With Charlie Weis announced as Notre Dame’s new head coach on Dec. 12, 2004, National Signing Day of 2005 came just over six weeks later (Feb. 2, 2006).
This meant the 2006 class was the first he’d assemble from start to finish of his four complete classes. And of those four, three offensive skill positions groups outranked the current quartet of Jordan Johnson (No. 29 overall), Chris Tyree (No. 34), Michael Mayer (No. 77), and Drew Pyne (No. 176).
When you consider the current group out-ranks any of Brian Kelly’s 10 previous classes, it’s fair to say that rounding up elite talent on offense proved to be routine through Weis’ half-decade tenure.
Even so, whether it was offense or defense through his first few classes, Weis appeared to be achieving the recruiting results that typically lead to title runs down the line. For example, Weis signed more Top 50 prospects in his four full classes (13 in total) than Brian Kelly has in his 11 classes combined (12 in total) 2010 – 2020.
Weis also signed more five-stars (seven) through his five classes than Kelly has in his 10 classes (six), 2010 – 2019.
Even at the lowest point of his time in South Bend – finishing the 2007 season with the most losses in program history at 3-9 – Weis followed by signing arguably the best on-paper Notre Dame recruiting class of the modern recruiting era (dating back to 1999), the loaded 2008 class.
Despite the horrendous 3-9 season, Weis signed more Top 100 recruits in 2008 (nine in total) than Brian Kelly has signed in his last two classes combined (seven in total). All but three of the 23 signees ranked four or five-stars (the 2008 class shown at the bottom of this review).
As for those offensive skill positions hauls that top the current 2020 group, Jimmy Clausen (No. 2 overall), Duval Kamara (No. 31), Mike Ragone (No. 57), and Robert Hughes (No. 74) featured in the 2007 class (QB-WR-TE-RB in that order). And don’t forget Golden Tate (No. 81), and Armando Allen (No. 138).
The 2008 offensive skill group was equally dynamic on paper: Two five-stars at the top in Dayne Crist (No. 22) and Michael Floyd (No. 14) followed by Kyle Rudolph (No. 29 – would be a five-star today) and Jonas Gray (No. 92). Wide receiver Deion Walker added another Top 100 talent among additional four-stars at receiver and tight end.
As for the downside of Weis’ recruiting results, depth and quality throughout the defense suffered at multiple position groups.
Through the five classes on his watch, Weis signed just six defensive ends and five cornerbacks. Also, just six defensive tackles signed with the Irish in that 2005 – 2009 era. (In comparison, the Irish have signed or received commitments from 12 defensive ends, 11 cornerbacks, and 10 defensive tackles over the five most recent classes).
While the flashy five-star signings and big-name prospects grabbed headlines, just one of the seven five-stars was on defense where poor roster management was piling up.
Among several weaknesses, the lack of depth and quality throughout the defense contributed to the most losses in a two-year span at Notre Dame in the 2007 – 2008 seasons (15), even if Weis had the luxury of productive defensive linemen acquired before he took office like Derek Landri, Victor Abiamiri, and Trevor Laws, for example.
Look no further than Weis’ final recruiting class to understand the lack of attention spent on the defensive line; just one signee (Tyler Stockton, just four career tackles) filled out Weis’ D-line class in 2009.
With the value of deep rotations along the defensive line today, can you imagine the scrutiny that would accompany a one-man D-line class under Brian Kelly?
Looking back on it, the former Super Bowl champ sales pitch was effective for some top-end defensive linemen, according to Ian Williams in a past interview.
“Coach Weis was in the area, so he came by my school,” Williams told Irish Illustrated. “He used to bring the Super Bowl rings around. Being a 16 – 17-year-old kid seeing these two Super Bowl rings, he would come and meet with you and pop it off his finger and show it to you. Seeing all these diamonds and a Super Bowl ring as a teenager, it just grabs you immediately – seeing the potential of the help you can get from the coach.”
Unfortunately, that kind of impression wasn’t made often enough on four-star defensive linemen under Weis.
Brian Kelly sprung to action to correct the roster deficiency that was defensive line depth in his first full recruiting class of 2011 – the top three signees projected at defensive end in Aaron Lynch, Ishaq Williams, and Stephon Tuitt. All three ranked in the Top 35 in the six-man defensive line class.
However, it would take more than one class to repair the roster holes left from the Weis era. On the other hand, Weis’ final class would fuel the success of Brian Kelly’s early years in South Bend – Manti Te’o, Chris Watt, Zack Martin, Theo Riddick, Dan Fox, and Tyler Eifert, for example.
Weis also found early success with athletes he inherited, going 9-3 and 10-2 in his first two seasons with Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija, Tommy Zbikowski, John Carlson, Ryan Harris, and others acquired under Tyrone Willingham in 2003.
It’s interesting to look back on where it all went wrong under the last head coach. If you consider the concern surrounding current cornerback recruiting and depth after signing 11 corners over the last five classes, imagine if that number was five (what Weis signed in his five-year career at cornerback).
All in all, the current coaching staff hasn’t achieved the annual five-stars or the long list of Top 50 talent we saw under Weis. But it has laid down balance throughout the roster with enough depth at defensive end to redshirt a senior this fall (for example).
The contrast is clear when sorting through the data within the recruiting classes.
The coaching staff focused on elite talent at the offensive skill positions while neglecting depth and balance led to the worst two-season record in Notre Dame history. The staff that puts depth and balance on the top of the priority list reached the National Championship, the College Football Playoff, and holds a current two-season record of 22-4.
(Below is the 2008 class referenced in this review)