Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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when I get up there. I have to build the coaches' trust in me to start as a D- lineman as a freshman. I want to go in there, do big things and play." It might not have always been an expected match, but in the end mutual interest won out and Notre Dame filled its need at defensive tackle. "We were able to show him why we thought Notre Dame was the right fit for him, he got a chance to see Notre Dame, and he signed with us," Kelly said. "We're excited about having Daniel Cage at Notre Dame." ✦ DANIELCAGE DEFENSIVE TACKLE 6-2 · 305 WINTON WOODS H.S. CINCINNATI RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — 42 29 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 40 15 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 27 27 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 165 15 8 MEASURABLES • Listed with a 4.86 time in the 40-yard dash. • Possesses a 32-inch vertical leap and 330-pound bench press. STATS • Recorded 36 tackles and six sacks as a senior in 2013. • Totaled 43 stops, 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks as a junior in 2012. • Compiled 54 tackles, 26 stops behind the line of scrimmage and 22 sacks as a sophomore in 2011. HONORS • Tabbed as a first-team defensive lineman on the 2013 Associated Press Division II all-state squad and received special mention in 2012. • Selected as a first-team defensive lineman on the JJHuddle All-Ohio (all divisions) squad in 2013. • Named first-team Division II all-area by the Cincin- nati Enquirer in 2012 and 2013. • Picked to the first-team Associated Press All Southwest-District squad as a junior and senior. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on Feb. 5, 2014. • Offered by 46 programs, including 2013 national champion Florida State. • Took his five official visits to Illinois, Louisville, Michigan State, Missouri and Notre Dame (Jan. 29, 2014). • Primarily recruited by defensive line coach Mike Elston and secondarily recruited by defensive co- ordinator Brian VanGorder. NOTABLE • Helped lead Winton Woods High School to Ohio Division II regional semifinals in 2012 and 2013. • Participates on the Winton Woods High School track team. • Plans to major in business administration and entrepreneurship. 2014 PROJECTION • Could see action as a freshman because of a shortage along the defensive interior. THEY SAID IT Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly: "This guy is a ferocious player. He's an inside player, and we love the way he got off the ball. With his lower body strength, he's a guy that can play the nose. He's a guy that's very disruptive inside. … He's a real good nose for the football and plays the game hard ev- ery snap. We are really pleased in getting Daniel. It was not a long recruiting process." Tom Lemming Of Prep Football Report: "I liked him. I thought he was a good ballplayer. He's got initial quickness. He's got a take-no-prisoners at- titude and he's tough. Those guys in the middle need to be big, strong and tough and stay on their feet. Cage can do that."