Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/81334
Recruiting Notes • Running back Tarean Folston of Cocoa (Fla.) High has Notre Dame in his group of leaders, and all signs point to him taking an official visit to South Bend sometime in the future, even though he originally told 247Sports that he wouldn’t take an official if he hadn’t visited unofficially during the summer. He fits into the hybrid running back/slot receiver mold, and the Irish coaching staff is in pursuit of him to add another playmaker to the 2013 recruiting class. Florida State, Miami, Tennessee and USF are among the programs that he visited over the summer. Folston is rated by 247Sports as the No. 14 running back in the land, the No. 25 player in Florida and the country’s No. 182 overall prospect. • Phoenix Brophy College Prep wide receiver Devon Allen released a list of five schools that he’s focused on — Arkansas, Ohio State, Stanford, Texas and UCLA. He took a Midwest tour this past summer that included stops at Michigan and Ohio State in addition to Notre Dame, and the fact that he spoke highly of the Irish following the trip doesn’t give the impression that Notre Dame is fully out of it just yet. If Allen decides to make a decision sooner than expected, then the Irish figure to be out for the nation’s No. 23 wide receiver, No. 5 player in Arizona and No. 212 overall prospect in the land according to 247Sports. But if he goes through with taking official visits, the program will continue to try to stay in the race. • Wide receiver Alvin Bailey, who is tabbed as the No. 24 wide receiver nationally, the No. 31 player in Florida and the country’s No. 213 overall prospect by 247Sports, has officially cut his list down to Central Florida, Florida and Notre Dame. Every source close to the situation tells Blue & Gold Illustrated that he intends on staying within the state’s border, but a factor working in Notre Dame’s favor is that his mother has high interest in the program. If the Irish find early success in the 2012 season and are able to get him to make an official visit, they could make strides in his recruitment. • Outside linebacker/defensive end Ebenezer Ogundeko of Brooklyn (N.Y) Jefferson altered his plans of making an early decision, which looked to have Florida in the best position to land his pledge. While Notre Dame has remained a factor in his recruitment because of the program’s interest in taking another player that fits the hybrid role in the class, he tells Blue & Gold Illustrated that Florida and Syracuse are currently in the top two spots on his list. He wants to take all five official visits before deciding. Alabama, Arizona State, Clemson and Ole Miss are among the other programs under consideration. Ogundeko is rated by 247Sports as the No. 18 strongside defensive end in the land and the No. 3 player in New York. • Immokalee (Fla.) High cornerback MacKensie Alexander still calls Notre Dame regularly, and he has a strong interest in the program. The main hurdle will be getting the 247Sports’ No. 4 cornerback in the country, No. 7 player in Florida and No. 27 overall player nationally to leave the Southeast, and he may also find it tough to play at a program different than his twin brother, MacKenro, who is not being recruited by the Irish. At this point, Notre Dame still looks to be trailing, but the Irish legitimately remain as an option in the race, and his recruiter, Tony Alford, is working to lock up an official visit. Clemson could be a program to watch for Alexander’s services if he does leave the state of Florida. • With two commitments in the fold for the 2014 crop in wide receiver Justin Brent of Indianapolis Speedway and linebacker Greer Martini of Woodberry Forest (Va.) Academy, a prospect to watch to potentially be No. 3 in the campaign is athlete Tommy Mister of Oak Lawn (Ill.) Richards. The Illinois native will be on hand for the Michigan game on Sept. 22, and he’ll be one to keep an eye on if all goes well in the night-game atmosphere. — Jason Sapp 247sports Team Recruiting Rankings Rankings as of Aug. 31 Rk.SchoolCommits 1.USC18 2.Alabama19 3.Michigan23 4.Florida18 5.Notre Dame19 6.Auburn17 7.Ohio State16 8.Clemson19 9.LSU23 10.Georgia26 OFFICIAL VISIT LIST Sept. 22: Michigan RB Corey Clement — committed to Pitt LB Michael Deeb — committed WR Torii Hunter Jr. — offered RB Jamel James — committed DB Cole Luke — offered DB L.J. Moore — offered WR Corey Robinson — committed WR Juwaan Williams — offered DB Priest Willis — offered Oct. 13: Stanford LB Isaac Savaiinaea — committed to Stanford