Blue and Gold Illustrated

THE FIFTH QUARTER LOU SOMOGYI H ighlighting Notre Dame's recruit- ing spiel is a mantra that is some- times considered trite or haughty, if not both: It's not a four-year decision; it's a 40-year decision. Many times, it can also hit home. The announced in- eligibility last month of defensive end Ishaq Williams for the sec- ond year in a row was the closing chapter on the ultra-coveted No. 1-ranked defen- sive line haul that never truly material- ized. In February 2011, Notre Dame signed what was advertised as potentially the greatest defensive line group in school history because of both quantity (eight prospects) and quality (as many as three players given five-star ratings). The single most difficult position to recruit at Notre Dame the past quarter century was expected to be set through 2014. If there was a "negative," it was that maybe one or two might turn pro prior to their senior seasons. What has transpired with the 2011 defensive line haul is a primer for all recruitaholics, recruitniks, or whatever word is applicable, about how fragile any class can be, and how a rating on National Signing Day becomes imperti- nent compared to what transpires over the next four seasons. Alphabetically, here is what happened with the eight defensive lineman signed in that es- teemed class of 2011: Brad Carrico — An early enrollee, he was moved to the offen- sive line in the spring of 2011, but a foot injury going back to his high school days ended his football ca- reer prior to the 2012 season, and his schol- arship was transferred to a general university grant-in-aid for medi- cal cases. Carrico was ranked as the nation's No. 52 strongside de- fensive end by Rivals. Chase Hounshell — After seeing limited action as a fresh- man in 2011 and recording four tack- les, he was sidelined in both 2012 and 2013 because of a torn labrum. He was cleared medically to finally play again in 2014, but appeared in only three contests and was credited with two tackles. He surprised again this season by opt- ing to return for a fifth season, losing 20 pounds and trying to help at tight end, where four other players are ahead of him. Hounshell entered Notre Dame rated as the land's No. 39 strongside defensive end by 247Sports. Aaron Lynch — The pass rusher ex- traordinaire, listed as a five-star talent and the nation's best strongside defen- 2011 D-Line: We Hardly Knew You Ishaq Williams was a major part of maybe the most ballyhooed defensive line class in Notre Dame recruiting history. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND

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