Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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football recruiting Final Countdown Notre Dame narrows focus with National Signing Day looming By Jason Sapp F ollowing Notre Dame's national title shot against Alabama Jan. 7 that resulted in a 42-14 loss and a 12‑1 season, the primary focus of the Irish coaching staff shifted back to the recruiting trail in an effort to close out the 2013 campaign strong. With 23 commitments on board, the program now has one, possibly two, spots remaining in the haul. The main needs prior to the Under Armour AllAmerica Game week was landing a running back and defensive back, and the Irish were able to get both done with participants Tarean Folston of Cocoa, Fla., and Max Redfield of Mission Viejo, Calif., respectively. The coaching staff has made cuts from the recruiting board in an effort to pursue only the top targets left in the class, while official visit weekends are becoming limited in the final stretch run to National Signing Day Feb. 6. Here's a breakdown of the top five targets, all All-Americans, that remain for the Irish with the preference being a big skill defender and a playmaker, space permitting: 1. DL Eddie Vanderdoes 6-3, 302, Auburn, Calif. (Placer) — U.S. Army All-American Game Stats: Recorded three tackles and a sack. 247Sports Ranking: Five-star prospect, No. 2 player in California, No. 2 defensive tackle in the country and No. 12 overall recruit in the nation. Final Take: Vanderdoes wasn't exactly sure how his official visits would all get sorted out while in San Antonio for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, but after his return home he communicated with the Irish coaching staff just before the national title game against Alabama Jan. 7 and followed up the week after to lock in a visit date. He'll take his official visit to Notre Dame Jan. 25, the weekend after his trip to USC, which was once indicated as the program that would get his last official, and he's targeting his fifth and final trip to Alabama the weekend before National Signing Day … His other two official visits were to UCLA and Washington, which round out his top five … The Crimson Tide were able to get some momentum after entering the competition prior to his arrival in Texas for the All-American game and could be the school to beat. 2. LB/DE Torrodney Prevot 6-3, 205, Houston (Taylor) — U.S. Army All-American Game Stats: Notched four tackles and 0.5 tackles for loss. 247Sports Ranking: Four-star recruit, No. 27 player in Texas, No. 7 weakside defensive end nationally and No. 191 overall prospect in the land. Final Take: Prevot always had interest in hearing from Notre Dame again after his early pledge to USC, and the contact period that started Nov. 25 and ended Dec. 17 allowed that to hap-