Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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46 NOV. 28, 2016 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED PREP PROFILES Even though decisions seem light years away for the class of 2019, Notre Dame has positioned itself well with one of the few offers the program has extended already — Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren defensive tackle Jacob Lacey. The 6-2, 285-pound Lacey earned his offer based on his performance at the Irish Invasion in June and has been back to South Bend twice since attending the home-opener against Nevada, including the Virginia Tech game. "Everything about that place makes me want to go out there and play with the guys myself," Lacey said. Lacey and his family have a history with the Irish program. His cousin, the late Dave Duerson, was an All- American at Notre Dame before be- coming a Pro Bowler in the NFL. Even though the coaching staff can't contact him, given he is a 2019 prospect, Lacey has stayed in con- stant contact with linebackers coach Mike Elston and defensive line coach Keith Gilmore. "They ask how I'm doing and how the family is doing and what kind of season my team is having. We talk also about Notre Dame and the way they prepare for the particular game," Lacey said. "They always say that they are glad to be recruiting me and that they will be recruiting me very hard over the next few years." Lacey has remained highly inter- ested in Notre Dame and what the program can offer since earning the offer this summer. "What's not to like?" Lacey said. "Everything about them is perfect. Their academics are great as well as the football team. They are win- ners, and that's what I love. It's the University of Notre Dame — there's nothing you can't like about them." Lacey has also taken visits to Ohio State, Clemson, Tennessee and Louis- ville this fall. His time in South Bend in early September holds up to the rest. "Definitely at the top," Lacey said when asked how the Notre Dame visit stacked up against the rest. "Not much can compare to Notre Dame." The sophomore already holds of- fers from Notre Dame, Louisville, Tennessee, Kentucky and Cincinnati. He won't have to make a final deci- sion for quite some time, but Notre Dame will be a player in his recruit- ment for the long haul, given his family connection to the school. — Corey Bodden Decision time is nearing for four- star Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High cornerback Thomas Graham, and Notre Dame remains positioned well to land the talented defensive back. Graham, the No. 7 cornerback and No. 68 player in the nation, plans to an- nounce his commitment in December. He speaks of the Irish very favorably. "They're pretty high on the board," Graham said. "They stand pretty good with me, because they have something different to offer than other people, with academics and the tradition that they have to offer." It's those unique opportunities in the classroom that have Notre Dame high on not only Graham's list, but his parents' as well. "They love it," Graham said of his parents' thoughts on Notre Dame. "Especially what it has to do for me academically." Following his official visit to Notre Dame for the Michigan State game Sept. 17, both of Graham's parents were blown away. "We loved it," Graham's father, Thomas Sr., told Rivals national re- cruiting analyst Adam Gorney. "The best visit hands down. It was his mom's first time visiting campus, and she was impressed." "My mom, she liked it," Graham said. "She's more the academic side mainly, so she liked it from an aca- demic standpoint." On the field, Notre Dame obvi- ously hasn't put out the product it was hoping to this season, but Gra- ham said that hasn't had much of an impact on him. "Everybody has a rebuilding year," Graham said. So far, he has taken four official vis- its, including to Notre Dame Sept. 17 for the Michigan State game. Since then, the four-star has offi- cially visited Arizona, Arizona State and Oregon, all of them went well according to Graham. With a decision on the way, Gra- ham said he's talking to the Notre Dame coaching staff once a week. "Their pitch has basically just been, 'You're young and we need you,'" Graham said. Come December, Graham said if he were to pick Notre Dame, it would be for a few different reasons. "Just being comfortable there," Graham said. "And going farther away from home, and me knowing academically, I'll be secure." — David McKinney Talented 2019 Defensive Tackle Has Early Interest In Irish Top Cornerback Target Is Nearing A Decision THOMAS GRAHAM ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Rancho Cucamonga H.S. Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Status: Offered Class: 2017 Position: Cornerback Ht.: 5-10 Wt.: 173 Rivals Rankings: No. 7 cor- nerback and No. 68 player overall nationally JACOB LACEY No star rating yet South Warren H.S. Bowling Green, Ky. Status: Offered Class: 2019 Position: Defensive Tackle Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 170 Rivals Rankings: Not currently rated "EVERYTHING ABOUT THAT PLACE MAKES ME WANT TO GO OUT THERE AND PLAY WITH THE GUYS MYSELF." LACEY ON NOTRE DAME "THEY HAVE SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO OFFER THAN OTHER PEOPLE, WITH ACADEMICS AND THE TRADITION THAT THEY HAVE." GRAHAM ON NOTRE DAME