FOOTBALL RECRUITING
Brian Kelly and running backs coach
Tony Alford.
"Coach Kelly was telling me how he
could use me at the school and in his
backfield," Cronkrite said. "He said
that there is a great opportunity for me
at Notre Dame beyond just football. He
said it's a life decision and something
that would be big for me down the
road and not just during my time in
college.
"Coach Alford wasn't pressuring me
to commit or anything. He wants me to
take my time, find the best fit for me,
and go where I'm happiest. He sees me
as a guy that could be an every-down
back, and a guy that could help catch-
ing the ball out of the backfield and in
pass protection. I liked how they said
they would use me."
Rivals.com rates Cronkrite as the No.
25 running back in the land, the No.
197 overall player in the country and
the No. 32 prospect in Florida.
Getting talented defensive backs
from this class continues to be a top
priority for the Notre Dame coaching
staff, and the Irish hosted a trio of top
targets during the banquet weekend —
Long Beach (Calif.) Poly five-star cor-
nerback Iman Marshall, Dayton (Ohio)
Wayne four-star safety Tyree Kinnel
and Stafford (Va.) Colonial Forge three-
star safety Gary Jennings.
National perception for Marshall, a
6-1, 190-pound U.S. Army All-Amer-
ican, is that USC is the heavy favor-
ite for his services. However, the elite
defensive back is not like many of the
West Coast standouts that have come
before him. He plays his cards very
close to the vest and is adamant about
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