Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/259072
Meeting Needs: The staff wanted three, which is why they pursued slot pros- pects Isaiah McKenzie (Georgia) and Michiah Quick (Oklahoma) to the wire, and even Alan Lazard (Iowa State). A consistent playmaker in the slot remains somewhat of a missing dimension. Summary: Brent has a James Onwualu- like physicality, and as a running back his senior year in high school, he pro- vides the YAC — yards after catch — quality Kelly covets. Holmes might fit the TJ Jones mold, relying on consis- tent efficiency more than overwhelm- ing size or explosiveness. On Paper Grade: B Adding McKenzie, Quick or Lazard would might have made this a top-five haul in this position group. It still is a strong tandem. TIGHT ENDS Signed: Tyler Luatua and Nic Weis- har Meeting Needs: Given how prominent the two-tight-end look has been in Kelly's offense — one as a flex figure and the other in-line — Notre Dame was fine with taking two again like it did last year with Durham Smythe and Mike Heuerman. It would have been willing to take three had Dalton Schultz (Stanford), who took an offi- cial visit to Notre Dame Dec. 7, wanted to come aboard. Summary: There wasn't a better pass- catching tight end in the country than Weishar, and Luatua also was a four- star "athlete" — not just a tight end. On Paper Grade: A This is somewhat akin to Smythe and Heuerman last year in that there is not the instant impact element like a Kyle Rudolph in 2008. It should be re- membered that Anthony Fasano, John Carlson, Tyler Eifert and Troy Niklas also bided their time as freshmen. Had Schultz been added, it would have been beyond an "A." OFFENSIVE LINE Signed: Alex Bars, Jimmy Byrne, Sam Mustipher and Quenton Nelson Meeting Needs: After signing a full quin- tet last year, the Irish were looking at five more again to compensate for the shortages in 2011 (three) and 2012 (two). The Irish would have gladly taken Kc McDermott (Miami) or Damien Mama (USC) to complete the set, but both stayed near home. Summary: 247Sports classified the group as the No. 5 offensive line haul in the country this year, with No. 1 Alabama's six-man group considered possibly the best ever on paper. Nel- son received a five-star rating from Rivals.com, the lone Irish 2014 recruit to receive a fifth star from any recruit- ing service. Bars, Byrne and Mustipher were all trained in premier programs. On Paper Grade: A- One would be hard-pressed to find a better nine-man group along the offen- sive line for the 2013 and '14 recruiting cycles than what the Irish secured. DEFENSIVE LINE Signed: Grant Blankenship, Daniel Cage, Jay Hayes, Peter Mokwuah, An- drew Trumbetti and Jhonathan Wil- liams Meeting Needs: After signing only two in 2012 (Sheldon Day and Jarron Jones) and two in 2013 (Isaac Rochell