Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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26 MARCH 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE hauls in the 2017 and 2018 classes, so 2019 was more about landing impact recruits inside. With only two defensive ends on the roster from the 2017 and 2018 classes, Notre Dame needed three ends in 2019, and at least two needed to be top talents, which is what the Irish landed with Foskey and Osafo-Mensah. Summary: The four-star Lacey first visited Notre Dame in the summer of 2016 for camp, and Rivals' No. 23 defensive tackle in the country was a priority from that point on. He picked Notre Dame on July 29, 2017. Spears, another four star ranked as the No. 29 strongside defensive end nationally by Rivals, joined the class in February 2018. Osafo-Mensah, the No. 23 weak- side defensive end in the land, was an early priority, earning an offer back in May 2017. After visiting South Bend in January and April 2018, he picked Notre Dame over in-state Texas in May, just a month after Cross — Rivals' No. 23 strong- side defensive end in the country — joined the class. With two ends already on board, defensive line coach Mike Elston fo- cused all his attention on Foskey, Ri- vals' No. 15 weakside defensive end in the class of 2019, and that effort paid off when the four-star prospect picked Notre Dame on signing day. On Paper Grade: A- Rivals started doing rankings back in 2002, and the 2019 line haul was just the second time Notre Dame landed a quartet of four-star recruits up front (2008 was the other). All five of the signees earned four-star com- posite grades from 247Sports. On the inside, Spears combines power and quickness, while Lacey is a short, stocky player that can anchor up the middle just as well as he can make plays. A case could be made that defen- sive end was the biggest need in this class, and landing a trio of composite four stars in the class was a major success for Notre Dame. Foskey proj- ects as a drop end and Cross as a strongside end, while Osafo-Mensah can play both spots. LINEBACKER/ROVER Signed: JD Bertrand, Osita Ekwonu, Jack Kiser and Marist Liufau Meeting Needs: Despite signing a four-man class in 2018, the Irish linebacker depth chart remained thin due to injuries and a small 2016 class at the position. Landing four more in the 2019 class met those needs. The Irish inked three players that project in- side (Liufau, Ekwonu and Bertrand) and another that seems suited for the rover spot (Kiser). Summary: Notre Dame's line- backer board went through a number of remakes after the staff missed out on several of its early targets. The Irish eventually still signed a quality four-man group that brings versatil- ity and athleticism to the roster. One player that was targeted early was Ekwonu, Rivals' No. 15 inside linebacker and No. 232 overall re- cruit nationally. He received his offer in January 2018 and committed five months later. A spring workout sold defensive coordinator Clark Lea on what Kiser, the nation's No. 37 outside linebacker per Rivals, could bring to the depth chart, and the Irish offered him in May. A month later, Kiser committed. Bertrand — who is ranked as the No. 27 inside linebacker in the land by Rivals — pledged to Georgia last July, but decommitted from the Bulldogs in October. The Irish got involved and ultimately earned his pledge in November. Liufau, Rivals' No. 36 outside linebacker in the 2019 class, wasn't offered until his November official visit, and he committed days later. On Paper Grade: B Lea wants length at linebacker, and that is what makes Ekwonu and Liu- fau such intriguing players. They will need development, but both have ex- ceptional range and bring the kind of athleticism Notre Dame needs in its aggressive defensive scheme. This class adds a boost in coverage ability, with Liufau and Kiser spend- ing most of their prep careers playing defensive back. Kiser was a safety at Pioneer, and his range for the posi- tion is outstanding. Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren four-star Jacob Lacey, Rivals' No. 23 defensive tackle in the nation, is a key part of an outstanding defensive line haul. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM