Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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PREP PROFILES Notre Dame faces stiff competition for one of the top cornerbacks nationally in the junior class. Pembroke Pines (Fla.) Flanagan's Stanford Samuels III added an offer from Notre Dame Dec. 20, join- ing a list that already includes 25-plus schools. The four-star ju- nior listed Michi- g a n , M a r y l a n d , Florida State and G e o rg i a a m o n g some of his early s t a n d o u t s . T h e Seminoles are con- sidered one of the favorites in his re- cruitment because his father — who holds the same name — played at Florida State before suiting up in the CFL from 2005-10. "At all those schools, my relationships with the coaches on the staff are great," Samuels said. "I feel I could play early on at those schools. Then just the atmo- sphere of all of them stands out." His offer was extended by Irish defen- sive backs coach Todd Lyght, who was a two-time consensus All-American at Notre Dame as a cornerback and had a lengthy NFL career. "We talk almost every week, so get- ting the offer wasn't anything out of the ordinary," Samuels said. "I haven't talked to him about visiting, but I know he wants to get me up there. I'll try to make that happen definitely in the fu- ture sometime. "With him being so great in his ca- reer, he knows the position so well. He knows what it looks like and what he's looking for in a recruit. Just knowing that he sees that in me and sees that potential, it's won- derful. "My dad actu- ally knew him from playing football. My dad told me about how good he was, so I did some research on my own and looked him up. He was great." Samuels has iden- tified a few key factors that will decide his recruitment. "The whole atmosphere is impor- tant," he said. "I'll be there for three or four years — whatever school I decide on — so I want to make sure I'm com- fortable for all the years that I'm there. And just making sure the relationship with the coaches is there." Samuels said he likely won't an- nounce a decision until the Under Ar- mour All-American game following his senior season. He helped Flanagan defeat Osceola (Fla.) High, 26-7, to win Florida's Class 8A state championship Dec. 12. — Jordan Wells Todd Lyght Impresses Junior Standout STANFORD SAMUELS III ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Flanagan High School Pembroke Pines, Fla. Status: Offered Class: 2017 Position: Cornerback Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 161 Rivals Rankings: No. 15 player in Florida, and No. 7 cornerback and No. 63 overall prospect in the country nationally