Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
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156 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW R.J. Moten, who was expected to take an official visit to Notre Dame in June. Rivals ranks Greene as the No. 8 player in Virginia and the No. 23 safety in the nation, and lists Moten as the No. 27 prospect in New Jersey. Cornerback Committed: 1 Projected Take: 2-3 Synopsis: Middletown (N.J.) Mater Dei three-star cornerback Clarence Lewis pledged to Notre Dame June 10, giving the Irish a long and intriguing prospect to start off the corner class. Lewis is ranked as the No. 21 player in New Jersey by Rivals. At the top of the board is Danville (Ky.) Boyle County three-star athlete Landen Bartleson. Mostly a running back at the prep level, the 6-1 Bartleson has the length and speed the staff covets, and the Irish are in strong position to land the No. 7 player in Kentucky according to ESPN. Another target, Cameron Martinez from Muskegon (Mich.) High likes Ohio State, Kentucky, Northwestern and Penn State, along with the Irish. Martinez is rated as the No. 7 player in Michigan and the No. 297 player in the country according to 247Sports. On June 21, Notre Dame was expected to host three cornerbacks in Bartleson, three- star Ocoee (Fla.) defensive back Lovie Jenkins and three-star Waco (Texas) Mid- way athlete Will Nixon, who is rated as the No. 87 wideout in the land by Rivals. Three-star Southaven (Miss.) High de- fender Caleb Offord landed an offer from the Irish in May and also visited in early June. Rivals ranks Offord as the No. 23 prospect in Mississippi and No. 61 corner- back nationally. Specialist Committed: 1 Projected Take: 1 Synopsis: Notre Dame has its long snap- per of the future in Alex Peitsch from Wash- ington (D.C.) St. John's Collegiate. Kohl's Professional Camps — the nation's premier evaluators of specialists — rank Peitsch as a five-star prospect and the No. 1 long snapper in the nation. ✦ With Notre Dame signing all but one of its 2019 recruits in the early signing period, the Irish coaching staff was able to get a head start on the 2020 and 2021 classes. The prospects below are important early 2021 targets for the Fighting Irish. Quarterback Tyler Buchner 6-2, 195 • San Diego • The Bishop's School The Skinny: Notre Dame has already se- cured its class of 2021 quarterback in Bu- chner, who picked the Irish over Alabama, Michigan, Oregon, UCLA and USC during the spring of his sophomore year. During his freshman season, Notre Dame identified Buchner, and he traveled to South Bend that summer for camp. Soon after- wards, the Irish offered Buchner, and even though he went down with a leg injury in his sophomore year, Notre Dame continued to pursue him, leading to his commitment. Offensive Lineman Greg Crippen 6-4, 270 • Bradenton, Fla. • IMG Academy The Skinny: Crippen is originally from Boston but transferred to powerhouse IMG Academy. He visited Notre Dame multiple times before announcing his pledge to the Irish in March. A guard at IMG, Crippen is expected to play center in South Bend. He also held offers from Alabama, Boston College, Duke, Michigan, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Purdue and Syracuse. Wide Receiver Lorenzo Styles Jr. 6-1, 170 • Pickerington, Ohio • Pickerington Central H.S. The Skinny: Notre Dame offered Styles Jr. after he wowed during a summer camp back in June of 2018, when he was just going into his sophomore year. He has already visited South Bend on multiple occasions, most recently for a junior day event in February, and he's expected back on campus in June. The Irish should be considered a strong early contender for the playmaking wide receiver, but Ohio State will be difficult to beat. His father, Lorenzo Sr., played linebacker at Ohio State in the '90s and is a member of Pickerington Central's coaching staff. Wide Receiver Beaux Collins 6-4, 195 • Bellflower, Calif. • St. John Bosco H.S. The Skinny: Another priority wide receiver target for the Irish in the 2021 class is Collins, who should be in the conversation for being a Rivals five-star prospect when the 2021 rank- ings come out. Notre Dame offered Collins last November, and the Irish send coaches out to his high school whenever they get the opportunity, including wide receivers coach Del Alexander making a trip during the spring evaluation period. Collins displays incredible ball skills and impressive size for a rising junior. Offensive Tackle Blake Fisher 6-6, 330 • Avon, Ind. • Avon H.S. The Skinny: The 2021 class has several very impressive offensive line prospects that the Irish are targeting, including Fisher. The powerful blocker holds a handful of of- fers from powerhouse programs, and while he's not naming any favorites in his recruit- ment, early indications are that Notre Dame is the team to beat. Fisher planned to visit South Bend June 14-15 and compete in a Notre Dame prospect camp on the 15th. Defensive Tackle Gabriel Rubio 6-5, 280 • St. Peters, Mo. • Lutheran of St. Charles H.S. The Skinny: After extending an offer in the spring, Notre Dame shot up Rubio's list, and the Irish are in good position for the talented 2021 defensive tackle. He was expected to camp in South Bend June 15 for the Lineman's Challenge. Cornerback Tony Grimes 6-1, 180 • Virginia Beach, Va. • Princess Anne H.S. The Skinny: Grimes is a gifted cornerback. Although he's just going into his junior season, he already has the build of a college defensive back and his movements are fluid to go along with his top-level coverage skills. Grimes has the ability to play at a high level anywhere in the secondary. Many programs are targeting the talented defensive back, but the Irish made his top 15 schools list, and he is looking to visit Notre Dame. — Mike Singer Names To Know In 2021 The Fighting Irish have already secured their class of 2021 quar- terback in San Diego The Bishop's School standout Tyler Buchner. PHOTO BY NICK LUCERO/COURTESY RIVALS.COM