Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/424772
FOOTBALL RECRUITING BY TOM LOY N otre Dame currently sits at 21 com- mitments for its 2015 class, and four more prospects are expected to complete this haul by National Sign- ing Day in February 2015. Blue & Gold Illustrated takes a look at the top remaining Irish targets that Notre Dame has the most realistic chance of signing. NICK BROSSETTE, RB 6-0, 215, Baton Rouge, La. (University Lab) 247Sports Ranking: Four-star player, No. 179 overall recruit in the land, No. 17 running back in the country and No. 10 prospect in Louisiana. The Skinny: Notre Dame has long been considered a threat to flip the LSU commit. However, Brossette had never visited South Bend, and with- out a trip to campus the likelihood of gaining his commitment was slim. That changed when Notre Dame hosted Brossette for an official visit Oct. 11 for the matchup with North Carolina, putting the Irish firmly in the mix for the Under Armour All-America. Brossette remains committed to LSU, but national perception is that he'll end up at either Notre Dame or Texas come National Signing Day. FRANK BUNCOM IV, CB 6-1, 190, San Diego (St. Augustine) 247Sports Ranking: Four-star recruit, No. 117 overall player nationally, No. 11 cornerback in the country and No. 16 prospect in California. The Skinny: It's Notre Dame or Stanford for the Under Armour All-American defensive back. Buncom has been considered a longtime lean to the Cardinal, but that was altered once he picked up an offer from the Irish Sept. 19. After receiving the offer, Buncom immediately set up an official visit to see South Bend for the Stanford game Oct. 4. Early in his recruiting process, Buncom was vocal about his in- terest in Notre Dame — but the offer wasn't on the table. He has a tough decision on his hands be- tween the Irish and the Cardinal, but he can't go wrong with either school. BEN EDWARDS, S 6-0, 196, Jacksonville, Fla. (Trinity Christian Academy) 247Sports Ranking: Three-star player, No. 27 safety in the country and No. 56 recruit in Florida. The Skinny: Notre Dame didn't get much traction with the stand- out safety early in the recruiting process, but that changed follow- ing Edwards' decommitment from Auburn on Aug. 3. Irish tight ends coach Scott Booker, Edwards' pri- mary recruiter, began his pursuit and made the Florida native a top priority. Edwards returned the favor by taking an official visit to South Bend for the Notre Dame-Louisville game Nov. 22. Edwards will make a commitment at the end of December and like Bun- com, his top two consists of Notre Dame and Stanford. ALIZ'E JONES, TE 6-4, 222, Las Vegas (Bishop Gorman) 247Sports Ranking: Four-star player, No. 134 over- all prospect in the land, No. 1 tight end nationally and No. 2 recruit in Nevada. The Skinny: Notre Dame landed a commitment from four-star safety Nicco Fertitta from Bishop Gor- man in this class, and the Irish are hoping to pick up his good friend and teammate Jones. The UCLA State Of The Union