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Welcome back to the OFD recruiting Big Board for April 14, 2015.
Defensive Tackle | |||||||||
Score | Player | State | Ht/Wt. | Temperature | 1* | 2* | 3* | 4* | 5* |
.843 | Christian Colon | NC | 6-3/325 | Cold | |||||
.950 | Jordan Elliott | TX | 6-4/305 | Cold | |||||
.970 | Antwuan Jackson | GA | 6-2/285 | Cold | |||||
.990 | Dexter Lawrence | NC | 6-5/310 | Cold | |||||
.988 | Ed Oliver | TX | 6-2/285 | Cold | |||||
.999 | Rashan Gary | NJ | 6-4/290 | Cold | |||||
Only one new offer to report at tackle. Late last month Jordan Elliott out of Westside High School in Houston. At the time Elliott was committed to Baylor but a week ago left the Bears' class. He's since visited Texas A&M.
#NotreDame is the latest to offer Top50 four-star DT Jordan Elliott, a #Baylor commit http://t.co/UcGsE3s0Vg (FREE) @ThaReal95
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) March 23, 2015
Visits to Penn State and Rutgers were made recently by Christian Colon. He might be someone to keep an eye on in the future but the Tar Heels remain the favorite.
There's been a promise of a possible summer trip to Notre Dame by Rashan Gary but nothing set in stone yet. I would imagine he'll be a major target for the Irish Invasion. At any rate, Gary has taken several visits this spring including Michigan, Ohio State, South Carolina, Clemson, and Georgia.
Recruiting: No. 1 DT Rashan Gary tours areas schools, stopping in #Clemson on Saturday - http://t.co/PAMF7mZGLV
— Orange and White (@orangeandwhite) April 6, 2015
There isn't much focus on tackle this cycle for Notre Dame, at least not right now. I wouldn't expect much news here until the summer.
Defensive End | |||||||||
Score | Player | State | Ht/Wt. | Temperature | 1* | 2* | 3* | 4* | 5* |
.946 | McTelvin Agim | AR | 6-2/268 | Cold | |||||
.898 | Patrick Bethel | FL | 6-3/243 | Cold | |||||
.950 | Oluwole Betiku | CA | 6-3/240 | Cold | |||||
.913 | Amani Bledsoe | KS | 6-5/270 | Cold | |||||
.993 | Nick Bosa | FL | 6-4/265 | Cold | |||||
.852 | Brian Burns | FL | 6-5/212 | Cold | |||||
.880 | Kyree Campbell | VA | 6-5/305 | Cold | |||||
.903 | Ron Johnson | NJ | 6-4/240 | Mild | |||||
.914 | Khalid Kareem | MI | 6-4/252 | Mild | |||||
.891 | Xavier Kelly | KS | 6-5/230 | Mild | |||||
.970 | Josh King | IL | 6-6/250 | Mild | |||||
.944 | Justin Madubuike | TX | 6-3/255 | Cold | |||||
.891 | Chidi Okonya | GA | 6-5/216 | Cold | |||||
.923 | Julian Okwara | NC | 6-4/210 | Hot | |||||
.945 | Auston Robertson | IN | 6-5/230 | Mild | |||||
.859 | Jordan Smith | GA | 6-6/222 | Cold | |||||
Two defensive ends came off the board recently. The first (FL) Rahshaun Smith .972 committed to Clemson. He's yet another major D-1 prospect coming out of IMG Academy and adds to the Tigers' impressive defensive line recruiting haul in recent years.
Rahshaun Smith Talks Clemson Commitment (VIP) http://t.co/7KAeogPeuJ pic.twitter.com/BZF1S1Laxs
— Clemson247 (@Clemson247) March 28, 2015
The other player off the Big Board is (GA) Charles Wiley .922 who gave his verbal to Ole Miss in late March.
A familiar name has been moved from outside linebacker to defense end. Brother of current Irish end Romeo Okwara, Julian Okwara, is coming off a late March visit to Notre Dame. Recently he's let it be known that he'll be committing on April 30th but last night moved up the date to tonight.
Four-star LB Julian Okwara previews his decision at #RivalsCamp. #ND #UGA #OleMiss #Clemson http://t.co/2mf04Lzb3c pic.twitter.com/qu49EoGoQt
— Rivals.com (@Rivals) April 13, 2015
I have changed my commitment date to tomorrow at 6pm
— Julian Okwara (@_JulianOkwara) April 13, 2015
It is widely expected that Okwara will be choosing Notre Dame where his Crystal Ball prediction remains at 100% in favor of the Fighting Irish.
A few new offers have gone out to Notre Dame's growing list at this position. The awesomely named (AR) McTelvin Agim .946 is the top player in the state of Arkansas. Not typically your recruiting hot bed for the Irish.
Congrats to the 58th invitee to #TheOpening Finals - Hope (AR) DE McTelvin Agim (@So_Splash). #GOTOPEN #Final5 pic.twitter.com/7WIaIQYeeU
— The Opening (@TheOpening) April 2, 2015
American Heritage's Brian Burns recently picked up an offer and was impressed with his recruiter Autry Denson. For now, it doesn't look like he's planning on checking out Notre Dame.
2016 4-star hybrid DE/LB Brian Burns of Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage talks recent ND offer ($) http://t.co/dlRuM5pibv
— Anna Hickey (@AnnaHScout) April 9, 2015
A second Kansas defensive end picked up a Notre Dame offer in Xavier Kelly who plans on making a big summer tour and stopping by to see South Bend. He recently visited Nebraska.
2016 DE Xavier Kelly (Wichita, Kansas) @xavierkelly22 has a busy summer planned pic.twitter.com/LSJudKHHoZ
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) April 8, 2015
Ron Johnson, Khalid Kareem, Josh King, and Auston Robertson remain other top targets as we inch closer to summer.
Johnson was part of the crew that was scheduled to come to Notre Dame several weeks ago but was unable to make the trip due to poor weather.
2016 NJ DE Ron Johnson (@RonJohn24) in no rush. #NotreDame #Michigan #PennSt #Rutgers (Premium) http://t.co/RF3O5mnP9Z
— Irish Sports Daily (@ISDUpdate) April 12, 2015
Kareem has taken a ton of visits this month including Michigan, Michigan State, Rutgers, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, and Penn State. He'll be checking out Alabama this weekend, too.
King was expected for Junior Day but later spoke to the media and said he wasn't planning on coming anyway. Not the greatest news but you can expect him to be back in South Bend again soon. King took another Midwest tour in late March to Wisconsin, Michigan State, Michigan, Penn State, and Ohio State.
Robertson will be announcing this summer at the R.A.S. Camp in Fort Wayne.
Video Interview with 4-star DE Auston Robertson: http://t.co/VzV9mzU4qv @SWiltfong247 @Bill_Kurelic @alexgleitman @SeanScherer247 (FREE)
— Notre Dame 247 (@NotreDame247) April 6, 2015
Like King, he's expected to stay in the Midwest.
Inside Linebacker | |||||||||
Score | Player | State | Ht/Wt. | Temperature | 1* | 2* | 3* | 4* | 5* |
.959 | Brendan Ferns | OH | 6-3/223 | Cold | |||||
.930 | Tre Lamar | GA | 6-4/240 | Cold | |||||
.925 | Jaquan Yulee | VA | 6-2/240 | Cold | |||||
On March 23rd (CA) Lokeni Toailoa .968 gave a verbal to UCLA. The top inside linebacker in the country that was a big of a set back as the Irish were recruiting him as early as anyone in the class.
Lokeni Toailoa commits to UCLA http://t.co/WtmWhr50yf [Videos http://t.co/CHKI6iaoOc ] #video
— Collected News (@CollectedN) March 25, 2015
Brendan Ferns recently visited Penn State, Tre Lamar visited Alabama, and Jaquan Yulee stated recently that the Tide are on top for his services.
Outside Linebacker | |||||||||
Score | Player | State | Ht/Wt. | Temperature | 1* | 2* | 3* | 4* | 5* |
.943 | Daniel Bituli | TN | 6-3/227 | Cold | |||||
.874 | Cameron Brown | MD | 6-4/200 | Mild | |||||
.988 | Ben Davis | AL | 6-4/200 | Cold | |||||
.990 | Caleb Kelly | CA | 6-3/215 | Cold | |||||
Yesterday the Stanford Cardinal picked up the commitment of (CA) Curtis Robinson .944 out of Mater Dei High School. Notre Dame was among the finalists following a mid-March visit from Robinson.
Shout out to @_CurtisRobinson on his commitment to Stanford! #FearTheTree http://t.co/lhyK3UpYcO pic.twitter.com/sCqqJpb5ss
— Scout Recruiting (@scoutrecruiting) April 13, 2015
In early March, the Irish offered (SC) Brandon Hill .862 but a couple weeks later his committed to Duke.
OLB Brandon Hill of Columbia (S.C.) Heathwood Hall Episcopal dishes on his newest offer from Notre Dame ($) http://t.co/nOc77cxQXH
— Anna Hickey (@AnnaHScout) March 3, 2015
Notre Dame welcomed Cameron Brown to Junior Day last month. Make sure to keep an eye on him in the coming months.
Caleb Kelly went back to Oklahoma again recently. However, he's set up a visit for the Irish Invasion in June which will be his first trip to Notre Dame.
Corner | |||||||||
Score | Player | State | Ht/Wt. | Temperature | 1* | 2* | 3* | 4* | 5* |
.863 | Roderick Campbell | MO | 5-11/180 | Mild | |||||
.883 | Eric Cuffee | TX | 6-0/190 | Cold | |||||
.977 | Kristian Fulton | LA | 6-0/165 | Cold | |||||
.935 | Damar Hamlin | PA | 6-1/175 | Mild | |||||
.947 | Mecole Hardman | GA | 5-11/170 | Cold | |||||
.935 | Jared Mayden | TX | 6-0/190 | Cold | |||||
.976 | Trayvon Mullen | FL | 6-2/175 | Cold | |||||
.937 | Byron Murphy | AZ | 5-11/160 | Cold | |||||
.934 | Joejuan Williams | TN | 6-2/195 | Cold | |||||
Notre Dame got its defensive back haul going last month with the commitment of (IL) Julian Love .860 out of Nazareth Academy. Love visited campus, picked up his offer, and gave his verbal to the coaching staff.
ICYMI - CB Julian Love didn’t wait long to commit after #NotreDame pulled the trigger on an offer: http://t.co/4LUtBpVC8b
— Jake Brown (@Jake_Brown) March 22, 2015
Florida State added to their class with the commitment of (VA) Levonta Taylor .990 who is among the best defensive backs in the country.
The Ducks dipped into California once again to pick up the verbal of (CA) Troy Warner .888 shortly after he visited Eugene.
Earlier this month Notre Dame offered (KY) Davonte Robinson .838 out of Henry Clay H.S. in Lexington.
Talented CB and #Kentucky commit Davonte Robinson, and family, excited over #NotreDame offer http://t.co/g25GmyQu1d (FREE) @davonterealdeal
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) April 3, 2015
Robinson has been committed to Kentucky since October.
Roderick Campbell had to cancel his visit to Notre Dame back in late March. However, it is expect that he'll be back on campus soon and definitely during the summer.
VIDEO | CB target Roderick Campbell (@RC9___) talks #NotreDame, recruiting from @EFTfootball adidas Showcase ($): http://t.co/wUz8Ijkfkc
— Jake Brown (@Jake_Brown) March 29, 2015
Someone who did make it to campus last month was Damar Hamlin from Pittsburgh. He also visited Pitt, Penn State, and Ohio State after seeing South Bend.
DB target Damar Hamlin. RT @HamlinIsland: ND pic.twitter.com/Qnj0sDGcBm
— Tyler James (@TJamesNDI) March 21, 2015
It's expected that the Irish will be among Hamlin's finalists with Notre Dame having a good shot as anyone for a commitment down the road.
Safety | |||||||||
Score | Player | State | Ht/Wt. | Temperature | 1* | 2* | 3* | 4* | 5* |
.978 | Deontay Anderson | TX | 6-1/192 | Cold | |||||
.952 | Brandon Burton | CA | 6-2/195 | Cold | |||||
.989 | Brandon Jones | TX | 5-11/183 | Cold | |||||
.987 | Eric Monroe | TX | 6-0/180 | Cold | |||||
.873 | Ikenna Okeke | TN | 6-2/200 | Cold | |||||
.863 | Devin Studstill | FL | 6-1/175 | Mild | |||||
.956 | Nigel Warrior | GA | 6-0/175 | Cold | |||||
.904 | Craig Watts | FL | 6-0/175 | Mild | |||||
Another IMG Academy product (FL) Spencer Perry .873 chose his college recently. He's signed up to play ball with the Florida Gators.
Spencer Perry commits to #Florida http://t.co/DsG2DwZa5i via @GatorBait247
— Chris Nee (@CNee247) March 21, 2015
Notre Dame offered Washington commit (WA) Taylor Rapp .875 a couple of weeks after joining the Huskies' class.
Update: 4-Star UW Commit Taylor Rapp Discusses #NotreDame Offer, Commitment Status ($) http://t.co/NlDFNWbeiB via @247Sports #Washington
— Lars Hanson (@LarsHanson) March 29, 2015
Devin Studstill has been on Notre Dame's radar for a long time since they saw him at Tevon Coney's high school last year. He's finally lining up a visit to South Bend.
P.B. Gardens (Fla.) High safety Devin Studstill plans to be at Notre Dame's Irish Invasion. http://t.co/9T5he41P6Y pic.twitter.com/sN72uuz6sP
— Andrew Ivins (@BGI_aivins) April 7, 2015
Studstill is planning on coming to Irish Invasion.