Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/109499
Offensive line is a top priority again for the Irish in 2014. They got an early campus visit from Kc McDermott, who is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 3 tackle in the country and the No. 23 overall recruit. Photo courtesy 247sports kicked off in a similar fashion with Jimmy Byrne offering his pledge. There's a good amount of senior leadership for the five-man incoming haul with Zack Martin and Chris Watt both returning for fifth years, and the young group will be able to learn from them to help bring along at least a trio of linemen in the next group. Target: Kc McDermott, 6-6, 285, West Palm Beach, Fla. (Palm Beach Central) — Following a visit to Notre Dame by McDermott, the Irish were able to move into a top-three position. The primary competition is Miami, which is where his older brother, Shane, plays. While grouping the five-star signee with ends Isaac Rochell and Jacob Matuska dramatically increased the grade at the position, Notre Dame will continue to hit this area hard in hopes of landing more in 2014. The benefit of taking larger defensive linemen in the class is because if a player doesn't pan out, the staff could turn him into an offensive lineman. Target: Enoch Smith Jr., 6-3, 270, Chicago (Mount Carmel) — Notre Dame has led in this race since offering, while other national programs continue to get added to the list. Smith is being mentored by former Irish defensive end Kerry Neal and attends the alma mater of former Notre Dame linebacker Steven Filer. Defensive Line 2013 DLs: 11 Projected Take: 4 Landing Eddie Vanderdoes to wrap up the 2012 haul was as picture perfect of a scenario as the Irish could've asked for considering his ability to start off early as an end and grow into a nose guard with similar potential to standout starter Louis Nix. Linebackers 2013 LBs: 13 Projected Take: 3-4 After only landing one linebacker in 2011, the position was a primary need in the 2012 recruiting class. The Irish managed to assemble quite the haul, highlighted by in-state five-star player Jaylon Smith, but the loss of five-star inside linebacker Alex Anzalone