Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 159 TERRIFIC 10 FOR 2018 recruitment. He made it to South Bend for the Irish Invasion June 10. LINEBACKER CAM MCGRONE 6-1, 210 • INDIANAPOLIS • LAWRENCE CENTRAL H.S. RIVALS RANKINGS: Regarded as a four-star prospect, the No. 4 player in Indiana and the No. 16 out- side linebacker in the nation. JUNIOR NUMBERS: Registered 93 tackles and four sacks be- fore suffering an ACL injury. THE SKINNY: McGrone is a player Notre Dame has been monitoring in recent months as he recov- ered from the ACL injury he suffered toward the end of his junior season. The original plan was for him to show his movement and speed at the Irish Invasion, but he par- ticipated in Nike Football's The Opening Regional Oakland May 21 and ran a 4.67 40-yard dash, which was enough to convince the staff to offer. The Irish are in a good position to ultimately land him, but they are battling Tennessee, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Northwestern, among others. He returned to South Bend for the Irish Invasion June 10. DEFENSIVE END JAYSON OWEH 6-5, 240 • BLAIRSTOWN, N.J. • BLAIR ACADEMY RIVALS RANKING: Listed as a four-star talent, and the No. 12 strongside defensive end and No. 217 overall player nationally. JUNIOR NUMBERS: Registered 42 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks in eight games during his first year of high school football. THE SKINNY: Notre Dame hosted Oweh dur- ing the Irish Invasion and made a strong impression. He told Blue & Gold Illustrated following the visit that the Irish were in his top three along with Ohio State and Penn State, but the Buckeyes held the edge at the top. Academics will play a major role in his decision. ROVER SHAYNE SIMON 6-2, 210 • JERSEY CITY, N.J. • ST. PETER'S PREP RIVALS RANKINGS: Pegged as a four-star pros- pect, and the No. 9 outside linebacker and No. 138 overall player nationally. JUNIOR NUMBERS: Recorded 55 total stops, nine tackles for loss, four sacks and four interceptions. As a receiver, caught 47 passes for 591 yards and three touchdowns. THE SKINNY: Simon is the top target for the Irish staff at rover in first-year defensive coordinator Mike Elko's system. Notre Dame is battling Michigan, Ohio State, Stanford, UCLA and others for his services, but it appears the final choice will come down to the Irish and Wolverines. He took a visit to South Bend in April and returned for the Irish Invasion June 10. ✦ Names To Know In 2019 Though the focus is on the 2018 class, Notre Dame has already made a good push with the class of 2019. The five names listed below were all among the first 100 2019 prospects to receive a star rating from Rivals, and are all considered four-star prospects heading into their junior years. Notre Dame is in good early position with all of them, and Irish fans will need to keep an eye on them moving forward. Defensive End Joseph Anderson 6-4, 235 • Murfreesboro, Tenn. • Siegel H.S. The Skinny: Anderson visited Notre Dame for the inaugural Sophomore Day April 2 and is high on the Irish early in his process. He has stated he wants to return to campus in the summer. Although he does not have a leader at this time, he said that Notre Dame is definitely near the top of his list, adding it's a place where he can see himself playing. He is a big fan of both of his main recruiters, linebackers coach Clark Lea and defensive line coach Mike Elston. Wide Receiver David Bell 6-2, 180 • Indianapolis • Warren Central H.S. The Skinny: Brian Kelly offered Bell in January, and the in-state product has been high on the Irish since. He visited South Bend for the program's Sophomore Day April 2 and came away impressed with Chip Long's offense and his use of his wide receivers. Notre Dame is battling Iowa, Michigan State, Northwest- ern and Ohio State for him. Defensive Tackle Jowon Briggs 6-3, 275 • Cincinnati • Walnut Hills H.S. The Skinny: Briggs was on campus for Sophomore Day April 2 and was pleasantly surprised when he landed his Notre Dame offer. Academics will play a huge factor in Briggs' final decision, and the four-star told Blue & Gold Illustrated that he could see himself playing under the Notre Dame coaching staff. Ohio State, Michigan and a number of other programs are also involved with him early on. Defensive End George Karlaftis 6-5, 240 • West Lafayette, Ind. • West Lafayette H.S. The Skinny: Notre Dame offered Karlaftis in early April after the in-state product took a visit. He called it a "dream offer" and is intrigued by Notre Dame's prestige on and off the field, as well as its proximity to West Lafayette. Michigan and Alabama have offered, and Miami (Fla.) is showing interest. His father played for the Hurricanes, so an offer from Mark Richt's program could give the Irish a battle. A decision could occur during the spring of 2018. Defensive Tackle Jacob Lacey 6-2, 295 • Bowling Green, Ky. • South Warren H.S. The Skinny: Lacey has been on the Irish radar for more than a year and landed his offer during the Irish Invasion in 2016. The talented interior defensive lineman has returned to South Bend multiple times since earning the offer, and Notre Dame is the perceived leader over Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee and Clemson. He is cousins with former Notre Dame All-American safety Dave Duerson. — David McKinney and Corey Bodden Four-star defensive end Joseph Anderson claims offers from Clemson, Georgia, Louisville, LSU, Michi- gan, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Penn State, among others, heading into his junior campaign. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM