Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/542018
sion I sat down and talked with my family about it. I just decided that it's the place for me and where I want to go." But it wasn't as simple as just a few conversations. Wright first wanted to make sure that Notre Dame was the pick, and that's why he took two trips to South Bend. The 6-5, 238-pound tight end was on campus for the program's Junior Day on March 21, and then back in the Midwest for the Irish Invasion on June 19. Those two overnight stays built a level of comfort and trust for the fam- ily in Notre Dame. "All along I had this feeling that's where I was going to go unless some other place came along and surprised me," he said. And there were plenty of other op- tions. Wright held scholarship offers from Alabama, Georgia, Baylor, Oklahoma, Texas, UCLA and Nebraska. He took trips to Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma and Texas A&M, but in the end, it was Notre Dame that stuck out. "When you look at the academics side and how they incorporate the tight end in the offense, then it's really just the perfect place for me," Wright said. "It was wonderful getting to go up there. The first time we visited we didn't really know the coaches before- hand. But then we started to build a little relationship with them. "It was great to go back [for the Irish Invasion] and further that relationship and get to work with tight ends coach Scott Booker quite a bit, and also talk to Mike Sanford and Mike Denbrock, the offensive coordinators. It was really cool to start building that relationship with them and see what the future has in store." Notre Dame had positioned itself to take a tight end in the 2016 class, but after Exton (Pa.) Downington East three-star Cary Angeline committed to USC, the staff opted to pass on the cycle and instead lock up Wright, who caught 17 passes for 369 yards and two touchdowns as a sophomore. "It's done," Wright said when asked about his recruitment. "Notre Dame is where I'm going to be." ✦ FILM ANALYSIS Strengths Arguably the top tight end in the 2017 class … At 6-5, 238 pounds he already possesses the size and frame of a college tight end … Long athlete with smooth hands and supreme confidence in his ability … Good long range speed, which he can use to make big plays … Impressive instincts as a route runner for such a young player … Strong all-around player that excels in the run game and can dominate in the pass game. Areas To Improve Must continue gaining more experience … Needs work on his overall flexibility … Should avoid gaining weight and just focus on adding strength. — Bryan Driskell