Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/638727
UNDER THE DOME Daelin Hayes By Andrew Owens Notre Dame has again done a strong job of identifying elite talent and — just as importantly — persuading them to sign with the Irish. The 2016 recruiting haul is no different and presents a number of top‑notch talents in this class. F e w, h o w e v e r, have the raw abil‑ ity to produce the type of career that Ann Arbor (Mich.) Skyline linebacker Daelin Hayes could while in South Bend for the next three or four seasons. Some have compared Hayes to outgoing line‑ backer Jaylon Smith, who could have been chosen as high as the top five in the NFL Draft if not for the devastating knee injury he suffered in the Fiesta Bowl loss to Ohio State. Hayes is a different type of player — Smith is more athletic while Hayes is more powerful — but could have a similar impact on the Irish defense in the future. There are a few unknowns with Hayes, including his ability to avoid injuries and the fact that he missed some time in high school while transfer‑ ring schools. His potential, however, could have a tremendous impact on Notre Dame's ability to get after the quarterback and disrupt opposing playmakers moving forward. Notre Dame has been desperate for pass rushing talent in the past two recruiting cycles, and Hayes could be a solution. While some project him as a defensive end, he will first get a shot at linebacker in South Bend. Chase Claypool By Bryan Driskell Predicting which player from the 2016 recruiting class will have the best career at Notre Dame is not easy, and that is a good thing for the Irish coach‑ ing staff. There are a number of talented players in this haul and odds are strong that several will have a significant impact on the program dur‑ ing the next four or five years. Arguably no player in the class has as much upside and raw ability as Ab‑ botsford (British Co‑ lumbia) Secondary School wide receiver Chase Claypool. Right now, Javon McKinley is ranked higher on my board and the expectation is that the Corona (Calif.) Centennial pass catcher will pro‑ duce early and often at Notre Dame, but Claypool boasts tremendous physical talent that cannot be ignored. Claypool is not quite at McKinley's level right now, but he has as much natural ability as any receiver in the country. He has elite size (6‑4, 215 pounds), impressive leaping ability and top‑level ball skills, all of which makes him a one‑on‑one matchup nightmare. The Canadian import is a surprisingly athletic player and is dangerous after the catch. He can stretch the field and has the versatility to play all three receiver positions in the Irish offense. He will need to sharpen his route running and continue adjusting to the American game, but as those parts of his game improve he could become the most dynamic player in the class. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHICH IRISH RECRUIT WILL HAVE THE BEST CAREER AT NOTRE DAME? HAYES CLAYPOOL