Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MAY 2024 37 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ROUNDUP RECRUITING NOTES • With Notre Dame now turning the page to the 2025 recruiting cycle, it has been seven years since it signed a recruit from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Defensive back Houston Griffith — originally from the Chicago area — inked with the Irish in 2018. He was a top-100 prospect. However, Notre Dame looks to reverse that trend in the 2025 class. One prospect who could do it is four-star linebacker Gavin Nix. According to On3's rankings, the 5-foot-11½, 225-pound Nix is No. 35 prospect in Florida, and the No. 26 linebacker and No. 260 overall player nationally. Notre Dame offered Nix after he visited campus on April 15, 2023. After returning to South Bend March 25 — and learning it's been a while since the Irish added an IMG Academy recruit — Nix said he was intrigued by the possibility of suiting up for Notre Dame. "Being able to make history makes it sound a whole lot cooler," Nix told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "I didn't think the gap was that big. That would be great. I could make history just by making a decision. "That sounds great. God willing, I have to continue to pray for guidance. And when the time comes, he'll let me know where I need to be, not where I want to be." In addition to Nix, the Irish also are recruiting IMG Academy linebacker Nathaniel Owusu-Boateng, the younger brother of former Irish star Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. The 6-2, 210-pound Owusu-Boateng is On3's No. 36 prospect in Florida, and the No. 28 linebacker and No. 266 overall player in the country. He visited Notre Dame for the first time Jan. 20 for a junior day. Owusu-Boateng should return for an official visit before December's early signing period. • Speaking of IMG Academy recruits, the Irish also hosted four-star wide receiver Raiden Vines-Bright March 25. He is the No. 20 recruit in Florida, and the No. 18 wide receiver and No. 149 overall player in the nation. The 6-foot, 175-pound Vines-Bright was one of the first pass catchers new wide receivers coach Mike Brown offered after joining the staff in December. Notre Dame appears to have more of an uphill climb to land his pledge than Nix and Owusu-Boateng. Vines-Bright, originally from Tempe, Ariz., has official visits scheduled to Arizona, Arizona State, Florida, Southern California and Washington. He is also expected to officially visit Notre Dame from June 14-16, but some uncertainty surrounds that trip. • On March 25, Oak Park (Ill.) Fenwick defensive lineman Nathaniel Marshall narrowed his recruit- ment down to 12 schools. The four-star is focused on Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Illinois, Miami, Michi- gan, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Southern California, Tennessee and Texas. Notre Dame did not make the cut for On3's No. 3 defensive lineman and No. 31 overall player in the class. Marshall checked out the Irish April 12, but they have not been in contention for the last few months. Notre Dame already has three Chicagoland commits in the 2025 cycle in defensive end Christopher Burgess Jr., linebacker Dominik Hulak and defensive lineman Joseph Reiff. Chicago Simeon's Burgess, a four-star, is ranked the highest of the group. He's On3's No. 5 player in Illinois, and No. 17 edge and No. 156 overall player in the country. Reiff, a four-star, and Hulak, a three- star, are both from Elmhurst, Ill. York Community's Reiff is the No. 7 recruit in Illinois, and the No. 20 defensive lineman and No. 240 overall player in America. Immaculate Conception Catholic Prep's Hulak is the No. 13 player in Illinois and the No. 72 linebacker nationally. — Kyle Kelly Follow @ByKyleKelly on X for daily recruiting updates on BlueandGold.com! PRAYER TO THE BLESSED MOTHER - Oh, most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven. Blessed Mother of the Son of God; Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands. (3 times). Sweet Mother I place this cause in your hands. (3 times). Thank you for your mercy to me and mine. Amen. This prayer must be said for 3 days and after 3 days your request will be granted and the prayer must be published. Thank you. M.F.B. PRAYER TO THE BLESSED MOTHER - Oh, most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven. Blessed Mother of the Son of God; Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this necessity. Oh, Star of the Sea, help me and show me you are my Mother. Oh, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. There are none that can withstand your power. Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. (3 times). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands. (3 times). Sweet Mother I place this cause in your hands. (3 times). Thank you for your mercy to me and mine. Amen. This prayer must be said for 3 days and after 3 days your request will be granted and the prayer must be published. Thank you. D.H. MEMORABILIA Vintage Notre Dame Memorabilia Augie's Locker Room Stop In And See Our Vintage Notre Dame Artifacts In Augie's Locker Room Museum! VOTED BEST NOTRE DAME MEMORABILIA STORE IN THE NATION! NEW LOCATION! 1733 N. Ironwo od Drive South Bend, IN 46635 574-277-NDND (6363) www.augieslockerroom.com FACEBOOK.COM/AUGIESLOCKERROOM NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL GAMES on VHS or DVD for sale, from 1928 to present. Contact Peter Rahas at 7700 Golden Filly St., Las Vegas, NV 89131 or call 1-702-395-2974 PERSONALS M A R K E T P L A C E Call 800-421-7751 to advertise in BGI Four-star 2025 linebacker Gavin Nix attends Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, a school the Irish would love to make in-roads at. PHOTO BY KEITH NIEBUHR/ON3