'06 IN RB James Aldridge (Notre Dame signee)

[crazybuckfan40]

He also likes Okie St. b/c he calls them "Tailback U".

[osugrad21]

Scout $

BigRedReport.com

3/23

James is up to 15 offers. Every school that has received his tape has offered a scholarship. He now weighs 215 but still runs a 4.45 40. James plans on making a decision this summer as an early enrollment is in the works. He will make a few unofficial visits in the summer but his camp and combine schedule is undecided.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

scout.com

3/30/05

<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top>Huge April for Midwest RB
By Chris Pool Midwest Recruiting Analyst
Date: Mar 30, 2005

Merrillville, Ind. - Head Coach Jeff Yelton has called him the most complete back he has ever coached and he has been compared to Bo Jackson. James Aldridge, a 6-foot-1, 215-pounder from Merrillville, (Ind.) sat down with Scout.com and talked about what makes him an elite running back prospect. Aldridge also talks about his current leader and summer plans.
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It’s not often that the top running back in the Midwest region comes from Indiana. After all, the Hoosier State is all about the round ball. If it weren’t for a tailback in Ohio named Chris Wells, James Aldridge could very will be the #1 back in the region.

“James is everything you dream of in a running back,” Coach Yelton said.

“He has tremendous speed, balance, power and vision. He’s a very good blocker and he’s got great hands. James is just as good inside as he is outside and he’s got separation speed.

“I’ve been coaching for a long time and kids like James Aldridge only come along once in a lifetime.”

Aldridge gained 2,067 yards on the ground last year for the Pirates and scored 20 times. He was named all-state. James transferred to Merrillville from the St. Louis, (Mo.) area and we asked him if had to make an adjustment in his style of play when he moved from the city to the middle of the heartland.

“In St. Louis, you had more skilled players and in Indiana there are more big linemen on both offense and defense.” James Aldridge said.

“In St. Louis, everyone could run. The linebackers, the tight ends, everyone had speed. Up here in Indiana it’s more smash mouth type of play.”

Several schools have offered Aldridge a scholarship and he’s started to narrow his choices. Does James have a current leader?

“Oklahoma State is out in front right now,” said Aldridge. “Coach (Curtis) Luper is in contact with me constantly by mail and I’ll call down there and talk to him. Oklahoma State has done the best job of recruiting me so far.

“The other schools that I’m considering are Notre Dame, Iowa, Kansas State, Louisville, Virginia and Ohio State. Notre Dame hasn’t offered me yet.”

It looks like we won’t have to wait very long for Aldridge to make his college decision. He’s going to hit the road in April and could have a decision about his college plans made by the beginning of summer.

“I’m looking to get this (recruiting) thing over with in about two months,” Aldridge said.

“Recruiting is fun but it’s also nerve racking. I’m going to hit Notre Dame on April 2nd and then I’m headed to Stillwater (OK State) on April 6th for a couple of days. After that I’m going to visit Ohio State and Iowa. By then I should have a good idea on where my heads at.”

James Aldridge carries a 3.0 GPA in the classroom and plans on taking his ACT in May. He also runs track for Merrillville.

Extra Point - In talking with Aldridge he seemed excited that Oklahoma State shows him a ton of attention. He does feel like the Pokes want him the most. However, he also sounded to me like he’s wide open between the four schools he’ll visit in April. Notre Dame needs to offer and Ohio State has a verbal commitment from Chris Wells. This could very well be a battle between the Cowboys and Hawkeyes.
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It sounds like we have less than a 25% shot at Aldridge. It would be nice to add another power back to go with Wells. (I know I am greedy)

[Highstreet]

$ Rivals $

Aldridge enjoyed his unofficial visit to South Bend. He met Coach Weis, and then met Coach Haywood(running back coach).

[buckzip]

He needs to be a Buckeye. If there is one thing we have learned lately, it's that you never have enough RB's.

[Oneshot]

Wow. This kid looks SUPER impressive. Lets hope we get him!

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

LINK

4/5/05

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Aldridge has ND high on his list<!--ENDHEADLINE-->

April 5, 2005

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=380 border=0><TBODY><TR bgColor=#003399><TD>By Mike Hutton / Post-Tribune staff writer</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--COPY-->



At the very least, James Aldridge is a legitimate blue-chip football recruit — the kind that is extremely rare in Northwest Indiana.

Potentially, he’ll be a bonafide star at tailback in college and right now, there is plenty of buzz about where he’s going to play football after he graduates from Merrillville in 2006.

The running back has offers from so many schools that he can’t remember them all.

Ohio State, Notre Dame, Iowa, Purdue, Oklahoma State and Nebraska are just a few of the colleges that would like to see him wearing their colors.

A legitimate top 100 prospect, rumors were rampant that Aldridge was close to verbally committing to Notre Dame after an unofficial visit to South Bend on Saturday.

Not so fast, Aldridge said Monday. He’s going to try to do as much research as possible before he makes a choice. That means taking as many unofficial visits as possible. Wednesday, he’s flying out to Oklahoma State for an unofficial visit. Iowa, Virginia and Purdue are also in the mix.

Still, the way he talked, Notre Dame appears to be the leader.

He expects to commit by the end of the summer at the latest.

“I mean, honestly, how can you turn down Notre Dame?” he said. “They have everything to offer. Why wouldn’t you want to play there?”

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis told Aldridge on Saturday that the guys who were offered early were the ones he’s the most interested in.

Fueling the rumors was the commitment of Munir Prince, a 5-foot-10 175-pound running back from DeSmet Jesuit in St. Louis, to Notre Dame.

The two played football together growing up in middle school and junior high before Prince moved to Florida for a year and then Aldridge to Merrillville after he spent two years at Hazelwood Central in St. Louis.

Prince became the first verbal commitment of 2006 for Notre Dame on Saturday. Prince told Rivals.com that he “thinks James will commit soon. He just wants to see what Oklahoma State has to offer.”

Said Aldridge about Oklahoma State: “I already had my ticket. I just want to go out there and see what they have.”

If Aldridge decides on Notre Dame, he’ll have a reasonable chance at playing early. Notre Dame didn’t recruit a running back this year. Darius Walker, a sophomore, is listed as the No. 1 tailback.

“I really feel like I want to play early, “ he said. “I don’t want to have go somewhere and wait five years to play.”

Aldridge, at 6-1 217 pounds, rushed for 2,067 yards and 22 touchdowns on 281 carries for the Pirates this year. Contact Mike Hutton at 648-3139 or at mhutton@post-trib.com

It would be great to add Aldridge to go with Wells, but it doesnt seem good for OSU right now.

[Highstreet]

$ Rivals $

It is not looking good for tOSU here. It looks like Aldridge may decide shortly between Okie St. and Notre Dame after he takes an un-official visit to Stillwater this weekend. Tennessee, Miami, and Oklahoma round out his top 5.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

It is not looking good for tOSU here. It looks like Aldridge may decide shortly between Okie St. and Notre Dame after he takes an un-official visit to Stillwater this weekend. Tennessee, Miami, and Oklahoma round out his top 5.

highstreet....I agree...maybe the fact Chris Wells has verbaled played a role in his pending decision.

[wadc45]

Rivals $

4/10/05

From the Oklahoma State site...Okie State is in the lead, followed closely by ND. He gave his visit to Stillwater a 9.8 out of 10. He plans to commit in the next month.

[osugrad21]

Rivals $

4/15

James will not attend the Nebraska spring game even though he was invited. He will will ND instead. ND and Oklahoma State are still his leaders. He could commit over the summer still, but he seems to have backed off of that idea somewhat.

[osugrad21]

Scout $

4/19

James says ND and Oklahoma St are his leaders with Oklahoma, USC and Virginia.

No mention of tOSU.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

rivals.com$

4/20/05

Rivals.com has posted 3 videos of Aldridge in action.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

RIVALS.COM$

4/24/05

Aldridge attended Notre Dame's spring game. Reportedly said he got some answers and he feels right now that Oklahoma State will give him the best opportunity for early playing time. Notre Dame is the second team behind Oklahoma State.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

RIVALS.COM$

4/25/05

His top three schools are Oklahoma Sate, Notre Dame and Virginia. Oklahoma State is his leader and Oklahoma State's coach Luper has definitely made an impression on Aldridge.