Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 5, 2022 43 PREP PROFILES When Blue & Gold Illustrated reached Bogart (Ga.) North Oconee class of 2023 wide receiver Khalil Barnes for a phone interview in October, it was perfect tim- ing. He had just gotten off the phone with Notre Dame wide receivers coach Chansi Stuckey. "He was telling me about his past and his thoughts on Notre Dame and what makes someone want to play there," Barnes said. "It was a chance for us to introduce ourselves. We talked about our families a little bit." Notre Dame extended an offer to the 6-foot-1, 185-pounder Oct. 13, but it was a quick conversation because Barnes was in school. "He wanted to go ahead and offer me to let me know I'm the guy they want," Barnes recalled. Stuckey had already impressed Notre Dame's newest class of 2023 target. "I can tell he's genuine," Barnes said. "I like the passion he has for his faith. That's big for me; I'm a big faith guy. I can tell that he's always going to look out for you. "We didn't even talk about going to the league. He kept saying how he wants to help make me the best man, father and husband that I can be." Barnes will hear and learn plenty about the Fighting Irish football pro- gram the weekend of Nov. 5, which is when he takes his official visit to campus. He's also expected to take of- ficial visits to Oklahoma and Clemson in November. Barnes committed to Wake Forest in June, but backed off that pledge Oct. 3. Clemson, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, North Carolina and Oklahoma have of- fered him this fall. Ohio State is also showing interest. "It's been hectic because I decommit- ted, and then a minute after I posted, a coach from Georgia Tech texted me and said they needed me at Tech," Barnes said. "It happened quickly. I feel like I've been through the process twice now. "It was overwhelming at first because it's so new to you, but this time, I knew what I was getting myself into. I have great family and coach support." Barnes may not make a final decision on which school he'll be choosing until National Signing Day. "I don't have a timeline," he said. "We'll just have to see." On3 lists Barnes as a cornerback, but Notre Dame is recruiting him as a wide receiver. — Mike Singer Notre Dame has hosted Lucas (Texas) Lovejoy class of 2024 linebacker Payton Pierce on campus a couple of times now. His first visit was for the weekend of June 11, and he spent the weekend on campus. "We went up there because it's Notre Dame, and it's a big deal," Pierce said. "I didn't want to miss out on the oppor- tunity of doing that. Coach [Al] Golden got in touch with me, and he actually came down to my school during spring ball and invited me up to campus. We've had a really good relationship. "I had a great first visit; it was a great two days. That was a really cool experience." A week and a half after the June visit, Pierce picked up an offer from the Fighting Irish staff. He returned to cam- pus just about two months later, visiting for the Stanford game Oct. 15. Pierce was probably too young to re- member Irish graduate assistant James Laurinaitis playing in his heyday, but it only takes a moment to search him on Google to see his accolades, which include being a two-time Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year at Ohio State (2007 and 2008). "He's actually one of the reasons I like Notre Dame so much," Pierce said of Laurinaitis. "I have a really good rela- tionship with him, and we talk all of the time. He had a great career collegiately and professionally. "It's really special that he's at Notre Dame. I got to talk to him for a good bit during my visit. He has a good relationship with my dad, too. He's a really good guy." Although Notre Dame suffered a 16-14 loss to Stanford, it didn't stop Pierce from having a great time on campus. "I came up there to see what Notre Dame was like as a university, and it really impressed me and helped me understand what they're all about," he said. "The game-day experience was amazing. The weekend did nothing but enhance what I thought about who they are. "The people are all great; we got to hear the football players talk about their expe- rience which was really cool. Talking to the coaches and seeing the other recruits was great — there were a lot of guys there who I like and think I could play with. "Everything about the weekend was great. It moved Notre Dame in a positive direction in my mind." — Mike Singer Fighting Irish Extend Offer To Former Wake Forest Commit Texas Linebacker Raves About Notre Dame Visit KHALIL BARNES ✪ ✪ ✪ North Oconee H.S. North Bogart, Ga. Status: Offered Class: 2023 Position: Wide receiver Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 185 On3 Rankings: No. 93 player in Georgia and No. 80 cornerback nationally PAYTON PIERCE ✪ ✪ ✪ Lovejoy H.S. Lucas, Texas Status: Offered Class: 2024 Position: Linebacker Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 210 On3 Rankings: No. 97 player in Texas and No. 49 linebacker in the country "They're regularly texting and calling me. I talk to Coach [James] Laurinaitis and/or Coach [Al] Golden on a weekly basis. I talk to them all the time. They keep up with the contact." Pierce on Notre Dame