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Offense Recruiting Big Board: 9.3.13

Offensive recruiting is winding down for the 2014 as the football season begins.

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

CHECK OUT THE NEW LOOK OFD RECRUITING BOARD!

Welcome to the revamped Big Board here at One Foot Down. We'll alternate an offense and defense post every week (unless news is really slow) with the hope that the recruiting coverage is a little more streamlined and easier to follow.

Score indicates 247 Composite ranking.

With DeShone Kizer already a part of this class and no more offers out it appears Notre Dame will only take one quarterback this cycle.

Running Back
Score Player State Ht/Wt. Temperature 1* 2* 3* 4* 5*
.999 Leonard Fournette LA 6-1.5/226 Cold
.985 Joe Mixon CA 6-2/195 Cold
.944 Derrell Scott NC 5-11/180 Cold
.921 Donte Thomas-Williams NC 6-0/209 Mild

With Elijah Hood leaving the class and joining North Carolina it's left the Irish with slim pickings at running back. Fournette is not a realistic option, Notre Dame didn't make Mixon's recent top five, and Scott seems to be slowly fading away.

Notre Dame is still in Thomas-Williams' top four with West Virginia, Florida State, and Clemson although the Irish may be running last out of that group. For now it may be a case of turning up the heat on DTW or possibly move forward with the intent on skipping running backs this cycle with all 6 players returning next year.

Wide Receiver
Score Player State Ht/Wt. Temperature 1* 2* 3* 4* 5*
.925 Johnnie Dixon FL 5-10/187 Cold
.985 Malachi Dupre LA 6-2/187 Cold
.970 Josh Malone TN 6-2/190 Mild
.846 Isaiah McKenzie FL 5-8/160 Hot
.981 Speedy Noil LA 5-10/176 Cold
.943 Trevion Thompson NC 6-2/177 Cold

K.D. Cannon went to Baylor, Cameron Sims to Alabama, Trey Quinn to LSU, and Saeed Blacknall to Rutgers.

The Irish haven't been in it with Dixon, Noil, or Thompson, and didn't make Dupre's top four last month. Malone has shown interest in the past but he's been quiet for a long time. That leaves the speedy Isaiah McKenzie who wants to verbal but is still working through the admissions process. Right now, the only official visit McKenzie has scheduled is to Notre Dame.

Athlete
Score Player State Ht/Wt. Temperature 1* 2* 3* 4* 5*
.970 Budda Baker WA 5-9/174 Cold
.890 Noah Brown NJ 6-2/212 Cold
.978 Michiah Quick CA 6-0/170 Mild
.987 Ju Ju Smith CA 6-1/200 Mild
.936 Nathan Starks CO 5-11/200 Cold

Ohio State snagged Curtis Samuel last month and The Ol' Ball Coach picked up a commitment from Terry Googer.

Budda Baker remains a long shot still, and Brown didn't put Notre Dame in his top 8 while Ohio State is believed to lead for his services.

Starks is still on the Irish radar but faces a steep uphill climb to work his way back into the Administration's favor after being kicked out of Bishop Gorman. Quick and Smith are still scheduled to visit for the USC game and remain the staff's highest priorities as true dual-threat athletes.

Tight End
Score Player State Ht/Wt. Temperature 1* 2* 3* 4* 5*
.955 Tyler Luatua CA 6-4/230 Mild
.948 Dalton Schultz UT 6-5/215 Cold

It's a pretty interesting situation at tight end where the Irish really don't need anymore bodies (6 players on campus next fall assuming Niklas isn't leaving early and Weishar remains a part of the class) but a pair of interested prospects remain on the board.

Luckily, Luatua is open to playing on both sides of the ball and the Irish staff may prefer him there anyway. He looks to be coming down between Alabama and Notre Dame. His decision may affect the pressure applied to Schultz in the coming months.

Offensive Line
Score Player State Ht/Wt. Temperature 1* 2* 3* 4* 5*
.922 Natrell Curtis AZ 6-3/285 Cold
.979 Damien Mama CA 6-4/370 Cold
.992 Damian Prince MD 6-6/300 Cold
.975 Braden Smith KS 6-6/290 Cold
.960 Donell Stanley SC 6-4/327 Cold
.961 Casey Tucker AZ 6-6/270 Cold

The only news to report was Ross Pierschbacher flipping from Iowa to Alabama.

A couple months ago Braden Smith looked like the only possible candidate on the above list but he's apparently moving on looking at Alabama, TCU, and Texas A&M.

With 4 linemen currently a part of the class there's no huge need here. Damien Mama is still interested and will visit for the USC game. He could potentially play on the defensive line too---something that is probably very enticing for the Irish coaches.

Irish Commits
Score Player State Ht/Wt. Position 1* 2* 3* 4* 5*
.907 DeShone Kizer OH 6-5/207 Quarterback
.941 Justin Brent IN 6-3/190 Wideout
.923 Corey Holmes FL 6-2/175 Wideout
.877 Nic Weishar IL 6-5/223 Tight End
.900 Jimmy Byrne OH 6-4/290 Offensive Line
.930 Sam Mustipher MD 6-3/285 Offensive Line
.969 Quenton Nelson NJ 6-5/295 Offensive Line
.952 Alex Bars TN 6-6/287 Offensive Line

Kizer went 13 for 28 for 185 yards and 1 touchdown and 1 interception in Central Catholic's 21-14 win over DeLaSalle.

Brent has been moved to running back this fall and his Speedway team lost their second game of the season 35-0 to Scecina Memorial. Brent rushed for 73 yards on 12 carries and also caught a couple passes.

Corey Holmes caught one pass for 20 yards in St. Thomas Aquinas' big 38-3 win over Miami Northwestern.

Marist lost to St. Rita but Nic Weishar caught 4 passes for 56 yards.

Mustipher's Good Counsel team lost their opener but beat Florida's Immokalee 33-0 this past Friday.

Jimmy Byrne and St. Ignatius lost their season opener 29-20 to Brother Rice.

Alex Bars and Montgomery Bell Academy moved to 2-0 on the season with a 55-8 win over Hamilton.