Pre Spring Notre Dame Football Player Pyramid

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1:01Spring football practice set. Notre Dame begins on Friday. It's almost here. We've got a Marcus Freeman press conference coming up this Wednesday and on the show Wednesday night. You'll hear plenty of Marcus Freeman's from that spring kickoff press conference. You can hardly wait. Are you more excited for the press conference or for the slightly upgraded underwear Olympics that is the first day of practice? Well, for me, it's the press conference because I can't be. That's right. I'm going to practice because I'm going to be in Columbus or God. Oh, yeah. I forgot. We always get to go to the first practice, which is great. I don't want anybody to think that it's not great to be able to attend practice and all of those things. But it's amazing how obsessed so many people are with the heights and weights of a bunch of dudes. Like, that's all the people really care about on the first day of practice. Yeah, and it shells. Oh, yeah, like, they're not even that.

2:02It's just helmets. That's it. Yeah, that's true. That's true. This helmet shorts in a jersey, you know, not even football. But they've been doing other stuff for weeks now. You know, it's like, This is true. Might as well just get out there and pat it up and go. Believe me. I'm with you on lucky this year. No, I don't. Because I still think there's rules about because this is the first official day and you can't have full bads until certain, you know, you're going to have so many practice. It's just, it's ridiculous is what it is. Joe wants to know if the loud typer will be there at the press conference. Good question. I don't know who that is in particular, but yes, the answer is always yes. I don't know who it is. Yeah, like, the time that it was really obvious was the Pete Bavocqua press conference. Okay. Hammering away. Man, and the person who I thought it might be because I didn't really notice it that much. Sure. While the press conference was going on,

3:04but the person I thought it might be was sitting in the front row. So, you know, like, closer to the microphone. But it was not him. I texted him. No, he was not typing during the press conference. So I believe him. I don't know. I'm not going to speculate on who it was. What we are going to do, though, is do our prespring Notre Dame football player pyramid. This is the top 10 players in a pyramid starting with the top player at the top of the pyramid. Then two players in the next tier, three players in the next year, four tape players in the bottom tier. Vince and I have each put together our pyramids. And I'm curious to see how close they are. I imagine are one or number, I think our number one will be the same. Who knows? But then I think our number two will definitely be on the next line. To me, it's the question of who's number three.

4:04Okay. Oh, the one and two could be turned around. Depends on who you are. I feel, I feel like I probably screwed this up. Okay. I'm sure that there's people that I forgot. I'm sure that maybe they're in the right order. And I would also like to say this. I would also maybe we should revisit this after spring ball as well, where we actually get to see some of these transfers run around a little bit. And then we'll say, you know what I mean? Because you look full disclosure, I don't have any of the Ohio State receivers on my list. Because I don't either. I mean, I was, I was, mine is not upside weighted. Mine is right. Okay. What have you done so far? What would you, what do you know? So it's, it's very experienced weighted, I guess. Oh, that's fair. I, I will say that mine is mostly experienced. There's a little bit of upside in there. But mostly experience weighted. So yeah, I'm, I am interested to see how we do here.

5:07Okay. Who's your number one? Who's at the top of your player pyramid Vince? This isn't fair. And maybe this person isn't. No, he's still the most gifted kid. It's CJ car. He's my number one. See, I told you we were both going to have number one. Okay, well, you know, I wasn't sure because I think obviously there's an argument to be made for who is there is the way a pyramid works. Again, you have one player at the top. Then you've got two players at the next level. So yes, I think that there's definitely a one a one B case and they're from different sides of the ball. But we both have CJ car at the top. And that means that Leonard Moore has to be on tier two. Absolutely. Yeah, 100%. So that like I said, just a minute ago, by the way, we're stipulating that Kingston, Villamu, Asa and Charles Augusta at the very least are going to be very limited this spring.

