Blue and Gold Illustrated

August 2016

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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PREP PROFILES Following his trip to South Bend for the Irish Invasion, Fairfield (Ohio) High 2018 four-star defensive end Malik Vann named the Irish the cur- rent leader in his recruitment. Fast- forward into mid- July and nothing has changed for the 6-2, 247-pounder. "They play great football every week, they're on national t e l e v i s i o n e v e r y week, they play a top-tier schedule ev- ery year," Vann said. "I can get a degree from them and go anywhere I want to in the country for my field of what I've got my degree in. I just loved it all from top to bottom." Vann, though he didn't work out, said the Irish Invasion was "great" and enjoyed seeing some of the other top players in the country spanning several classes, including his own. "Getting to see Notre Dame as a whole, taking a tour and being with the players, that was really cool," he said. Notre Dame is in search of defen- sive ends, and there was hope Vann would join the 2018 class when he was in South Bend last month. "They are losing a few guys these next two years," Vann said. "My re- cruiting class will be key. They got the two twins [Jayson and Justin Ademi- lola]. They were really wanting to get them, and hoping I would get on board with them when I came up there." The Notre Dame staff isn't alone in wanting Vann to pull the trigger. When asked if anyone was trying to get him to commit at the Irish Invasion, Vann — with a little bit of laughter — said cur- rent 2018 commit and Indianapolis Ca- thedral running back Markese Stepp. The fellow four-star continues to recruit Vann hard for the Irish. "We were talking recently, and he's still trying to get me to go ahead and commit to Notre Dame," Vann said. Behind the Irish, Vann lists Michigan State, Maryland, Kentucky, Pittsburgh and "probably" Tennessee as other schools that are high on his list as of now. Vann said he is hoping to return to South Bend Sept. 17 when the Irish take on Michigan State. He also wants to get out to Oregon Sept. 10. Trips to Ohio State, Pittsburgh and Kentucky are also possibilities this fall. — Corey Bodden Irish Continue To Lead For Ohio Defensive End MALIK VANN ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Fairfield Fairfield, Ohio Status: Offered Class: 2018 Position: Defensive End Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 247 247Sports.com Rank- ings: No. 229 prospect in the nation, No. 9 strongside defensive end in the country and No. 10 player in Ohio

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