Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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34 OCT. 10, 2020 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED FOOTBALL RECRUITING BY MIKE SINGER N otre Dame probably would've liked to wait longer to offer a 2022 quarterback. While some schools have already extended tenders to a few gunsling- ers in the 2023 class, the Irish held out as long as possible to even offer a prospect in the 2022 cycle. Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees had planned to hit the road in the spring to evaluate the prospects he liked on film during the April-May period. However, a dead period was en- forced back in March due to the coronavirus pandemic, and it was recently extended through the rest of the calendar year. In-person evalua- tions just aren't a possibility for the Irish staff for the foreseeable future. Rees and Co. couldn't wait too much longer to offer a signal-caller. Quarterbacks seem to commit ear- lier and earlier each year, and Notre Dame was one of the last schools in the country (if not the final program) to offer a 2022 field general. Patience is a virtue, but losing out on quarter- back prospects because of it is not. When Rees finally offered a pair of junior quarterbacks on Aug. 17, he picked two good ones. He has not offered any additional passers, although the staff is continuing to evaluate various prospects' junior season film. Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic's Steven Angeli, the No. 5 player in New Jersey and the nation's No. 12 pro-style quarterback per Rivals, and Owensboro (Ky.) High's Gavin Wimsatt, the top recruit in Kentucky and the country's No. 1 dual-threat passer, landed the offers in back-to- back calls with Rees. Wimsatt is the higher-ranked re- cruit, sitting at No. 50 in the national rankings, while Angeli is not listed in the Rivals250. Much of that can be contributed to the fact that An- geli wasn't Bergen Catholic's starting quarterback last year. Angeli had to wait his turn under center behind Andrew Boel, who started as a junior and was a captain going into his senior year last fall. However, head coach Vito Campa- nile made sure his sophomore sen- sation, who had already earned an offer from Ohio State at that time, saw the field. "His progression as a sophomore was incredible," Campanile said. "He showed great poise in a tough situation. In today's world, everyone wants to have immediate success. "Most kids with his skill set wouldn't be used to waiting to start. They want to be knighted as the man from day one, but we do it the exact opposite way. Steven came in though and mandated playing time." Angeli's great uncle, Pete Berezney, played for Notre Dame in the 1940s, and he considers former Irish players Quenton Nelson and Brandon Wim- bush family friends — his brother, Nick, played football with both as a child. The ties to Notre Dame are there, but Angeli is not rushing any deci- sion. He still hasn't stepped foot in South Bend, and unless he takes a trip to Indiana to just walk around Notre Dame's campus, he won't be able to see the school this calendar year because of the dead period. Rees and recruiting office per- sonnel Aaryn Kearney and Jasmine Smith had a Zoom video chat call with Angeli on Sept. 24 to present information about Notre Dame to the four-star prospect. "It went great," Angeli said. "I learned a lot of new stuff that I didn't already know about Notre Dame aca- demically and athletically. The stats and stories that they shared really were great for me and my family to see and hear." Most pundits have Angeli pegged as the quarterback who will even- tually sign with Notre Dame in the 2022 class, but don't count out Wim- satt. Rees had a productive Zoom call with him the day prior to his chat with Angeli. "I had a virtual tour, going through the campus and what everything is like," Wimsatt said. "I liked it; I thought it was really good. I got to see the new facilities. It was really nice. "I like Notre Dame; they have a great coaching staff. They're a great school to talk to. Coach Rees is young and played quarterback at Notre Dame. It helps because he knows what it's like there." Which passer Notre Dame will ul- timately land may be a matter of who decides to move up their commit- ment timeline. Based on film, rank- ings, offer lists and other factors, it seems that the Irish can't go wrong with either player. "Angeli is the complete package," said private quarterback trainer Greg Holcomb, who is based in Chicago. "His pocket presence and poise is well beyond that of a normal 2022 quarterback. He stands in and makes high-level throws in tight windows, all while having great feet, balance and posture. Angeli can also move well under conflict and extend plays while finding open receivers and completing high-level, difficult, off- platform throws. "What immediately stands out about Wimsatt is his ability to hit fifth gear and make plays with his legs. Wismatt has great size, quick- ness and flat-out breakaway, next- level speed. His arm talent to flick it and hit the open receiver is also a strength, especially vertically." ✦ Notre Dame has offered two quarterbacks in the junior class — Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic's Steven Angeli (above), the No. 5 player in New Jersey and the No. 12 pro-style quarterback in the nation, and Owensboro (Ky.) High's Gavin Wimsatt, the country's No. 1 dual-threat signal- caller and No. 50 overall player. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM Notre Dame Is Looking To Hit A Home Run At QB In 2022