Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING The Skinny: Shumate took an official visit to Notre Dame on Dec. 16 and arrived on campus with Rutgers and South Carolina as the favorites for his services. He had already used official visits on the Scarlet Knights and the Gamecocks. While the Irish may have been trailing going into the trip, they finished out on top after he was able to experience the campus. The program was able to emphasize the academic prestige of the school, what a degree from Notre Dame can do for a graduate and the possibility of playing safety or running back due to his versatility. He currently feels the Irish are the best fit for him, and the staff will need to stay on him until the very end to potentially land his commitment. Yuri WrighT 6-2, 180 · ramsey, N.J./Don Bosco Prep 247Sports ranking: Five-star prospect, the No. 3 recruit in New Jersey, the top cornerback in the na- tion and the country's No. 24 overall player. The Skinny: Wright arrived in South Bend for his official visit on Dec. 16 with Michigan and Rutgers as the leaders, but like his teammate, Shumate, he is also considered to have the program in a good position following the trip (see page 41). He still has visits scheduled to Michigan on Jan. 13 and Rutgers on Jan. 20 so it's not over yet, but Notre Dame is right in the thick of things for the five-star talent. ATHLETE DavoNTe Neal 5-9, 170 · Paradise valley, ariz./Chaparral 247Sports ranking: Four-star player, the No. 3 prospect in Arizona, the country's No. 8 athlete and the No. 84 overall recruit nationally. The Skinny:Neal was on campus for his official visit during the Football Awards Show and received every bit of information he was looking for and more. He described the visit as a "business" trip and was intrigued by the fact that it was a football- only discussion during his meetings with the staff. He's originally from Ohio so it wouldn't be an issue for him to move back to the Midwest, but that also gives Ohio State a strong case, and new head coach Urban Meyer is regularly remaining in contact in hopes of getting an official visit. That trip will likely be set up, and he has another scheduled for Arkansas on Jan. 20. At this point Notre Dame has the momentum, but the program will have to survive four other of- ficial visits and a decision that can likely come after National Signing Day, according to his father, Luke. armaNi reeveS 5-11, 180 · West roxbury, mass./ Catholic memorial 247Sports ranking: Four-star recruit, the top player in Massachusetts, the country's No. 5 cor- nerback and the No. 58 overall player nationally. The Skinny: Reeves remains verbally committed to Penn State, but he's getting his plan B in order just in case he doesn't feel comfortable with the di- rection the program goes with a new coach at the helm. Besides his plans to take a visit to Michigan and Penn State in January, he is also targeting a trip to either Notre Dame or Ohio State next month. "As of right now, those are the only schools I'm talking to," he told 247Sports. "I really like these schools, and obviously I love Penn State. I'm just focusing on these schools." Irish defensive coordinator Bob Diaco has reached out to Reeves about how he fits in the program, and it's not limited to cornerback. "He was saying he didn't want to be that school Massachusetts product Armani Reeves, 247Sports' No. 5 cornerback and No. 58 overall player nationally, remains verbally committed to Penn State, but is keeping his options open and may take an official visit to Notre Dame. PHOTO COURTESY 247SPORTS that rushed in and tried to be barbaric in a way because he respects Penn State and everything they've done, not only just football, but just well- known coaches," the four-star recruit said. "He wanted my thoughts, and if I would come take a visit. "He said they view me as a playmaker, they said I can play either side of the ball, and they feel comfortable with me doing that. They also see me having an effect on the team playing early." Notre Dame will need to secure an official visit to remain in the hunt, but the coaches have Reeves' attention. ✦ KeiVarae Russell Commits To Notre Dame Everett (Wash.) Mariner running back KeiVarae Russell looked to have the in-state Huskies as the team to beat for the majority of his recruitment, but programs like Cal, Oregon and USC were all able to become contenders for his services. As the group of schools pared down, however, Notre Dame was the one left in the race to pull the four-star talent from his home state. During the first few weeks of December, the 6-0, 175-pound player began getting an idea of which of those two schools were at the forefront following in-home visits with Irish assistant Mike Denbrock and Huskies assistant Doug Nussmeier. Russell informed BlueandGold.com on Dec. 19 that he was prepared to let his choice be known. "There are a lot of opportunities you get having a degree from Notre Dame and being a graduate from there," the 247Sports four-star recruit, No. 5 all-purpose running back in the country, the No. 2 player in Washington and the No. 78 overall recruit nationally noted. In front of an assembly of family, teammates, teachers and media on Dec. 29, Russell announced that instead of remaining local, he has decided to take his talents to the Midwest and play for the Irish. "I picked Notre Dame because it's the right fit for me both athletically and academically," Russell said. "I will be set for life with this Notre Dame degree. "Also, I believe our team — next year and in the future — will make some BCS noise." Russell took his official visit to Notre Dame for the USC game on Oct. 22 and the Irish were able to keep the KeiVarae Russell is rated as a four-star pros- pect, the No. 2 player in Washington, the No. 5 all-purpose running back in the country and the No. 78 overall player in the class of 2012 by 247Sports. PHOTO COURTESY 247SPORTS www.BLUEANDGOLD.com momentum since that trip. He'll receive an in-home visit with head coach Brian Kelly during the second session of the contact period. He's commitment No. 17 of the 2012 recruiting class for Notre Dame and the second running back in the class (William Mahone of Youngstown, Ohio, is the other). The Irish wanted to sign two running backs in its 2012 group of recruits. — Jason Sapp FEBRUARY 2012 39