6:08So we did not include either one of them on this ranking because, you know, both had the injuries and we'll find out more specifically about the press conference Wednesday. But we're kind of we're we're factoring that in. So we're not including those guys for the spring. Like fall would be a different, uh, sure, different thing, but maybe even post spring, depending on how much they, if they do, yeah, because we don't, we just don't know. Yeah, we just don't know. Right. Okay, so we've got current now at the top of the pyramid. We've got Leonard Moore at the head of tier two. Who is sitting next to Leonard Moore on tier two of our player pyramid? So I don't know if this is controversial or not. Maybe it is for some people. I know it is for one particular media member, uh, but it's Drake Bowen. Drake Bowen is on my, on my, he's my number three players on the second tier. Okay, um, I think he is an instrumentally important person on this defense, uh, going into this year.

7:09We are often rolling. We've got our first disagreement here. And now, now Bowen doesn't show up on tier two for me. He is on the next tier for me. But I think that there is, like for me, I think that there is a strong case. And I'll probably give away my whole next tier here. But I think that between a Don Schuller, Drake Bowen, Tay Johnson, Bubacard Treyori, there's a strong case for any of them to be sitting on tier number two. But only one of them can actually sit on tier number two, along with Leonard Moore. True. And I've got a Don Schuller sitting at number two, just because of all the responsibilities that he has back into the defense and, and the whole thing. So I put Schuller as, as my tier two guy, along with Leonard Moore. Fair enough. I, he's, well, I mean, okay, not to give too much away, but he's my number four player. So I, I, okay, that's where, that's where I have him. A Don Schull, yeah, Don Schuller.

8:10Are you basically got Bowen Schuller as those next two guys after C.J. Karin Leonard Moore? Correct. So again, we're not far off. We're just flip flop. I mean, which, yeah. Well, I don't know where you have Bowen, but for me, it's three, four. I don't know where you have Bowen, and where he is. So we both got Kar on the top tier. We both got Leonard Moore on the second tier. I've got Schuller on the second tier. You've got Bowen. So now we're down to the third tier, which is players four, five, and six on the third mid. And, you know, again, I didn't, I didn't rank them, but because we're doing this as a tier, so you don't have to go. This is the number four guys. Okay, got you. The maps app that came with your phone, it's fine. If you enjoy waiting and guessing, and inefficient routes, or you could use MapQuest, MapQuest is back with live directions, real-time traffic, and faster routes. It moves when you move. Best of all, no prints are needed, no paper, no more misterns,

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10:13opt in required. Minimum two leg parlay required, bonus issued as a nonwithdrawable boost builder tokens, restrictions apply, including any token expiration and max wager amounts. See terms at sportsbook.fandall.com, gambling problem called 1-800-Gamber, or 1-800-Myreset, call 1-888-789-7777, or visit ccpg.org slash chat in Connecticut, or visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland. Hope is here, visit gamblinghelplinema.org, or call 800-327-5050 for 24-7 support in Massachusetts, or call 877-8 hope and why, or text hope and why in New York. For Louisiana, call 1-877-770-7867. I have, I definitely have Drake Bowen on my next tier, and then I gave two names already. Do you have either, neither, or both of them on your third tier?

11:15Uh, neither. Really? Okay. But they're both on my fourth tier. Things are getting even juicier. Yeah, they're both on my fourth tier, but they are not on the third tier. Interesting that other than CJ Carr, all the players we've talked about are defensive players. I know, and that honestly, I started to struggle with that, to be honest with you, which is why a player made an entrance into the third tier, because I was like, how could I not have another offensive player here? Like that was starting to nod at me a little bit, and my final player that I put into the third tier is an offensive player. Okay, so what's your third tier then? Go ahead and tell me. So my third tier, and this is where I have the one and only transfer student, by the way. Okay. I have a Don Schuller. I have Francis Brew, and I have Gerby Lambert. Those are my three on the third tier. Okay. So I like that. I've got Gerby Lambert basically as my best offensive lineman, which is controversial. I'm sure. So there's a, so this is the one,

