Blue and Gold Illustrated

Preseason 2017

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

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84 PRESEASON 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED PREP PROFILES Bellflower (Calif.) St. John Bosco 2019 cornerback Chris Steele decommitted from UCLA Aug. 2, and Notre Dame has emerged as a contender. Steele was offered by Notre Dame in June and has been looking into the Irish ever since. The four-star corner has liked what he has learned so far. "I've never been there, but from what I've heard it's a very beautiful cam- pus," Steele told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "I know Notre Dame has really great tradition and the academics are great, so I definitely want to get there and see that with my own eyes." Special teams coach Brian Polian has been running point on Steele's re- cruitment, and the four-star prospect said the two have gotten along well. According to Steele, early playing time has been the focal point of Notre Dame's pitch. "He's just been telling me that if I play my role to the best of my abilities, I have a really great chance of coming in and playing as a true freshman," Steele said. "That would be a really great op- portunity for me." Steele said he's gotten to know Po- lian on a personal level as well, and the two have hit it off. "He seems like a really down-to- earth guy," Steele said. "You can tell he really cares about his players and he's very serious about football and I like that. "He has a serious side, but at the same time you can tell he really cares about his recruits and his players." It also does not hurt that there is already a familiar face — former St. John Bosco teammate and current Irish sophomore safety D.J. Morgan — in South Bend. "From what I've seen, [Morgan has] become a better person overall and I've seen him get stronger," Steele told Ri- vals. "I know if I go there, their strength and conditioning program is top of the line. I know I'd be ready for the next level if I go there." Over the summer, Steele picked up offers from Notre Dame, Alabama, Stanford, Michigan and a few others. He's got a long list of options, and he said he'll at least take a look at any school that takes a look at him. "I'm just taking it all in," he said. "I'm looking at all the schools that have offered me. They all have a chance." — David McKinney A new offensive line target en- tered the mix for Notre Dame Aug. 6, when Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei offensive guard Chris Murray landed an offer from the Fighting Irish. "Notre Dame isn't just another school or another offer," Murray told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "It actually means something. Notre Dame is rich in history and a lot of tradition like Mater Dei. It's a great school. I was just honored that they even looked at me and decided to offer." Special teams coach Brian Polian offered the 6-3, 290-pounder. Mur- ray hadn't talked with offensive line coach Harry Hiestand on the phone as of early August due to the Irish being in fall camp, but has bonded with Polian. "He's a great guy," Murray said of Polian. "When we're talking mostly it was about school, football and to see how I was doing. He's a straight- forward guy. … He sounds like a down-to-earth guy and I want to meet him in person." With the offer in hand now, Mur- ray plans to make a trip out to South Bend. "That's a school I really want to take an official to," he said. "Hope- fully soon I can get [a date] wrapped up … I'll know when I get there if I have that feeling like it is the right school for me. I want to see how the coaching staff is and talk with some of the players to see how they like. "Also, I'll look into the academic side of the school and see which ma- jors I'm interested in and what they have to provide." Arizona, California, Colorado, Mis- sissippi State, Stanford, TCU, UCLA, Utah, Vanderbilt, Washington and Washington State also have offered Murray. He said most programs like him inside. "In college, I can play both guard spots and center," Murray said. "I'm not the biggest, but I'm very explo- sive in open space. I'm very nasty I would say in pass protection and run blocking. I bring a different type of aggressiveness. I want my presence to be known … I can get into the open field and make an impact." Murray, who has been invited to participate in both the Under Ar- mour All-America Game and the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, isn't in any rush to make a decision and will likely do so after his season is over following official visits. — Corey Bodden Top 2019 Cornerback Intrigued By The Irish California Offensive Lineman Eager To See Notre Dame CHRIS MURRAY ✪ ✪ ✪ Mater Dei H.S. Santa Ana, Calif. Class: 2018 Position: Offensive lineman Status: Offered Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 290 Rivals Rankings: No. 57 player in California and No. 32 offensive guard in the country CHRIS STEELE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ St. John Bosco H.S. Bellflower, Calif. Class: 2019 Position: Cornerback Status: Offered Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 175 Rivals Rankings: No. 2 cornerback and No. 26 overall player nationally "I KNOW NOTRE DAME HAS REALLY GREAT TRADITION AND THE ACADEMICS ARE GREAT, SO I DEFINITELY WANT TO GET THERE AND SEE THAT WITH MY OWN EYES." STEELE "I'LL KNOW WHEN I GET THERE IF I HAVE THAT FEELING LIKE IT IS THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR ME." MURRAY ON VISITING NOTRE DAME

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