Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING Tampa (Fla.) Hillsborough defensive end Zachary Carter –– the No. 2 weak- side defensive end nationally. Notre Dame saw both in late Janu- ary and would be happy to have either with Beal. DEFENSIVE TACKLE 2016 Defensive Tackles On Roster: 9 Projected Take: 2 or 3 For the first time in almost a decade, Notre Dame didn't ink a true defensive tackle in a class when the Irish passed in 2016. That has created a need from just a numbers standpoint in 2017, and the top target on the board already has the Irish out in front. Las Vegas Bishop Gorman Rivals100 tackle Haskell Garrett told Blue & Gold Illustrated that Notre Dame was his leader Dec. 14, and that's good news for the Irish. Garrett, who is ranked as the No. 6 defensive tackle in the class and No. 106 overall prospect in the country, already holds offers from Penn State, Texas A&M and Oregon. He is friends with two former Bishop Gorman standouts and current Irish freshmen, safety Nico Fertitta and tight end Alizé Jones. LINEBACKER 2016 Linebackers On Roster: 8 Projected Take: 2 or 3 For the second consecutive cycle the Irish signed a trio of linebackers, which hasn't made the position much of a priority early in 2017. Still, the Irish are in hot pursuit of a pair of Michigan prospects in Ann Arbor Pioneer four-star linebacker Antjuan Simmons and Orchard Lake St. Mary's four-star linebacker Josh Ross. Both Simmons — Rivals' No. 12 outside linebacker and No. 183 overall prospect — and Ross — Rivals' No. 11 outside linebacker and No. 181 overall recruit — have already visited campus and both have been in contact with de- fensive coordinator Brian VanGorder. CORNERBACK 2016 Cornerbacks On Roster: 9 Projected Take: 2 Notre Dame will lose arguably its top two cornerbacks after next season in Cole Luke and Devin Butler, and while there are plenty of candidates to replace them in the lineup, there will still be somewhat of a need at the position in 2017. The Irish hosted Roswell (Ga.) High four-star cornerback LeAnthony Wil- liams Jr. for a Junior Day Jan. 23. While Williams looks to be in play, the pros- pect the staff really wants is four-star cornerback Deangelo Gibbs of Logan- ville (Ga.) Grayson. Gibbs — Rivals' No. 5 safety and No. 45 overall prospect — is in the heart of SEC country, but he told Blue & Gold Illustrated that the plan is to visit Notre Dame in June or July. SAFETY 2016 Safeties on Roster: 10 Projected Take: 2 Like with cornerback, Notre Dame is expected to lose what could be a starter in Max Redfield next season,