Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING headed to South Bend in 2014, when DeShone Kizer — the nation's No. 10 pro-style passer and No. 162 overall recruit according to 247Sports — chose the Irish over Alabama, LSU, Michigan State, Tennessee and many others. Although National Signing Day isn't here yet and class of 2015 recruits can still change their mind, all signs point to Under Armour All-American quarterback and Irish verbal commit Brandon Wimbush signing with Notre Dame this coming February. He is rated as the No. 5 dual-threat quarterback and No. 80 overall player nationally by 247Sports. As of mid-November, the Irish had offered six junior quarterbacks. The first offer went out to Columbus (Ga.) Carver five-star dual-threat Jawon Pass. Notre Dame is vying for the 6-5, 225-pounder, along with Alabama, North Carolina, Louisville and Missis- sippi State. Per 247Sports, Pass is the No. 13 overall recruit in the land, the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the country and the No. 3 prospect in Georgia. Notre Dame's next offer went out to Thousand Oaks (Calif.) Westlake five- star Malik Henry. The 6-3, 180-pounder was leaning toward the Irish at one point, but Florida State pulled ahead after Henry made a July 16 visit to Tallahassee, Fla. On Nov. 13, the West Coast standout committed to the Semi- noles over Notre Dame, Ohio State and UCLA. 247Sports rates Henry as the No. 5 overall prospect in the nation, the No. 2 pro-style quarterback in the country and the No. 1 player in the Golden State. The Irish went into the Sunshine State for their next offer, courting Frost- proof (Fla.) Lake Wales four-star Xavier Gaines. National perception was that the 6-2, 200-pound recruit was likely headed to Florida State, but with Hen- ry's commitment to the Seminoles, Gaines is wide open on schools. Notre Dame, Auburn, Alabama, Ohio State and Clemson are considered the front- runners for the talented prospect. Irish running backs coach and state of Florida recruiter Tony Alford is a big factor behind Gaines' interest in Notre Dame, and he is expected to visit South Bend in the coming months. Per 247Sports, Gaines is the No. 155 overall player in the land, the nation's No. 5 dual-threat quarterback and the No. 17 prospect in Florida. Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks have made Shreve- port (La.) Calvary Baptist Academy four-star pro-style quarterback Shea Patterson a priority throughout much of his recruitment, and the Irish ex- tended an offer earlier this spring. The 6-2, 195-pound recruit is originally from the Midwest, and Notre Dame has always been a school that stood out to the future U.S. Army All-American. Patterson visited South Bend for the Sept. 6 Notre Dame-Michigan game, and the Irish laid out the red carpet for the top target. Notre Dame, Ole Miss, LSU and USC look to be the top con- tenders for Patterson's services. Per 247Sports, Patterson is the No. 65 overall recruit in the country, the No. 4 pro-style quarterback in the nation and the No. 5 player in Louisiana.