Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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54 NOV. 12, 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED FOOTBALL RECRUITING ROUNDUP RECRUITING NOTES • Carlsbad (Calif.) High 2019 linebacker Asa Turner, the No. 21 athlete in the nation per Rivals, was a top target for the Irish this spring and summer before the Rivals four-star com- mitted to Washington over Notre Dame. Communication between the two sides has remained open. On Oct. 26, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Clark Lea and special teams coordinator Brian Polian made their way to Carlsbad to watch Turner in action. The follow- ing day, Turner was in the stands for Notre Dame's 44-22 win over Navy. Although it was not in South Bend, it was Turner's first chance to see the Irish in action up close. Turner's relationships and familiarity with the Washington staff — who had recruited him longer than the Irish — could be tough to overcome, but it is a good sign for Notre Dame that Turner continues to talk with the staff and was willing to make the trip to San Diego to watch the team in person. • With one home game remaining, Notre Dame will aim to bring another batch of prospects to South Bend when the Irish host Florida State Nov. 10. Among the expected visitors will be Roswell (Ga.) Blessed Trinity 2019 linebacker JD Bertrand. He will return to Notre Dame after taking in the Pittsburgh game in October. The nation's No. 12 inside linebacker and No. 247 overall player according to Rivals is still searching for an Irish offer. Turner is the top target left at linebacker, but Bertrand could receive an offer if the staff wants to add both prospects or Turner decides officially to stick with the Huskies. Two top linemen in the 2020 class also plan to be in town to watch the Irish and Seminoles: Broken Arrow (Okla.) High offensive tackle Andrew Raym, Rivals' No. 13 offensive tackle and No. 115 player overall, and three-star defensive end Jalen Logan-Redding of Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge. It will be the second Irish game for Raym after taking in the 2017 USC contest before he was offered in May 2018, while it will be the first for Logan-Redding. Notre Dame is strongly in the mix for both prospects. Another recruit who will visit and is still looking for an Irish offer is 2020 linebacker Kaden Johnson of St. Paul (Minn.) Minnehaha Academy. Johnson, who is the No. 8 outside linebacker and No. 110 overall player nationally per Rivals, holds early offers from Wisconsin, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Iowa and Minnesota, among others, and will hope to add Notre Dame to his list. Cristian Dixon of Pomona (Calif.) Diamond Ranch, one of the top 2021 wide receivers, will also make the long trip to South Bend for the FSU game. USC, Utah, Arizona and Arizona State have extended early offers. — Corey Bodden and David McKinney • WR Kendall Abdur-Rahman: Ran for two touchdowns (53 and 78 yards) in a 44-27 win for Edwardsville (Ill.) High (7-3) against Evanston (Ill.) High (7-3) in the first round of the Class 8A state playoffs. Next game: vs. Aurora (Ill.) West Aurora (9-1) in round two of the Class 8A state playoffs. • S Litchfield Ajavon: Recorded five tackles for Alexandria (Va.) Episcopal (5-2) in a 24-6 loss to Bethesda (Md.) Georgetown Prep (7-1). Next game: vs. Bethesda (Md.) (7-1). • TE Kevin Bauman (2020): Helped Red Bank Cath- olic (8-0) post a 38-28 win over Middletown (N.J.) North (1-6). Next game: playoff TBD. • P Jay Bramblett: Hillcrest had a bye. Next game: vs. Madison (Al.) James Clemens (7-2). • OL Quinn Carroll: Edina (Minn.) High (7-2) de- feated Farmington (Minn.) High (1-8) 43-26 in the first round of the Class 6A state playoffs. Next game: vs. Albertville (Minn.) St. Michael Albertville (7-3) in the second round of the Class 6A state playoffs. • QB Brendon Clark: Completed 3 of 5 passes for 63 yards with a touchdown while also rushing for a score to