Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING Notre Dame Keyed In On Nation's Best BY JASON SAPP ers listed in the 247Sports Top 100 — defensive tackle Jarron Jones of Rochester, N.Y. (ranked No. 23); wide receiver Deontay Greenberry of Fresno, Calif. (No. 46); corner- back Tee Shepard of Fresno, Calif. (No. 49); cornerback Ronald Darby of Oxon Hill, Md. (No. 67); and de- fensive tackle Sheldon Day of India- napolis (No. 75). In addition to having a strong rep- N resentation in that group, the Irish coaching staff is involved with many of the remaining recruits that have yet to make a final decision. Here's a look at the 10 prospects within the top 100 that Notre Dame has a chance to land: Arik Armstead OT/DE, 6-8, 285 · Elk Grove, Calif./Pleasant Grove 247Sports Ranking: Five-star recruit, the top player in California and the nation's No. 1 prospect. The Skinny: Armstead was once committed to USC, but he's taking a hard look at his other options. He was one of the top recruits in South Bend for the showdown against USC on Oct. 22, and Irish head coach Brian Kelly returned the favor with plans for an in-home visit on Nov. 28 while out West. His other official visits include Alabama, Oregon and Texas, but the Irish are offering a chance at both basketball and football, and his preferred position along the defensive line, which continues to land them a mention. Andrus Peat OT, 6-7, 280 · Tempe, Ariz./Corona Del Sol 247Sports Ranking: Five-star prospect, the No. 1 player in Arizona, the No. 5 offensive tackle in the land and the No. 10 overall recruit. The Skinny: Peat has taken official visits to only Stanford and Nebraska, but Florida State, Texas and USC look to be in line to potentially receive his other three. He maintains that he'd like to get back to South Bend — even if it has to be an unofficial visit. He'd be the prototype left tackle that the Irish are looking for, and the coaches will remain in contact as long as he's listening. Keith Marshall RB, 5-11, 195 · Raleigh, N.C./Millbrook 247Sports Ranking: Five-star player, the No. 2 prospect in North Carolina, the top running back nationally and the No. 12 recruit nationally. The Skinny: Marshall is ready to make his choice known on Dec. 6, and either Clemson, Florida, Geor- gia, North Carolina, Notre Dame or South Carolina 32 DECEMBER 2011 otre Dame currently has verbal commitments from five play- will get chosen. The Bulldogs have appeared to be the frontrunner since the earlier stages of his recruit- ment, and they're likely in line to land his pledge. If he goes elsewhere, however, Notre Dame should be right in the picture with Marshall's emphasis on academics. Gunner Kiel QB, 6-4, 210 · Columbus, Ind./Columbus East 247Sports Ranking: Five-star recruit, the top player in Indiana, the No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the land and the No. 18 prospect in the country. The Skinny: Kiel is the recruit that the Irish look to have the best chance at landing among all the remaining prospects on the board. He isn't naming any favorites publicly, but his absence for the Boston College game on Nov. 19 is not an indication of where the program stands for his services. Arkansas, LSU, Vanderbilt and others remain involved, but the signs keep pointing toward the Irish reeling in the nation's top signal-caller. Stefon Diggs Athlete, 6-1, 190 · Olney, Md./Good Counsel 247Sports Ranking: Five-star prospect, the No. 1 recruit in Maryland, the nation's No. 4 athlete and the No. 22 player in the country. The Skinny: Diggs looked to be completely off the radar after keeping the Irish out of his 10 finalists, but Notre Dame was able to make strides behind the scenes and secure a spot in his top seven — possibly even in his final four. He has been communicating potential visit dates with the staff, and he'd be quite the prospect to land late in the game with the need for skill position players in the class. Nelson Agholor WR, 6-1, 185 · Tampa, Fla./Berkely Prep 247Sports Ranking: Four-star player, the No. 4 prospect in Florida, the No. 5 athlete in the land and the No. 25 recruit nationally. The Skinny: Agholor spoke highly of his time in South Bend for the game against USC and has con- tinued to keep in contact with Note Dame since making the trip. A wild card factor here could be his teammate, fullback/inside linebacker Schyler Miles, who plans to visit the campus in December. If the Irish decide to offer Miles, they could land a fantastic package deal in two Florida talents. Joshua Garnett OL, 6-5, 304 · Puyallup, Wash./Puyallup 247Sports Ranking: Four-star recruit, the top player in Washington, the country's No. 6 offensive tackle and the No. 43 player in the nation. The Skinny: Garnett is regarded as the top interior lineman on the West Coast, and Notre Dame would greatly benefit from landing a player of his caliber. Michigan was set to host him for the rivalry game against Ohio State on Nov. 26. He plans on visiting campus in December, so the coaching staff will have a better idea of where they stand following that trip. Gunner Kiel is rated as a five-star recruit, the top player in Indiana, the No. 1 pro-style quarterback in the land and the No. 18 prospect in the coun- try by 247Sports. PHOTO COURTESY 247SPORTS KeiVarae Russell RB, 6-0, 175 · Everett, Wash./Mariner 247Sports Ranking: Four-star prospect, the No. 2 recruit in Washington, the No. 5 all-purpose back nationally and the No. 78 prospect in the country. The Skinny: Russell shoots up the board for Notre Dame considering the program's position with its other two running back targets — Dami Ayoola of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., committed to Illinois and Mar- shall has Georgia in the top spot. Russell enjoyed his time in South Bend for the USC contest, and the Irish look to be in a three-team race with Cal and Washington. Elijah Shumate DB, 6-1, 185 · Ramsey, N.J./Don Bosco Prep 247Sports Ranking: Four-star player, the No. 4 prospect in New Jersey, the No. 2 safety in the land and the No. 80 recruit overall. The Skinny: Shumate is considered to have Rutgers and South Carolina out front to land his pledge, but he says he'll "definitely" get to Notre Dame for an official visit. The Irish have been on and off the radar throughout the process, but the coaching staff's continued efforts to recruit him, and the need in the back end of the defense, should get him to campus. Davonte Neal Athlete, 5-9, 170 · Paradise Valley, Ariz./Chaparral 247Sports Ranking: Four-star recruit, the No. 3 player in Arizona, the country's No. 8 athlete and the No. 84 prospect nationally. The Skinny: Neal has been rather quiet throughout the recruiting process — his family didn't allow him to do interviews during the season. Notre Dame has been working its way into the group of schools he's considering when it comes time to talk. Auburn, LSU and USC are other programs that are involved, but he was strongly looking at the Football Awards Show weekend on Dec. 9 as the time for his official visit to South Bend. ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED