Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2018 33 2018 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY BRYAN DRISKELL Disrespect. That's a term often associated with Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep de- fensive end Justin Ademilola. He had offers from Clemson, Geor- gia, Michigan, Auburn, Penn State and Nebraska, to name just a few. The 6-2, 246-pound end registered a combined 184 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss, 18.5 sacks and 32 quarter- back hurries in three years as a var- sity player. In spite of that, Ademilola never got any traction as a recruit from a rankings standpoint. He is a consen- sus three-star recruit and not one of the national all-star games sent him an invitation. "I think he feels an element of dis- respect or lack of respect," St. Peter's Prep head coach Rich Hansen said. "I think he feels he's been snubbed by some supposed geniuses. Whatever you use to motivate yourself make it legitimate and make it something that is important to you. "I think he legitimately feels that way, and I think it's important he goes out and plays his game. People will notice and recognize he's a really good football player." Ademilola admits that his ranking does drive him. "It's a big motivation," Ademilola said. "Every day I come out with my team and work hard." The work Ademilola put in to im- prove his game made him a far more productive player as a senior. Despite battling an ankle injury all season, he racked up 10 tackles for loss and six sacks in his final season. Hansen likes the fit Ademilola will bring to the Notre Dame defense, because it's ex- actly what he gave the St. Peter's unit. "Not every kid can put his hand down and also play in space and cover people with the same type of acumen," the coach explained. "The fact he can do that gives us a lot of flexibility de- fensively. It gives us a ton of opportu- nity to be creative. I think the defensive staff recognizes that and incorporates that in what we are trying to do. "Justin's athleticism has always been there. It's now putting it to- gether with his acceptance of his role and understanding his role and how good he can be in it." Ademilola will show up to Notre Dame with a strong desire to prove he belongs and to silence anyone he believes disrespected his game. ✦ Justin Ademilola Wants To Prove He Belongs Among The Nation's Best ESPN rated Ademilola as the nation's No. 30 defensive end. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM JUSTIN ADEMILOLA DEFENSIVE END 6-2 · 246 ST. PETER'S PREP JACKSON, N.J. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — 34 16 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 30 13 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 43 16 STATISTICS • Recorded 53 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, six sacks and five quarterback hurries as a senior, while helping St. Peter's Prep to a 9-3 mark and the New Jersey Non-Public Group 4 state title game. • Tallied 85 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and 20 quarterback hurries as a junior, while helping St. Peter's Prep to an 8-4 record and a state championship game appearance. HONORS • Tabbed as an All-USA New Jersey second- team selection by USA Today as a senior. • Earned second-team All-New Jersey accolades from NJ.com as a senior, and was a third-team pick as a junior. • Selected as a first-team All-Non Public School performer by NJ.com following his junior and senior seasons. • Received all-area honors from The Hudson Reporter as a sophomore, junior and senior. • Named to Tom Lemming's Junior All-America Team. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Competed in the Nike Football The Opening Regional in Florham Park, N.J., on April 30, 2017. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on June 26, 2016, after visiting campus for summer camp. • Chose the Irish over Michigan and Clemson. Also had offers from Auburn, Boston College, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan State, Nebraska and Penn State, among others. • Was recruited by defensive line coach Mike Elston. • Made a total of five visits to Notre Dame. First trip was on June 25, 2016, for Lineman Camp. Attended Notre Dame's Junior Day on Feb. 11, 2017, and came back to campus for the Blue-Gold Game on April 22, 2017. Competed in the Irish Invasion in June 2017 and made his official visit on Dec. 8-10 for the Echoes Banquet. NOTABLE • Born on Dec. 16, 1998. • Accepted into the Mendoza College of Busi- ness, Marketing and Finance. • His older brother Marcus is a junior wide receiver at Bucknell University and led the Bison with 32 catches this past season. • His younger sister Mya set New Jersey state records for an eighth grader in the 4x100-meter relay and long jump. 2018 PROJECTION • Notre Dame's depth at end will likely result in a redshirt season for Ademilola. THEY SAID IT Head coach Brian Kelly: "From the moment we first talked about the opportunity to play at Notre Dame, we knew Justin could achieve great things here." Defensive line coach Mike Elston: "Justin's go- ing to have such a chip on his shoulder for a world that's not respecting him as a football player. I think he's going to be the surprise of the class. I'm excited for what he brings to the table. "There is going to be something there with his aggressiveness and his mindset that he's going to run through the wall for you." BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "Ademi- lola was a much stronger player as a senior, and although his numbers dropped off, his impact against the run was better. He is a physical edge defender that can eat up the run game to his side. Ademilola has strong hands and uses good technique to set the edge, and when the ball comes his way he can quickly disengage and get to the football. "In the pass game, power moves have always been his forte, but Ademilola showed a few speed moves as a senior, which enhanced his pass- rushing repertoire. Just as important, Ademi- lola seemed to be at his best against the team's strongest opponents, which says a lot about his mindset."