2014 Notre Dame Football Preview

160 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2014 FOOTBALL PREVIEW TERRIFIC 20 FOR 2015 BREAKING DOWN THE NUMBERS Quarterback Committed — 0 Projected Take — 1 Synopsis: Senior Everett Golson, sophomore Malik Zaire and incoming four-star De- Shone Kizer are expected back next year, but the Irish would like to add one signal-caller in the 2015 class. With four-star Blake Barnett of Corona, Calif., decommitting in early June, four-star quarterback Travis Waller of Anaheim (Calif.) Servite becomes the top target for Notre Dame. Waller is the No. 2 dual-threat quarterback and No. 36 overall prospect in the nation per 247Sports. Running Back Committed — 0 Projected Take — 2 Synopsis: Notre Dame didn't land any running backs in the 2014 class, so look for the Irish to grab two talented backs from the 2015 class. Sophomores Tarean Folston and Greg Bryant are the only two scholarship ball carriers slated to return after the upcoming season. The top target is four-star running back Soso Jamabo of Plano (Texas) West. The nation's No. 12 running back per 247Sports is very high on Notre Dame's board. Other targets include Sumter (S.C.) Crestwood four-star Ty'Son Williams (No. 43 running back in the counry) and Orlando (Fla.) West Orange four-star Dexter Williams (No. 4 ), who committed to Miami in April. Wide Receiver Committed — 2 (C.J. Sanders of Sherman Oaks, Calif., and Jalen Guyton of Allen, Texas) Projected Take — 4 Synopsis: The Irish did a good job in 2013, signing Will Fuller, Torii Hunter Jr., James Onwualu and Corey Robinson, and followed that up with four-stars Justin Brent and Corey Holmes in 2014. They will likely add two more receivers in 2015, to go along with their two committed prospects. The top target is Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge four-star Alex Ofodile, the No. 10 wide receiver in the country according to 247Sports. Other prospects to watch are Anaheim (Calif.) Servite four-star Equanimeous St. Brown (No. 16 wide receiver in the land), Las Vegas Bishop Gorman four-star Cordell Broadus (No. 11) and Aledo, Texas, four-star Ryan Newsome (No. 29). Tight End Committed — 0 Projected Take — 1 Synopsis: Notre Dame pulled in one of the best tight end classes during the 2014 recruiting cycle, adding four-stars Tyler Luatua and Nic Weishar to a stacked depth chart. While not a necessity for the staff, Notre Dame is looking to bring in one tight end in 2015. Although ranked primarily as a wide receiver, the top target for the Irish is New Lonox (Ill.) Providence Catholic four-star Miles Boykin, who is listed as the No. 33 wide receiver nationally by 247Sports. If Notre Dame can't land the 6-4, 212-pound Boykin, look for the staff to pass on adding a tight end in this class. Offensive Line Committed — 3 (Tristen Hoge of Pocatello, Idaho; Jerry Tillery of Shreveport, La.; and Trevor Ruhland of Cary, Ill.) Projected Take — 3 Synopsis: Getting 2015 commitments from four-star tackle Jerry Tillery, four-star center Tristen Hoge and three-star guard Trevor Ruhland is huge at this stage in the recruiting process. Irish offensive line coach Harry Hiestand and Notre Dame were very selective, and barring any unforeseen decommitments, the offensive line class could be complete for 2015. Defensive Line Committed — 1 (Brandon Tiassum of Indianapolis) Projected Take — 4 Synopsis: Notre Dame would have liked to grab five-star defensive tackles Matt Elam and Thomas Holley in 2014, but it didn't work out. They did, however, land Daniel Cage on National Signing Day and added Pete Mokwuah late in the process, to go along with five other defensive line signees in that class: Andrew Trumbetti, Jay Hayes, Grant Blan- kenship, Jonathan Bonner and Jhonny Williams. Notre Dame picked up three-star defensive tackle Brandon Tiassum on June 8. In addi- tion to the 6-5, 285-pounder, the Irish would like to add three more across the defensive line, with the top target being Orange (Calif.) Lutheran five-star Keisean Lucier-South, the nation's No. 3 weakside defensive end according to 247Sports. Other targets include Saint Paul (Minn.) Cretin-Derham Hall five-star Jashon Cornell (No. 5 weakside defensive end in the county), Thomasville (Ga.) Thomas County Central four-star Austin Bryant (No. 11 weakside defensive end), Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller four-star Elijah Taylor (No. 19 defensive tackle), Long Beach (Calif.) Poly four-star Joseph Wicker (No. 18 defensive tackle), St. Catharines (Ontario) Canada Prep Football Academy four-star Neville Gal- limore (No. 7 defensive tackle) and Bolingbrook, Ill., three-star Micah Dew-Treadway (No. 29 strongside defensive end). Linebacker Committed — 1 (Josh Barajas of Merrillville, Ind.) Projected Take — 3 Synopsis: In 2013, five-star outside linebacker Jaylon Smith was the All-American, and he performed superbly in year one at Notre Dame. Four-star Nyles Morgan, a member of the 2014 class, is expected to contribute early for the Irish. Notre Dame also added four-star Greer Martini, three-star Nile Sykes and three-star Kolin Hill in this past cycle. Picking up three more in 2015 is a priority for the Irish, and the top target is Cincinnati St. Xavier five- star Justin Hilliard, the No. 1 outside linebacker in the country according to 247Sports. A few other linebacker targets to watch are Indianapolis Ben Davis four-star Asmar Bilal (No. 3 in- side linebacker in the nation), Lawrenceville (Ga.) Central Gwinnett four-star Adonis Thomas (No. 11 outside linebacker), Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) four-star Tevon Coney (No. 11 inside linebacker) and Salem (Utah) Hills four-star Porter Gustin (No. 4 outside linebacker). Defensive Back Committed — 2 (Prentice McKinney of Dallas; and Nicco Fertitta of Las Vegas) Projected Take — 4 Synopsis: Notre Dame has a need at the position and the room to bring in one of the nation's best defensive back classes in 2015. Four-star Nick Watkins was a vital pickup at cornerback in 2014, but the Irish will need to add a few more cornerbacks and safeties in 2015 to get the necessary depth in the secondary. The top target on the board is Philadelphia St. Joseph's four-star John Reid, the No. 13 cornerback in the land according to 247Sports. Adding Reid and Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edwards four-star cornerback Shaun Crawford (No. 15 cornerback in the country) is a top priority for this staff. Other names to know in the secondary include Pulaski (Tenn.) Giles County three-star Cameron Ordway (No. 30 cornerback), Dayton (Ohio) Bishop Alter three-star Nick Coleman (No. 59 cornerback) and Mesquite (Texas) West Mesquite three-star Josh Butler (No. 44 cornerback). Special Teams Committed — 0 Projected Take — 0 Synopsis: Notre Dame brought in Semper Fidelis All-American punter Tyler Newsome in the 2014 class. He was primarily recruited as a punter, but he is also a kicker with a strong leg. He will likely compete for the starting job at both positions in year two in South Bend. The only placekicker Notre Dame would likely consider is Justin Yoon, an elite prospect from Milton, Mass. He earned an offer from the Irish on June 9. — Tom Loy Notre Dame is off to a quick start at offensive line in 2015, with four-star center Tristen Hoge (left), three-star guard Trevor Ruhland (middle) and four-star tackle Jerry Tillery (right). PHOTOS COURTESY 247SPORTS 157-160.Terrific 20.indd 160 6/11/14 3:39 PM

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