Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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46 OCT. 8, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED FOOTBALL RECRUITING ROUNDUP RECRUITING NOTES • Notre Dame was scheduled to host 2019 Rivals100 cor- nerback Max Williams of Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra on an official visit during the final weekend of September, but the four-star was unable to make the trip after tearing his ACL earlier in the month. The 5-10, 175-pounder, who Rivals ranks as the No. 11 cornerback and No. 93 overall player in the country, is slated to announce a commitment Oct. 6. USC, Notre Dame, Oregon and Utah are the top contenders for a pledge. Without the official visit, it is hard to see Williams pick- ing the Irish. The Trojans are expected to be the victors in this recruitment. Williams told Blue & Gold Illustrated he was looking into rescheduling his Irish visit for December, but a commit- ment elsewhere would make that unlikely. • The Irish could turn their attention to Carmichael (Ca- lif.) Jesuit 2019 product Isaiah Rutherford, who is ranked as the No. 9 cornerback and No. 83 overall prospect na- tionally by Rivals. He took an official visit to Notre Dame for the Michigan game and was impressed by all he saw in South Bend, saying it exceeded his expectations and helped move the program up on his list. Rutherford followed his time in South Bend with a trip to Colorado during the weekend of Sept. 15 and also enjoyed his time in Boulder. Oregon has been considered one of the top contenders for the Rivals100 prospect, who planned to officially visit Eugene during the third weekend of September, but that trip did not occur. Rutherford told Blue & Gold Illustrated a few days after that he was still planning to visit Oregon, but nothing was set at the time. Following his trip to Notre Dame, Ruther- ford mentioned he could potentially make a decision by the end of September or in October following those three original officials (Notre Dame, Colorado and Oregon). Blue & Gold Illustrated is hearing Rutherford's recruit- ment could come down to the Irish and Buffaloes. A trip to Oregon would likely change that, but the Irish are in a good position in his recruitment and could add one of the nation's best at cornerback in the coming weeks if he sticks to his original timeline. Again, Oregon could make things interesting, but Notre Dame appears to be trending in this one. — Corey Bodden and David McKinney • WR Kendall Abdur-Rahman: Did not play due to a hip pointer, but Edwardsville (Ill.) High (2-3) posted a 35-12 win over Alton (Ill.) High (2-3). Next game: at O'Fallon (Ill.) High (1-4). • S Litchfield Ajavon: Alexandria (Va.) Episcopal (2-0) defeated Washington (D.C.) Maret (2-2) 40-0. Next game: at Richmond (Va.) Collegiate (2-1). • TE Kevin Bauman (2020): Caught two passes for 39 yards to help Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic (4-0) to a 42-7 win over Little Silver (N.J.) Red Bank Regional (2-1). Next game: at Toms River (N.J.) East (1-2). • P Jay Bramblett: Completed 19 of 26 passes for 300 yards with two touchdowns, but Tusca- loosa (Ala.) Hillcrest (2-3) suffered a 35-28 loss to Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Northridge (5-0). Next game: at Madison (Ala.) Bob Jones (3-2). • OL Quinn Carroll: Helped Edina (Minn.) High (3-1) pick up a 16-3 win over Apple Valley (Minn.) Eastview (2-2). Next game: at Shakopee (Minn.) High (2-2). • QB Brendon Clark: Completed 11 of 17 passes for 122 yards with a touchdown, plus ran 10 times for 77 yards and one score, to help Midlothian (Va.) Manchester (4-0) defeat Midlothian (Va.) High (1-4) 47-3. Next game: vs. Midlothian (Va.) James River (0-5). • OL Zeke Correll: Cincinnati Anderson (4-1) re- corded a 47-12 win over Cincinnati Withrow (1-4). Next game: vs. Milford (Ohio) High (4-1). • DE Howard Cross: Made eight tackles, including four for loss, to help Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph (3- 1) to a 31-7 win over Sparta (N.J.) Pope John XXIII (0-4). Next game: at Paramus (N.J.) Catholic (2-2). • LB Osita Ekwonu: Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day notched a 67-0 victory over Concord (N.C.) Cannon (1-4). Next game: vs. Charlotte (N.C.) Latin (3-1). • S Kyle Hamilton: Had three receptions for 60 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-6 win for Atlanta Marist (4-1) against Cleveland (Ga.) White County (1-3). Next game: at Gainesville (Ga.) Ches- tatee (1-4). • WR Cam Hart: Olney (Md.) Good Counsel (3- 1) defeated Virginia Beach (Va.) Bishop Sullivan Catholic (1-3) 55-0. Next game: at Germantown (Md.) Northwest (4-0). • LB Jack Kiser: Completed 6 of 11 throws for 90 yards with a touchdown, rushed 17 times for 112 yards and five scores, and recorded an intercep- tion to lead Royal Center (Ind.) Pioneer (6-0) to a 56-6 victory versus Bourbon (Ind.) Triton (3-3). Next game: at Knox (Ind.) High (5-1). • OL Andrew Kristofic: Helped clear the way for more than 400 yards of offense in a 44-7 Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine Richland (3-1) win over Huntingdon (Pa.) Norwin (2-3). Next game: vs Pittsburgh Central Catholic (4-1). • DT Jacob Lacey: Recorded seven total stops, four tackles for loss and two sacks, while Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren (6-0) gave up just 101 total yards in a 46-0 win over Fort Collins (Colo.) Rocky Mountain (1-4). Next game: at Bowling Green (Ky.) Greenwood (2-4). • TE Michael Mayer (2020): Alexandria (Ky.) Covington Catholic (6-0) remained undefeated with a 35-14 win over Columbus (Ohio) St. Francis de Sales (3-2). Next game: at Indianapolis Bishop Chatard (6-0) on Oct. 5. • OL John Olmstead: Behind its offensive line, Metuchen (N.J.) St. Joseph (3-1) went for more than 300 rushing yards en route to a 44-0 victory over Carteret (N.J.) High (2-1). Next game: vs Som- merville (N.J.) Immaculata (3-0). • DE NaNa Osafo-Mensah: Recorded four tack- les for a loss and one sack in a 43-0 victory for Fort Worth (Texas) Nolan Catholic (4-0) over Fort Worth (Texas) Eastern Hills (0-3). Next game: vs Dallas Lincoln (0-3). • QB Drew Pyne (2020): Completed 20 of 22 passes for 380 yards with five touchdowns in a 48-7 win for New Canaan (Conn.) (2-1) against Trumbull (Conn.) High (1-2) … Also had 24 rushing yards on three carries. Next game: vs. Stamford (Conn.) Westhill (0-3). • DL Hunter Spears: Recorded six total stops, three tackles for a loss, two sacks and an inter- ception that he returned for a touchdown to help Sachse (Texas) High (1-3) defeat Wylie (Texas) High (0-4) 43-27. Next game: at Garland (Texas) Namaan Forest (0-4). • CB KJ Wallace: Atlanta Lovett (1-4) fell 45-0 to Ellenwood (Ga.) Cedar Grove (4-1). Next game: vs. Decatur (Ga.) Towers (0-5). • RB Kyren Williams: Finished with 196 yards of total offense (44 passing, 70 rushing and 82 receiving) and two touchdowns to lead St. Louis St. John Vianney's (4-1) past St. Louis De Smet Jesuit (3-2) 17-14. Next game: at St. Louis Uni- versity (0-5). Follow @BGI_CoreyBodden and @BGI_DMcKinney on Twitter for daily recruiting updates available on BlueandGold.com! Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra stand- out Max Williams, the No. 11 cornerback and No. 93 overall player nationally per Rivals, did not make his planned Irish official visit during the weekend of Sept. 29 due to an ACL injury he suffered ear- lier in September. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM Commitment Updates Games played Sept. 21-22 unless otherwise noted