Recruiting Rant

The time is almost here. 21 Days, 10 hours, 44 minutes, and 33 seconds to be exact, for National Signing Day. The latest player rankings, star status, and team rankings have just come out again, and one thing is pretty much constant. Notre Dame is # 1 without a doubt, unless you are ESPN (surprise, surprise!).

According to Rivals.com and Scout.com, Notre Dame has the top recruiting class assesembled. SEC foes, Georgia and Alabama, are both two and three in both rankings. Below is a more detailed description of the rankings:

Rivals Rankings
1.) Notre Dame 3 (5*), 15 (4*), 3.86 (star avg.)
2.) Georgia 3 (5*), 13 (4*), 3.72
3.) Alabama 2 (5*), 15 (4*), 3.65
4.) Florida St. 2 (5*), 11 (4*), 3.75
5.) Miami 2 (5*), 11 (4*), 3.26
6.) Texas 0 (5*), 14 (4*), 3.59
7.) Florida 3 (5*), 9 (4*), 3.72
8.) UCLA 0 (5*), 13 (4*), 3.62
9.) LSU 1 (5*), 11 (4*), 3.57
10.) Ohio St. 2 (5*), 10 (4*), 3.67

Scout Rankings
1.) Notre Dame 7 (Top 100), 4 (5*), 14 (4*), 4.00 (star avg.)
2.) Alabama 3 (Top 100), 2 (5*), 14 (4*), 3.62
3.) Georgia 4 (Top 100), 3 (5*), 11 (4*), 3.71
4.) LSU 2 (Top 100), 1 (5*), 10 (4*), 3.52
5.) Texas A&M 0 (Top 100), 0 (5*), 9 (4*), 3.27
6.) Miami 5 (Top 100), 3 (5*), 4 (4*), 3.15
7.) Texas 5 (Top 100), 2 (5*), 11 (4*), 3.70
8.) Washington 2 (Top 100), 1 (5*), 7 (4*), 3.16
9.) Ohio St. 8 (Top 100), 5 (5*), 6 (4*), 3.83
10.) UCLA 3 (Top 100), 1 (5*), 9 (4*), 3.55

ESPN has the Irish in the Top 5 of their recruiting rankings, but it is with a twist. Teams that have the most ESPN 150 players and the most student-athletes that participated in the ESPNU Under Armor All-Star Game are ranked by that criteria. Don't get me wrong, the Irish are well represented in the ESPN 150. BUT, the player rankings are very interesting to say the least. I'll list the Rivals and Scout player rankings first, then compare that to the ESPN 150. I'll let you see for yourself, that Todd Lugenbill and ESPNU is once again a full of shit.

Rivals 100 Player Rankings
20. Kyle Rudolph
25. Dayne Crist
27. Michael Floyd
32. Ethan Johnson
37. Trevor Robinson
72. Jonas Gray
89. Darius Fleming

Scout Player Rankings
16. Michael Floyd
21. Kyle Rudolph
45. Dayne Crist
49. Ethan Johnson
56. Darius Fleming
58. Deion Walker
72. Steven Filer

ESPN 150
22. Dayne Crist
29. Michael Floyd
82. Ethan Johnson
86. Jamoris Slaughter
89. Jonas Gray
94. Darius Fleming
103. Deion Walker
105. Kyle Rudolph
115. Steven Filer
125. Braxston Cave

Crist's and Floyd's player rankings are pretty much the same across the board, but 5 star recruits Ethan Johnson and Kyle Rudolph at number 82 and 105? You have to be kidding me. Yes, we all know that Johnson was injured this year, but Rudolph did not hinder his ranking, whatsoever at the US Army All-American Game. I find it rather amusing that Rudolph, who is the # 1 Tight End recruit throughout all the recruiting services, except for ESPN. ESPN has someone who played in the Under Armor All-Star game as their #1 Tight End prospect.

Since Cyrus Gray verbally committed to Texas A&M yesterday, look for the Irish to get either linebacker Will Compton or offensive lineman Kenneth Page to come on board in the next few days. I wouldn't be surpised if Notre Dame lands both, as well as, Kapron Lewis-Moore, Mike Martin, or Datone Jones to the impressive list.

As the countdown gets closer and closer to NSD, rumblings of recruits bolting will become more and more prevelant. One thing that is for sure is the commitment each and every one of those 22 recruits have made bleeds Blue and Gold.