Blue and Gold Illustrated

FOOTBALL RECRUITING overall player in the nation by Rivals … Listed as a four-star prospect and the No. 139 overall player in the land by Scout. Statistics/Honors: As a junior, racked up 39 tack- les and picked off two passes … Also broke up five passes and was named a first-team All-Mission League defensive back. Recruitment: The Notre Dame coaches have worked hard to get into the mix and were able to secure an official visit, which is set for Oct. 17, the weekend Notre Dame takes on USC … Also plans to visit Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State and Okla- homa. BGI's Take: Burton is a do-it-all player that could play in the secondary or at wide receiver. He is on the thin side but plays bigger, displaying a fondness for bringing force in the run game. He is a strong tackler, knowing when to deliver a big hit, when to go low and when to wrap up. He plays deep safety for Serra, which allows him to spend a lot of time flying downhill and making plays against the run and screen game. He is light on his feet, shows a good first step and possesses strong redirect ability. Burton could play wide receiver, but his intense demeanor and aggressive attitude are ideally suited for the defensive side of the ball. The ball skills that make him a legitimate wide receiver prospect serve him well on defense. Athletically, he shows above- average speed but lacks the burst of other elite play- ers. His high football IQ and instincts allow him to make quick decisions and play faster than his times. CHAUNCEY GARDNER Cocoa, Fla. (Cocoa High School) Measurables: Listed by Rivals at 5-11 and 190 pounds … During the summer, ran a 4.51 in the 40- yard dash and leaped 37.6 inches at The Opening in Beaverton, Ore. … Won the 2A state championship in the 100- (10.38) and 200-meter dashes (21.12) this spring. Rankings: A consensus four-star recruit … Rivals ranks him as the No. 14 player in Florida, and the No. 5 cornerback and No. 51 overall player in the land … 247Sports lists him as the nation's No. 9 cornerback and No. 89 overall player … Rated as the No. 6 safety in the country by both Scout and ESPN. Statistics/Honors: Last fall, helped lead Cocoa High School to an 11-2 record and a trip to the Class 4A state semifinals, rushing for 303 yards (9.8 yards per carry), hauling in 10 passes for 196 yards and combining for seven offensive touchdowns … Com- piled 49 tackles and three sacks, picked off three passes and blocked two punts, earning Associated Press first-team 4A all-state and first-team All-Space Coast honors as a defensive back … Was also named Florida Today's 2014 Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year. Recruitment: Despite making a commitment to Florida, he still plans on taking five official visits … The Irish will get one of those visits, on the weekend of Oct. 17 when they host USC … Also plans to offi- cially visit Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and either Ohio State or Florida State. BGI's Take: Gardner has outstanding speed and quickness, which are factors in why schools are re- cruiting him to play cornerback. His skill set and style of play make him perfect for the safety and nickel po- sitions in the Notre Dame defense. He is an aggres- sive and physical player that looks more comfortable coming up and delivering punishment than he does playing in man coverage. He is a strong tackler and a willing hitter that spends more time near the line of scrimmage than he does dropping back. That does not mean he lacks the ability to play in coverage. Gardner is an outstanding athlete that possesses the speed and hip fluidity to be an open- and-run defender. With technical work, he could develop into a quality coverage player. His coverage potential is best suited for the safety position, where he could utilize his physicality and toughness. LAMAR JACKSON Elk Grove, Calif. (Franklin High School) Measurables: Measured in at 6-2½ and 203 pounds at The Opening regional in Oakland … At The Opening in Beaverton, Ore., was timed at 4.63 in the 40-yard dash and had a vertical jump of 36.3 inches.

• Cover