ESPN put out their top 150 today and left Irish fans feeling more than a little jilted.

Despite above average reviews from the other sites, the only player verbally committed to ND in the top 150 is DE Chris Martin.  But he's our golden calf so I'm sure he's safe.  Let's review:

• Rivals- #1 ranked Weakside DE, #13 overall, 5 stars
• Scout- #1 ranked DE, #6 overall, 5 stars
• Everyone and their momma- #1 ranked DE, top-20 nationally, 5 stars

It follows that ESPN would rank Mr. Martin similarlEEEOHMYGAWD!  Number sixteen ranked DE?  144th overall?  Only four giant balls of gas?  What's that I hear?  Oh lord, it's Tom Luginbill's music!

A lot of feedback on Martin. We do feel he will be a defensive end in college and that's a big adjustment in our eyes. We do not see the speed, hips or flexibility to play OLB.

He is still in our 150 so we think he's a good player and like his physical measureables but felt he lacked the reactive burst, bend and potential pass rushing skills that the defensive ends ahead of him currently have.

Tom Luginbill

The former XFL coach's logic baffles.  He'll be a DE, but he doesn't have the speed, hips or flexibility to play OLB.  Okay?  Your point is?  Luginbill also ranked Al Pacino as the 144th best actor of all time because he doesn't make a very good duck l'orange.

I suppose ESPN could have been thinking of this guy:

Now there's a prospect with tenacity and a good motor.

A complete list of ND's verbal commit rankings is here.  Try not to let your tears of anger and despair get into your CPU.  Must've gone through 17 laptops that way in 2007.