Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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68 MARCH 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED FOOTBALL RECRUITING BY BRYAN DRISKELL N otre Dame is off to a great start with its 2018 class, having already secured six commitments. While the Irish had departures from their 2017 haul, the committed players from the 2018 class remain locked into their pledges to Notre Dame. The group was ranked No. 4 nationally by Rivals entering the second week of February. "I feel it's going to be a great class," recruiting coordinator Mike Elston said on National Signing Day Feb. 1. "It was amazing what we were able to do. We had a lot of transition in the recruiting class. … The 2018 class has a chance to be very special, [though] it may not be as big of a class as it's been the last couple years." Elston is referring to the fact that in 2017 the Irish have just eight schol- arship athletes that enter their final season of eligibility. However, there will be natural attrition on the roster, and Notre Dame is likely shooting for a class between 20-22 players. Head coach Brian Kelly expressed what the team's top needs would be in this class. "The corner position will be a point of emphasis for us," he noted. "I think elite speed on offense will be a primary goal for us. Guys that can change the game on one possession. … We want a couple of home run hitters. "On the defensive side of the ball, we continue to move towards the needs that Mike [Elko] has defensively Notre Dame Is Off To A Strong Start With Its 2018 Class Notre Dame quarterback commit Phil Jurkovec, Rivals' No. 55 player nationally, is the centerpiece of an excellent 2018 class. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM