Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com DECEMBER 2017 33 FOOTBALL RECRUITING athlete at the position, running well enough to line up outside in certain looks, and he is a matchup nightmare for linebackers and safeties when lined up as a more traditional tight end. He ran a 4.63 in the 40-yard dash, posted a 4.20 in the pro shuttle and leaped 35.8 inches at The Opening Regional at Atlanta in March. That kind of speed in a player that is al- ready 6-4 and 225 pounds is special. Once he fills out, there is no reason to think he can't handle himself on the edge in blocking situations. He needs work as a route run- ner and attacking the ball, but he has good body control and natural hands. Notre Dame is Tremble's leader, but he is still considering Georgia and Michigan. JAYSON OWEH DEFENSIVE END • 6-5, 235 BLAIRSTOWN (N.J.) BLAIR ACADEMY Oweh has played just two years of football, but there are few defen- sive ends in the country that possess his combination of size potential and athletic skills. He displays a supreme burst off the edge despite not playing with consistently desired pad level. His change-of-direction skills are top- notch, and he closes on the quarter- back extremely well. Oweh has the frame to continue adding strength and mass, which could eventually result in him be- coming more of a strongside end in college. Despite the need for further development, he is a tough player with impressive natural strength. Once his technique and weight room strength match his raw tools, Oweh could explode as a player. Notre Dame currently trails Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan. HOUSTON GRIFFITH CORNERBACK • 6-1, 192 BRADENTON (FLA.) IMG ACADEMY Griffith has outstanding size for the cornerback position, and he is a technically sound and smart football player. He brings physicality to the position, which is one reason he proj- ects so well to safety. If a team is willing to keep him at cornerback and let him play off coverage he can excel, because he is able to plant and drive on the ball. He makes good reads and plays the ball well. Should Griffith struggle to handle man coverage as a cornerback, his 6-1, 192-pound frame and physicality would allow him to make a smooth transition to safety, a position he has played at times for IMG Academy. The Florida State commit contin- ues to talk to Notre Dame, and the Irish staff continues to make him a priority. LAWRENCE KEYS WIDE RECEIVER • 5-11, 160 NEW ORLEANS MCDONOGH Keys is an efficient athlete with smooth and easy movements. De- spite a lack of outstanding testing numbers, he blows past defenders on film and shows big-play ability once he gets the ball in his hands. He is a technician whose quick burst off the line helps him maximize his athletic skills. He is an advanced route runner that shows a knack for getting open. His loose hips, quick feet and burst help him explode out of his breaks, and his ability to make sudden double moves makes him difficult to guard. Those traits also make him dangerous after the catch. Keys is undersized at 5-11, 160, but his overall game is impressive. He has outstanding ball skills and makes tough catches in traffic. He has the body and playmaking ability of a slot player, but his route- running ability, athleticism and ball skills project to the outside positions. Notre Dame, LSU and Houston are the most serious players for Keys. KYLER GORDON CORNERBACK • 5-10, 175 EVERETT (WASH.) ARCHBISHOP MURPHY Gordon isn't an elite athlete and he lacks ideal size, but he knows how to make plays through instincts and technique. He's one of the top run defend- ers on the board, and he plays much bigger than his size. Gordon is an ef- ficient athlete that gets the most out of his physical talent. Gordon shows solid foot quick- ness, and his lateral movements are quite good, but his balance and lower body strength are his two best physi- cal assets. He is a technician with a high football IQ, is precise with his move- ments and takes good angles to the football as both a pass and run de- fender. Notre Dame is in great position with Gordon, but Washington is also very much in the mix. AVONTA CRIM SAFETY • 6-0, 195 OCALA (FLA.) VANGUARD Crim is one of the most under- rated players in the class. Listed as a low three-star prospect by Rivals, he shows traits that far surpass that grade. The 6-0, 195-pounder is a smooth athlete that covers a lot of ground, despite lacking outstanding speed and athletic skills. He changes direc- tion relatively well, and his transition ability is good for a safety. Crim played a lot of cornerback as a senior, which speaks to his cover- age ability. Safety is where he best fits in college, but his coverage ability makes him a dual-threat player at the position. He plays the ball well, and he does a very good job of tracking the ball when covering deep. Of course, he will have to continue getting stronger at the next level, but Crim is a physi- cal player that is more than willing to come into the box and deliver punish- ment. ✦ Everett (Wash.) Archbishop Murphy cornerback Kyler Gordon is the No. 27 prospect at his posi- tion nationally according to Rivals. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM