Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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FOOTBALL RECRUITING of Somerville, N.J., will be on campus on June 27, which will be the final day of the three-day camp. He has the Irish among his top 10 programs. Another visitor Notre Dame was able to secure during the spring evaluation period is four-star cornerback L.J. Moore of Fresno, Calif., with plans to also take an official visit for the contest against the Wolverines. With Notre Dame having completed its pursuit of a quarterback, tight end and offensive linemen in the 2013 recruiting class, the staff is focusing on other areas of need, notably the "Big Skill" position after the program landed one linebacker in Romeo Okwara of Charlotte, N.C., in the 2012 signing class. The program is involved with targets like Anzalone, Smith and others, but decided to use the spring evaluation period to get a closer look at some targets on the brink of being offered and expand the list of op- tions. Here's a look at the five "Big Skill" re- cruits that landed offers from Notre Dame during the spring evaluation period. Marcus Ball 6-3, 205 · Westerville, Ohio (Westerville South) for a score … Passed for 1,300 yards and 16 touchdowns, and rushed for more than 500 yards as a quarterback. 247Sports Ranking: Three-star prospect, the No. 33 player in Ohio and the No. 51 athlete in the land. Skinny: Ball took a visit to Notre Dame on April 14, and after the Irish coaches got a closer look at him in person the staff decided to move forward with an offer 10 days later. He plays quarterback and safety for his high school program, but Notre Dame feels he'll be able to make a transition over to outside linebacker. The Irish quickly moved into the lead and maintained it Junior Season: Picked off seven passes and returned one following offers from Boston College, Kentucky and others through May, but the tender from Wisconsin — which is where his brother, Ray Jr., is a redshirt freshman offensive lineman — presented more competition. Notre Dame is still considered to have the edge and could land a commitment from the Ohio native when he returns to campus with his parents in the summer. Michael Deeb 6-2, 237 · Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (American Heritage) Ohio dual-threat quarterback Malik Zaire helped boost Notre Dame's recruiting class to No. 8 in the country, according to 247Sports. Zaire is a four-star prospect. PHOTO COURTESY 247SPORTS interceptions and five forced fumbles. 247Sports Ranking: Three-star recruit, the No. 110 player in Florida and the country's No. 44 inside linebacker. Junior Season: Recorded 90 tackles, two sacks, three JUNE/JULY 2012 84