Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/608448
FOOTBALL RECRUITING area isn't some "blackhole" for the Irish, but multiple trips to Oklahoma suggest a breakthrough is unlikely. Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra defensive end Wole Betiku –– The 6-4, 250-pound Betiku is ranked as the No. 8 prospect in California, and the No. 4 weakside defensive end and No. 36 overall player in the nation. The native of Nigeria took an official visit to Notre Dame Nov. 14 and left with high remarks for the Irish and associate head coach Mike Denbrock, who was at Betiku's school the day before he decom- mitted from UCLA in late October. The Competition: Texas A&M, USC and Florida State. Prediction: Texas A&M or USC. Betiku grew up watching the Irish play on TV in Nigeria, and while he has been described as a "fit" at Notre Dame, other schools seem to have his attention. He has visited Texas A&M twice since October and USC has a sto- ried history of pulling whichever prospects it wants out of nearby Junipero Serra. Corona (Calif.) Centennial wide receiver Javon McKinley –– The 6-2, 196-pound McKinley is ranked as the No. 16 player California, and the No. 18 wide receiver and No. 96 overall prospect nationally. He has visited Notre Dame three times over the course of the recruiting process and has had the Irish coaches at his school just as many times. He's expected to make a decision at the U.S. Army All- American Game Jan. 9. The Competition: UCLA, Washington, Oregon and Tennessee. Prediction: Notre Dame. McKinley plans to take his final official visit to UCLA in December, and while that might spell good news for the local Bruins, the Irish feel confident with where they stand. Fontana (Calif.) Summit wide receiver Damian Al- loway –– The 5-10, 170-pound Alloway is ranked as the No. 20 recruit in California, and the No. 20 wide recover and No. 110 overall prospect in the country. He, like McKinley, has been a frequent visitor to Notre Dame, but is still contemplating the thought of leaving the West Coast for school. The Competition: UCLA. Prediction: Notre Dame. Alloway said after his official visit to Notre Dame Nov. 14 that he wanted to talk things over with his family and see UCLA one more time before making a decision. That might not sound promising, but the Irish coaches have outlined the plan to use Alloway in the slot, which isn't the case when it comes to the local Bruins. Pittsburgh Central Catholic cornerback Damar Hamlin –– The 6-1, 179-pound Hamlin is ranked as the No. 4 player in Pennsylvania, and the No. 8 safety and No. 132 overall prospect nationally. He was at Notre Dame in July for an unofficial visit and returned in October for an official visit. Notre Dame looked to be losing traction in the recruitment, then the Irish sent five coaches to one of Hamlin's playoff games, and that changed his tune. The Competition: Pittsburgh, Penn State and Ohio State. Prediction: Pittsburgh, but it's close. Notre Dame appeared to be out of the race following Hamlin's official visit, but then they sent the house to watch him play in person. The gesture was well received by Hamlin, but the local Panthers are selling the idea of playing close to home, and that has the family's attention. Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) High defensive back Devin Studstill –– The 6-1, 183-pound Studstill is ranked as the No. 63 recruit in Florida and the No. 43 athlete in the nation. He was at the Irish Invasion in June and then on campus for an official visit in July. He has ties to West Virginia, but the lure of playing for the Irish has him interested. The Competition: West Virginia, Miami and Lou- isville. Prediction: Notre Dame. Studstill has expressed in the past that he wants to take his time to make a decision, because he wants to see how the coaching carrousel factors into his recruitment. There was already a change at Miami, and Notre Dame appears to be the steady choice. ✦