Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 12, 2016 47 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ROUNDUP • Notre Dame is continuing to recruit top talent at the tight end position. As of Sept. 1, Rivals' top tight end in the class of 2017, Brock Wright of Cy- press, Texas, and the No. 3 player at the position, Cole Kmet of Arlington, Ill., are both committed to the Irish. In the class of 2015, the Irish signed the No. 4 tight end in the country in Alizé Jones of Las Vegas. As for the class of 2018, Notre Dame is in the running for four-star Judge Culpepper of Tampa (Fla.) Plant and fellow Rivals four-star Mustahpa Muhammad of Missouri City (Texas) Ridge Point. Notre Dame is also in good position with former Michigan commit and No. 6 tight end Leonard Taylor of Springfield (Ohio) High. While he was still committed to the Wolverines, Taylor said Notre Dame was in his top three. The Irish have yet to offer the No. 2 tight end in the class, Brevin Jordan of Las Vegas Bishop Gorman. • Salvon Ahmed, a Rivals four-star athlete from Kirkland (Wash.) Juanita, announced via Twitter Aug. 31 that he will be making his commitment at his high school Sept. 23. The decision will come just six days after Ahmed officially visits Notre Dame Sept. 17 for the Michigan State game, a weekend that is set to see several high-profile prospects on campus. Ahmed, Rivals' No. 9 athlete and No. 122 overall player in the nation, has a top five of Washington, Oregon, USC, Stanford and Notre Dame. He may be a Washington lean due to the proximity to home. • An elite player was recently added to the al- ready massive list of talented visitors who will be in South Bend for the Michigan State game. Shaun Wade, a Rivals five-star cornerback from Jackson- ville (Fla.) Trinity Christian, committed to Ohio State Jan. 12, but he will take official visits to Notre Dame and Alabama. Of Notre Dame, Wade — who is ranked as the No. 4 cornerback and No. 17 overall prospect in the country by Rivals — said: "They said I could just come in and play any of those DB positions right away. They told me I have great, great talent and that if I come they know I'll work hard. They're not promising me a spot, but they're really saying I have a great chance of playing." • A pair of top 2018 running backs have high interest in Notre Dame. Lorenzo Lingard of Orange City (Fla.) University School, who is listed as the No. 3 ball carrier in the class, and T.J. Pledger of West Hills (Calif.) Chaminade, who is ranked as the No. 4 running back, in the nation, are both intrigued with what Notre Dame has to offer. Pledger plans on seeing the Irish in action twice in 2016, once in South Bend, and at the end of the season when Notre Dame visits USC. Notre Dame has one ball carrier committed for the class of 2018, four-star Markese Stepp of Indianapolis Cathedral, the No. 11 running back in the class. — Corey Bodden and David McKinney • LB David Adams: Pittsburgh Central Catholic (0-1) lost 35-14 on the road against Washington (D.C.) St. John's College (1-0). Next game: at Pittsburgh Shaler Area (0-1). • DB Paulson Adebo: Recorded an interception in Mansfield (Texas) High's (1-0) 28-10 win at home over Arlington (Texas) Mansfield Summit (0-1). Next game: vs. Cedar Hill (Texas) High (0-1). • DL Jayson Ademilola: Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peters Prep (0-0) has yet to open the season. Next game: vs. Roswell (Ga.) Blessed Trinity (0-0) in Dublin, Ireland. • DL Justin Ademilola: Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peters Prep (0-0) has yet to open the season. Next game: vs. Roswell (Ga.) Blessed Trinity (0-0) in Dublin, Ireland. • LB Matthew Bauer: Had five solo tackles and a one-yard fumble return for a touchdown in Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep's (1-0) 77-8 win at home against Erie (Pa.) Strong Vincent (0-1). Next game: at Erie (Pa.) Central Tech (1-0). • QB Avery Davis: Completed 19 of 