Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/462058
2015 RECRUITING ISSUE year 's linebacker recruits moved to other positions, notably Kolin Hill as a rush end and Jonathan Bonner on the line, that left mainly Nyles Morgan and Greer Martini. Three linebackers was the target number this year, and it was fulfilled. SUMMARY: Other than prized pros- pect Justin Hilliard selecting the in- state Ohio State Buckeyes last summer over Notre Dame and five-star Porter Gustin signing with USC, this position shook out well. It was crucial to keep coveted in-state prospects Barajas and Bilal "home." Stealing the Floridian Coney from the warm climate was the icing, no pun intended. All are four-star pros- pects who are capable of playing on special teams at least as freshmen. ON PAPER GRADE: A- It was important to reload here be- cause in 2015 Joe Schmidt will be in his final season of eligibility, and one also has to think about Butkus Award finalist Jaylon Smith possibly turning pro after his junior season. Landing three four-star prospects in the same class has to be viewed positively, even without Hilliard and Gustin. There isn't a marquee figure such as Smith in 2013, but it might be the best collective trio of linebackers signed by Kelly in his six recruiting classes. CORNERBACKS SIGNED: Nick Coleman, Shaun Craw- ford and Ashton White MEETING NEEDS: Notre Dame signed only one cornerback last season, Nick Watkins, so at least two and maybe even three were a necessity in this haul. It was not so much about help- ing in 2015 but grooming for the fu- ture because the potential starters this year, Cole Luke and KeiVarae Russell, if the latter is re-admitted to school this summer, might have pro potential in 2016. SUMMARY: Top targets included Crawford, John Reid (Penn State) and five-star Iman Marshall (USC), which was a pipe dream. Crawford had origi- nally committed to Michigan, so to flip him and then keep him even after the hiring of Jim Harbaugh as the Wol- verines' head coach was significant. Coleman and White arrive with less fanfare, but helping on special teams as freshmen is not out of the question. ON PAPER GRADE: B- Without Crawford, this group would have been viewed as a question mark, and at 5-9 Crawford does not possess optimal size. Coleman and White fall more into the sleeper category, but they likely won't be needed to help right away this season. SAFETIES SIGNED: Nicco Fertitta and Mykelti Williams MEETING NEEDS: This became an ur- gent need after a 2014 campaign that saw junior Nicky Baratti miss a second straight season because of shoulder surgery and with Notre Dame signing only one safety in 2013 (Max Redfield) and 2014 (Drue Tranquill, who might be more an outside linebacker). Land- ing a minimum of two was a necessity. SUMMARY: Stanford was Notre Dame's bane by signing both Ben Edwards and Frank Buncom IV, a couple of four-star