Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/462058
2015 RECRUITING ISSUE RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on June 22, 2013, making him the first verbal pledge in the incoming 2015 class. • Chose the Irish over in-state favorite LSU, where he took several unofficial visits. He also consid- ered Ole Miss, Arkansas, Stanford and Texas A&M, among others. • Primarily recruited by former Irish defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks and secondarily by of- fensive line coach Harry Hiestand. NOTABLE • Finished two triathlons in the summer of 2014. • Worked as a summer intern in the accounting department for Shreveport mayor Cedric Glover's office. • Both parents are in the medical field, and he too plans to pursue a medical field of study. 2015 PROJECTION • As an early enrollee, he will have the opportu- nity to crack the two-deep along the defensive line, possibly behind senior Sheldon Day at three- technique or at nose guard. THEY SAID IT Brian Kelly's Comments: "We think that we've got a potentially dominating defensive lineman. With Jar- ron Jones out in the spring, he'll get a chance now to step right in there and get a great look." Tom Lemming Of Prep Football Report: "He's de- veloped his body into a big-time defensive tackle. I thought he was the best offensive lineman in Louisi- ana, but he's really good on defense. He dominated his senior year. Shreveport isn't as good as the New Orleans area, but he uses his hands well, is aggres- sive and is a tough son of a gun. He's at least 6-6 and moves very well. I moved him into my top 100 after watching him play this year. He could play right away." Evangel Christian Head Coach Byron Dawson's Comments: "You can put him on the offensive line if you want to, but I think you get more bang for your buck on your football team if that kid is being disrup- tive on defense. It's something he really wanted to do. … Coach Kelly agreed and said no problem." Tillery, who was tabbed as a U.S. Army All-American, originally committed to Notre Dame as an offensive lineman, but the Irish ultimately decided to have him start his collegiate career on the defensive side of the ball. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM