Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING prospect nationally — joined him. The two are viewed as the perfect compli- ments to each other, and Wright is ex- pected to enroll early and compete for playing time. OFFENSIVE LINE 2016 Offensive Linemen On Roster: 14 Projected Take: 4 or 5 There aren't many pressing needs for the Irish in 2017, but one of them is along the offensive line. After taking just two linemen in 2015 and three in 2016, the numbers are down for line coach Harry Hiestand, and the pri- mary concern is at tackle. Notre Dame picked up an early pledge from Lugg –– who is viewed as a potential starting left tackle one day –– and added an interior player in Gibbons, but the Irish aren't close to being done. Notre Dame has penciled in Lexing- ton (Ky.) Lafayette five-star tackle Jed- rick Wills and Jackson (Tenn.) Univer- sity School four-star tackle Trey Smith as two of the top targets and continues to evaluate other linemen. Wills –– Rivals' No. 1 recruit in Ken- tucky, and No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 15 overall prospect in the country –– visited for the Irish Invasion back in June. Smith –– Rivals' No. 28 offen- sive tackle nationally –– plans to visit South Bend in March. DEFENSIVE END 2016 Defensive Ends On Roster: 8 Projected Take: 2 With Beal in the fold, Notre Dame has already addressed one of its Achil- les heels on the recruiting trail, which is locking up top pass rushing defen- sive ends. Now the focus has shifted to finding a top-end talent to pair with Beal in the class. The Irish were courting Edwards- ville (Ill.) High end A.J. Epenesa –– the nation's No. 1 weakside defensive end and No. 27 overall prospect –– but once he committed to Iowa in Janu- ary, the focus quickly shifted toward Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy five- star defensive end Josh Kaindoh –– the No. 1 strongside defensive end and No. 2 overall recruit in the land –– and Jackson (Tenn.) University School four-star Trey Smith, who is the No. 28 offensive tackle in the class of 2017 according to Rivals, plans to visit South Bend in March. PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS