re: So BK left ND partially because he wasn’t getting enough talent

quote:

---

I was told BK couldn’t do that at ND.

---

He felt he couldn't get the quality of players on campus at ND to compete on an even playing field against other top teams. Please understand that internet rankings =/= real life. But even if you think they do then Notre Dame player rankings average does not come close to LSU's in any ranking service.

In Brian Kelly's last recruiting class (2021) at Notre Dame the recruits' average distance from campus was 832.6 miles.
Other years:
2020: 1088.5 mi.
2019: 785.2 mi.
2018: 750.1 mi.
2017: 902.3 mi.

That trend continues under Freeman:
2022: 647.4 mi.
2023: 645.4 mi.
2024: 624.5 mi.
2025: 795.9 mi

Since Kelly has been at LSU:
2022: 231.7 mi
2023: 451.3 mi
2024: 189.3 mi.
2025: 209.2 mi. (so far)


This also has the added bonus (at least in theory) that local players are less likely to enter the transfer portal to play further away from home. With the number of Louisiana players transferring back home being further evidence.

Recruiting is a whole lot different in Louisiana than Indiana.