Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING The Final Stretch BY JASON SAPP ing process is moving at warp speed with coaching staffs around the na- tion trying to simultaneously lock up the current pledges to their re- spective classes and add additional prospects. Notre Dame is no different — the W coaches hit all of the main targets during the first round of visits on the recruiting trail, and the staff will collectively make an even stronger effort during the second run. Here's a look at the prospects to watch as Notre Dame tries to put the finishing touches on its 2012 recruit- ing efforts: ith about a month until National Signing Day (Feb. 1), the recruit- school/s colors. Everything fits. The school is un- believable. The opportunities after college would be endless." Fuller has taken official visits to Nebraska and TCU, and he has one scheduled for Rutgers on Jan. 20. He's still deciding whether Notre Dame will have the chance to host him, but the possibility of that happening seems strong following Kiel's deci- sion to head elsewhere. "It's one of the best academic schools in the country," Fuller continued. "You can't deny that. Their football tradition, their campus is unbeliev- able I've heard from people that have been there. They have great players and coaches. They'd have everything you want." He doesn't plan on deciding until late January and the Irish will need to receive an official to remain in the mix. WIDE RECEIVER JOrDan WeSTerkamp 6-1, 190 · lombard, ill./montini Catholic 247Sports ranking: Four-star player, the No. 7 prospect in Illinois and the No. 41 wide receiver in the land. The Skinny: Westerkamp gave his pledge to Ne- braska in early May, but a strong senior season that earned him first-team USA Today All-America honors caught the attention of Notre Dame and others. Irish assistant Chuck Martin visited the Il- linois native shortly after an 11-catch performance in his team's state title victory, and the next step in the process for him was receiving an Irish offer. Following a visit with Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini, the four-star target hopped in his car and drove to South Bend the next day for an official visit the weekend of Dec. 16. The visit went well, but he isn't prepared to make a final decision just yet. Westwood (N.J.) Old Tappan standout Devin Fuller, the nation's No. 3 athlete and No. 20 overall player according to 247Sports, is now being recruited as a quarterback by the Irish after originally being offered as a cornerback. PHOTO COURTESY 247SPORTS QUARTERBACK Devin Fuller 6-0, 185 · Westwood, n.J./Old Tappan 247Sports ranking: Five-star recruit, the No. 2 player in New Jersey, the country's No. 3 athlete and the No. 20 overall player nationally. The Skinny: Fuller was originally offered by Notre Dame as a cornerback last March, but with signal- caller Gunner Kiel of Columbus, Ind., committing to LSU, the Irish coaching staff revisited where the five-star player could contribute. The refreshed recruitment of the New Jersey na- tive has made the Irish a contender. "I grew up a fan of Notre Dame," he told 247Sports. "My coach grew up a fan. That's our 38 FEBRUARY 2012 "My parents liked the place a lot, and the thing I liked the most was the opportunity I would have there," he told BlueandGold.com after the trip. "I'm still thinking things over, though." OFFENSIVE LINE JOShua GarneTT 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 overall player nationally. The Skinny: Garnett was one of the prospects present on an official visit for the Football Awards Show weekend on Dec. 9, and the trip vaulted the Irish into a final three with Michigan and Stanford. The Cardinal appeared to hold a clear edge head- ing into the visit, but coming out of it the gap was significantly narrowed (see page 41). The four-star player plans on making his final decision at the end of January, and others in South Bend that weekend felt Notre Dame may have done enough to have a legitimate chance of hav- ing him close out the offensive line haul for the 2012 crop. DEFENSIVE LINE arik armSTeaD 6-8, 285 · elk Grove, Calif./pleasant Grove 247Sports ranking: Five-star prospect, the top recruit in California, the No. 1 offensive tackle in the nation and the country's top overall player. The Skinny: Armstead has expressed that he wants to play both football and basketball in col- lege, so Notre Dame has pursued him as such. Both Irish football head coach Brian Kelly and basketball head coach Mike Brey have spent time in the Arm- stead household, and the family has a clear indica- tion of how much he is wanted in South Bend. He took visits to Alabama, Cal, Notre Dame and Oregon, and the Bears are actually considered to have the momentum at this point. He also wants to take an official visit to Auburn. Either way, the Irish have remained involved for the top player in the land. He has yet to finalize his coursework to graduate early from high school. If he doesn't complete the required class, he'll stay for the duration of his se- nior year and play basketball for his school. In the meantime, he's still trying to enroll early at one of the programs listed. LINEBACKER ken ekanem 6-3, 245 · Clifton (va.) Centreville 247Sports ranking: Four-star player, the No. 6 prospect in Virginia, the No. 14 weakside defensive end in the land and the nation's No. 174 overall recruit. The Skinny: Ekanem suffered a torn ACL in the AAA Division 6 state title matchup against Oscar Smith, which Centreville lost 47-21. Despite the de- feat, he has remained upbeat about the recovery. "I'm doing better," he told BlueandGold.com. "I'm already walking, and I feel like I'm healing up pretty quick. I'm doing some exercises right now, and I go to rehab twice a day." The Virginia native was scheduled to take his of- ficial visit to Notre Dame on Dec. 16, but has post- poned the trip due to the injury. He'll get to South Bend the weekend before National Signing Day (Feb. 1) instead. His surgery was set for Dec. 29. Ekanem has narrowed his list of suitors down to four schools — Notre Dame, North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Oregon. The Hokies were consid- ered the leader heading into 2012. DEFENSIVE BACK eliJah ShumaTe 6-1, 185 · ramsey, n.J./Don Bosco prep 247Sports ranking: Four-star recruit, the No. 4 player in New Jersey, the country's No. 2 safety and the No. 80 overall player nationally. BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED