Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2016 RECRUITING ISSUE Ogundeji was 16 years old when he committed and will be 17 when he ar- rives on campus this summer. Although Okwara is only months away from signing an NFL contract, he will not turn 21 until June. Many believe it took him longer to develop physically because he arrived at Notre Dame at such a young age. Ogundeji is set on making a similar mark for the Irish beginning in 2016. "I just feel like I have something to prove now," he said. "I don't worry about the stars or anything like that, I worry about what I'm doing on the field, just doing my job as a player." ✦ ADETOKUNBO OGUNDEJI DEFENSIVE END 6-5 • 216 WALLED LAKE CENTRAL H.S. WEST BLOOMFIELD, MICH. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — — 32 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 63 11 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 40 16 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 99 45 MEASURABLES • Recorded a time of 5.01 in the 40-yard dash and a 4.21 shuttle. • Registered a 30-foot, six-inch vertical leap. STATISTICS • During a senior season shortened by an MCL injury, he recorded 18 tackles, three quarterback hurries, two sacks and a fumble recovery. • Notched 66 tackles, eight sacks and 15 pass deflections as a junior. HONORS • Omitted from awards as a senior due to the knee injury that wiped out most of his season. • Honored as an all-league and all-county selec- tion as a junior. RECRUITMENT • Gave his verbal commitment to Notre Dame on July 16, 2015. • Offered by Buffalo, Cal, Miami (Ohio), Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Toledo and Western Michigan. • Primarily recruited by defensive line coach Keith Gilmore, with defensive coordinator Brian Van- Gorder also involved. • Officially visited Notre Dame the weekend of the awards banquet (Dec. 11-13, 2015). NOTABLE • Participated in the shot put on the track and field team in high school. 2016 PROJECTION • He is likely to redshirt in 2016 so that he can bulk up his 6-5, 216-pound frame. THEY SAID IT • Head coach Brian Kelly (courtesy UND.com): "Coach [Keith] Gilmore and our defensive line unit are adding a great student-athlete in Ade. And I am optimistic he will develop into a very special player over his career at ND." • Defensive line coach Keith Gilmore: "He's a little bit more of a brute guy at the point of attack. Plays well with his hands. "He's got to be polished up a little bit. … He has a competitive spirit, a great work ethic. Big wing span, wears an 18 shoe, very little body fat." • BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "The Notre Dame coaches fell in love with Ogundeji after they saw him first hand at camp. He is an attractive prospect thanks to his combination of great size potential, athleticism and natural strength. "He is just scratching the surface of how good he could be. He is currently only 220 pounds, but Ogundeji has tremendously long arms, broad shoulders and a frame that could allow him to carry an easy 260-plus pounds."