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Welcome to the latest installment of the OFD Big Board. Today we're back with another look at the defensive side of the ball and we are tracking any progress the Irish have made since our last update.
| Defensive Line | |||||||||
| Score | Player | State | Ht/Wt. | Temperature | 1* | 2* | 3* | 4* | 5* |
| .995 | Lorenzo Carter | GA | 6-5/232 | Mild | |||||
| .935 | Matt Elam | KY | 6-6/350 | Mild | |||||
| .946 | Lorenzo Featherston | NC | 6-7/220 | Cold | |||||
| .940 | Josh Frazier | AR | 6-3/324 | Cold | |||||
| .998 | Da'Shawn Hand | VA | 6-4/254 | Cold | |||||
| .969 | Thomas Holley | NY | 6-4/285 | Mild | |||||
| .874 | Melvin Keihn | MD | 6-3/225 | Cold | |||||
| .981 | Malik McDowell | MI | 6-7/290 | Cold | |||||
| .923 | Anthony Moten | FL | 6-4/279 | Cold | |||||
| .946 | Derrick Nnadi | VA | 6-1/305 | Cold | |||||
| .896 | Tashon Smallwood | CA | 6-1/280 | Cold | |||||
| .959 | Kentavius Street | NC | 6-2/262 | Cold | |||||
| .989 | Solomon Thomas | TX | 6-3/256 | Cold | |||||
| .908 | Andrew Williams | GA | 6-4/247 | Mild | |||||
The latest verbal was Texas defensive end Myles Garrett who gave his commitment to the Aggies of A&M.
Per our last update the Irish are not in the picture with Featherston, Frazier, Hand, Keihn, McDowell, Moten, Nnadi, and Street.
California defensive tackle Tashon Smallwood was recently added to the Big Board and we might see his temperature move to mild in the coming weeks as Notre Dame puts in a little more effort.
Everyone wants to see the Irish get back in the picture with Carter but it's just not happening right now. The door is not shut by any means but Notre Dame really needs another visit.
Matt Elam had a good time on his official visit two weekends ago. I personally think we're still third behind Kentucky and Alabama and I'm not sure if that's changed.
Holley continues to be someone I think would be a great fit, but the love doesn't seem to be there at the moment. Ohio State and Penn State are coming on strong and like the situation with Carter mentioned above Kelly & Co. really need another visit to get back in things.
A lot of good things were said about Notre Dame's position with Thomas after his visit in the summer but it's gone cold since then. Stanford looks like his new leader and he is coming off a visit to Ohio State this past weekend.
Notre Dame is still lurking in the shadows with Williams but he's visited Clemson recently and the Tigers will remain very stiff competition as will Auburn.
| Linebacker | |||||||||
| Score | Player | State | Ht/Wt. | Temperature | 1* | 2* | 3* | 4* | 5* |
| .966 | Rashaan Evans | AL | 6-3/220 | Cold | |||||
| .939 | Edwin Freeman | TX | 6-0/212 | Cold | |||||
| .984 | Clifton Garrett | IL | 6-2/228 | Cold | |||||
| .857 | Vincent Jackson | FL | 6-2/235 | Cold | |||||
| .990 | Raekwon McMillan | GA | 6-2/242 | Cold | |||||
| .973 | Nyles Morgan | IL | 6-2/228 | Mild | |||||
| .907 | Kenny Young | LA | 6-2/220 | Cold | |||||
The Irish remain ice cold with everyone on this list but Nyles Morgan.
Morgan has been bumped up to a temperature of mild after an official visit to Notre Dame against USC but don't let that get your hopes up. Many still believe he's just giving the Irish lip service because of his parents while favoring Vanderbilt and especially Ole Miss.
| Defensive Back | |||||||||
| Score | Player | State | Ht/Wt. | Temperature | 1* | 2* | 3* | 4* | 5* |
| .986 | Jamal Adams | TX | 6-0/199 | Cold | |||||
| .994 | Tony Brown | TX | 6-0/188 | Cold | |||||
| .862 | Payton Hendrix | TX | 6-3/190 | Mild | |||||
| .996 | Adoree Jackson | CA | 5-9/182 | Cold | |||||
| .885 | Mattrell McGraw | LA | 6-0/183 | Cold | |||||
| .988 | Jalen Tabor | DC | 6-1/182 | Cold | |||||
| .946 | Nick Watkins | TX | 6-1/185 | Mild | |||||
| .944 | Parrker Westphal | IL | 6-0/186 | Cold | |||||
Adams, Brown, McGraw, Tabor, and Westphal are not on Notre Dame's radar. Or vice versa. You get the point.
The Irish really want Jackson---and he seems serious about leaving California with recent visits to Oklahoma and LSU---but Notre Dame has not made any progress lately.
Teammates Hendrix and Watkins made official visits to Notre Dame for USC and watched the Irish play in Arlington as well. Throw in Drue Tranquill who could flip from Purdue and these might be your secondary recruits for the 2014 class.
| Irish Commits | |||||||||
| Score | Player | State | Ht/Wt. | Position | 1* | 2* | 3* | 4* | 5* |
| .865 | Grant Blakenship | TX | 6-5/235 | Defensive End | |||||
| .932 | Andrew Trumbetti | NJ | 6-5/250 | Defensive End | |||||
| .892 | Matt Dickerson | CA | 6-5/275 | Defensive Tackle | |||||
| .906 | Jay Hayes | NY | 6-5/269 | Defensive Tackle | |||||
| .850 | Jonathan Bonner | MO | 6-4/250 | Linebacker | |||||
| .883 | Greer Martini | VA | 6-3/232 | Linebacker | |||||
| .903 | Richard Yeargin | FL | 6-4/225 | Linebacker | |||||
| .833 | Tyler Newsome | GA | 6-3/190 | Punter | |||||
With ~7 spots left in the 2014 class we'll likely see the bulk of the verbals coming on the defensive side of the ball. Numbers-wise a lot of them will be coming in the secondary, and don't forget Californian JuJu Smith who is classified as an athlete but would play safety in South Bend.
It will be interesting to see where the Irish fit in more front seven prospects.