Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Notre Dame Among Top Two For Four-Star Athlete PREP PROFILES law is in the earlier phase of his re- cruitment, but it's off to a fast start with programs from around the country expressing interest. Last fall, the four-star recruit had Absecon, N.J., athlete Rashad Kin- one offer in hand, from in-state Rut- gers, and it wasn't until the New Year that new offers started to get added to the list — including one from Notre Dame in early March. "It's a great opportunity," the 6-0, of the month for junior day," the New Jersey native said. "They said they wanted me on campus as quick as possible so I can see everything. I'm going to fly out there, and I don't have any other visits planned right now but that one." While Kinlaw played signal-caller and in the environment. The sur- roundings will be important to me because I really don't want to go too far. I don't plan on going to school out West or in the South." RASHAD KINLAW 175-pound Absegami High star re- ported. "The tradition that it has stands out about them, and it's one of my top choices." Other programs that have offered Kinlaw include Boston College and Temple. He plays quarterback for his team, but Notre Dame is pursuing his ser- vices as a defensive back. He has taken junior day visits to Boston Col- lege, Maryland, Penn State and Rut- gers, and his next stop was sched- uled for South Bend on March 24. "I'm going down there at the end Bell was on quite the hot streak in mid-February with programs like Florida, Michigan, Nebraska and Rutgers all offering scholarships in a three-day stretch. By early March he added yet an- Jersey City, N.J., cornerback Tré other new offer, this one coming from Notre Dame. "Coach [and defensive coordina- tor Bob] Diaco told me how much they're interested in me," the 5-11, 175-pound St. Peter's Prep player said. "I'm big on tradition, and I know that Notre Dame has great tradition. I really want to go check it out all for myself." Bell is scheduled to attend Notre Dame's junior day on March 24, and other programs that are set to host him are Florida on April 7, South Carolina on April 14 and West Virginia on April 21. He plans on scheduling more trips as well and is ready to do his fair share of research on each stop. "Location really isn't a factor," he noted of what is important to him about a program. "I have no 46 APRIL 2012 exclusively in his junior campaign, he'll be on both sides of the football and lining up as cornerback for the Braves as a senior. He is also noted as having skills on special teams as a returner. The nation's No. 5 athlete currently has four scholarship offers in hand and feels that Iowa, Maryland and Penn State are the next three pro- grams that are most likely to offer. As the list of options continues to grow, he'll be targeting certain fac- tors about each program to decide on whether he'll reciprocate the interest. "I'm going to be looking at aca- recruit in New Jersey, No. 5 athlete in the land and No. 81 overall player nationally Position: Athlete Ht.: 6-0 · Wt.: 175 40-yard dash: 4.4 247Sports Ranking: No. 3 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Absegami High Absecon, N.J. consideration, he currently has two programs that stand out to him the most. "Notre Dame and Penn State are demics and the history of the school," Kinlaw said. "I'm going to research what goes on at the school my top two," Kinlaw added. The Irish will have an opportu- New Jersey CB With Irish Connection Is Ready To See Campus TRÉ BELL No. 32 cornerback in the country Position: Cornerback Ht.: 5-11 · Wt.: 175 247Sports Ranking: No. 12 prospect in New Jersey and St. Peter's Prep Jersey City, N.J. ✪ ✪ ✪ problem going out there and try- ing something new. As long as I feel comfortable in my surround- ings, then there shouldn't be any problems. "I'm going to be looking at how nity to pull out front during his late- March visit to South Bend. — Jason Sapp Prep, and the two New Jersey na- tives have remained in contact since then. "Elijah said he had a blast on his By taking those characteristics into visit, and that's great to hear about Notre Dame," Bell said. "It makes me want to get out there even more." The country's No. 32 cornerback notes that family will be a big part of his decision. He wants their full sup- port, but he'll be the one that ulti- mately makes his choice. He has yet to pare down his list of schools, and the upcoming trips will assist him in doing so for an early decision. I interact with the coaching staff. I want to find a family fit at the school because my high school is really big on that now." Bell notched 36 tackles, three in- terceptions, 10 pass breakups and two forced fumbles in his junior campaign. As a sophomore, he played against AND I KNOW THAT NOTRE DAME HAS GREAT TRADITION." TRÉ BELL "I'M BIG ON TRADITION, one of his former teammates from Pop Warner, current Irish safety signee Elijah Shumate of Don Bosco out what I like about the schools, then I'll see about narrowing it down," Bell said. "I'm going to commit before my senior season, so I'll need to have all that figured out soon." "Once I take some visits and find — Jason Sapp BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED