Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/462058
FOOTBALL RECRUITING Junior — Jacob Matuska (3) Sophomores — Daniel Cage (3), Jay Hayes (3), Jonathan Bonner (4) and Peter Mokwuah (4) Freshmen — Micah Dew-Treadway (4), Elijah Taylor (4), Brandon Tiassum (4) and Jerry Tillery (4) Note: Tillery was originally projected to play offensive tackle, but the staff believes he can provide star power on defense, especially because he will compete in practice this spring as an early enrollee. Linebackers (12) Prospective Fifth-Year Seniors — Joe Schmidt (1) and Jarrett Grace (1) Senior — John Turner (2) Juniors — Jaylon Smith (2), James Onwualu (2), Doug Randolph (3) and Michael Deeb (3) Sophomores — Nyles Morgan (3) and Greer Martini (3) Freshmen — Josh Barajas (4), Asmar Bilal (4) and Te'von Coney (4) Note: Several players might cross train at the three linebacker positions: Sam (outside), Mike and Will. Cornerbacks/Nickel (8) Prospective Fifth-Year Senior — Matthias Farley (1) Senior — KeiVarae Russell (2) Juniors — Cole Luke (2) and Devin Butler (2) Sophomore — Nick Watkins (3) Freshmen — Nick Coleman (4), Shaun Crawford (4) and Ashton White (4) Note: The starting nickel last year, Farley could be a contingency option at safety, too. He started 19 games there in 2012-13, but it wasn't considered his best position. Safeties/Nickel (6) Prospective Fifth-Year Seniors — None Seniors — Elijah Shumate (1) and Nicky Baratti (2) Junior — Max Redfield (2) Sophomore — Drue Tranquill (3) Freshmen — Nicco Fertitta (4) and Mykelti Williams (4) Note: This is one of the more tenuous positions; Baratti has missed the last two seasons because of several shoulder surgeries and Tranquill, considered more an outside linebacker, is recovering from November ACL surgery. Specialists (3) Prospective Fifth-Year Seniors — None Senior — long snapper Scott Daly (2) Juniors — None Sophomore — punter/kicker Tyler Newsome (4) Freshman — kicker Justin Yoon (4) Note: Head coach Brian Kelly already has declared Yoon the starting kicker, with the redshirted New- some handling the punting in place of the graduated Kyle Brindza.