what could drive this kid to commit to ND over the others? Outside of PT (which a kid like Barksdale's talent everyone has more than enough of...outside of Texas), a good academic reputation, and charlie's rings there isn't much to say that he is a lock anywhere.
This is a classic
OSU vs Mich battle as of now. Can this change in ND's favor? Sure he probably won't be deciding until January, but ND has only been recruiting him for 3 months; meanwhile
OSU and UM have been recruiting him since last summer.