gold standard Spoiler Scoop From OV Weekend — Holland *** One of the more intriguing prospects on campus this weekend was Waco Midway (Texas) athlete Will Nixon . Notre Dame has completely won over the family. His father, Jeff, who is an assistant at Baylor loves the staff at Notre Dame, feels comfortable with defensive backs coach Terry Joseph and knows the Irish can develop him in South Bend. Jeff could not join Nixon on the visit due to duties at Baylor. However, Notre Dame played host to his mother, who I’m told loved everything about South Bend. The academics really appealed to her and made an impact. Things couldn’t have gone better with Nixon’s mother. *** Nixon himself has Notre Dame in his top group, and I feel very comfortable about my FutureCast pick. Something to keep in mind is that Nixon isn’t a native Texan. He just moved to the Lone Star State a couple of years ago when his father took the Baylor job. Nixon has a lot of family up North, specifically in Pennsylvania. Jeff has coached at a lot of different places, so distance shouldn’t be a concern at all. In fact, Nixon and his family feel very, very comfortable at Notre Dame. Nixon likes the vibe in South Bend, and the players on the team made him feel like part of the family. *** As we’ve stated numerous times, for Notre Dame to close on Nixon, it needs to sell him on making the transition to defensive back. Nixon plays strictly on offense for his high school team, and it’s clear wide receiver is his position of preference. However, Joseph has done a really good job of pitching Nixon on making the move. Right now, he is still not 100 percent sold. But he’s certainly getting there. - NATIONAL 92 STATE 87 POSITION WILL NIXON RANK 5.7 5'11" | 185 LBS | WR MIDWAY WACO, TX CLASS OF 2020 UNDECIDED *** Nixon was actually told to watch Julian Love as a prep player, as the Notre Dame staff believes that is who Nixon reminds them of. If you’ll recall, Love was a dynamic offensive player in high school, and Nixon was impacted by that message after doing his homework on Love from high school. *** Let’s transition to another Texan in The Colony defensive back Christian Gonzalez . The four-star prospect was the highest rated uncommitted target on campus, and this was Notre Dame’s chance to make a really big impact with him as his recruitment remains wide open. However, the visit didn’t result in much movement on either side. As I’ve mentioned over and over again, Gonzalez has a tough shell to crack. He doesn’t communicate well with coaches across the board and is extremely reserved. *** Coming out of the visit, there seem to be reservations on both sides about fit. In talking to sources, Gonzalez didn’t necessarily feel comfortable at Notre Dame. On the flip side of the coin, there is concern from Notre Dame on if Gonzalez is a culture fit. There just didn’t seem to be a great vibe from Gonzalez, the staff and the current players on the team. I would expect Gonzalez to continue to be an option for Notre Dame, but I don’t think this visit really helped either side. Yes, it sounds like a letdown in a sense, but with Gonzalez’s personality, that was always a possibility. Plus, he remains open and did like some aspects of the visit. - NATIONAL 0" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: 10px; width: 7px; background: url("https://cdn.rivals.com/production/a...bfb264f545034d3f8a342e9632778ca65a3af8278.svg") left center no-repeat; margin-bottom: 3px;"> 44 STATE 25 POSITION CHRISTIAN GONZALEZ RANK 5.8 6'1" | 180 LBS | CB THE COLONY THE COLONY, TX CLASS OF 2020 UNDECIDED *** If I had to put in a FutureCast pick for Gonzalez right now, it would be for Alabama. As I mentioned last week, Gonzalez’s girlfriend is an Alabama soccer commit. He recently made an unofficial visit there and camped as well, which validated his offer. Gonzalez was really impressed with Alabama’s track record of producing NFL talent as well as the overall football tradition. While I don’t think the Crimson Tide cracked his shell either, that visit was more about business in terms of football as opposed to culture fit. With all of this said, I still think Gonzalez’s recruitment is there for some school to take. *** The Landen Bartleson situation is clearing up. We feel like he will be in the Notre Dame class as long as he is given the green light, and right now he appears to have cleared the necessary hurdles. Notre Dame has always been the school to beat in his recruitment, and we still feel like he will end up with the Irish — sooner rather than later. *** I’m not going to write a ton about Caleb Offord because, well, there is no need to be repetitive. We love where the Irish stand in this recruitment coming out of the official visit. A key focus point was making sure Offord jived with the players on the team, which he did. Offord felt at home in South Bend and is extremely comfortable with the coaching staff after visiting twice this month. Arkansas is trying to make a late surge but with the dead period coming up, I would be shocked if Offord doesn’t side with the Irish. - NATIONAL 23 STATE 61 POSITION CALEB OFFORD RANK 5.6 6'1" | 175 LBS | CB SOUTHAVEN SOUTHAVEN, MS CLASS OF 2020 UNDECIDED *** Burke (Neb.) wide receiver Xavier Watts was the only uncommitted offensive recruit on campus this weekend. Watts got to spend a ton of time with the staff, and they made sure to let him know that he is a key priority in this class. That’s something that Watts really wanted to hear hence why he almost committed this weekend. Having commits Michael Carmody , Chris Tyree and Tosh Baker their to help recruit him also made an impact. *** The three straight visits to Nebraska did worry me a lot, especially considering that’s the big in-state school. However, I feel better than ever about my Watts to Notre Dame FutureCast pick. The Irish really hit a home run this weekend, and it’s clear Watts and his family feel comfortable in South Bend. With Notre Dame getting the last OV before the dead period and Watts wanted to shut it down during the summer, I wouldn’t be surprised if he does pull the trigger sooner rather than later. Our Bryan Driskell had a lot scoop on Watts here. - NATIONAL 2 STATE 94 POSITION XAVIER WATTS RANK 5.6 6'1" | 180 LBS | WR BURKE OMAHA , NE CLASS OF 2020 UNDECIDED Trainer's Take: Christian Gonzalez & JD Coffey — Holland *** Christian White aka Coach Flight is one of the best defensive back skills trainers. White, who is sponsored by Under Armour, has helped produce several NFL and Power Five players at the position and works with some of the top defensive back recruits in the Dallas-are recruits, including Notre Dame targets Christian Gonzalez and JD Coffey. He spoke with BGI about both. *** On Gonzalez: “Man, Christian has so much potential. He can be one of the better corners in the nation this cycle. He’s a legit 6-foot-1. He’s close to 6-foot-2. He’s got elite speed and great strength. He’s cool under pressure. You never see him change emotions. Even if he gives up a catch, he’ll come back and make an interception. I love the guy. I think he’s going to be special.” *** On Coffey: “Coffey is probably the most instinctive safety. He just find the ball no matter where it’s at. They find the play. He’s put on some size. He had nine interceptions as a freshman and eight as a sophomore. His junior year could be even more special.” *** On Notre Dame: “With Notre Dame, the program really brings the best of both worlds with football and academics. They are coming off a playoff appearance, which is really appealing to a lot of these kids. The TV deal they have with NBC is big. They really maximize their exposure. They play a true national schedule. Even though a lot of those teams are ACC and Big 10 schools, they are playing the best.” Reaction From Berrong's Commitment — Singer *** In the 2020 class, it's unlikely that Notre Dame lands a prospect from the state of Georgia, unless things strongly develop with drop end target Phillip Webb. Notre Dame already has a big time commitment in the Peach State in the 2021 class, however. In a surprising move -- given the timing -- the Irish landed Hart County (Ga.) tight end Cane Berrong . Notre Dame commits in the 2021 class loved the Berrong commitment, as well as top 2021 Irish targets in Georgia. ***Center commit Greg Crippen : "Very exciting! [Our 2021 class has] excellent players! I am just lucky to be in the class. So happy to hear about Cane's commitment. I think he is a player!" *** Offensive tackle commit Blake Fisher : "I honestly didn’t think he was going to commit this early. I’m extremely excited he did because we are building such a great class! I know for a fact we will have one of the best -- if not the best class -- in 2021! I’ve been talking to a few guys lately that said they are close on a decision, so stay tuned!" *** Defensive line commit Gabriel Rubio : "Cane is [a top] ranked TE for a reason. He can catch, run and block very well. I always like offensive players that fly around like they’re on defense! I was so excited when he announced that he was joining us! Regardless of what everyone says about our class, 2021 is coming for the [championship] ring! I'm working for four of them before I graduate from Notre Dame!" - NATIONAL 17 STATE 6 POSITION CANE BERRONG RANK 5.8 6'4" | 225 LBS | TE HART COUNTY BOWERSVILLE, GA CLASS OF 2021 VERBAL COMMIT 6/21/2019 NOTRE DAME *** Safety David Daniel : "Yeah we spoke to each other on a few visits and a few times via text. He is a good guy. I watched his film; he is that dude. ND got themselves a baller." *** Wide receiver Deion Colzie : "I think it’s awesome that Notre Dame is getting a recruit like Cane. He is an extremely talented player and can help the team in many ways. Cane is also very fast for his size so that is also a perk. I’m happy for him; Notre Dame surely is getting a good one." *** Outside linebacker Barrett Carter : "Cane is a hell of a player. We both were at Alabama one day, and if you were to look at him, he looks college ready already. Notre Dame is a great school and for them to get a player like Cane is huge." i think the recruit comments were the best part of this...especially Blake Fischer's I wouldn't be surprised if one of the 3 silent commits was a 2021 guy...maybe George Rooks, Dellinger, or Tengwall
Loy's recruiting scoop from the weekend Spoiler Notre Dame is wrapping up a big weekend in South Bend and as always, Irish Illustrated and 247Sports has the latest on Fighting Irish recruiting. Let’s get right into it. I’m told Notre Dame couldn’t have done a better job with Omaha (Neb.) Burke three-star wide receiver Xavier Watts. I have had him pegged to end up with the Fighting Irish for a little while now and still like that pick. It’s close between Notre Dame and Nebraska, no doubt, but I still believe the Irish have an edge right now. There is a feeling that his mom would love him to stay close to home, as most mothers would, but the parents are completely sold on Notre Dame and he has their blessing if he chooses to leave for South Bend. Notre Dame is hoping to secure his commitment soon, well before the September decision he says he's planning, but we'll see how things play out. Notre Dame is taking things slow