Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING tionships and developing better con- fidence with the sales approach un- der new recruiting coordinator Mike Elston. CONTRACTUAL CONTINUITY Ever since Brian Kelly's interview with the Philadelphia Eagles the day after the BCS National Champion- ship Game debacle versus Alabama in January 2013, the rumors about his imminent departure to the NFL have swirled. Nevertheless, Kelly signing a six- year extension with Notre Dame through 2021 was not necessarily a response to such innuendo. "We recruited the right kind of guys that picked Notre Dame be- cause they knew what we were about," said Irish recruiting coor- dinator/linebackers coach Mike Elston. "They didn't waver from the rumors of, 'Brian Kelly is going to the NFL.' That stuff doesn't faze guys that commit to Notre Dame. "… People choose Notre Dame be- cause of what this place is about, the fabric of the university, academics, and the way that it builds leadership and character. If you're recruiting the right kind of guys, they get that." Still, the extension does help facili- tate the selling of continuity. "There are not many things you can recruit negatively about Notre Dame," Elston said. "Some people try: 'Academics are challenging.' Well, we want guys that want to be challenged [in school]. "One of them is it's a spiritual school; it's a Catholic school. And then the third is Brian Kelly is al- ways looking for the next best op- portunity to go to the NFL — now that contract erases that." ✦ 2016 SCHOLARSHIP BREAKDOWN BY CLASS Quarterbacks (5) Potential Fifth-Year Seniors — None Senior — Malik Zaire (2 years of eligibility remaining) Juniors — DeShone Kizer (3) and Montgomery VanGorder (3) Sophomore — Brandon Wimbush (3) Freshman — Ian Book (4) Note: Zaire began working out with the team in December after healing from a fractured ankle suffered at Virginia Sept. 12. Running Backs (7) Potential Fifth-Year Senior — Josh Anderson Senior — Tarean Folston (2) Junior — Justin Brent (3) Sophomores — Josh Adams (3) and Dexter Williams (3) Freshmen — Tony Jones Jr. (4) and Deon McIntosh (4) Notes: Folston was sidelined in 2015 with a knee injury, but paced the team in rushing the year prior with 889 yards … Adams' 835 rushing yards set a single-season freshman record at Notre Dame.