Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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44 AUGUST 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED PREP PROFILES Notre Dame is off to a hot start in the class of 2020, already scoring commitments from Rivals100 quar- terback Drew Pyne plus Rivals250 tight ends Kevin Bauman and Mi- chael Mayer. The Irish are still looking for more pass catchers for Pyne to throw to, though, and four-star 2020 wide re- ceiver Porter Rooks is a top target. Rooks — the No. 7 wide receiver and No. 32 overall player in the nation according to Rivals — was scheduled to visit Notre Dame this summer, but the trip didn't happen. "It's been a busy summer," Rooks explained. "I wish I could have got- ten up there. I was planning on visit- ing Notre Dame, Michigan and Penn State, but that fell through. Hopefully I can get up there at some point." However, even without the visit, Rooks said he knows plenty about Notre Dame already. "The academic side of things, that speaks for itself," Rooks said. "They're a powerhouse football team. They're good every year, and that's something you always want to look into when you look at a school. "I look forward to getting up there." Rooks also learned a good bit about Notre Dame through Osita Ekwonu, an Irish linebacker commit and Rooks' teammate at Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day. According to Rooks, Ekwonu has been in his ear constantly. "He recruits really hard," Rooks said of Ekwonu. "He said you've got to see it for yourself, and when you experience it, it speaks for itself." Rooks has also spoken several times with defensive coordinator Clark Lea, who recruits North Caro- lina for the Irish. Rooks said he and Lea have been able to build a solid bond. "We have a pretty good relation- ship," Rooks said. "We don't have the offensive talks, but we have a pretty good relationship." Rooks is young and his recruiting process is in the early stages, but he does have a plan in place. "By the end of the summer I want to post a narrowed list," he said. "Then at the end of next spring I want to make a decision." Going forward, Rooks said the big- gest factor for him is simple. "It's mainly going to be about who's been consistent and who I have the best relationships with," Rooks said. "I think it just takes time to really build those relationships." — David McKinney Houston North Shore star Zachary Evans is one of the top players in the class of 2020. Listed as Rivals' No. 1 running back and No. 6 overall pros- pect in the nation, he was one of only a handful of rising juniors to land an invite to the Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge. The five-star landed a Notre Dame offer in June and said he is intrigued by the Irish, specifically because of the recent history of strong offensive line play in South Bend. "Getting that offer was a big re- lief," Evans said. "I like linemen, so I've watched the linemen there that they've put into the league. "Running behind a great offensive line could lead to being a great run- ning back." Evans believes the offensive line is the most important group on the field. "I believe that's the biggest role on the team," he stated. "Quarterback is big, too, but it all starts up front." Evans is well aware that Notre Dame just had two offensive linemen taken in the top 10 of the NFL Draft, but his interest in the Irish goes be- yond just the line of scrimmage. "I just love it," Evans explained. "I plan on visiting there, and I think that will be a good experience for me and a good maturing experience." The offer for Evans came from Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long. "It was a good impression," Evans noted. "They've invited me to a few camps and stuff like that." Being a five-star from Texas, the overwhelming thought is that Evans will end up with the Longhorns or with some other regional school, but he insists distance won't be a factor. He is working right now to schedule visits to schools all across the coun- try. "I just want to go out and visit schools," he said. "I want to get the experience and meet different coach- ing staffs." Evans holds offers from just about every top program in the country, and though he doesn't have a time- line for a decision, he said it will come down to one simple factor. "It's the bond between the coaches and the players," Evans said. "Grow- ing up, I've never had the coaches that really cared. Now I'm starting to get that, and I'm going to want more of it in the future." — David McKinney Top Junior Wide Receiver Is Planning A Notre Dame Visit Elite Running Back Is Intrigued By The Fighting Irish ZACH EVANS ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ North Shore H.S. Houston Status: Offered Class: 2020 Position: Running Back Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 195 Rivals Rankings: No. 1 run- ning back and No. 6 overall player in the country PORTER ROOKS ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Providence Day H.S. Charlotte, N.C. Status: Offered Class: 2020 Position: Wide Receiver Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 180 Rivals Rankings: No. 7 wide receiver and No. 32 overall player in the nation "I like linemen, so I've watched the linemen there that they've put into the league. Running behind a great offensive line could lead to being a great running back." EVANS ON NOTRE DAME