BGI Special Edition

2013 Notre Dame Football Preview

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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terrific 20 for 2014 N By Tom Loy otre Dame shocked the nation with last season's run to the BCS National Championship Game. While most pegged Notre Dame for a marginal season with matchups against Oklahoma, Michigan, Stanford and USC, the Irish were able to defeat every team on their schedule and earn a trip to face Alabama in the title game. North Carolina running back Elijah Hood, the nation's No. 8 overall athlete according to 247Sports, credited Notre Dame's success on the field last season as one of the reasons for his commitment. "The staff does an incredible job of developing their players into great football players, and it showed last year," the Charlotte (N.C.) Catholic prospect said. "I want to play with the best, and last season's effort showed that the Irish are back." As of mid-June, Notre Dame had 12 verbal commitments, and four of them were along the offensive line. The Irish proved last season that the game is won in the trenches, and their recruiting focus for the class of 2014 reiterates that. Notre Dame's top commitment along the offensive line is Alex Bars from Nashville (Tenn.) Montgomery Bell Academy. He is the son of Joe Bars, who played defensive end for Notre Dame during the Gerry Faust era of the 1980s. The younger Bars told BlueandGold.com that last season's success made him reevaluate his recruitment and eventually played a role in his final decision. "They played really well this past year, and that was big for me," Bars said. "I know that the coaches can get it done on the field, and they will help me reach my full potential when I get to Notre Dame." Notre Dame has roughly 12 to 14 scholarships left to give in the 2014 recruiting class. Here is a look at the top remaining targets that could ink with the Irish on National Signing Day, Feb. 5, 2014. Running Back Joe Mixon 6-2, 195 • Oakley, Calif. • Freedom H.S. 247Sports Ranking: Listed as a four-star prospect, the No. 4 recruit in California, the No. 5 running back in the country and the nation's No. 36 overall player. Junior Numbers: Carried the ball 201 times for 1,443 yards and scored 20 touchdowns … Added 18 catches for 383 yards and six touchdowns. The Skinny: Notre Dame offered the talented back Feb. 19 … While most assume he will Capitalizing On Success The nation's elite prospects from the class of 2014 have taken notice of Notre Dame's resurgence as a national power end up at USC or Oregon, Mixon has been vocal about his interest in visiting South Bend … Expect Notre Dame to get one of Mixon's five official visits during the season. Nathan Starks 5-11, 200 • Englewood, Colo. • Cherry Creek H.S. 247Sports Ranking: Tabbed as a four-star player, the No. 1 player in Colorado, the No. 10 athlete in the country and the No. 155 overall prospect in the nation. Junior Numbers: Rushed for 1,821 yards on 170 carries and scored 27 touchdowns … Also caught 11 balls for 228 yards and three touchdowns. The Skinny: Oklahoma and Notre Dame are battling for the top spot for the impressive running back … With running back Elijah Hood on board at Notre Dame, Starks would be a perfect complementary back … While some believe that a USC offer could make things interesting, Starks stated in mid-June that he was no longer considering the Trojans. Wide Receiver Mark Andrews 6-6, 230 • Scottsdale, Ariz. • Desert Mountain 247Sports Ranking: Listed as a four-star player, the No. 2 recruit in Arizona, the No. 7 wide receiver in the country and the No. 66 overall prospect in the nation. Junior Numbers: Caught 81 passes for 1,494 yards and 21 touchdowns. The Skinny: Notre Dame was hoping to grab commitments from teammates and close friends Mark Andrews and Kyle Allen, but that is no longer the case with Allen committing to play quarterback at Texas A&M recently … While Allen has decided against heading to Notre Dame, Andrews remains very interested in the Irish … He was in town April 20 and spoke highly of his time in South Bend … Look for him to take a second trip to Notre Dame during the upcoming season. Erik Brown 6-1, 170 • Fontana, Calif. • Summit H.S. 247Sports Ranking: Considered a four-star recruit, the No. 18 prospect in California, the No. 23 wide receiver in the nation and the No. 157 overall player in the land. Junior Numbers: Hauled in 21 receptions for 305 yards and four touchdowns. The Skinny: Although USC hasn't offered Brown, most consider him a heavy lean to the Trojans. However, Notre Dame threw its hat in the ring with an offer June 2 … The talented receiver was expected to be in Chicago for a camp at the end of June and hoped to make the short drive over to South Bend for a visit after the camp … Getting him on campus prior to USC offering could be big for the Irish staff. Malachi Dupre 6-2, 187 • New Orleans • John Curtis H.S. 247Sports Ranking: Rated as a four-star recruit, the No. 5 prospect in Louisiana, the No. 2 wide receiver in the country and the nation's No. 30 overall prospect. Junior Numbers: Caught 36 passes for 816 yards and scored 15 touchdowns. The Skinny: Notre Dame offered the tal- Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview  ✦ 157 157-160.2014 Terrific 20.indd 157 6/25/13 3:31 PM

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