33 passes for 158 yards with one touch- down and two interceptions in Cedar Hill (Texas) High's (0-1) — then USA Today's No. 8 team nationally — 44-14 loss to then-No. 3 Las Vegas Bishop Gorman (1-0). Next game: at Mansfield (Texas) High (1-0). • DL Darnell Ewell: Norfolk (Va.) Lake Taylor (0-1) lost 35-21 at home versus Newport News (Va.) Heritage (1-0). Next game: at Chesapeake (Va.) Western Branch (0-0). • OL Dillan Gibbons: Clearwater (Fla.) Central Catholic (1-0) won 44-27 at home over Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep (0-1). Next game: vs. Largo (Fla.) Indian Rocks Christian (1-0). • OL Robert Hainsey: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy (1-0) beat Loganville (Ga.) Grayson (0-1) 26-7 on the road. Next game: at Corona (Calif.) Centennial (1-0). • DL Kurt Hinish: Pittsburgh Central Catholic (0-1) lost 35-14 on the road against Washington (D.C.) St. John's College (1-0). Next game: at Pittsburgh Shaler Area (0-1). • RB C.J. Holmes: Cheshire (Mass.) Academy does not open the season until Sept. 17. Next game: at Wallingford (Conn.) Choate Rosemary (0-0). • QB Phil Jurkovec: : In a nationally televised game at Lakewood (Ohio) St. Edward, completed 20 of 31 passes for 296 yards with three touchdowns in Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Richland's (0-1) 28-27 loss … Added 107 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Next game: at Pittsburgh Mt. Lebanon (1-0). • TE Cole Kmet: Did not play in Arlington Heights (Ill.) St. Viator's (0-1) 30-7 loss to Rolling Meadows (Ill.) High because he was diagnosed with mono. Next game: at Wheaton (Ill.) St. Francis (0-1). • OL Joshua Lugg: Reported having eight pancake blocks and two tackles, but Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny (0-1) lost on the road 30-29 to Powell (Ohio) Olentangy Liberty (1-0). Next game: vs. Bethel Park (Pa.) (0-0). • DL Jonathon MacCollister: Orlando (Fla.) Bishop Moore (1-0) won 42-6 on the road against Orlando (Fla.) Edgewater (0-1). Next game: at Longwood (Fla.) Lyman (1-0). • LB Ovie Oghoufo: Farmington Hills (Mich.) Harrison (0-1) played in Michi- gan Stadium and lost 31-24 to East Kentwood (Mich.) High (1-0) … Notched at least five tackles and also hauled in two catches for 30 yards. Next game: vs. Farmington (Mich.) High (1-0). • WR Jordan Pouncey: Winter Park (Fla.) High (0-1) lost on the road 27-26 to Orlando (Fla.) Lake Nona (1-0). Next game: vs. Winter Garden (Fla.) West Orange (1-0). • DB Isaiah Robertson: Caught two passes for 58 yards, but didn't play safety due to a hamstring injury, and Naperville (Ill.) Neuqua Valley (1-0) won 35-7 at home versus Aurora (Ill.) Metea Valley (0-1). Next game: vs. Naperville (Ill.) Central (0-1). • RB Markese Stepp: Did not play due to a hamstring injury, but Indianapolis Cathedral (1-0) won 48-0 at home versus Indianapolis Arsenal Technical in a game was called at halftime due to weather. Next game: at Mishawaka (Ind.) High (2-0). • LB Pete Werner: Did not play due to an injury, but Indianapolis Cathedral (1-0) won 48-0 at home versus Indianapolis Arsenal Technical in a game was called at halftime due to weather. Next game: at Mishawaka (Ind.) High (2-0). • LB Drew White: Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas (0-1), which entered the game ranked No. 1 in the country by USA Today, lost on the road 27-23 to then-No. 6 Miami Booker T. Washington (1-0). Next game: at Miramar (Fla.) High (1-0). • TE Brock Wright: Caught three passes for 32 yards, but Cypress (Texas) Cy-Fair (0-1) lost on the road 23-20 against The Woodlands (Texas) High (1-0). Next game: at Katy (Texas) Cypress Lakes (0-0). • WR Michael Young: Destrehan (La.) High (0-0) has yet to open the season. Next game: vs. Slidell (La.) High (0-0). COMMIT SEASON RECAPS Games played Aug. 26-27 unless otherwise noted Recruiting Notes Follow @BGI_CoreyBodden and @BGI_DMcKinney on Twitter for daily recruiting updates available on BlueandGold.com!