ND Update…

Ok, here’s what we know after today’s press conference:

- There are 9 players that are coming back for a 5th year, although they weren’t named.  If you follow the team, you can pretty much guess who they are.

- Darius is indeed leaving for the draft.  Makes sense.  His stock wouldn’t have improved next year probably.

- There were no official mentions of coaching changes.  Weis wasn’t even at the PC.  However, reliable word says that Vaas is leaving the team, although he wasn’t fired.  He’s just moving on to something else.  No word on Minter or other defensive coaches.

Now, unrelated to the press conference, we have the following:

- Chris Little did in fact commit to the Irish.  Evidently he wanted to go to ND all along, but the morning of the AA game, he got a vibe that his mom wanted him to stay close to home and chose FSU at the last second.  Per his high school coach, FSU did not pull his offer for any reason.  Little soon came to regret his decision and called Irish coaches on Monday or Tuesday to commit to the Irish.

- It seems that both Ben Martin and Chris Donald were set on coming to ND before the Sugar Bowl, but both decided to head to Tennessee after we got creamed by LSU.  That’s a kick in the nuts.

This has been one crazy recruiting year, that’s for sure!

More ND facts and rumors

Another quick rundown of what’s going on with ND football:

- The South Bend Tribune is officially reporting a rumor that broke a few days ago about Darius Walker.  Today at 1 PM (right now) Walker will announce his entrance into the NFL draft.  Not totally unsurprising giving the offense’s prospects for next season, but still a bit of a shock.  That being said, it will be good to see Aldridge, Prince, Schmidt, and Allen get some meaningful PT next year to prepare for our championship run in 2009.

- Chris Little, a giant offensive lineman that committed to FSU at the AA Bowl game on Saturday, has decommited from the Noles.  FSU has a new offensive coordinator this season.  According to one rumor, the OC rescinded the offer after Little had committed.  Another says Little doesn’t like the new OC and decided to cut loose.  In either case, it looks like the Irish may very well land him.  He’s 6′5″ 340, and is ranked as the #6 OG in the country on Scout.com.  Nice.

- Saw another rumor about coaching changes that says QB coach Peter Vaas will be canned and replaced by Ron Powlus.  I think that’s probably garbage, but who knows.

I’ll keep everyone posted when more concrete info surfaces.