Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com PRESEASON 2018 65 FOOTBALL RECRUITING DANIEL JACKSON — UNOFFICIAL VISIT Wide Receiver • Shawnee Mission(Kan.) Bishop Miege Rivals Rankings: Three-star talent and the No. 62 wide receiver in the country. The Skinny: If Notre Dame can make another strong impression on Jackson during the Michigan week- end, he'll more than likely end up a member of the 2020 class. Follow- ing an unofficial visit to South Bend April 13, he received an offer from Notre Dame and publicly named the Irish his leader. Jackson has reaffirmed that state- ment to Blue & Gold Illustrated mul- tiple times, adding that Texas A&M is in second. Notre Dame has plenty of factors working in its favor with him, including that his cousin Jafar Armstrong is a current sophomore running back/wide receiver with the Irish. BRAIDEN MCGREGOR — UNOFFICIAL VISIT Defensive End • Port Huron (Mich.) Northern Rivals Rankings: Three-star talent. The Skinny: McGregor is a top tar- get for the Irish staff in 2020 at the drop end position. Notre Dame is in a good early position after impress- ing him and his family during April and June visits this year. The junior likes Irish defensive line coach Mike Elston and how he would potentially fit in South Bend on and off the field. Michigan ap- pears to be the top competition for the Irish at this stage. RYLIE MILLS — UNOFFICIAL VISIT Defensive End • Lake Forest (Ill.) High Rivals Rankings: Four-star talent, and the No. 9 strongside defensive end and No. 148 overall prospect in the nation. The Skinny: Mills has made sev- eral trips to South Bend over the past year, including for multiple games in 2017 and this spring. Like Mc- Gregor, he has built a strong early re- lationship with Elston, and has raved about the culture and atmosphere he's witnessed. Mills, who plans to narrow down his recruitment after his junior year, also holds offers from Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee and Wisconsin, among others. KALEL MULLINGS — UNOFFICIAL VISIT Linebacker • Milton (Mass.) Academy Rivals Rankings: Four-star talent, and the No. 4 outside linebacker and No. 84 overall recruit in the land. The Skinny: Mullings was elated to receive an offer from the Irish in late July following his second visit to South Bend. The Rivals100 pros- pect initially visited Notre Dame in March. The Irish are expected to be a long- term contender for Mullings, who also holds offers from Clemson, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, UCLA and Virginia Tech, among others. It's a good sign for the Irish that he is returning to South Bend so quickly. PETER SKORONSKI — UNOFFICIAL VISIT Offensive Lineman • Park Ridge (Ill.) Maine South Rivals Rankings: Four-star talent, and the No. 23 offensive tackle and No. 232 overall player nationally. The Skinny: Skoronski was a rela- tive unknown in the Irish recruiting world until he visited South Bend for the Blue-Gold Game in April, and it was learned he had actually picked up an offer from the staff a couple of weeks before. Notre Dame is certainly a program of interest for the Rivals250 prospect, who should see his offer list expand this season. Illinois, Iowa and Penn State are the other Power Five pro- grams after him right now. JADON THOMPSON — UNOFFICIAL VISIT Wide Receiver • Chicago Marist Rivals Rankings: Four-star talent, and the No. 25 wide receiver and No. 133 overall prospect in the country. The Skinny: This will be Thomp- son's second visit to Notre Dame this year, despite the fact than an Irish of- fer is still yet to come. He first visited South Bend in June, but left without a tender. When the contact period begins for 2020 players in September, an offer could be on the way for the Rivals250 talent. BRYN TUCKER — UNOFFICIAL VISIT Offensive Guard • Knoxville (Tenn.) Catholic Rivals Rankings: Four-star talent, and the No. 2 offensive guard and No. 64 overall recruit in the nation. The Skinny: Tucker will arrive in South Bend for his first visit to Notre Dame with the Irish in his top five along with Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Auburn and LSU. The early relation- ship he has built with offensive line coach Jeff Quinn is playing a huge role in his recruitment. Hometown Tennessee will be tough to beat for Tucker — but the amount of early interest he's shown in the Irish is a good sign for Notre Dame. ✦ Irish Commits Expected To Attend Irish targets won't be the only ones in South Bend taking in the game atmosphere. Several Notre Dame commits are planning to make the trip, including pledges from both the 2019 and 2020 class. Offensive line commits Quinn Carroll of Edina (Minn.) High and Andrew Kristofic of Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Richland will be part of the 2019 contingent, along with Atlanta Marist safety Kyle Hamilton and Sachse (Texas) High defensive tackle Hunter Spears. Other 2019 commits will likely make the trip as well. Alexandria (Ky.) Covington Catholic 2020 tight end Michael Mayer is locked in for the game, while New Canaan (Conn.) High quarterback Drew Pyne hopes to be there but may not be able to make it due to his schedule. More will likely make their way to South Bend giving the Irish plenty of extra recruiters. — Corey Bodden and David McKinney Bryn Tucker of Knoxville (Tenn.) Catholic — Rivals' No. 2 offensive guard and No. 64 overall player in the class of 2020 — will get his first look at Notre Dame when the Wolverines comes to town Sept. 1. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM