Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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football recruiting members of the mob. What started as a fun way to interact with one another through social media became a vital recruiting tool in the months that followed. Butler and his fellow commits built a bond around the nickname and used it to entice other talented recruits to join them. In June, they named five-star linebacker Jaylon Smith the "president" of the mob. "I was definitely using it behind the scenes to recruit guys," Butler said. "I'd always check with the coaches to see who we needed." Head coach Brian Kelly and recruiting coordinator Tony Alford both said the camaraderie among this group before they showed up on campus played a big role in keeping the class intact while other programs tried to poach talent in the last couple months prior to National Signing Day on Feb. 6. "One reason they stayed together is because these guys are very close," Alford said. "They tabbed themselves the 'Irish Mob '13.' That's a very closeknit group of guys." The branding process is one that seems like it will stick around for future groups at Notre Dame. Next year's class is already calling themselves the "Golden Army." Butler, who may be a bit biased, says they could have done better. "It lacks a little something," he said. "It just doesn't flow as smooth and maybe because it's the second coming it's not as catchy. I wouldn't have minded if they just kept it going and had 'IrishMob14.'" Gators Snatch Alex Anzalone The Irish Mob did lose one member in January when five-star Pennsylvania linebacker Alex Anzalone made a last-minute decision to enroll early at Florida instead of at Notre Dame. Anzalone, who is rated as the No. 32 player in the country by 247Sports, committed to Notre Dame in July, but visited the Gators campus later that month and during the regular season. "I spoke to him and told him he needs to be a Gator, and I think he gets the message," fellow Florida signee Caleb Brantley told 247Sports follow- Linebacker Alex Anzalone had verbally committed to Notre Dame last summer, but switched to the Florida Gators and became an early enrollee there this January. Photo courtesy 247sports