Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/167574
football recruiting Colorado. As a junior, he ran for 1,827 yards and scored 27 touchdowns. However, Starks has off-the-field issues that could jeopardize his situation with Notre Dame. Prior to the start of his senior season, the standout running back transferred from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman High School after being expelled. He later enrolled at Cherry Creek and is currently awaiting word on whether or not he will be able to play this season. The only definite at this point is that he is suspended for the first three games of his final high school season. The Colorado school board is looking at the Nevada expulsion and will soon determine his eligibility for the remainder of the season. Starks is a physical, hard-nosed and extremely talented back. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, make people miss in the open field and would be a perfect complement to the backs on Notre Dame's current roster. If the staff decides to accept a commitment from Starks, whose record was clean prior to his problem at Bishop Gorman, they will still need to get him cleared with admissions. If Starks doesn't end up at Notre Dame, there are a few other top senior running back targets to keep an eye on. Cedartown (Ga.) High five-star running back Nick Chubb is one of the nation's most physically impressive athletes. The 5-11, 216-pound recruit possesses a terrific blend of size and power. Although he's committed to Georgia, he may visit South Bend for an official visit later this year. Chubb is the No. 27 overall recruit in the country, the No. 4 running back in the nation and the No. 3 player in Georgia according to 247Sports. As a junior, Chubb ran 320 times for 2,697 yards and 38 touchdowns. As a sophomore, he carried the ball 230 times for 1,579 yards and 24 touchdowns. Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) American Heritage four-star running back Sony Michel, another Georgia commitment, is a recruit that showed plenty of early interest in Notre Dame. Irish freshman linebacker Michael Deeb went to school with Michel before signing with Notre Dame in the 2013 class, and class of 2014 wide receiver and Fighting Irish target Isaiah McKenzie is a close friend of Michel's and the two currently go to the same school. There are plenty of ties to Notre Dame, but he'll be a tough pull from the Bulldogs. The 5-11, 208-pound recruit is listed as the No. 65 overall prospect in the country, the No. 6 running back in the land and the No. 7 player in Florida. As a junior, Michel ran 127 times for 1,258 yards and 18 touchdowns. He missed his sophomore season due to a knee injury. During his freshman campaign, Michel burst on the scene by carrying the ball 229 times for 1,667 yards and 21 scores. An interesting player to watch is Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy fourstar running back Bo Scarbrough. Originally from Tuscaloosa, Ala., the 6-2, 225-pound prospect is one of the few athletes in the country that could play running back, linebacker or defensive end at the collegiate level.