12:16the Gerby Lambert pick for the third tier for me is the one spot where I did use a little bit of projection, but also experience. I thought he was really good last year when he played, and I think he's going to be really, really good, you know, moving forward. So that's why Gerby Lambert made my third tier. Okay. So I just saw something that Decaf posted here. Decaf is saying the most experienced running back on the Notre Dame roster, and he has Williams will be limited during spring practices. He said he just saw this on X. So I have no idea who posted that. I don't know who that came from. It didn't come from an official, you know, like Notre Dame didn't release that. So I don't know exactly who that came from. Or if that's true, that's a problem for a Neas Williams. Like, there's so much talent in that room. He needs to be available, and to compete with these young guys,

13:17or he's going to get passed up. Like, that's how I feel about the running back room. And I think so too. That's not a knock on a Neas Williams. I want to be very clear on that. That is there's talent in that room, including the freshmen in that room. If he's not available in the spring, or if he's limited, or whatever, he could get Wally pipped, man. Like that, that's how I see that going. And so that, if that's true, that is not good for Neas Williams. Yeah. So you're, you're moved with Gerby Lambert is a little bit of an upside move. Of all the ones I have that, that I'm leaning upside more with him than anybody else. Yeah. Yeah. Because my tier three is Boobakar Treyori, Drake Bowen, Tade Johnson. And I'm surprised that you don't have any Tade Johnson at this point. Like I said, I was, I was going back and forth between Schuller Bowen Johnson potentially, as like who's going to sit on tier two. So more before I ended up with Schuller, but you know, like Treyori,

14:17I think last year was, you know, coming off that injury the year before, we saw flashes of what Boobakar Treyori can be. And maybe, maybe even this is a little bit of an upside play with him on the third tier instead of the fourth tier. But that's where I've got him because I think he truly is, you know, one of the, one of the top five or six players on this team. And I think Tade Johnson is in there as well. I don't have Gerby on my list. I do have another offensive lineman. But he is one I considered. That's for sure. Yeah, I mean, look, I have both of those guys on my list. They just didn't make the third tier. So yeah, I mean, the fourth tier is going to be an interesting one because we're going to have, I think we're going to have players that one of us has and the other one doesn't. Because right now we've had the same players. They're just in different spots. Yeah, um, and I don't know if you probably don't have Gerby Lambert on your list, which is totally fine, totally. I know.

15:18I've got Anthony nap on my, my fourth tier. Okay. Players 7, 8, 9 and 10. I've got Anthony nap there. One, the most experienced. Two, assuming he is moving inside the guard from tackle, which, you know, seems to be the direction that we've heard anyway is going to happen. I think that, that that makes him even better than than what he, you know, if he is playing in interior position, we've all felt like that is a strength. So I have nap basically in place of Gerby Lambert. Now you had Francis brew on tier three. I've got him on tier four and again, this is a guy I've flirted with for that third tier, but there's so much defensive talent there. And honestly, it's just because probably, you know, part of it is probably also because, we haven't seen him in person, you know, like in, in practice settings, we've only seen him in that pit game. And, you know, and that was just little samples.

16:19Johnny says the Ineus Williams came from an interview with Freeman of Freeman by Greg McElroy. So apparently he said that on the always college football podcast. He's giving out info that he has not given to the beat yet. And since he doesn't do interviews with the beat, he doesn't with national things. So, you know, they're going to get information that we don't have. So, okay. I mean, like I said, I think that is a huge disservice to Ineus Williams and what's about to go down, but that that's where I'm at. So, yeah, I had Williams on my tier four. Obviously, this could impact that. I don't know, you know, I might slide Gerby up there. I'll have to think about it. Who are your tier four guys? So, I already said that Tay Johnson and Bubacar are on my tier four. So, they were like the first two names on my tier four. And then Anthony Napp also made his way onto my tier four. I have a feeling my final player that I have in my top 10

17:20is one that you do not have. But I did, I just felt like there needed to be a representative from the wide receiver room on the list. And I also have seen him do it in big moments. And so, I've got Jaden Greathouse as my 10th player. You're right. I don't have great hosts on my list. I went with Jordan Fazon in his deck. I can see. Yeah. I was like, which one do I go with? Which one has more upside? I did. You little bit of upside there. But like Fazon was CJ Carr's favorite target there for a while. You know, is that going to continue? You know, I don't know. Maybe yes. I don't know. All right. So it was 50, 50 for me between the two of those guys. Yeah. And I guess the reason that I went there now, obviously so much of Greathouse's season last year was impacted by his injury. Sure. But what? Like there is definitely talent there. And we got to see that at the, you know, during the college football playoff run.

18:22And we all had so much expectation going into last year. And the difference to me and why I put Fazon on the list and not Greathouse is because even in those first four games, he was healthy. We just didn't see that much involvement from Greathouse in the offense. It was a handful of catches. And that was it. And at the end of the day, Fazon ended up being, you know, Notre Dame's top receiver in terms of overall production. So that's why I put Fazon on the list. And he is, he is giving up lacrosse. So he's going to focus solely on football this spring and, and focus solely on it in his last year in school. So that's, that's why I've got Fazon on there. So I've got Fazon crew nap. And again, I had Williams. And I think you're probably, I would, I would go with Gerby as well. And, you know, again, we don't know, yeah. If this is accurate, I have not heard that interview that people are referencing with Greg McElroy that Marcus Freeman says were,

19:26where he, uh, according to what some people are telling us have said that Williams is going to be limited. And that obviously impacts this list because availability is, is part of this. We're talking about about the top players. They're going to be available and practicing this spring. So I'd probably side Gerby in there in that spot for now. Because again, as much talent as there is in that running back room, it is all, especially after any of his Williams. It's all unproven talent. It is unproven talent. And, you know, there's been some injuries in there as well. And some guys coming back and things like that. So, you know, I'm very curious to see what the rotation is like at running back. And, you know, who's going to get some opportunities with that first team running behind, you know, that first line and all of those different things. And are we going to be treated with the number one offensive line playing together in the blue gold game? Are they going to split them up? You know, there's so many factors to how good the running back room is going to look

20:27in the spring based on the fall, versus the fall, I should say, and what we're going to be able to discern. Because again, we don't get to see a whole lot of practice. And so, and especially if a knee as Williams is limited, because he is the penciled in starter. But I think one of the most fun topic of conversation this off season, I think, is going to be okay. We can all stipulate that a knee as Williams is going to be the starter going into the season. Scale of one to 10. Do you think he's going to be the starter from a reps standpoint in the middle of the season? Right. Like that. I don't know, I don't know. Big question. Big question. And that may have just gotten fast forwarded if he's going to be limited in the spring. Yeah, exactly. All right, so our Notre Dame football pre-spring player pyramid, the top players. Notre Dame this spring. Again, this is available players based on the information that we have right now.

21:28My pyramid goes C.J. Car at the top tier, tier two, Leonard Moore and Adon Schuller, tier three, Bubacar Treyori, Drake Bowen, Tay Johnson, tier four, Jordan Faeson, Francis Brew, Anthony Napp, and Nias Williams with at least an asterisk potentially for now. One through your pyramid, Vince. So at the top C.J. Car, second level would be Leonard Moore and Drake Bowen. The third level would be Adon Schuller, Francis Brew, Gerby Lambert. And my fourth tier is Tay Johnson, Bubacar Treyori, Anthony Napp and Jaden Greyhouse. And the best part about this whole thing is there's so much talent to sit through that this is actually difficult to do. Yes, you know, like this was difficult to do. You'll have to send me yours and then I'll keep both of them. And then like you said, at the end of the spring, after the blue gold game, yeah, or she'll hear here on sports radio, WSBT. And serious XM radio as well. Whoa, we're going national.

22:28Yeah, we'll be on the bird, baby. We will, we'll revisit and we'll do a new pyramid at the end of the spring. Maybe we'll even add another tier. Oh my god, get crazy with it. Now we're out of control. I know. Maybe we'll let Jeff me play. Good go. All right, we'll take a break and then you know what's coming. And now we're number two. It's Rapid Fire on Budweiser's Weekday Sports Peak with iRexBreakdown.com.

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24:42Thank you for listening.