Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/899989
44 NOV. 20, 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED PREP PROFILES West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West 2019 defensive end Steven Faucheux made trips to Notre Dame for the Blue-Gold Game this spring and a camp during the summer. So it doesn't come as a surprise that he would return in the fall for a regular-season game. The 6-4, 274-pounder made his way back to South Bend Nov. 4 to watch the Irish take down Wake Forest 48-37. "I enjoyed the game and the visit," Faucheux said. "That was the first time I really got to experience the at- mosphere. … That was the first time my mom came, so we toured the ath- letic facilities. "The stadium locker room was un- der construction last time, too, so I got to see it and the player walk. I also got to spend some time talking with Coach [Mike] Elston." For Faucheux, speaking with Elston again was the standout aspect of this trip to Notre Dame. "He said that he plans to come to my school to spend some time with me soon," Faucheux said. "He said that he's looking forward to being able to spend more time on the 2019 class as the early signing date gets closer. "He seems to be a family guy and a good teacher, but also very focused and very demanding." The Rivals250 prospect saw the Irish a little in action during the Blue-Gold Game, and liked the improvements he noticed from the spring to the stretch run of the 2017 campaign. "The defensive line seems a lot more physical, even more than they were in the spring game," Faucheux stated. "I liked the intensity level of the game and the defensive line. … They just seemed more intense, more physical and played a lot cleaner. "It was pretty big to see that they made the adjustments they needed to and that the players bought into it and now they are seeing results." While Notre Dame Stadium hosted several thousand fans this past April for the spring game, it was packed to watch the Irish take on Wake Forest, despite the rainy weather. "The atmosphere was really good," Faucheux explained. "I was surprised at how loud the crowd was and that the stadium was still packed even with the bad weather. … The player walk was pretty cool, too, seeing how hyped the fans were." — Corey Bodden Notre Dame hosted a number of junior prospects for the Wake Forest game Nov. 4, including Katy (Texas) Taylor offensive tackle Andrew Coker. Coker, a three-star prospect who is currently committed to Florida, got his first look at South Bend during the trip and came away impressed. "It went good," he said. "I loved the place. It was a very different environ- ment than I'm used to, but very good. I liked it and liked the people there." According to Coker, what stood out the most about the trip were the people he interacted with while on campus. "The people were different than they are here, but it was a good dif- ferent," he said. "Everybody was re- spectful, very nice and kind." Coker has already visited several different campuses, but said he has yet to see anything like what he saw in South Bend. "That was pretty cool," Coker said. "I'd never been to a game in the North and had never even been to the North in general. "I wanted to see how the people were. It was a great atmosphere." Following the game, Coker met with offensive line coach Harry Hi- estand, who told the Texas talent that he'd be taking a long look at his film going forward. "I talked to Coach Hiestand after the game," Coker said. "He said he hasn't seen my film yet, but is going to evaluate it and get back to me." After meeting Hiestand and learn- ing about his résumé, Coker realized he would love to play for a coach like that. "I know there are lot of Notre Dame offensive linemen that are playing in the NFL," Coker said. "He must have been doing a great job." Currently, Coker remains com- mitted to Florida. However, the Ga- tors' in-season firing of head coach Jim McElwain has given schools like Notre Dame an opportunity to get involved in Coker's recruitment. Coker holds additional offers from Indiana and Ole Miss, and more are sure to come. Notre Dame may just be one of those offers, and Coker said that would be a big deal for him. "It'd be a great thing," he said. "If I have an offer there that also means I'm doing pretty well in school, be- cause I know you have to get ac- cepted as well. "I think it would be pretty sig- nificant considering their academic power." — David McKinney 2019 Rivals250 DE Enjoys Third Trip To Notre Dame Junior Offensive Tackle Hoping For An Irish Offer After Visit STEVEN FAUCHEUX ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ West Chester, Ohio Lakota West H.S. Status: Interested Class: 2019 Position: Defensive End Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 274 Rivals Rankings: No. 10 strongside defensive end and No. 109 overall player in the nation ANDREW COKER ✪ ✪ ✪ Katy, Texas Taylor H.S. Status: Interested Class: 2019 Position: Offensive Tackle Ht.: 6-7 • Wt.: 335 Rivals Rankings: No. 38 offensive tackle in the country "I was surprised at how loud the crowd was and that the stadium was still packed even with the bad weather." FAUCHEUX ON NOTRE DAME'S GAME-DAY ATMOSPHERE NOV. 4 AGAINST WAKE FOREST