Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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PREP PROFILES BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM SEPT. 21, 2024 45 The Notre Dame football program made it easy on Towson (Md.) Loyola Blakefield cornerback Khary Adams when he was left to decide which school he would unofficially visit in Week 2. "They're recruiting me hard," Adams said. "It's a great program up there." Most schools began recruiting him after his successful camp circuit in June. That's when he earned his offer from the Fighting Irish after working out for defensive backs coach Mike Mickens June 17. Since then, Mickens and coach Marcus Freeman have not let up in their pursuit of Adams, which led him to visit for the Northern Illinois game Sept. 7. Freeman suffered his second loss to a Group of Five, and the next day he texted Adams to reassure him it would only be a hiccup in the big picture. "He was like, 'That wasn't the out- come we wanted, but that's not how they're going to be toward the end of the season,'" Adams said. The postgame communication aligns with the amount he's heard from the Irish leading up to the visit. "They're reaching out to me more than most schools," Adams said. "We have a good relationship." Adams said North Carolina, Penn State, Maryland and Syracuse are the teams that are also in regular communi- cation with him. Oregon and Florida have also been in touch, and he hopes to add a scholarship offer from both schools. Because of his bond with Mickens, Adams had a good idea of what to ex- pect from Notre Dame's defensive backs. He said Mickens sent him videos of the technique they worked on in practice and that they translated them into the game. "They showed good patience when the receiver was working their release," he said. Although the outcome fell out of the Fighting Irish's favor, Adams liked how they handled an unfortunate situation. "They really kept their composure, even when the score wasn't in their favor," he said. "They have good coaching up there." Adams said the loss did not affect his interest in the Irish. They are currently in contention for his commitment, which he plans to announce after official visits occur in the late spring/early summer. "I'm interested in the school," he said. "That one loss doesn't change anything." — Kyle Kelly Notre Dame won't get too deep into class of 2027 recruiting until Pot of Gold Day — the annual recruiting initiative where the staff offers several dozen pros- pects in the rising junior class — next March. But the staff will certainly get a head start by hosting talented sophomores on campus this fall for game-day visits. And the Irish hosted the No. 1 recruit in Indiana Sept. 7. Indianapolis Law- rence North's Monshun Sales spent his day in South Bend and enjoyed his expe- rience at Notre Dame. "It was a great visit," Sales told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "I loved the staff, the fans and the student section. The high- light of the trip was everything. "I loved the environment, and I loved everything about it although they lost. The campus and the stadium were great. I loved how the fans supported their play- ers and how the environment was. It was very loud and competitive, and I loved it." The versatile, 6-3, 180-pound pros- pect was able to spend time with the Irish recruiting office staffers. "All of the conversations stood out to me; they all where great," Sales said. "They all made me feel comfortable, and we all had great conversations." Sales wants to get back to South Bend at the end of the month. "The ND staff talked to me about how they want me to come back when they play Louisville to meet everybody — all the coaches and be in the locker room and experience it." Sales said. "Hope- fully, I get the offer that game, and hopefully they come out with the win." Indiana, Louisville, Illinois, Michigan State, Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Ole Miss, Kentucky, Tennessee and Wis- consin have offered Sales thus far. He would be fired up if the Irish join his list. "A Notre Dame offer would mean the world to me," Sales said. "It's one of — if not the — dream schools I want to play at. I love their coaches, the way they work, the way the play and use their players." Sales added that he's coming to as many games at Notre Dame as he's able to. Through the first three games of his sophomore season, Sales has hauled in 6 passes for 154 yards with 5 touch- downs. He had a breakout game the day before his ND visit, catching 4 balls for 112 yards and 3 scores. — Mike Singer 2026 Cornerback Not Deterred By Irish's Loss To NIU Elite In-State 2027 Athlete Enjoys Notre Dame Experience KHARY ADAMS ✪ ✪ ✪ Loyola Blakefield H.S. Towson, Md. Status: Offered Class: 2026 Position: Cornerback Ht.: 6-0 • Wt.: 175 On3 Rankings: No. 5 player in Maryland and No. 26 cornerback nationally MONSHUN SALES ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Lawrence North H.S. Indianapolis Status: Not offered Class: 2027 Position: Athlete Ht.: 6-3 • Wt.: 180 On3 Rankings: No. 1 player in Indiana, and No. 4 athlete and No. 25 overall player nationally for 2027 "I'm interested in the school. That one loss doesn't change anything." ADAMS ON NOTRE DAME "A Notre Dame offer would mean the world to me. It's one of — if not the — dream schools I want to play at." SALES