Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2017 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 155 DEFENSIVE LINE HAUL The Irish added multiple reinforce- ments along the defensive line in the 2017 class, signing five prospects. The jewel of the haul was Darnell Ewell of Norfolk (Va.) Lake Taylor. Rivals rated him as a four-star prospect, and the No. 9 defensive tackle and No. 139 overall player nationally. He could very well see significant playing time during his fresh- man year. Tagovailoa-Amosa is another signee who could get on the field early in his career. The Hawaiian was highly produc- tive in high school and is exactly the type of disruptive defensive lineman needed in the class, given his pass rushing abilities. Combining Tagovailoa-Amosa and Ewell with Wardlow, Pittsburgh Central Catholic three-star defensive tackle Kurt Hinish and three-star defensive end Jona- thon MacCollister from Orlando (Fla.) Bishop Moore gives the Irish a mix of players who could contribute early. TIGHT END DUO IS ELITE Notre Dame's long list of accomplished tight ends makes it easier for Irish coaches to recruit the position. Notre Dame added the nation's top tight end haul this past cycle, landing Cypress (Texas) Cy-Fair four-star Brock Wright and Arlington Heights (Ill.) St. Viator four-star Cole Kmet. Wright was rated as the No. 1 tight end and No. 44 overall player nationally by Rivals, while Kmet was listed as the No. 3 tight end and No. 95 overall prospect in the land. The signings of Kmet and Wright marked the seventh time in the last 10 cycles that Notre Dame signed at least one tight end in the top 12 of the position rankings. Wright was the highest-rated tight end to sign with Notre Dame since Kyle Ru- dolph in 2008. Rudolph was the No. 1 tight end and No. 20 player nationally according to Rivals. Cypress (Texas) Cy-Fair standout Brock Wright — the nation's No. 1 tight end and No. 44 over- all prospect according to Rivals — became the highest-rated player at his position to sign with Notre Dame since Kyle Rudolph (No. 1 tight end and No. 20 overall in the country) in 2007. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM