Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 2, 2017 45 PREP PROFILES Notre Dame extended its 2019 cor- nerback board by one Sept. 19 when it offered Rancho Cucamonga (Calif.) High product Jeremiah Criddell. The No. 6 cornerback in the class of 2019 and No. 60 overall player in the nation, Criddell said he was thrilled to hear the news. The four-star holds a ton of big-time offers already, but said the Notre Dame opportunity will shake up his recruiting process. "That's a prestigious school," Crid- dell said. "Getting offered by them changes my recruitment program by a lot. I'm going to definitely have them high on my [list]." According to Criddell, Notre Dame has been contacting him for a while now, and he's already built up a bond with special teams and recruiting coor- dinator Brian Polian. "They've been communicating with me for about a month or two," Crid- dell said. "They'll just hit me up with little conversations here and there. I've just been talking to the coaches and getting to know them a little bit better." Criddell said Polian mostly asks him about his season and how he's been performing on the field. "We've been chatting it up," he said. "He just asks how my games have been going and stuff like that." Along with his conversations with Polian, Criddell said he's been doing some independent research on the Irish and likes what he's seen so far. "There's a lot of tradition there, and the academics are really good," Crid- dell said. "Their coaching staff is really good, and they know how to develop players really well." Now that an offer is on the table, Criddell said a visit to Notre Dame is a definite possibility. The California talent said he wants to get an up-close look at the history surrounding the Irish program. "It's just something to really be proud about, getting that offer," he said. With the tender, Notre Dame joins a long list of offers for Criddell that includes Alabama, Oregon, Nebraska, UCLA and USC. It's early in Criddell's recruitment, but that doesn't mean the big-time cornerback doesn't already know what he wants in a college football program. "Definitely a family vibe," Criddell said. "It's business, but at the same time it has to be family." — David McKinney Royal Center (Ind.) Pioneer 2019 linebacker Jack Kiser was at both of Notre Dame's first two home games, against Temple and Georgia. He wasn't expecting to get the Georgia invite, but he's glad it came. "Originally I was only invited to a select few games, and I went to the home opener against Temple," Kiser said. "The following week I was in- vited back for the Georgia game, and that was a no-brainer. The game was awesome. I was shocked with how much red there was. "Everything went great during the visit. I just wish that the Irish would have won. … I'm not sure why I got invited back, but to be invited back for the Georgia game was really neat for me." The 6-2, 206-pounder enjoyed both trips, but the Georgia atmosphere caught his attention. "There was a lot more away fans which added to the atmosphere, and I feel like the student section was rocking a lot more compared to the Temple game," Kiser explained. "Having it on Saturday night under the lights brought a special feel to the game." Before kickoff, Kiser had the oppor- tunity to speak with Irish linebackers coach Clark Lea. "He talked to me about the game plan against Georgia," Kiser said. "Also, he was just really excited that I was back and wished me a healthy second half of my season. Coach Lea seems very real, which is something I look for." Kiser was also impressed with Notre Dame's defense and how the Irish performed against the Bulldogs. "Georgia has two really good run- ning backs, and I felt like the line- backers did a great job limiting them," Kiser said. "Number 23 [Drue Tran- quill] came up with a big pick, too. … They flow to the ball very well, and they seem to always be in the right spot at the right time." With his schedule, Kiser isn't sure if he will get back to Notre Dame this fall. Right now, he's focused on con- tinuing his team's hot start to 2017. Pi- oneer began the season 5-0 and hadn't allowed a point on defense so far. Kiser will continue to be a name to watch in terms of the Irish and its 2019 recruiting efforts. The junior 's offer list currently includes Iowa, In- diana and Purdue, among others. — Corey Bodden Top 2019 Cornerback Is Excited To Land Irish Offer In-State Linebacker Enjoys Second Notre Dame Visit JEREMIAH CRIDDELL ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ Rancho Cucamonga H.S. Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Class: 2019 Status: Offered Position: Cornerback Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 185 Rivals Rankings: No. 6 cor- nerback and No. 60 overall player in the nation JACK KISER ✪ ✪ ✪ Pioneer H.S. Royal Center, Ind. Class: 2019 Status: Interested Position: Linebacker Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 206 Rivals Rankings: Currently unrated "GETTING OFFERED BY THEM CHANGES MY RECRUITMENT PROGRAM BY A LOT. I'M GOING TO DEFINITELY HAVE THEM HIGH ON MY [LIST]." CRIDDELL ON NOTRE DAME "EVERYTHING WENT GREAT DURING THE VISIT. … I'M NOT SURE WHY I GOT INVITED BACK, BUT TO BE INVITED BACK FOR THE GEORGIA GAME WAS REALLY NEAT FOR ME." KISER ON VISITING NOTRE DAME A SECOND TIME