Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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68 MARCH 2023 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2023 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY TODD D. BURLAGE Freshman defensive lineman Brenan Vernon is open enough and wise enough to admit that he became so comfortable after his recruitment was finished and his commitment made to Notre Dame back in June 2021 that he needed a real- ity check. And, unafraid to call himself out, Ver- non explained how his needed "kick in the ass" came a few months before his senior season in 2022 from Notre Dame defensive line coach Al Washington. It's a message Vernon remembers vividly and still calls "a punch in the mouth." Vernon, the second verbal commit from Notre Dame's 2023 recruiting class, wasn't set to arrive on campus for more than a year. But, as Washington "explained" to him, better preparation and commitment needed to start now. "I got fat, and I had to trim down," explained Vernon, coming clean that his long 6-foot-4 frame had swelled up to about 290 pounds. "It was definitely too much Taco Bell." Vernon's physical "expansion" spiked in the spring of 2022, about four months before his senior season at Mentor (Ohio) High School near Cleveland. "I knew I needed to lose some weight," Vernon added, free of any laughter. A free spirit and a candid young man, Vernon said that "Coach Wash" took notice, and he put his future player on notice. "His message was about me not going about my business correctly, 'Hey man, you gotta pick it up,'" Vernon recalled. "I needed something like that. Coach Wash lit a fire under me, 'You're not doing the [stuff] you need to be doing.'" Vernon listened, improved his habits, and played his senior season at about 275 pounds. Vernon told Blue & Gold Illustrated in January during All-American Bowl workouts that he was down to about 260 (Notre Dame listed him at 250 pounds in its signee press release), while admitting to not feeling or eating very well that week. "But I'm not going to miss this op- portunity," insisted Vernon, one of eight Irish recruits to be invited to the pres- tigious event in San Antonio. "I've de- cided to suck it up and take it full on." What's next, before Vernon arrives to campus in June? The versatile and promising new- comer explained that he's taking his diet and workouts very seriously, and he spends time every day working with renowned local trainer Tim Robertson Jr. — the head strength coach at John Carroll University and the private owner of Speed Strength Systems. "From here until June, that's where you'll find me," Vernon said of his home away from home. "That's what I'm do- ing, I'm going to show up and work hard every day." Beyond that, Vernon said he'll bring to Notre Dame a clean slate and endless potential for his next chapter in football and life. Will Vernon play on the interior or on the edge? Will he line up with his hand in the dirt or two feet on the ground? "The coaches haven't exactly com- municated that to me yet, so I guess time will tell," Vernon said. "It's pretty much how big I get, and where they need me to play. I'm playing it by ear." ✦ Brenan Vernon Got The Message And Is Ready To Roll Prior to Vernon's senior season, Notre Dame defensive line coach Al Washington told him that "better preparation and commitment needed to start now." PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER BRENAN VERNON DEFENSIVE LINEMAN 6-4 · 250 MENTOR H.S. MENTOR, OHIO RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 296 35 10 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 243 35 4 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 66 8 2 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 43 10 STATISTICS • Compiled 55 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and 1 sack during his senior campaign. • Posted 41 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 23 quarterback hurries as a junior. NOTABLE • 2023 All-American Bowl participant. • 2022 Ohio All-Lake County first-team defense. • 2022 and 2021 Ohio Prep Sportswriters As- sociation Division I All-Ohio second-team defense. • 2022 and 2021 News-Herald All-Area first-team defense. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on June 29, 2021. • Shocked the nation when he made his pledge to Notre Dame over Ohio State — the perceived leader in his recruitment —prior to his junior season. • Recruited by former defensive coordinator and current head coach Marcus Freeman. • Visited Notre Dame 10 times, including his of- ficial visit on June 17, 2022. 2023 PROJECTION • Could be a surprise contributor on the Irish defensive line as a true freshman. THEY SAID IT Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden: "Brenan brings physical assets. He's strong, he's tough, he's a competitor." National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming: "Ver- non is super quick off the ball and shows an un- canny ability to read the tackle and then find the ball. He has the length, long arms, aggressiveness, quick feet and hands to dominate at the next level. "His first-step quickness is deadly, and he moves with big-time speed and fluidity. He does a great job of slipping blocks, can bend and turn the cor- ner at an elite level and shows the lateral quick- ness to redirect without losing a step."