with Waco (Texas) Midway three-star cornerback William Nixon. Multiple people asked me why I hadn’t put in a 247Sports Crystal Ball pick for him yet and this is the reason. The staff loves the young man as a person and believes he can absolutely play on either side of the ball, but there are numbers in play right now and a lot of this depends on another position. All of this has been made clear to the prospect and there are no concerns. Both sides are showing patience in this one, which is a good thing for Notre Dame, but until things clear up elsewhere, I can’t pick the Irish to land him for sure quite yet. That could quickly change early next month. How many cornerbacks will Notre Dame take in this class? Right now I have them landing three right now, so that’s why things are a little foggy on this front. Regarding those cornerbacks, Notre Dame did a great job with Southaven (Miss.) high school three-star Caleb Offord and Danville (Ky.) Boyle County three-star Landen Bartleson this weekend. Both look to be all-in with the school and program and I expect the Fighting Irish to land this duo. No need for fluff on this one — I like my 247Sports Crystal Ball picks on these two barring some last minute changes. One interesting factor in this is that the staff believes Bartleson and Offord could each play safety as well, but are being looked at as cornerback right now. Their ability to potentially play both positions has them high on the board. That could also make it easier to push for Nixon as well. As noted above, that'll all get straightened out in the next two weeks or so. Notre Dame really likes The Colony (Texas) high school four-star defensive back Christian Gonzalez. However, in the end, I don’t see this one being a perfect fit for either side. Gonzales is a great young man and I’m told he comes from a terrific family. There are no concerns on that front at all. I want to make that very clear. He’s a strong enough student, so there aren’t much, if any concerns on that front either. The feeling coming out of the visit is that Gonzalez likely lands elsewhere and that Notre Dame may not be the place for him. Simple as that. There’s really not much else to say other than I’d expect him to land at another program. Other than that, all good with the four committed prospects that were in town for their official visits. Notre Dame couldn’t be happier getting offensive tackle commits Tosh Baker and Michael Carmodyback on campus together, joined by elite running back Chris Tyree and the nation’s top long snapper in Alex Pietsch. There weren’t any comments sent my way about concerns or worry regarding the status of any of these recruits, which is always a good sign. Other related notes… I fully expect Michigan to land three-star offensive lineman Reece Atteberry. Multiple schools like Notre Dame, Ohio State and Duke liked this young man, but all three filled up and decided to focus on other positions. Notre Dame feels it is probably going to finish as runner-up to Michigan in the recruitment of three-star defensive end/linebacker Mitchell Melton. That's where my 247Sports Crystal Ball lies as well. The Fighting Irish are holding out some hope, but over the past two weeks they’ve felt it was them or Michigan and with the Wolverines getting him last and the vibes they’ve gotten recently, the expectation is it’s likely Michigan. Him heading elsewhere could open up another defensive back spot or the staff could wait until the fall and see if another pass-rusher emerges. That's all factoring into why I haven't picked Notre Dame for Nixon quite yet. 90COMMENTS In checking about the latest with four-star wide receiver A.J. Henning, I’m told conversations were great between the elite talent and Notre Dame in the week or so leading up to his official visit to Michigan. In fact, I’m told they reached out to Notre Dame while at Penn State just to say hello and touch base. That never hurts and it shows what kind of respect both sides have for each other. Dialogue remains extremely strong and the Irish staff received no indication that they weren’t getting him or at least still very much in the hunt heading into this weekend’s trip to Ann Arbor. Henning and his family remain high on Notre Dame to this point and it genuinely seems more of a coin flip in their eyes. Even talking with Michigan sources, while they believe they have the edge, they don’t believe it’s a done deal. Henning plays things pretty close to the vest and has done a great job of creating some uncertainty to those following his recruitment. In the end, Notre Dame hopes to land him because they have big plans for him at receiver, running back and even the wildcat, but if he chooses Michigan, the staff believes it did everything it could to get him on board and they won’t hang their heads. We should know much more very soon. Notre Dame believes it’s neck-and-neck with Washington for four-star wide receiver Jalen McMillan, but some inside the Gug remain adamant that the Irish have the edge. Some sources out west believe that is accurate as well. I’m told he’s likely coming back for an official visit for the Virginia game on Sept. 28, not the USC game, as he’s looking to speed up the process. He’ll be joined by his mother on the trip, which has everyone at Notre Dame excited. They want to leave a great impression on the star football player, as well as her. They also don’t believe she is concerned about the distance or the school, but the staff knows that this trip will help ease any issues that may be lingering. That recruitment is going to be an interesting one to watch in the coming months.
