Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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46 NOV. 5, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED FOOTBALL RECRUITING ROUNDUP RECRUITING NOTES • Notre Dame is keeping its pursuit of Roswell (Ga.) Blessed Trinity four-star inside linebacker JD Bertrand going. Bertrand took an unofficial visit to South Bend for the game against Pitt, and will come back to campus for another unofficial visit Nov. 10 for the Florida State matchup. Bertrand will travel to South Bend with his friend and current Irish safety commit Kyle Hamilton. Al- though he does not yet hold an offer from the Irish, there is legitimate interest between both parties. Bertrand was committed to Georgia from July 15, 2017 to Oct. 5 of this year, but backed off that pledge when Georgia told him he would be likely to find more playing time elsewhere. If an offer does come for Bertrand, the Irish will be a legitimate contender in the race to land him. Other teams involved in the second wave of his recruitment include Florida, Florida State and TCU. Bertrand is rated by Rivals as the No. 12 inside line- backer and the No. 247 overall player in the nation. • Notre Dame added a preferred walk-on to the class Oct. 18 when Avon (Conn.) Old Farms place- kicker Harrison Leonard announced his commit- ment to the Irish. Leonard is ranked by Kohl's Kicking as the No. 7 kicker in the class of 2019 and a five-star prospect. The Connecticut talent took an official visit to Notre Dame Sept. 15 for the Vanderbilt game and was told that special teams coach Brian Polian would come see him kick in person during Notre Dame's Oct. 20 bye week. All went well during the in-person evaluation ses- sion, and Polian extended the preferred walk-on an offer. Leonard joins punter Jay Bramblett as the second specialist in the class of 2019. • Notre Dame will host a top target in the class of 2020 when Florida State comes to town for a night game Nov. 10. Andrew Raym, a four-star offensive tackle from Broken Arrow (Okla.) High, will make his way to South Bend to see a program he has shown significant interest in since backing off a pledge to the in-state Sooners May 3. Raym was committed to the Sooners for nearly a year, but is exploring his options once again. Rivals rates him as the No. 13 offensive tackle and the No. 115 overall player in the class of 2020. — Corey Bodden and David McKinney • WR Kendall Abdur-Rahman: Accounted for five touchdowns in a 65-13 win for Edwardsville (Ill.) High (6-3) over Collinsville (Ill.) High (3-6) … Threw for 139 yards and three scores while adding two touchdowns on the ground. Next game: at Evanston (Ill.) High (7-2) in first round of Illinois Class 8A state playoffs. • S Litchfield Ajavon: Recorded seven tackles, but Alexandria (Va.) Episcopal (5-1) fell 21-12 to Potomac (Md.) Bullis (5-2). Next game: at North Bethesda (Md.) Georgetown Prep (6-1). • TE Kevin Bauman (2020): Notched one reception for one yard in a 14-13 win for Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic (7-0) over Rumson (N.J.) Fair Haven (6-1). Next game: vs. Middletown (N.J.) North (1-5). • P Jay Bramblett: Completed 14 of 20 passes for 124 yards with a touch- down and an interception in a 31-19 victory for Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Hillcrest (4-5) versus Cottondale (Ala.) Bryant (5-3) … Also averaged 50.0 yards on four punts, with a long of 54, and had three downed or fair caught inside the 14-yard line. Next game: Nov. 2 vs. Madison (Ala.) James Clemens. • OL Quinn Carroll: Edina (Minn.) High (6-2) fell 21-0 to Eden Prairie (Minn.) High (7-1). Next game: vs. Farmington (Minn.) High (1-7). • QB Brendon Clark: Completed 10 of 15 passes for 207 yards with two touchdowns while also rushing for 97 yards and two scores to lead Midlothian (Va.) Manchester (8-0) to a 51-21 win over Midlothian (Va.) Clover Hill (4-5). Next game: at Richmond (Va.) Hermitage (1-8). • OL Zeke Correll: Cincinnati Anderson (6-3) lost 25-22 to Cincinnati Walnut Hills (3-6). Next game: at Loveland (Ohio) High (1-8). • DE Howard Cross: Recorded seven tackles and 0.5 sacks to help Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph Regional (6-2) notch a 45-10 win over West Orange (N.J.) Seton Hall Prep (4-4). Next game: vs. Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep (6-2). • LB Osita Ekwonu: Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day (5-4) fell 21-14 to Arden (N.C.) Christ School (8-1). Next game: at Charlotte (N.C.) Christian (8-0). • S Kyle Hamilton: Registered four tackles, two breakups and an interception as Atlanta Marist (8-1) won 20-0 over Flowery Branch (Ga.) High. Next game: at Roswell (Ga.) Blessed Trinity (8-0). • WR Cam Hart: Olney (Md.) Good Counsel (5-3) suffered a 32-2 loss to Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha (6-1). Next game: vs. Forestville (Md.) Bishop McNamara (3-5). • LB Jack Kiser: Scored three touchdowns and picked off a pass to help Royal Center (Ind.) Pioneer (10-0) romp to an 86-0 win over Kentland (Ind.) South New- ton (0-10) in the first round of the state playoffs … Had 154 yards of offense and made four stops on defense. Next game: vs. Flora (Ind.) Carroll (4-6). • OL Andrew Kristofic: Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Richland (8-1) picked up a 21-7 win over Harmony (Pa.) Seneca Valley (6-3). Next game: at Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny (9-0). • DT Jacob Lacey: Recorded at least six tackles, including one sack, and forced a fumble for Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren (9-0) in a 38-12 win over Bowling Green (Ky.) High (7-2). Next game: at Owensboro (Ky.) Catholic (7-2). • TE Michael Mayer (2020): Pulled in an 89-yard touchdown reception in a 50-8 win for Alexandria (Ky.) Covington Catholic (9-0) over Edgewood (Ky.) Dixie Heights (0-10). Next game: vs. Alexandria (Ky.) Campbell County (6-3). • OL John Olmstead: Metuchen (N.J.) St. Joseph (6-2) fell 46-20 to Summit (N.J.) High (6-1). Next game: vs. Iselin (N.J.) Kennedy Memorial (2-5). • DE NaNa Osafo-Mensah: Fort Worth (Texas) Nolan Catholic (6-1) had a bye. Next game: vs. Midland (Texas) Christian (7-1). • QB Drew Pyne (2020): Accounted for five touchdowns to lead New Canaan (Conn.) High (4-2) to a 49-14 win over Stamford (Conn.) Trinity Catholic (0-6) … Completed 16 of 20 passes for 231 yards with four touchdowns, while adding 48 yards and a score on four rushing attempts. Next game: at Hillsdale (N.J.) Pascack Valley (3-4). • CB Isaiah Rutherford: Rushed for 25 yards on 13 carries and made one tackle, but Carmichael (Calif.) Jesuit (6-3) suffered a 27-21 loss to Sacramento (Calif.) Sheldon (8-1). Next game: Elk Grove (Calif.) Pleasant Grove (0-9). • DL Hunter Spears: Racked up eight tackles and two TFLs as Sachse (Texas) High (4-3) defeated Garland (Texas) North Garland (4-3) by a score of 42-9. Next game: at Garland (Texas) Lakeview Centennial (4-2). • CB K.J. Wallace: Atlanta Lovett (3-5) had a bye. Next game: vs. Stone Moun- tain (Ga.) Redan (0-8). • RB Kyren Williams: Scored St. Louis St. John Vianney's (7-3) only touchdown with a 66-yard run in a 48-7 loss to Cincinnati Elder (5-4). Next game: Nov. 2 in first round of Missouri Class Five state playoffs. Follow @BGI_CoreyBodden and @BGI_DMcKinney on Twitter for daily recruiting updates available on BlueandGold.com! Broken Arrow (Okla.) High four-star Andrew Raym, Rivals' No. 13 offensive tackle and No. 115 overall player nationally in the junior class, will visit Notre Dame Nov. 10 for the Florida State game. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM Commitment Updates Games played Oct. 19-20 unless otherwise noted