lead Manchester (Va.) Midlothian (9-0) to a 70-0 win over Richmond (Va.) Hermitage (1-9). Next game: vs. Richmond (Va.) Wythe (0-9). • OL Zeke Correll: Cincinnati Anderson (9-3) defeated Loveland (Ohio) High (1-9) 36-13. Next game: vs. Kings Mills (Ohio) Kings (9-1) in the first round of the Division II state playoffs. • DE Howard Cross: Led Montvale (N.J.) St. Joseph (7-2) in tackles with 10, including three for loss, in a 16-7 win over Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep (6-3). Next game: playoff TBD. • LB Osita Ekwonu: Had 30 carries for 229 yards and three touchdowns, but Charlotte Providence Day lost 33-32 at Charlotte (N.C.) Christian (9-0). Next game: at Charlotte Christian in the first round of the Division III state playoffs. • S Kyle Hamilton: Atlanta Marist (8-2) fell 10-7 to Roswell (Ga.) Blessed Trinity (9-0). Next game: playoff TBD. • WR Cam Hart: Olney (Md.) Good Counsel (6-3-1) notched a 31-0 win over Forestville (Md.) Bishop McNamara (3-6). Next game: playoff TBD. • LB Jack Kiser: Scored three touchdowns to help Royal Center (Ind.) Pioneer (11-0) to a 74-0 win over Flora (Ind.) Carroll (4-7) in the second round of the Class 1A state playoffs. Next game: at Lafayette (Ind.) Central Catholic (5-6) in the third round the Class 1A state playoffs. • OL Andrew Kristofic: Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Rich- land (8-2) suffered a 27-7 defeat at the hands of Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny (10-0). Next game: vs. Pittsburgh Mt. Lebanon (5-5). • DT Jacob Lacey: Notched nine tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks in a 42-12 Bowl- ing Green (Ky.) South Warren (10-0) win over Owensboro (Ky.) Catholic (7-3). Next game: vs. Owensboro (Ky.) Apollo (5-5) in the first round of the Kentucky Class 5A state playoffs. • TE Michael Mayer: Caught four passes for 84 yards and a touchdown to help Alexandria (Ky.) Covington Catholic (10-0) notch a 28-0 win over Alexandria (Ky.) Campbell County (6-4). Next game: vs. Versailles (Ky.) Woodford (2-8) in the first round of the Kentucky 5A state playoffs. • OL John Olmstead: Helped Metuchen (N.J.) St. Joseph's (7-2) win 28-0 over Iselin (N.J.) Ken- nedy Memorial (2-6). Next game: vs. Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep (6-3) in the first round of the Non-Public Group Four playoffs. • DE NaNa Osafo-Mensah: Recorded four tackles and a sack in a 42-13 Fort Worth (Texas) Nolan Cath- olic (7-1) win over Midland (Texas) Christian (7-2). Next game: vs. Fort Worth (Texas) All Saints (2-5). • QB Drew Pyne: Threw for 239 yards and three touchdowns to lead New Canaan (Conn.) High (5-2) to a 42-7 victory versus Hillsdale (N.J.) Pas- cack Valley (3-5). Next game: at Fairfield (Conn.) Ludlowe (5-2). • CB Isaiah Rutherford: Rushed for 50 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries, plus had three receptions for 46 yards and a score, to help Carmichael (Calif.) Jesuit (7-3) post a 48-21 victory over Elk Grove (Calif.) Pleasant Grove (0-10). Next game: vs. Roseville (Calif.) Woodcreek (7-3) in the first round of the California Division II playoffs. • DL Hunter Spears: Recorded six total stops, four tackles for loss and three sacks to help Sachse (Texas) High (5-3) defeat Garland (Texas) Centennial (4-3) 49-38. Next game: at Garland (Texas) South Garland (2-6). • CB KJ Wallace: Rushed for 85 yards and two scores on just five carries in a 41-6 win for Atlanta Lovett (4-5) against Stone Mountain (Ga.) Redan (0-9). Next game: at Atlanta Westminster (5-3). • RB Kyren Williams: Williams and St. Louis St. John Vianney (7-3) had a bye. Next game: vs. Ballwin (Mo.) Parkway West (7-3). Follow @BGI_CoreyBodden and @BGI_DMcKinney on Twitter for daily recruiting updates available on BlueandGold.com! Notre Dame continues to push for 2019 Rivals four-star linebacker Asa Turner, who is committed to Washington. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM Commitment Updates Games played Oct. 26-27 unless otherwise noted