Prister's Ranking the recruits Spoiler With defensive back candidates Caleb Offord and Landen Bartleson and slot receiver Xavier Wattsseemingly on the verge of making verbal commitments to the Irish, Notre Dame enters the summer dead period of recruiting the Class of 2020 with 13 verbal commitments. Since our last ranking in late-April, six prospects have joined the seven that we reviewed – all-purpose back Chris Tyree, offensive tackle Tosh Baker, defensive back Clarence Lewis, defensive tackle Rylie Mills, offensive lineman Michael Carmody and long-snapper Alex Peitsch. Note: Star rankings are 247Sports’ composite rankings. 2* LS- Alex Peitsch (6-2, 220, Washington D.C.) A visitor of the Irish this past weekend with fellow commits Tosh Baker, Chris Tyree and Michael Carmody, Peitsch soaked in the atmosphere while discussing academics with the intention of studying engineering during his time at Notre Dame. Peitsch told Irish Illustrated that current long-snapper John Shannon intends to play for the Irish in 2019 and then bypass his final year of eligibility that was preserved in 2016. If Shannon follows through with those plans, that would put Peitsch in a position to take over as long-snapper as a true freshman in 2020. Peitsch’s long snaps for St. John’s College in Washington D.C. are firm and forceful. His follow-through is impeccable. His placement in competition -- time after time -- is a smidge below waist high, or right where a punter wants to receive the football. His snaps for placekicks consistently hit the holder back-knee high, which also is where he wants it. Peitsch adjusts the pace of his placekick snaps to make them more easily handled. 3* DT- Aidan Keanaaina (6-3, 292, Denver, Colo.) Strength, determination, and a non-stop motor. The “Big Kahuna” has outstanding lower-body strength and drive. He plays low to the ground with knee bend, powerful forward lean and active, strong hands after aligning in a locked-and-loaded pre-snap stance. A tenacious fighter on the interior, a try-hard/play-hard presence in the middle of the line. He makes it difficult to keep him blocked. Keanaaina has relatively limited range by major college three-technique standards, so he likely projects as a nose tackle. He’s not a playmaker per se. He’s a hold-the-point-of-attack nose tackle. In comparison to current Irish nose tackle Kurt Hinish – a three-star prospect out of Pennsylvania who made an instant impact as a freshman in 2017 – Keanaaina has a larger frame with a chance to carry additional weight better than Hinish. Hinish was more of a playmaker out of Central Catholic in Pittsburgh. But Keanaaina’s work ethic has been commended during his training in Denver. His strength continues to improve. His desire to be great is unquestioned. If he can add more maneuverability to his game, he’ll have a chance to earn some double-teams and help free up his teammates along the defensive line to attack the line of scrimmage. At the very least, this is a solid nose tackle prospect. 3* DE- Alexander Ehrensberger (6-7, 238, Germany) Exceptional length and a motor that never stops. He has a very natural, willing aggression. Shows quick get-off and some very natural swim and “get skinny” moves of a pass rusher. He plays with a wide base, low pads for a player of his stature, and sets the edge. Ehrensberger is adept at keeping his outside shoulder free while using his inside arm to fend off or swim past a blocker. Ehrensberger is a rangy pass rusher with quality closing length/speed. He’s versatile enough to align at several spots along the line of scrimmage as a pass rusher, including on the interior. His length, however, certainly dictates a strongside end position on the next level. He makes himself difficult to block because of his length and aggression. Above-average change of direction for a strongside end. Has the ability to drop his hips to get around the edge. Knows how to get in passing lanes and make it difficult to throw over/through him. Current level of competition and adaptation to the college game the only real concerns on the football field. 4* OT- Michael Carmody (6-6, 285, Mars, Pa.) The younger brother of Notre Dame red-shirt freshman wing basketball player Robby Carmody. Michael Carmody’s greatest assets are his size, his aggression, his pad level and his quick get-off. He seeks and craves contact. He has a great motor, even showing a willingness to haul his huge body downfield as one of his teammates is sprinting with the football for a touchdown. He has right tackle size. He’s a willing knee bender, which translates into good pad level upon contact with a defender. He is always the first guy off the snap of the football on his offensive line as well as the opposing defensive line. Played as a 255-pound tight end as a sophomore. Shows athleticism as a basketball player. He doesn’t always take advantage of leverage opportunities. He has a tendency to be “top heavy” at times, which means he’s lunging and fighting to maintain balance. Carmody is not asked to pull and play laterally much at Mars High School, which is an important asset in Notre Dame’s offense. Carmody could play with a wider run-blocking base. He has to be careful about allowing his hands to slip outside the width of the defensive lineman’s shoulders. When he wrestles a player to the ground 15 yards past the line of scrimmage, he makes himself a candidate for a holding call. All that being said, there’s much to like about Carmody’s demeanor and love for the game. He’s a big athlete. He’s physical and has a thirst for contact. He has good feet vertically that can be better laterally. Notre Dame likes him as a tackle, but he may be a guard. 