘82 from Naples Fla.: Hi Eric, last week was 40 years since my ND graduation. We didn’t know how to spell “NIL” in those days. I wanted to ask you an NIL question today, but I got too stomach sick attempting it. So on to “recruiting, recruiting, recruiting” (excellent Part One in your Big Picture series BTW). What do you see the Irish having to do to SUSTAIN the recruiting success/momentum we’ve achieved under Marcus Freeman’s leadership (e.g., casting a wide net, multi-coach interaction with a recruit, early offers, etc.)? Thanks … as always.
Eric Hansen: Pete, thanks for the feedback on the series. Part 2 comes Friday, Part 3 early next week and Part 4 late next week. NIL makes my body hurt too sometimes. To sustain recruiting? All the things you mentioned in your question, PLUS evolving with NIL (sorry) as it evolves. That means doing it within the rules but ND continuing to seek out new initiatives that maximize opportunities for its student-athletes. The second part of it is win. If ND becomes a perennial 8-4 team, Marcus Freeman isn't going to come off quite as charming.
Bob from Lansing. Eric, the NCAA came about because the universities could/would not regulate themselves. The NCAA has been a self-serving, dysfunctional organization that has arbitrarily punished some schools/individual athletes while ignoring others. With all the guardrails off with NIL plus the ongoing side deals, it now seems that a school like Notre Dame trying to sell the 40-year investment with a real degree is largely out of the hunt for the five-stars who see coming out of high school millions to be first and last an athlete. Wonder if you truly think that coach Freeman can sell enough of the top five-stars consistently to be student-athletes without providing the big $? And is it truly important to win national championships or to develop champion people of mind, body, spirit.
Eric Hansen: Bob, it's not that Notre Dame won't provide avenues for five-star athletes to make money on their name, image and likeness ONCE THEY GET TO Notre Dame. It's that they won't offer money as an inducement to sign. Those are two different things. One is within the rules. One is not. The 2023 recruiting cycle is like nothing we've ever seen. 2024 may have an even different dynamic. So for me to talk in absolutes would be disingenuous. But ND is on a trajectory to have its best recruiting class since the Lou Holtz/Vinny Cerrato years. So in an incomplete sample size, Marcus's formula is working. As far as national title vs. development of championship people, Marcus Freeman is of the opinion it's not one of the other. it's both. Is he right? We're going to find out soon.
Eric Hansen: OK, that's going to have to do it for today. I've got another commitment coming up. Thanks for all the great questions. With all the big recruiting weekends ND has coming up in June, we'll do a couple of these next month.
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