Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2020 25 2020 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE Dame sophomore linebacker Shayne Simon, will be intriguing. Summary: Notre Dame signed four in 2018 — Simon, Jack Lamb, Bo Bauer and Paul Moala (rover) — and four more in 2019: JD Bertrand, Os- ita Ekwonu, Marist Liufau and Jack Kiser (rover). Plus, starting Mike linebacker Drew White and starting rover Jer- emiah Owusu-Koramoah each have two years of eligibility remaining af- ter this season. Where it gets dicey is two-fold. One, what if White and Owusu- Koramoah don't return for a fifth season in 2021? Two, Lamb has had a litany of inju- ries the past three seasons that have sidelined him, and Simon suffered a dislocated patella in the Navy game Nov. 16 that might shelve him for an extensive period. On Paper Grade: Incomplete We can't say that this position is in dire straits because it is well stocked even if it might not include a Manti Te'o- or Jaylon Smith-like aircraft car- rier figure. Plus, the decision not to sign a linebacker seemed voluntary. Three years from now should pro- vide the answer on whether it was inconsequential. SAFETY Signed: None, but Ohio State grad- uate transfer Isaiah Pryor is enrolling in January and has two years of eligi- bility remaining. Meeting Needs: Signing at least one and maybe even two from the high school ranks was a goal. The Irish missed on a couple of four-star prospects in Lathan Ransom (Ohio State) and Makari Paige (Michigan). Summary: Pryor's early enrollment this January as a graduate transfer from Ohio State helps mitigate not signing anyone. He, sophomore Houston Griffith and especially Freshman All-American Kyle Hamil- ton should provide a strong nucleus through at least 2021 — but then it also will be imperative for sophomore DJ Brown and freshman Litchfield Ajavon, whose progress was lauded by Kelly in December, to continue strong development. Kelly indicated that all three cor- nerbacks signed in this cycle will re- main at that position for now. On Paper Grade: C Pryor 's early enrollment aside, there is a reality that he, Griffith and Hamilton — the latter after three sea- sons — could be gone following the 2021 campaign, which would create a significant void without any juniors at safety in 2022. CORNERBACK Signed: Caleb Offord, Clarence Lewis and Ramon Henderson Meeting Needs: This position needed major restocking, with at least three targeted to be signed after the early departure of Julian Love follow- ing the 2018 season, and Troy Pride Jr. and Donte Vaughn exhausting their eligibility in 2019. In December, a fourth cornerback — Landen Bartleson of Harrodsburg, Ky. — also signed, but the Irish re- scinded his scholarship after charges of auto theft and burglary of a gun store occurred in January. Summary: TaRiq Bracy is a crucial mainstay as a 2020 junior, and the return of Shaun Crawford for a sixth season is a bonus, although tempered slightly by a long injury history (ACL tears in 2015 and 2018, a torn Achilles in 2016, and four ligament tears in the elbow last season). The competition should be intense this spring to crack the second unit among early entrants Offord and Henderson plus current freshmen such as KJ Wallace, Isaiah Rutherford and Cam Hart, who converted from receiver midway through last fall. On Paper Grade: C All three incoming freshmen are classified more as developmen- tal players than instant impact, al- though it is beneficial that Henderson and Offord can go through a college strength and conditioning program and 15 spring practices in the coming months. SPECIALIST Signed: Alex Peitsch (Kohl's Kick- ing Camp's No. 1-rated long snapper) Meeting Needs: With three-year starting long snapper John Shannon opting not to return for a fifth season in order to begin a professional career beyond football, the timing was ideal to land Peitsch. Summary: The specialty positions appear stocked for a while with Peitsch, among other long snappers, freshman punter Jay Bramblett, who had a successful debut campaign in 2019, and freshman Harrison Leon- ard, who can kick and punt, in line to succeed junior kicker Jonathan Doerer, who emerged with a stellar campaign this past season. On Paper Grade: A The primary need at long snap- per was filled with the nation's top- ranked player there. ✦ Denver J.K. Mullen defensive tackle Aidan Keanaaina is part of a solid four-man group that will give the Irish quality depth up front in the trenches. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM