2016 RECRUITING ISSUE
BY BRYAN DRISKELL
Memphis (Tenn.) Whitehaven
cornerback Donté Vaughn took
a different route in his recruit-
ing. Southern athletes that are
pursued heavily by the SEC —
including in-state powers like
Tennessee — don't often pick
Notre Dame. Vaughn broke
that trend, with some help from
Whitehaven head coach Rodney
Saulsberry.
"This summer we took a tour
of the Midwest," Saulsberry said.
"Normally, southern players
don't have a chance to see north-
ern schools until it's too late.
Their parents often don't have
the means to get them up there."
In an attempt to expose his stu-
dent-athletes to schools outside
their region, he loaded up a van
full of players and took them up
North, where they attended the
Sound Mind Sound Body Camp
in Detroit and took in tours of
several schools, including Notre
Dame.
"It was a big bonus for the
kid," Saulsberry said. "He got a
chance to see the campus and see
the coaches firsthand."
Vaughn was immediately at-
tracted to Notre Dame. A month
later, he made another trip to
campus and took an official
visit for Notre Dame's Sept. 5
home opener against Texas, a
38-3 victory.
Donté Vaughn Breaks The Mold
Rivals ranks the 6‑3 Vaughn as the No. 20 cornerback in
the nation.
PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM
