FOOTBALL RECRUITING
"We spend the first half of the day
showing them what we are, who
we are and our distinctions," Elston
added. "And then the second half of
that is more an evaluation, but also a
practice — a chance for them to get
to know us on the field now and then
for us to also put eyes on them.
"It's different."
Last June, the staff welcomed more
than 65 kids from around the country
to South Bend. The group included
seven prospects — Corona (Calif.)
Centennial four-star wide receiver
Javon McKinley, Abbotsford (British
Columbia) Secondary School four-
star wide receiver Chase Claypool,
Virginia Beach (Va.) L.C. Bird four-
star safety Jalen Elliott, Palm Beach
Gardens (Fla.) High three-star safety
Devin Studstill, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG
Academy three-star safety Spencer
Perry and Jacksonville (Fla.) First
Coast three-star wide receiver Kevin
Stepherson — that were uncommit-
ted at the time but eventually signed
with the Irish after interacting with
the coaches in a competitive yet laid-
back environment.
The goal this year — according to
some around the program — is to
double the number of eventual sign-
ees in attendance, and early returns
from the visitors list suggest the Irish
could do just that.
Notre Dame is expecting Ken-
nedale (Texas) High four-star line-
backer Barron Browning, Graham
