Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING size before contributing at the colle- giate level. He's the ideal edge-rusher the Irish coaching staff was looking for in this class and once he adds 20 to 30 pounds, he will be a tremendous force along the defensive line. The talent is there, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him find the field in year one, but a redshirt is more likely. OG TREVOR RUHLAND — If you're looking for a fan favorite down the line from this class, look no further than Ruh- land. He is tough, physical and nasty —a throwback type of offensive line- man. He loves contact and will abuse defensive linemen for a full four quar- ters. At 6-4 and 270 pounds, Ruhland could use a redshirt to add to his lean frame, but in time he will be a force in the trenches for the Irish. DT BRANDON TIASSUM — The Semper Fi All-American worked hard to mold his body and get in much better shape heading into his senior season. It's that type of effort and dedication that landed him an offer from Notre Dame. He had a great senior season, finishing with 91 tackles and 12 sacks on the year. However, he needs to continue improving his body and getting in shape to play against the nation's best at Notre Dame. A redshirt is an ideal situation for the in-state recruit. DB ASHTON WHITE — Taking a season to get bigger and stronger will be good for White, but it will also give him an opportunity to find a true spot in the secondary. There are traits about White that give him a chance to be a quality safety, and there are others that make him a perfect fit at cornerback. Taking a year to learn under defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks and getting acclimated to defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder's system will be the best move for the three-star defensive back. DB NICCO FERTITTA — Size is the only concern for the Las Vegas three-star defensive back. He's a gym rat with an incredible work ethic, and he packs a punch with his current size, but Fertitta is only 5-10 and 175 pounds. That's not ideal for a safety at the Di- vision I level, especially against the competition Notre Dame faces. ✦ Las Vegas Gorman safety Nicco Fertitta is consid- ered to be a gym rat with a great work ethic, but will need to add bulk to his 5-10, 175-pound frame if he wants to see action as a freshman. PHOTO COURTESY 247SPORTS