Notre Dame Recruiting Big Board- 1.27.14

GET THOSE FINGERS CROSSED FOR A HAPPY NATIONAL SIGNING DAY

Welcome to the newest update to the recruiting Big Board. Notre Dame lost a commit recently but also added a defensive tackle. We're down to our last full week before NSD so hold on tight.

There's actually some news to report at quarterback where the Irish have added a preferred walk-on named Grant Hammann from Dyersville, Iowa. At 6'1" 180 pounds he's got decent size but looks to be very athletic. You can check out his highlight tape HERE and see he's clearly got some speed to his game. This is a great pickup to add an emergency fourth or fifth option to the depth chart next season.

Running Back
Score	Player	State	Ht/Wt.	Temperature	1*	2*	3*	4*	5*
.940	Derrell Scott	NC	5-11/180	Cold
.908	Donte Thomas-Williams	NC	6-0/220	Cold

With the early entry of George Atkinson the Irish could use another running back for next year but it's far too late in the process to get after a new prospect. The future of Folston and Bryant is officially here.

Scott is expected to stay somewhere in the South within the SEC. Thomas-Williams has been a lock for West Virginia for quite some time.

Wide Receiver
Score	Player	State	Ht/Wt.	Temperature	1*	2*	3*	4*	5*
.991	Malachi Dupre	LA	6-2/187	Cold
.891	Isaiah McKenzie	FL	5-9/172	Mild
.855	Kameron Uter	GA	6-4/205	Cold

McKenzie has made an enormous jump in the rankings in recent months now officially becoming a Composite 4-star prospect. He's made it through his visit to Florida, just got back from an official to Ole Miss, and will be in South Bend this weekend.

The contact with Uter has gone nowhere in recent weeks while Dupre is off Notre Dame's radar.

Athlete
Score	Player	State	Ht/Wt.	Temperature	1*	2*	3*	4*	5*
.972	Budda Baker	WA	5-9/174	Cold
.870	Charles Nelson	FL	5-8/170	Mild
.970	Michiah Quick	CA	6-0/170	Mild
.990	Ju Ju Smith	CA	6-1/200	Mild

Baker left Oregon's class a couple weeks ago as reported in our last update. He's coming off a visit to UCLA this past weekend. Look for the Washington or the Bruins to fight for him over the next week.

The experts feel unanimous that Smith is a lock for USC. Getting Ju Ju away from the Trojans is looking like less of a reality.

Morever, it looks like Nelson may be trending away from Notre Dame too. He'll visit West Virginia this weekend and it's my opinion that is where he'll end up signing.

Notre Dame may not lead for Quick but he looks to be coming down to Oklahoma or the Irish. He'll announce on signing day.

Offensive Line
Score	Player	State	Ht/Wt.	Temperature	1*	2*	3*	4*	5*
.980	Damien Mama	CA	6-4/370	Cold
.985	Damian Prince	MD	6-5/295	Cold
.967	Braden Smith	KS	6-6/290	Cold

A few days ago (AZ) Casey Tucker .961 gave a verbal to Stanford. He was once a commit to USC but will stay in the Pac-12 and play a little more north in California.

Mama went with JuJu Smith to USC recently and they are expected to both sign with the Trojans.

Smith can't quite lift as much as me but he's getting close.

Defensive Line
Score	Player	State	Ht/Wt.	Temperature	1*	2*	3*	4*	5*
.892	Daniel Cage	OH	6-3/295	Mild
.991	Lorenzo Carter	GA	6-5/232	Cold
.927	Matt Elam	KY	6-6/350	Cold
.852	Jaylen Johnson	CA	6-3/232	Cold
.873	Trey Lelaimatafao	TX	6-0/301	Cold
.984	Malik McDowell	MI	6-7/290	Not as Cold
.951	Derrick Nnadi	VA	6-1/305	Cold
.883	Michael Sawyers	TN	6-2/300	Mild
.988	Solomon Thomas	TX	6-3/256	Cold
.967	Travonte Valentine	FL	6-3/338	Cold
.907	Andrew Williams	GA	6-4/247	Cold

The big news for Notre Dame was the commitment of (NY) Pete Mokwuah .837 who adds a big body on the interior for the Irish. The bad news on the defensive line was Marcus Griffin cancelling his visit to Notre Dame and dropping the Irish altogether. Elston & Co. were looking to hand out an offer to Griffin but it never worked out.

A couple of visits this week could be huge for Notre Dame. Coming on Wednesday through Friday is Daniel Cage while Michael Sawyers is coming to South Bend this Friday. Cage is coming off a visit at Michigan State and the Spartans are believed to lead. Sawyers is coming off a visit to Ole Miss and cancelled his visit to Tennessee for this weekend in order to see Notre Dame.

This appears to be Kelly's last minute effort to add somewhere along the line.

Linebacker
Score	Player	State	Ht/Wt.	Temperature	1*	2*	3*	4*	5*
.991	Rashaan Evans	AL	6-3/220	Cold
.857	Vincent Jackson	FL	6-2/235	Cold
.885	Kevin Mouhon	GA	6-1/223	Cold
.925	Kenny Young	LA	6-2/220	Cold

Mouhon recently left Tennessee's class following a visit to Cincinnati two weekends ago. The belief is that he'll sign with the Bearcats where his brother plays.

Evans has now moved up and is the 15th best player in the country. UCLA and LSU are in a dog fight for Young. He visits the Bayou today and Los Angeles this weekend.

Defensive Back
Score	Player	State	Ht/Wt.	Temperature	1*	2*	3*	4*	5*
.866	Terrence Alexander	LA	5-10/180	Mild
.853	Nick Glass	GA	6-2/205	Cold
.995	Adoree Jackson	CA	5-9/182	Cold
.883	Mattrell McGraw	LA	6-0/183	Cold

Notre Dame's lone target for corner is Alexander who is coming off a great visit to South Bend from the weekend of the 17th and just got back from a visit to Ole Miss this past weekend. It was looking like a Notre Dame-Ole Miss battle but Alexander was approved for admission to Stanford so the Cardinal are still very much in the race.

Irish Offense Commits
Score	Player	State	Ht/Wt.	Position	1*	2*	3*	4*	5*
.907	DeShone Kizer	OH	6-5/207	Quarterback
.953	Justin Brent	IN	6-3/190	Wideout
.923	Corey Holmes	FL	6-2/175	Wideout
.903	Nic Weishar	IL	6-5/223	Tight End
.894	Tyler Luatua	CA	6-4/230	Tight End
.892	Jimmy Byrne	OH	6-4/290	Offensive Line
.912	Sam Mustipher	MD	6-3/285	Offensive Line
.967	Quenton Nelson	NJ	6-5/295	Offensive Line
.947	Alex Bars	TN	6-6/309	Offensive Line

The offense still holds steady with 9 players at 4-star level. Hopefully we'll see a 10th skilled position player added to this group over the next 10 days.

Irish Defense Commits
Score	Player	State	Ht/Wt.	Position	1*	2*	3*	4*	5*
.898	Grant Blakenship	TX	6-6/252	Defensive End
.860	Jonathan Bonner	MO	6-4/250	Defensive End
.853	Kolin Hill	TX	6-2/220	Defensive End
.934	Andrew Trumbetti	NJ	6-5/250	Defensive End
.840	Jhonathon Williams	MI	6-6/237	Defensive End
.906	Jay Hayes	NY	6-5/260	Defensive Tackle
.837	Pete Mokwuah	NY	6-5/305	Defensive Tackle
.972	Nyles Morgan	IL	6-1/225	Linebacker
.883	Greer Martini	VA	6-3/232	Linebacker
.872	Nile Sykes	IL	6-2/223	Linebacker
.926	Nick Watkins	TX	6-1/185	Cornerback
.896	Drue Tranquill	IN	6-2/210	Safety
.805	Tyler Newsome	GA	6-3/190	Punter

Notre Dame loses Richard Yeargin to Clemson but picks up Pete Mokwuah to stay at 22 verbals for the 2014 cycle.

All eyes are on Kolin Hill as he's scheduled to officially visit Texas after receiving an offer from the Longhorns over the weekend. Brian Kelly will visit him at his home today to try and save Hill from leaving the class or even making the trip to Austin. If Hill does visit Texas it's unlikely he'll stick to Notre Dame.

Numbers don't look to be a problem as Notre Dame heads down the home stretch to National Signing Day. With 4 seniors coming back for a fifth-year there are 82 scholarships accounted for. The Irish will likely have to have a surprising NSD in order to grab 3 more prospects.