This Guy Plays Notre Dame Football: #17 Isaiah Robertson

#17 Isaiah Robertson, please join us at the podium. Here we have an early enrollee, freshman safety that we can feel good about as a Notre Dame Fighting Irish model citizen, and speculate idly about as a player.

Three Things to Know:

1. Robertson was a consensus 4 Star recruit and regarded by most colleges as a wide receiver. Notre Dame recruited him as a big safety, ie, to switch positions annually.

2. How long until Robertson is discussed as a possible Rover candidate? At first I thought right away, but looking at his film he appears to have good instincts playing the ball in the air at the high school level, so maybe he will stick at safety.

3. Taking a look at Robertson’s interviews, he seems really sold on the uniqueness of Notre Dame and getting a good education. This may be a factor if he gets stuck on the depth chart or ferried between positions.

YouTube Hot Fire:

I, B’Licious, Dub Thee:

Isaiah “Bricks” Robinson … thanks to his infamous hitting ability. Better nickname for a football player than a basketball player, at least.

2017 Forecast:

I see Robertson playing on special teams on 2017, taking advantage of his aggressiveness and general athleticism. Perhaps some garbage time play at safety. Longer term, he is a hard player to project. He might make make a decent safety, grow into a Rover, or get bypassed if Notre Dame hits its stride with defensive backs recruiting.

Am I making this up, or do we have a history of bringing in big safeties who “can hit” but who lack high end speed, instincts, and coverage skills? Did any develop their way out of that mold? (Caveat: Robertson *may* have good coverage skills that translate to this level, it’s too hard to tell at this point.) Think Zeke Motta, Elijah Shumate, Drue Tranquill… who am I missing? Sure strong safety plays in the box sometimes, but offenses always find them in the passing game, especially as we play more teams that spread the field.

Let’s wish him the best, and hope we have a slightly slower Harrison Smith, not a perpetual ‘tweener.