Blue and Gold Illustrated

June-July 2019

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com JUNE/JULY 2019 41 FOOTBALL RECRUITING KRISTIAN STORY SAFETY • 6-2, 198 Lanett (Ala.) High RIVALS RANKINGS: Four-star talent, No. 1 prospect in Ala- bama, and No. 5 ath- lete and No. 94 overall player in the land VISIT DATE: June 21-23 THE SKINNY: Most pre- dictions have Story staying in the Southeast. Pulling a player out of Alabama who has offers from both in-state SEC schools will be incredibly difficult for the Notre Dame staff, but that hasn't stopped it from trying. Story actually visited Notre Dame in November when the Irish took on Florida State, but the June visit will determine if they have a legit shot with the highly gifted and intriguing prospect. He threw for 3,286 yards and 35 touchdowns while rushing for 765 yards as a sophomore quarter- back, but he projects as a defensive player in college. The strong and versatile Story has the frame to be a physical safety who can fill the alleys. His coverage skills are good considering his overall lack of experience on defense, and his tack- ling ability should take off at the next level once he focuses just on defense. Story has listed Notre Dame in his top five along with Alabama, LSU, Tennessee and Texas A&M. ZAK ZINTER OFFENSIVE LINEMAN • 6-6, 300 Cambridge (Mass.) Buckingham, Browne & Nichols R I VA L S R A N K I N G S: Four-star talent, No. 3 player in Mas- sachusetts, and No. 16 offensive tackle and No. 147 overall recruit nationally VISIT DATE: June 21-23 T H E S K I N N Y: N o t r e Dame landed the top offensive line- man on its board when Phoenix Pin- nacle offensive tackle Tosh Baker pledged to the Irish May 8, but the staff is working to figure out who it will pair with Baker after it missed on top targets Jimmy Christ (Virginia) and Peter Skoronski (Northwestern). Zinter also has been a top target for Notre Dame for months, and he's made multiple visits to campus, with the most recent being the weekend of the Blue-Gold Game April 13. Notre Dame is near the top of Zinter's list, but so are Michigan and Ohio State, schools that are making this a battle. Zinter has the length of a tackle, but his game is suited for either the right tackle or guard positions. The Cambridge, Mass., native is a techni- cally sound player, competitive and a strong finisher at the prep level. The June visit could be Notre Dame's last chance to put itself in position to add him to the class. LOVIE JENKINS CORNERBACK/SAFETY • 6-1, 180 Ocoee (Fla.) High RIVALS RANKINGS: Three-star recruit VISIT DATE: June 21-23 T H E S K I N N Y: J e n k i n s i s n ' t a w e l l - k n o w n name at this point, but that could change this summer. The multi- skilled athlete is just tapping into his full potential. He plays safety and cornerback for Ocoee, and he projects well to both positions at the next level as well. Jenkins is a rangy cornerback who shows the foot quickness, loose hips and instincts to play in coverage. He displays good ball skills and physical- ity for the cornerback position. On the back end as a safety, he demonstrates deep range and is a willing tackler. The Ocoee standout plans on tak- ing official visits to Louisville, Pitts- burgh and likely Tennessee before he heads to South Bend. He intends to commit Aug. 2, and right now the Irish are his leader. If Notre Dame is sold on him as a must-get in the class by late June, it will be hard to beat. MICHAEL CARMODY OFFENSIVE LINEMAN • 6-6, 280 Mars (Pa.) High RIVALS RANKINGS: Four-star prospect, No. 2 player in Pennsyl- vania and No. 35 offen- sive tackle in the country V I S I T D AT E : June 5-6 (Unofficial) T H E S K I N N Y: Carmody wasn't offered until early May, but the Irish should be a factor in his recruitment. The younger brother of Notre Dame sophomore shooting guard Robby Carmody of the men's hoops team, Carmody cer- tainly knows a great deal about the school and has been to campus sev- eral times, including at football camp last summer. This will be his first visit as an offered target. The Fighting Irish are looking for a second versatile lineman in the class, and Carmody is that. A right tackle in high school, the No. 92 overall player in the country according to 247Sports can play that position at the next level, but his game might be even bet- ter suited at guard. He is a physical blocker and a strong finisher, and he shows enough athleticism to trap and pull and work to the second level. Penn State and Ohio State are con- sidered his current leaders, and both Virginia Tech and Michigan are also factors, but a good visit to South Bend could make the Irish a major player for Carmody. ERIC REED JR. SAFETY • 6-1, 196 Shreveport (La.) Calvary Academy R I VA L S R A N K I N G S : F o u r- s t a r re - cruit, No. 9 prospect in Louisiana, and No. 11 safety and No. 175 overall player in the nation V I S I T DAT E: TBD, but likely sometime in June THE SKINNY: Reed is an intriguing prospect, and not just for what he does on the field. Despite being a highly ranked player with offers from all over, two schools that Reed has expressed significant early interest in are Notre Dame and Virginia, two high academic insti- tutions. That doesn't mean getting Reed out of SEC country will be easy, but it gives the Irish a chance. Notre Dame is working to get Reed on campus this summer, and the Cal- vary Academy athlete has said he plans to make that trip. If he gets on campus Notre Dame likely could be very much in the mix for Reed, who would give the Irish yet another highly ranked and talented safety after back- to-back strong years at the position. Reed plays all over — cornerback, slot and safety — for Calvary, and he stands out at each spot. He is similar to current Notre Dame sophomore Houston Griffith from a skill stand- point, which means he has the ability to play cornerback, but safety is more likely his best spot. ✦

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