Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/921206
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com FEBRUARY 2018 13 THEY SAID IT "Notre Dame's Quenton Nelson is probably the most agreed upon prospect that I've dis- cussed with scouts. When I told an exec last week that I'd probably write that Nelson was 'maybe a better guard prospect than ex-teammate Zack Martin,' he told me to take the 'maybe' out of there. In 2014, Martin, you may remember, became the first rookie linemen to make first-team All-Pro in 57 years. I had Nelson going fifth in my mock." Sports Illustrated NFL reporter Albert Breer on Irish senior guard Quenton Nelson "The Fighting Irish signed nine ESPN 300s and 12 four-star prospects in the early window, including quar- terback Phil Jurkovec out of the Keystone State. Future pass-catching targets will be plentiful with ESPN 300s Kevin Austin, Micah Jones, Joseph Wilkins Jr. and tight ends George Takacs and Tommy Tremble. ESPN 300 speedster Braden Lenzy was committed to Notre Dame and then Oregon before inking with Notre Dame on Friday. "The future of the safety position is in great hands with ESPN 300s Derrik Allen and one-time Florida State verbal Houston Griffith. Rangy linebackers that faxed in letters of intent are Under Armour All-America Game selection Jack Lamb, high school safety Shayne Simon and Matthew Bauer. Twins Jayson Ademilola and Justin Ademilola were solid wins out of the Garden State. Brian Kelly and staff will likely add another key piece or two come February." — ESPN on giving Notre Dame's 2018 class an A- grade after the early signing period "Brey has since become a cornerstone not only in Notre Dame athletics, but also in college basketball. When he took over, the Irish hadn't been to an NCAA Tournament in a decade. Tumbleweeds would have looked appropriate rolling through the Joyce Center, with many of its multicolored, 1970s-style cushioned seats wrapped in duct tape. "… At Notre Dame, which has an alumni base permanently anxiety-ridden over football and known as a bit of a wine-and-cheese crowd, Brey has become like a favorite Irish uncle you can grab a pint with." — Shannon Ryan of The Chicago Tribune on Irish men's basketball coach Mike Brey "Mike Brey's guys have seen their projected seed suffer thanks to early-season setbacks at the hands of Michigan State, Indiana and, yes, Ball State. Still, what has made the Irish dangerous in recent tournaments remains present with this latest team. Bonzie Colson is a potential Wooden Award winner, ND makes shots and, perhaps most stealthily, this team never ever commits turnovers. "It's easy to envision a higher-seeded tournament opponent thinking it's scoring well against the Fighting Irish, only to find that Brey's team has somehow ended the game with more points simply through accu- mulating a higher number of turnover-free opportunities." — ESPN's John Gasaway on Notre Dame being a major conference team that could make noise in the NCAA Tournament OF THE MONTH "First @accmbb Player of the Week award earned by @Bcolson_35!!" The official Notre Dame men's basketball account (@NDmbb) Dec. 26 PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL UNDER THE DOME BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED PO Box 2331 • Durham, NC 27702 1-800-421-7751 Visit our online store! www.BlueGoldOnline.com Delivery limited to continental U.S. Please Add Sales Tax For Items Shipping To: (NC 7.5%, IN 7%, MI 6%) Notre Dame CLEARANCE LIMITED QUANTITIES Offer Good While Supply Lasts Magazine Binders Item #6099 $24.95 + $6.50 S&H Item #6214 Father Ted Hesburgh (Reg. $16.95) $13.95 $4.00 S&H Item #6483 Bulova Watch (Reg. $229.95) $209.95 FREE S&H (Reg. $24.95+S&H) Only Black Available Item #6563 Leather TriFold Wallet $17.95 FREE S&H