3* CB - Clarence Lewis (5-11½, 185, Middletown, N.J. Ultimately will be one of the more underrated prospects in Notre Dame’s Class of 2020. A boundary cornerback prospect. A quality athlete who knows how to play on both sides of the football with traits that indicate a fairly sizeable upside with a higher-than-normal floor for a three-star prospect. There’s room for growth in the quick-twitch department, but the powerful base with which he plays and the instincts for the game make him an impactful boundary cornerback with the stallion-like athleticism from a guy who plays longer and larger than 5-foot-11½, 185 pounds. Lewis plays the game intelligently, tool. Physically, Lewis is a mature athlete/football player. He’ll press and punch with his hands at the line of scrimmage. He knows how to take advantage of a receiver and leverage him with good use of hands and an extended arm to the chest that compromises a receiver’s route. When he’s in the open field with an opportunity to make a tackle, he widens his base, gets light on his feet to make a change of direction to either side, and doesn’t go for fakes, which is another indication of a mature athlete/football player. Lewis has football awareness as he prowls the football field. He knows what works and is effective on a football field, whether he’s winning a jump ball at receiver or bodying up to a receiver and making it difficult to make a play against his physical maturity. He literally carves out a path to the football. Because of his gazelle-like athleticism and strength, he bodies up on receivers like a safety. 4* TE- Kevin Bauman (6-3, 238, Red Bank, N.J.) Bauman is a big, powerful, physically mature pass-receiving tight end coming off the line of scrimmage. His get-off – attached or unattached – shows a powerful young man who doesn’t sacrifice agility with the football in the air. He’s athletic enough to reach high for twisting grabs. He shows the ability to gain separation when he plants his inside foot and makes an out-cut to the sideline. Rarely does Bauman use his body to make the catch. He swallows the football and receives it with soft hands. His hands envelop the football. Bauman needs to be a better knee bender as a blocker. He sometimes tries to undertake his physical work as a blocker with his upper body alone, which on his current level still leads to success. Bauman needs to get underneath his blocks better to fully maximize his already very powerful package of skills. I’d compare him to former Notre Dame tight end Ben Koyack. 4* QB- Drew Pyne (6-0, 194, New Canaan, Conn.) Quarterback instincts are at the top of his list of assets. He may make three or four decisions within one play, constantly keeping the pass alive on the run and the run alive while scrambling to pass. He’s creative and inventive under pressure. When the pocket breaks down, his downfield vision remains sharp and he can deliver the ball on a dime. When things appear to be their most chaotic, that’s when Pyne spots the hole in the coverage and hits the open man. He is the ultimate extender of plays. Pyne has a free-and-easy throwing motion and is very light on his feet. He throws an extremely catchable ball. Slightly built, he doesn’t have a cannon for an arm. There are occasions when receivers have to wait for the ball to arrive. What he lacks in arm strength, he compensates with an extremely quick release. He keeps the football in a quick-delivery position while on the run. He can be on the run and release a pass in a heartbeat. Pyne’s accuracy looks top-notch, although it should be noted that he was intercepted 22 times on 542 pass attempts (once every 24.6 attempts) his first two years of high school. With extreme confidence in one’s ability to throw the football through tight windows comes risk-taking. He made significant improvements as a junior as his interceptions dropped to six on 317 attempts (once every 52.8 attempts). Clearly, size could be an issue on the next level. THE TOP SIX The following six players stand out among the 13 prospects verbally committed to the Irish. Arrange this half-dozen in virtually any order and there’s not much of an argument to be made. The ranking is based upon where a player is at this juncture of his career/development. In terms of sheer long-term ability and upside, offensive tackle Tosh Baker likely sits atop the list. The order of this list could/likely will change as senior film becomes available. 