Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/783750
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2017 61 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE "I went up there with my dad on my first visit for spring practice," Brock explained. "It was my first time up there. We hadn't had contact with any coaches yet at all. We didn't really know what to expect." One thing they definitely weren't expecting was a scholarship offer, but that's what happened. "We were really just there to check everything out," Brock said. "We sat down with Brian Kelly, and he told me they were going to offer me. My dad and I looked at each other shocked." The four-star said the excitement he and his father shared in that mo- ment was unlike any he can remem- ber. "We weren't really expecting that," Brock said. "You can imagine that was a pretty cool feeling right there. We were excited. We were through the roof." Of course, nothing could happen without mom's approval, but that was taken care of quickly. "The moment we checked in at the Morris Inn and the person at the desk handed my wife a daily mass sched- ule, I knew she was done," Len said. The accolades poured in for Brock after his senior year at Cy-Fair. He was an Under Armour All-American and earned first-team All-Texas hon- ors from USA Today. Despite all the recognition, he and the rest of Notre Dame's 2017 class will be starting from the bot- tom this spring and fall. Stepping into a crowded tight end depth chart, Wright said he's just looking forward to contributing in any way possible. "We want to go in there and try to make a difference," he said of the incoming freshmen. "We know we're going to be young guys and we'll be behind, but we want to do anything we can to help out. "Everyone is pumped to get up there and be a part of it. We know there will be special things coming in the next couple of years." ✦ BROCK WRIGHT TIGHT END 6-5 • 245 CY-FAIR H.S. CYPRESS, TEXAS RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 44 1 5 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 29 1 6 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 189 6 25 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 76 3 11 MEASURABLES • Recorded a time of 23.90 seconds in the 200 meters at the 2015 Will Taylor Relays. • Personal best in the shot put is a throw of 47 feet. STATISTICS • As a senior, hauled in 30 receptions for 491 yards and four touchdowns. • Caught 17 passes for 396 yards and two scores during his junior campaign. HONORS • Named first-team All-USA Texas by USA Today after his senior year. • Tabbed as a 2016 Texas High School Coaches Association Academic All-State Team selection. • Selected as first-team tight end on Texas District 17-6A squad in 2016. • Earned first-team All-Greater Houston hon- ors from The Houston Chronicle. • One of three tight ends named to The Waco Tribune-Herald Top 100. • Ranked as the nation's No. 26 overall player and No. 1 tight end by Tom Lemming 's Prep Football Report. • Listed as a five-star member of the PrepStar Top 300 Dream Team, ranked as the No. 57 overall prospect and No. 2 tight end nationally. • Received 2016 Cy-Fair Offensive Player of the Year honors. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Participated in the 2016 Under Armour All- America Game. Led Team Highlight in receiving yards with 45 on two catches. • As a junior, was one of 50 underclassmen to take part in the Under Armour Future50 camp. • Attended Notre Dame's Irish Invasion camp on June 20, 2015. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on June 26, 2015. • Held 22 other offers, including programs such as Alabama, Texas and Michigan. • Took his official visit to Notre Dame Dec. 9-11, 2016, for the Echoes ceremony. • In all, he visited Notre Dame four times. NOTABLE • Born Nov. 27, 1998. • Enrolled at Notre Dame in January 2017. • One of 11 early enrollees listed by Sports Il- lustrated to possibly earn significant roles as true freshmen. • His brother Brady is a defensive end at Rice University. • His sister Emily is a two-year letter winner in volleyball at Texas Tech. • Plans to major in business finance. 2017 PROJECTION • Being an early enrollee gives Wright an op- portunity to compete for immediate playing time at tight end. THEY SAID IT Head coach Brian Kelly: "Arguably one of the best, if not the best tight end in the country." Offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Chip Long: "I see a very imposing player. Very strong and very tough. He's just a great kid and is very intelligent. He's another young man that I see early in the weight room with these guys getting after it. He can be one on one with a linebacker or a safety and win. "The defense has to account for him. He can really set the edge that we want in this offense, and he can do all of it with great speed and great athleticism which really excites me." BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "Wright is a true dual-threat tight end. He is a dominat- ing blocker with the size and power to see the field in that role as a true freshman. He would not, however, be considered an elite tight end if he was just a blocker; the Cy-Fair standout is a strong pass catcher with excellent hands and ball skills. He shows a great feel for soft spots in the zone and is big and athletic enough to win one-on-one matchups against man coverage. "His ability to thrive attached to the line should allow Notre Dame to make great use of its two tight end sets." Rivals national recruiting director Mike Far- rell: "A big, physical tight end who can block and play inline or flex out and become a mismatch for linebackers and safeties. Has a knack for find- ing the soft spot in the defense and can box out defenders easily." Wright is listed as the nation's top tight end by both Rivals and ESPN. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM