Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/531612
BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 157 TERRIFIC 20 FOR 2016 BY ANDREW IVINS O ver the past few years, Los Angeles has been an emphasized recruiting territory for Notre Dame. However, while the Irish have courted a num- ber of high-profile prospects in the area, they have had limited success actually getting them on campus. Sure, there have been some outliers, like back in 2013 when Mission Viejo five-star safety Max Redfield signed with Notre Dame after the Irish made a run to the BCS National Championship Game, but for the most part the Los Angeles area has been a dead zone when it comes to signing players. Notre Dame is hoping, however, that trend will change this cycle. The Irish are not only all in on Los An- geles for the class of 2016, but the staff also is recruiting the entire state of California, which means the success of the class will in large part be determined by a number of targets landed in the Golden State. "I think what we have noticed the most this recruiting cycle is that Notre Dame is recruiting different than years prior," Rivals West Coast recruiting analyst Adam Gorney said. "They use to target just three or four guys in a class and really focus on them. If they got them, it was a big bonus, but if they didn't get them, they were going to be perfectly fine. "This time around, it's different. They seem to be much more active blanketing the state, going up and down looking at kids." Blue & Gold Illustrated's "Terrific 20" reflects that. If everything went as planned for the Notre Dame coaching staff, a majority of the faxes coming on National Signing Day Feb. 5, 2016, would have a California area code. Here's a handful of targets to know for Notre Dame this recruiting cycle. QUARTERBACK XAVIER GAINES 6-3, 219 • FROSTPROOF, FLA. • LAKE WALES H.S. RIVALS RANKING: Listed as a four-star talent, the No. 29 prospect in Flor- ida, and the No. 8 dual-threat quarterback and No. 221 overall recruit in the country. JUNIOR NUMBERS: Played in just seven games and ac- counted for only 359 yards of offense and three rushing touchdowns. THE SKINNY: With a shuffling of the offen- sive staff and a new offensive coordinator in town, Notre Dame's quarterback board has remained one of the biggest mysteries of the cycle … Gaines, who is know as a true dual threat, named the Irish his co-leader in early June along with Florida … He's expected to visit in the summer and could eventually commit to the class, if the staff likes what they see. WIDE RECEIVER DAMIAN ALLOWAY 5-10, 170 • FONTANA, CALIF. • SUMMIT H.S. RIVALS RANKING: Rated as a four-star pros- pect, the No. 19 recruit in California, and the No. 20 wide receiver and No. 110 overall player nationally. J U N I O R N U M B E R S : A c - counted for 1,277 yards of offense and 18 touchdowns. THE SKINNY: Alloway was visited twice by the Notre Dame coaches during the May spring evaluation period and was offered a scholarship on the second trip … He said the offer "changed his life" … The Irish like Al- loway in the slot, and he has them in his top four along with USC, UCLA and Wisconsin. DONNIE CORLEY 6-2, 190 • DETROIT • MARTIN LUTHER KING H.S. RIVALS RANKING: Tabbed as a four-star tal- ent, the No. 2 player in Mich- igan, and the No. 14 wide receiver and No. 79 overall prospect in the nation. JUNIOR NUMBERS: Had 47 catches for 1,087 yards and 18 touchdowns. THE SKINNY: Corley's recruitment has been hot and cold with Notre Dame, but he continues to express interest in the Irish … He visited South Bend for the Junior Day March 21 and visited in October when Notre Dame hosted North Carolina… Corley said he will take official visits to Michigan State and Tennessee, and Notre Dame is also fighting for one. JAVON MCKINLEY 6-2, 196 • CORONA, CALIF. • CENTENNIAL H.S. RIVALS RANKING: Listed as a four-star re- cruit, the No. 17 prospect in California, and the No. 18 wide receiver and No. 99 overall player nationally. JUNIOR NUMBERS: Totaled 1,906 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns … Also returned a kickoff for a score. THE SKINNY: One of Notre Dame's top tar- gets on the board, McKinley visited South Bend in late April and returned to campus in June for the Irish Invasion … He plans to take an official visit to Notre Dame for the USC game Oct. 17 and has stated in the past that he "loves" what the Irish have to offer … His high school teammate — three-star safety Chacho Ulloa — is also a Notre Dame target. DEMETRIS ROBERTSON 6-0, 167 • SAVANNAH, GA. • CHRISTIAN SCHOOL RIVALS RANKING: Tabbed as a five-star prospect, the top recruit in Georgia, and the No. 1 athlete and No. 7 over- all player in the country. JUNIOR NUMBERS: In just five games, accounted for 394 all-purpose yards and 10 touchdowns. THE SKINNY: Robertson is a long shot at this point, but if anyone is go- ing to lure a top-end talent to South Bend, it's Irish associate head coach Mike Den- brock … Denbrock has worked the one-time Alabama commit, and Robertson has talked about visiting Notre Dame for the USC game Oct. 17 ... Georgia remains heavily involved in Robertson's recruitment. TIGHT END CARY ANGELINE 6-7, 234 • EXTON, PA. • DOWNINGTON EAST H.S. RIVALS RANKING: Listed as a three-star talent, the No. 9 recruit in the Key- stone State and the No. 20 tight end in the country. JUNIOR NUMBERS: Caught 67 passes for 1,051 yards and 10 touchdowns. THE SKINNY: Notre Dame likes Angeline because of his size and length, and he has plenty of it with a 6-7, 234-pound frame … The tight end visited twice in the spring and had Irish coaches at his school twice during the spring evaluation period … He's a top target for the Irish, but is also considering Penn State, Florida and Miami. LUKE FARRELL 6-6, 235 • PERRY, OHIO • PERRY H.S. RIVALS RANKING: Rated as a four-star talent, the No. 7 recruit in Ohio, and the No. 7 tight end and No. 195 overall prospect in the land. Top TargeTs The Irish are keying in on talent in the Golden State