4* OT- Tosh Baker (6-8, 275, Phoenix, Ariz.) This is one, big athletic kid. His basketball background is evident in the way he moves around a gridiron. He has the footwork of a round-baller with quickness and outstanding lateral movement. When Baker works to set the edge, the edge belongs to him. When he moves his feet and extends his arms – which reach from Phoenix to Flagstaff – he is virtually impossible for a prep defensive end to get around. Those assets should carry over to the next level(s). Baker really has to work on knee bend as a run blocker. He frequently is content to stand straight up and push, which he can do against Valley Vista and Mountain Ridge High School, but not against the top competition on the next level. Baker also can be passive as a run blocker because he can get away with pushing and occupying every player that is undersized compared to him. The current shortcomings in his game are completely fixable. He needs to work on a consistent motor. If he can fully tap into his incredible skillset, there’s little doubt that Baker will be a standout on the next level and likely an NFL football player, provided he makes the necessary adjustments and has the drive and inspiration to play with the big boys. From a physical skillset alone, he’s a high NFL draft prospect. 4* DT- Rylie Mills (6-5, 275, Lake Forest, Ill.) To see Mills on a football field, one would think he’s a college freshman this fall…and perhaps even last fall. That’s how physically imposing he is. He’s a physical beast, a man among boys who looks like the oversized kid they legislate out of carrying the football in the Pee Wee leagues. His strength plays as if he’s a college upperclassman. If Mills crosses the face of a prep offensive lineman, there’s virtually no way he can be stopped. He’s too strong. He’s too quick to go with that strength. Mills doesn’t just get off blocks; he pries offensive linemen off their blocks. He also displays the footwork/lower body strength of an athlete. He changes directions well, which indicates hip/lower-body development. He runs very well for a strongside end/three-technique. Mills is in constant push mode. He does not take any advantage he’s gained against an opponent for granted. He really doesn’t have to use swim and rip moves because he’s able to overpower people with a bull rush. He’ll need to fine-tune that aspect of his game. He can play tall and get away with it, but shows ample knee bend. 4* TE- Michael Mayer (6-5, 240, Alexandria, Ky.) Whether it’s running pass routes, blocking in space or getting after the quarterback from a defensive end position in a three-man front, Mayer shows tremendous – not good – but tremendous balance. If he’s trying to elude defenders as he’s pin-balling his way through the secondary with the football tucked under his arm, he stays on his feet. If he’s squaring up a defender to execute a block, he doesn’t lunge and stays on his feet…unless he’s pancaking the defender. Mayer is an athletic effort guy. He’s adept at sensing and finding seams in defenses. He receives the football quietly, doesn’t fight it, and shows the ability to making rising, leaping, twisting catches. Defenders don’t seem to be able to square him up, which displays a bit of a slithery nature in traffic. Mayer shows change of direction skills as a blocker. He reacts instantly and instinctively to a counter move by a defender trying to get around his block. His ability to seal the edge as a blocker is outstanding. His blocking radius is a lot from which to disentangle. I’d compare his style of play to former Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert, only he’s much more advanced as a blocker than Eifert was at a comparable stage of his career. 4* DE- Jordan Botelho (6-3, 230, Honolulu, Hawaii) Listed as an inside linebacker and sometimes referred to as a standup outside linebacker, Notre Dame intends to employ him at drop (rush) end. That translates into a guy with the athleticism and skillset to fall back into coverage as well as the relentless attributes of an off-the-edge pass rusher. He’s strong at the point of attack against size. He comes off blocks prepared to make a tackle. He’s very aggressive with his hands. He doesn’t stay blocked. Botelho is an explosive tackler, and yet he’s fundamentally sound and well-schooled to keep his outside shoulder free to prevent an offensive lineman from crossing his face. His feet aren’t just very good; they’re spectacular. His change of direction is outstanding. Botelho has exceptional body control. He can go from fast, to probing, to fast again as he appraises the movement of the offensive player. He goes from pursuit to contact in a blur of reaction. And yet he stays square and balanced while playing aggressively. Despite his extreme aggression, he doesn’t lunge. He waits until the most opportune time to launch into the ball carrier. The one hesitation to place Botelho this high is the less-than-ideal height for a pass-rushing weakside end. The skills, however, are unmistakable. 5* WR- Jordan Johnson (6-2, 180, St. Louis, Mo.) The picture of grace with the versatility to get downfield on a deep ball but also catch passes in traffic and weave his way through a defense. He beats opponents on fly patterns, crossing routes, out-cuts and quick-out patterns that allow him to accentuate his slippery skip-cuts. He’s wiry lean with a level of athletic strength greater than his measurables. Johnson has a knack for feeling for and finding open space when the original route is shut down. He’ll flip his head and hips to seamlessly change directions and find gaps in the coverage. He shows great resourcefulness at a very young age. Most 50-50 balls tilt in his direction because of his ability to create space with the defender and then time his jump at the football’s apex. Johnson will subtly use his back hand without interfering to fend off the defender and create room to make the play on the ball. There is no official 40-yard dash time, but Johnson likely is in the 4.5 (real time, not exaggerated) range. The diversity of his game makes him even slipperier and more elusive than the likely number. 4* RB- Chris Tyree (5-9, 178, Chester, Va.) Name the alignment and Thomas Dale High School has placed Tyree in that spot to best accentuate his ability to make a big play. Tyree is good at them all, and in most instances, he gets to the spot before anyone else on the football field does. This is a special individual and one of the few worthy of the distinction of five-star prospect. The first thing that jumped out on film with Tyree was not his great speed – to be sure, he has breakaway speed – but the powerful running stride of such a small back. It’s powerful and effortless at the same time. The hard-charging running gait is not that of a small back. He’s quick to the hole and explosive through it once his vision has diagnosed the path. Tyree is not hesitant to drop his shoulder pads and take on a defender, a degree of toughness that also shows itself when he’s at cornerback. He’ll aggressively attack the ball carrier low, wrap up and drive though the opponent. There are times, of course, when an opponent squares Tyree up or gets a firm two-handed grasp of him and tosses him around. But those instances are rare. For a prospect with a multitude of skills, Tyree’s most valuable asset is he’s a football player. He does the little things that add up to a five-star prospect, such as a willingness to serve as a lead blocker, the good sense to use his blockers as assets, the foresight to wrap two arms around the football in traffic, and a general north-south attitude as a ball carrier. Would it be fair to compare Tyree to former Florida State great Warrick Dunn? I doubt anyone would say it was far-fetched.
Landen Bartlesen commits to ND! he probably has the highest upside at CB for the guys we have a shot with
i will say there was a time when i thought LB would be the third CB in this class and might not be a take (if we landed guys like Kimber/Ryan Watts/CP3) but now he's the lead man he's like Troy Pride to me, w/o the elite top end speed - going from offense to CB needs at least a couple of years to develop before he's ready for primetime but he definitely has some tools to work with
Overall this class does not seem that deep at DB, at least with guys that ND had a shot at. Once they whiffed on those three it was going to go downhill. At least they are getting guys with tons of length and athleticism. I much prefer taking projects than a guy who has hit his ceiling pretty much already. Also, Lyght I think has proven to be a good developer of talent so that makes it a bit less worrisome but I really wish they landed one of Kimber/Watts/CP3 to assuage my concerns a bit. Taking a 5th DB in this class over Simon's brother is a real headscratcher for me regardless of the numbers on the roster currently for each position.
What's the deal with that if anyone knows? I guess we are getting him after a big recruiting weekend.
Staff likes him but they don’t think we have room for a single linebacker. Idiotic move on their part.
agreed that this class isn't near as deep at DB compared to previous years. I think it's also good that the coaches went out to see all these guys in person before pursuing them so they got to confirm heights/speed/agility before really pursuing. 2021 is going to require 5 high level DBs I think and ND already has a good head start on that class. Many of their top DBs (Bowman, Jakahil Johnson, Daylen Carnell) have already visited which is a pretty big difference compared to this year when Watts/Kimber/CP3 all visited in the spring for the first time. Everyone is knocking the Simon move and it really is odd but not much any of us can do about it. Kid seems like a perfect fit for the school and he has a ton of athletic ability but my guess is that he's just not tall enough for Lea's liking...it looks like Lea really values length at ILB
he's a bigger version of Tevon Coney...and faster too based on his track times i just hope he has the same instincts
Volunteering at the us senior open this week. On golf cart duties and there's literally nothing for us to do right now. So I followed Tom Watson during his practice round today. Really fun to watch him play, even at his advanced age.
