Good morning! I’m going to try something a bit different today and share updates and links regarding Notre Dame’s recruiting efforts in one “wrap-up” post. For this special edition, I’ll focus only on those who already have an offer from Notre Dame. We’ll also had a regular morning roundup – less recruiting links – for readers who couldn’t care less about players until they’re signed and on campus.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
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- Check out clips of California’s Jack Jones, who also plays receiver, at a recent 7-on-7 tournament.
- Jaylon Jones, from Texas, has pared his offer list to six schools: TCU, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Auburn, Ohio State and USC.
- Virginia’s Damar Hamlin released his top 10 list. Notre Dame was there and it definitely included Penn State. Hamlin likes Notre Dame for its “world-class education,” but calls Ohio State “a perfect fit.” Here’s some video of him at the Columbus regional of The Opening. Hamlin said he will visit Notre Dame again before making a decision, but no date is set.
- It seems UCLA and Florida State are the leaders for Brandon Burton‘s services.
- Troy Pride Jr. is committed to Virginia Tech. But that didn’t stop the Irish from offering a scholarship to the South Carolina native.
- Chanse Sylvie, a Louisiana product, also received a Notre Dame scholarship offer recently. He considers Notre Dame to be one of his favorite schools. Sylvie’s cousin is the Irish’s running back, Tarean Folston.
- Georgia’s Mecole Hardman considers Georgia and Tennessee his favorites, but was impressed by a recent visit to Auburn.
- Isaiah Pryor, a fellow Georgian, received an offer from Mississippi State after attending a camp there.
- Happy birthday to Pennsylvania’s Paris Ford! Your present? A scholarship offer from the Irish.
- R.J. Potts, from Indiana, received his first scholarship offer. It’s from Notre Dame.
- Arizona’s Byron Murphy received a scholarship offer from Texas.
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- Spencer Perry, who committed to Florida after not receiving a timely offer from Notre Dame, plans to attend the Irish Invasion camp on June 19. Academics are a priority in choosing a school, he says.
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- South Carolina’s Tony Pride Jr. is “thankful” for his recent offer from Notre Dame.
DEFENSIVE LINE
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- Florida standout Brian Burns has received a trio of offers from Oregon, Texas and Alabama.
- Khalid Kareem, from Michigan, says the Wolverine will likely make his cut list.
- Justin Madibuke, from Texas, definitely wants to “fly up to Notre Dame and see what it’s all about.“
- Corey Malone Hatcher, also from Michigan, says the Wolverines “definitely made me feel like a priority.” He will base his decision, in part, on how well Michigan does this season. His parents said the Wolverines are being “genuine” in their recruiting (parts two and three here).
- Texas’ Mark Jackson decided to play close to home, committing recently to Texas A&M.
- Josh King, a highly touted recruit from Illinois, chose Michigan State over several other options – including Notre Dame, which made his top 5.
- Michigan State considered its hot streak by landing Auston Robertson from Indiana.
- Georgia’s Antwaun Jackson is giving serious consideration to Florida after attending a Gators camp recently.
- Kansas’ Amani Bledsoe said no school has really stood out during his recruiting, but feels comfortable with the in-state Jayhawks.
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- Antonneous Clayton, from Georgia, was surprised by a recent Penn State scholarship offer, but has no top five right now.
LINEBACKERS
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- Texas’ Anthony Hines has more than 60 scholarship offers, but was “surprised” by a visit from USC, a school he’s interested in.
- Michigan’s Josh Ross ‘loves’ the Wolverines’ new staff. He thinks Jim Harbaugh is “hilarious.”
- Notre Dame has offered California’s Lamar Jackson, who also plays safety and running back. Jackson, initially passed over for The Opening finals in Oregon, now has an invitation. The athlete has 19 offers and will announce his choice in January.
- Proving that you cannot offer enough athletes named Jackson, the Irish recently extended a scholarship offer to Texas’s Dontavious Jackson.
- Georgia’s Jaleel Laguins is “really liking the Gators” and lists Florida, Georgia, Florida State, Tennessee, Alabama and Auburn as his top schools.
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- Devin Bush Jr., a Florida State legacy, added a Notre Dame offer. He loves the university’s tradition.
- The Irish extended a scholarship offer to D.C.’s Aaron Hansford, a standout in two sports.
OFFENSIVE LINE
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- Tommy Kraemer, Notre Dame’s first 2016 commit, turned in an “impressive performance” at The Opening regional camp at Ohio State and earned an invitation to the “finals” in Oregon, which he’s “pumped” about. Here’s video of him dominating the competition. Rivals now has him ranked as No. 31 overall. Evan Sharpley says Kraemer is “as firm a commit as I’ve ever seen,” but Urban Meyer is still trying to flip him.
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- John Shannon, also committed to the Irish, will be working on long snapping at Notre Dame this week and again at Irish Invasion.
- Florida State is considered the favorite for offensive guard Stewart Reese, but the Florida native says Notre Dame is a school “I think could fit me well.”
- Willie Allen is in zero rush to name favorite schools. The Louisiana product speaks highly of Ole Miss, Alabama and LSU. #ILoveJesus
QUARTERBACKS
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- Hunter Johnson, considered Notre Dame’s top QB target for 2017, updated his recruitment and talked about Notre Dame’s chances of landing his commitment. Johnson said he’s been “talking quite a bit” with Notre Dame and Tennessee.
- Florida’s Woody Barrett committed to Auburn, picking the Tigers over Alabama, Oregon, Notre Dame and a dozen others.
RUNNING BACKS
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- Devwah Whaley, the No. 2 ranked running back in Texas, will visit Arkansas next.
- Auburn is considered the favorite for Georgia’s Elijah Holyfield.
- Watch video of Arizona’s Chase Lucas at a recent tournament.
TIGHT ENDS
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- Ohio’s Luke Farrell had narrowed his list to four schools: Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State and Boston College. A decision is expected by summer’s end. After Notre Dame offered, Farrell announced a top five: The four schools he had previously identified and the Irish.
- Texas’ Brock Wright, who will attend the Irish Invasion in June, is visiting the Longhorns next.
WIDE RECEIVERS
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- Florida’s Trevon Grimes says Ohio State is the “school to beat” for his services.
- Tyler Vaughns, from California, was a standout at the Saugus Under the Lights Passing Tournament.
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- Darnell Solomon, also from Florida, says Oregon, Alabama, Florida State, Texas, Oklahoma and LSU are currently “absorbing his attention.”
- Donovan Peoples-Jones was named Camp MVP at the Columbus regional of The Opening. The Michigan native then visited the state university’s campus, and left impressed with their new head coach.
- Notre Dame is in Trevon Sidney‘s top 10. Check out his “fancy footwork” here.
- Irish Illustrated takes a look at Damian Alloway from California in the film room.
- Florida’s Binjimen Victor has narrowed his list of preferred schools to Ohio State, Florida, Georgia & Tennessee.
- The Irish aggressively recruited Indiana’s Austin Mack. But, in the end, Mack chose Ohio State.
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- Joshua Hammond, the younger brother of a former University of Florida football player, committed to the Gators.
- Marquez Stevenson has “more speed than size” – and the Louisiana product also has a new offer from Notre Dame.
GROUP POSTS
- Irish247 ($): Sharpley’s Notre Dame football recruiting board: June 1
- Irish247 ($): Sharpley’s Notre Dame recruiting board: June 8 update
- Irish Illustrated ($): Big board: Safety
- Irish Illustrated ($): Insider report: Sparty surge hurts Irish
- Irish Sports Daily (F): ISD Intel 6/5
- ND Insider (F): Two more Wednesday offers reported by Notre Dame recruits
- One Foot Down: 2016 Notre Dame recruiting big board: Quarterback and running back
- One Foot Down: 2016 Notre Dame recruiting big board: Athlete and wide receiver
- One Foot Down: 2016 Notre Dame recruiting big board: Tight end & offensive line
- One Foot Down (column): Late offer: a disappointing start for Irish recruiting in the Midwest
- Slap the Sign: Notre Dame fails to land Midwest recruits
- In Kelly-Harbaugh Recruit Fight, It’s Tied - January 19, 2017
- Catching Up With Matt Fortuna (Part 2) - January 6, 2017
- Catching Up With Matt Fortuna - January 5, 2017