Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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82 PRESEASON 2016 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED PREP PROFILES Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy's Houston Griffith isn't in any rush to make a college decision. Griffith, a four-star athlete/cornerback from the class of 2018 who transferred to IMG Academy this summer from Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, said that he's just soaking in the recruiting process. "I've been in contact with a lot of coaches," Griffith said. "I'm really en- joying the process of getting to know coaches and programs a little bit more before I make a decision." Griffith is a highly sought after re- cruit, but he said he hasn't felt any of the pressures that might come with the process. "I wouldn't say it's pressure," Griffith explained. "I'd just say there's a target on my back because there's a lot of kids playing high school football in America, and everybody wants to play college football. My dad always tells me to stay humble and stay hungry." He has yet to release a list of top schools, but said he's been keeping his eye on Notre Dame. "I'm interested in Notre Dame," Griffith said. "I haven't come out with a list yet, but I would say they'd be on it right now [if I did]. Right now, I'm worried about the season. I'll probably come out with something after it." According to Griffith, his growing relationship with the Notre Dame coaches is what's drawing him toward South Bend. "Coach [Brian] Kelly, he's a winning coach," Griffith said. "I love [defen- sive backs] coach Todd Lyght. Every time I'm up in South Bend, it's always good to see him and good to talk with him. "He's coached at the highest level and played at the highest level. If you have a coach like that, you know he's going to teach you to get to the next level." While he was in South Bend for the Irish Invasion event, Griffith said he relished the opportunity to talk about the program with Notre Dame com- mits and current players. "It was a great event," the four- star said. "I got to hang out with my friend Isaiah Robertson [four-star ath- lete from Naperville, Ill.] He's a Notre Dame commit right now, and I hung out with some of the DBs. "It's always good to hear from them on why they chose a school, just hear- ing from them and what they say about the coaches and how they like it." — David McKinney Kenny McIntosh, a rising sopho- more running back at University School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., only has one year of high school football under his belt, but he is already think- ing hard about his future. "I'm trying to break every record at U School," McIntosh said. "I'm just trying to be the best I can be in high school and be known all the way through college and the NFL." McIntosh has yet to visit Notre Dame, but said everything he hears about it is positive, and he plans on visiting in the near future. "I'm supposed to go up there when they play Miami [Oct. 29]," he said. "I've heard that it's nice, that it's beau- tiful there." Most of what McIntosh has heard about Notre Dame has come from his brother, freshman running back Deon McIntosh. McIntosh hopes he can match his brother's sophomore season this fall. "I want to have 2,000 yards like my brother did in his sophomore year," McIntosh said. "And 24 touchdowns included with those yards. I believe in my team to help me." Kenny is one of five McIntosh broth- ers, and the third to go through the re- cruiting cycle. Before Deon, there was Richard McIntosh, a former three-star defensive tackle who is a rising junior at the University of Miami. Family is important to McIntosh, who said he has a close relationship with all four of his brothers. Having two brothers that have already gone through the recruiting gauntlet will be beneficial to his process. "Both of my brothers, Richard and Deon, will be helpful," McIntosh said. "They'll be there to guide me through and help me make the best decision." As for a college choice, McIntosh said family will play a large role in that decision as well. "In a football team, I'm looking for a family," McIntosh explained. "I like how a program is one team, one unit, just brothers. That's it." McIntosh is listed as a running back, but said he'd like to play for a school that will utilize his athleticism in dif- ferent ways. "I play running back, but I love to go outside and play receiver some and catch the ball," the sophomore said. "That's how I'm looking for my of- fense." — David McKinney Top 2018 Corner Is High On The Irish 2019 Running Back Hopes To Visit Notre Dame HOUSTON GRIFFITH ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ IMG Academy Bradenton, Fla. Status: Offered Class: 2018 Position: Cornerback Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 180 Rivals Rankings: No. 2 ath- lete and No. 34 overall player nationally KENNY MCINTOSH No star rating yet University School Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Status: Offered Class: 2019 Position: Running Back Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 205 Rivals Rankings: Currently unrated "I'M TRYING TO BREAK EVERY RECORD AT U SCHOOL. I'M JUST TRYING TO BE THE BEST I CAN BE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND BE KNOWN ALL THE WAY THROUGH COLLEGE AND THE NFL." MCINTOSH "I HAVEN'T COME OUT WITH A LIST YET, BUT I WOULD SAY THEY'D BE ON IT RIGHT NOW [IF I DID]." GRIFFITH ON NOTRE DAME