Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/616353
UNDER THE DOME 10 Years Ago: Jan. 16, 2006 For the first time in its history, the Notre Dame football program permits early enrollees. That means if a high school senior accumulates enough credits to graduate halfway through his senior year, he can enroll in college that January. Many schools began that practice in the early 1990s. Three Fighting Irish recruits serve as the pioneers: Indiana running back James Aldridge, Texas offensive lineman Chris Stewart and Oklahoma wide receiver George West. From 2006-15, a total of 35 — never more than five in one class nor fewer than two — early enrollees gain admission into Notre Dame. 5 Years Ago: Jan. 16, 2011 In his first full season of recruiting at Notre Dame, second-year head coach Brian Kelly welcomes five early enrollees for the start of the second semester: kicker Kyle Brindza, quarterback Everett Golson, and defensive linemen Brad Carrico, Aaron Lynch and Ishaq Williams. The landing of five-star prospects Lynch and Williams in particular sets off jubilation among Notre Dame faithful because no position is consistently more difficult to recruit at the school than game-changing pass rushers on defense. Lynch de-commits from in-state Florida State to join the Irish, while Williams, who was headed for an official visit to Penn State, is intercepted by Notre Dame defensive coordinator Bob Diaco in the early morning hours and changes his mind. The Lynch-Williams tandem is deemed as potentially the greatest edge rushing duo to sign with Notre Dame since Ross Browner and Willie Fry in 1973. Later that month, another five-star defensive lineman, Georgia's Stephon Tuitt, decommits from Geor- gia Tech to join the Irish. — Lou Somogyi