Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/638727
2016 RECRUITING ISSUE Damar Hamlin (Pittsburgh) was initially the top corner on the board, but that changed when Pride began to emerge during his senior season. Even with Hamlin available, Notre Dame made a push to add Pride to the class, and he committed on Christmas Eve. ON PAPER GRADE: B Notre Dame's three‑man haul met its depth needs, added starting poten‑ tial to the roster and served as an ideal complement to last year 's class. In Vaughn and Love, Notre Dame landed two players with the versatility to play multiple positions. Vaughn is a unique athlete with elite size (6‑3), and he showed his instincts by breaking up 12 passes and picking off four balls during his senior season. Pulling him away from in‑state SEC power Tennessee as well as Ole Miss, Auburn, LSU and Mississippi State was noteworthy. Pride is a burner that went from be‑ ing a track athlete playing football to a dominant football player that shines on the track. Only current freshman Shaun Crawford can touch the speed Pride possesses, which could give the South Carolinian an opportunity to develop into a standout cover corner. Love projects at cornerback, but could play safety if needed. He was also an all‑state running back, while helping lead LaGrange Park (Ill.) Nazareth Academy to back‑to‑back state championships in his final two seasons. SAFETIES SIGNED: Jalen Elliott, D.J. Morgan, Spencer Perry and Devin Studstill MEETING NEEDS: Notre Dame's already thin safety depth was decimated after losing Elijah Shumate and Matthias Farley to graduation. The possible replacements for Shumate — sixth‑ year senior Avery Sebastian and junior Drue Tranquill — have checkered in‑ jury histories. Notre Dame needed at least three safeties in this class. SUMMARY: Secondary coach Todd Lyght and defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder worked diligently to find safeties that fit the scheme and could play right away. Two players they fell in love with early were Studstill and Elliott. Being able to land both in the class was a significant accomplish‑ ment. Elliott was the first of the four safety signees to jump on board and Studstill was the last. In between Notre Dame was able to add Perry and Morgan, two strong safety type athletes. Perry was originally a Florida commit and Morgan flipped to Notre Dame af‑ ter originally committing to Arizona State. ON PAPER GRADE: B+ Notre Dame earns high marks for meeting its needs from a numbers standpoint and adding players with starting potential. Studstill was a must‑get for Notre Dame, and landing arguably the top player on the board at the position was important to the class. Studstill is an early enrollee, has a high foot‑ ball IQ and is a strong athlete, which should give him a chance to push the veterans. Elliott is a bright football player and a winner, leading Chesterfield (Va.)