By all accounts he turned in an awesome spring as well. A Durham Smythe late career jump would be nice along the upside of Kmet and speed of Tremble.
intel from the 5* challenge Spoiler There were a couple of Notre Dame commits and a few targets at the Rivals Five-Star Challenge, and I was able to learn more about these prospects in talking to them and watching each recruit perform. But with an event as big as the Five-Star Challenge, there were other tidbits I was able to pick up in talking to various people. Here are those nuggets in the latest edition of Shamrock Secrets. *** Early in the spring evaluation period, Notre Dame was actively recruiting Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy wide receiver Michael Redding, but those talks fell off. Actually, I'm told that Redding was leaning towards Notre Dame and was close to locking in an official visit for June 21, but once the Irish cooled on him, he gave a closer look to in-state schools and Purdue. But now, I'm hearing that Notre Dame's recruitment of Redding could be somewhat impacted by the commitment of Jalen McMillan to Washington. *** The latest we've heard is that Jay Brunelle is higher on the receiver board than Redding, but Redding is back as a possible option down the road for Notre Dame. I'm told that Redding heard from Irish receivers coach Del Alexander last week, and Alexander reached out to Redding on Tuesday -- actually during the Five-Star Challenge. Redding is the nation's No. 37 prospect according to Rivals, and while I don't think he should be rated quite that high, Redding would certainly be a strong "plan B" option behind guys like Xavier Watts and AJ Henning. *** One final note on Redding: If Notre Dame pushes, I expect Redding to choose Notre Dame. He's from Pensacola, which is about three hours from Florida State and likely Redding's top option at this time, although he's high on Purdue as well. But Redding wants to be at Notre Dame and doesn't seem to mind that the Irish slowed down contact in May and early June. *** There's still plenty of uncertainty surrounding the recruitment of Olney (Md.) Good Counsel drop end Mitchell Melton. Between Michigan, Notre Dame, and Ohio State, there's not a strong feeling of where he'll end up. The one school I've heard looks good for Melton for a while has been Michigan, but Ohio State made a move for him during his June official visit. One source close to his recruitment thinks that the Irish are running third for Melton. However, another source I spoke to at the Five-Star Challenge felt that Notre Dame was the team to beat for Melton. The athletic prospect is a tough cookie to crack, so until he makes a decision -- expected on July 3 -- I probably won't have a strong indication on where Melton is leaning. *** Getting class of 2021 Houston (Texas) Episcopal offensive lineman Donovan Jackson out of Texas won't be easy. Rivals.com state of Texas analyst Sam Spiegelman put in a FutureCast on Monday for Jackson to land at Texas A&M. However, in talking with Jackson, he seemed like a prospect who would be a great fit at Notre Dame. I asked Jackson what he looks for in a school, and alumni network was the first thing he brought up -- an area Notre Dame excels in. Jackson doesn't have plans to get to Notre Dame any time soon, but he will visit Stanford in late July, which shows he's serious about going out of state. *** I spent plenty of time talking with Notre Dame quarterback commit Drew Pyne this week. He mentioned Xavier Watts as a guy who he's talking with a good bit, and Pyne noted that Watts had a great visit, which Watts also reported to EJ Holland ... Pyne's also in contact in Lathan Ransom's recruitment and keeps in contact with him... The Rivals100 signal caller also recruited 2021 tight end Cane Berrong a little bit in the couple of weeks before Berrong announced his commitment ... Both Pyne and Jordan Johnson mentioned that they're after AJ Henning hard, but we're still hearing that Henning is leaning Michigan.
Hopefully he can be ready for Georgia. Lugg will be able to fill in nicely and think the extra reps will be great for long term development, but Banks in the run game was one thing I was excited to watch this year. Special level of power and athleticism.
Holland tweeting out two coffees today meaning ND got two silents in theory today Offord is already silent Guessing it’s Bruenelle and Watts Which means recruiting is essentially done everywhere but DB baring transfers :(
Sbt days he's expected back by tanning camp. Is that different than what was reported earlier? Or just a different way of saying it? Edit: I see it's still "sometime during training camp". Carry on