Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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8 SEPT. 18, 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Tom Lemming is regarded as one of the best in the business when it comes to football recruit- ing. Now with CBS Sports hosting "The Lemming Report," he has worked with ESPN, USA Today and Sporting News. His annual magazine, Tom Lemming Prep Foot- ball Report, is produced after he spends months on the road scouting top football recruits from coast to coast. It has been regarded as the "Bible" of football recruiting. BGI: When you look at Notre Dame's 2018 class, what do you see as the strengths and weaknesses? Lemming: "You can always count on the of- fensive line being a strength with Harry Hiestand there. I really like their linebackers, and I think all three are quality ballplayers that could be starters. "Phil Jurkovec is one of the top three quarter- backs in the country. They have a couple of good running backs. Derrik Allen is a five-star defender when he's healthy. … Overall, I think the class is outstanding." BGI: Who is the top guy on offense and defense in your mind? Lemming: "Derrik Allen and Phil Jurkovec. Even though he was hurt last season, Jurkovec still made all state because they have so much re- spect for him. … "I've watched Derrik develop since his freshman year. He's a hard-hitting safety with great instincts and terrific range. He just plays the position natu- rally and with a lot of confidence. He's a guy who could be a team leader. He has all the ingredients to be a college All-American." BGI: What are your thoughts on Notre Dame's staff as recruiters? Lemming: "When Brian Kelly goes to the house, he's a good recruiter. Then you have Mike Elston who has always done an excellent job along with Harry Hiestand. The two coordinators, who I think are really good, have done an excellent job as well. "It 's the complete opposite from last year where the coordi- nators were almost non-existent in recruiting. … Overall, they've gone from a below-average re- cruiting staff to an above –average recruiting staff." BGI: Which guys can make an early impact at Notre Dame? Lemming: "If Brandon Wimbush continues playing well, Jurkovec may have to settle being a backup for a little while. If some guys leave at running back, Markese Stepp, who missed his ju- nior year, is a power workhorse. … Wide receiver Kevin Austin will play right away. … "It's always hard to tell with linebackers, but Matthew Bauer almost went to Penn State, and Notre Dame was fortunate to get a guy like that. Jack Lamb is a long, ath- letic guy who can play outside when he gets stronger. … The Ademilola brothers, Jayson and Justin, could see action early because they are powerhouse guys, as is Shayne Simon who I compare favorably to Derrik Allen." BGI: What can make this a special class? Lemming: "They really need help in the secondary. That's where they can really help themselves by landing guys like Houston Griffith and Kalon Gervin from Cass Tech in Detroit, and maybe get lucky on another guy. "You can never have too many defensive ends, so Thomas Booker from Maryland and Jayson Oweh from New Jersey are guys that could help there. … A victory over Georgia could go a long way enhanc- ing the class and making it something special." — Corey Bodden Five Questions With … FOOTBALL RECRUITING ANALYST TOM LEMMING The Spartans Are At Their Best Versus Irish By Lou Somogyi In Notre Dame's last 13 outings at an opponent's home stadium, dating back to 2013, it is 3-10. Any road victory inspires relief (see 11th-hour wins at Vir- ginia and Temple in 2015), and the contests at Boston College (Sept. 16) and Michigan State (Sept. 23) might be no different — even though the Eagles are 2-14 in the ACC the past two years and the Spartans were a horrid 3-9 in 2016. BC has a proclivity for playing the Fighting Irish tough and catches them the week after the Georgia game. However, the trip to East Lansing presents more problems. One, the Spartans will have a little extra rest with a bye Sept. 16. Two, this is their "Redemp- tion Bowl" to show they are back and resilient after all the offseason negativity. Third, Michigan State — no matter how out- matched it might look on paper, as it does this year — has a knack, especially under 11th-year head coach Mark Dantonio, of playing its best in the marquee games versus Notre Dame, Michi- gan and Ohio State. Even during last year's misery, the Spartans won at Notre Dame 36-28 (af- ter leading 36-7 at one point), lost only 17-16 to the Buckeyes, and had won seven of eight against the Wolverines before falling 32-23 in 2017. Finally, Dantonio is a proven, excellent coach, winning a minimum of 11 games five times since 2010. He is plenty capable of righting the ship, and his Spartans will be ready. The Eagles Present A Tough Matchup For Notre Dame By Bryan Driskell Boston College will be a tougher matchup for Notre Dame than Michigan State for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact the game comes a week after Notre Dame's showdown versus Georgia. If the Irish beat the Bulldogs, there is the concern they could overlook the Eagles. If they lose, the worry would be that the negative momentum would carry over to the BC contest. In addition, a brutal offseason has taken many of the Spartans' best players off their roster, while head coach Steve Addazio's team returns the majority of its top performers from a season ago. Neither team has much of an offense at this point, but BC does boast a more experienced offensive line. Where Boston College could present the great- est matchup problem is with its defense. The Ea- gles have been good on that side of the ball for many years now, and the current group should continue that. It all starts up front for the Eagles. Senior de- fensive end Harold Landry is one of the premier players in the country after racking up 22 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks last season. He's incredibly disruptive and will line up over Notre Dame's inexperienced right tackles. Landry is not a one-man show, though. Last year, Boston College ranked ninth in the country with 106 tackles for loss. A defense that can create that many negative plays could cause problems for the Irish offense. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHICH ROAD GAME WILL BE A MORE DIFFICULT CHALLENGE: BOSTON COLLEGE OR MICHIGAN STATE? MARK DANTONIO STEVE ADDAZIO Lemming has been scouting high school football players since 1978. PHOTO COURTESY TOM LEMMING