Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2018 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 155 16 different states, including three from New Jersey, three from Georgia, three from Flor- ida and three from California. Top Five Storylines THE GOLDEN BOY The first commitment of Notre Dame's 2018 class may also prove to be the most important. On May 16, 2016, four-star quarterback Phil Jurkovec of Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Rich- land committed to Notre Dame, kicking off what would eventually become the biggest class in the Brian Kelly era at Notre Dame. Over the year-plus since he committed, Jurkovec has become one of the most deco- rated high school athletes in the country. He played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, and also took home All-America honors from CBS Sports, MaxPreps and USA Today. As a senior, Jurkovec completed 234 of 334 passes for 3,969 yards with 39 touch- downs and six interceptions, while also rush- ing for 1,211 yards and 24 touchdowns on 132 carries. After leading Pine-Richland to a 16-0 re- cord and its first-ever 6A state champion- ship, he continued to pile up the honors. The signal-caller was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Pennsylvania, the Pennsylva- nia 6A Player of the Year and the USA Today Pennsylvania Offensive Player of the Year. When he inked with Notre Dame during the early signing period from Dec. 20-23, Jurkovec gave Notre Dame its third Ri- vals100 quarterback in the Kelly era, joining five-star Gunner Kiel in 2012 and Brandon Wimbush in 2015. Jurkovec chose Notre Dame over offers from Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, UCLA, Virginia Tech, Wis- consin and several others. Along with his accomplishments on the gridiron, Jurkovec was a leader in the 2018 class for Notre Dame, especially when it came to recruiting the wide receiver position. He was instrumental in Notre Dame landing a four-man receiver class that included four- stars Micah Jones of Gurnee (Ill.) Warren Township, Kevin Austin of Coconut Creek (Fla.) North Broward Prep, Braden Lenzy of Tigard (Ore.) High and Lawrence Keys of New Orleans McDonogh 35. Jurkovec attended several Notre Dame home games in 2016 and 2017, including an official visit for the USC game last season. He did not visit any other schools after com- mitting to the Irish. In the final Rivals rankings for the 2018 class, Jurkovec checked in as the No. 5 dual- threat quarterback and No. 87 overall player in the nation. In addition to his participation in the 2018 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, Jurkovec was also one of six finalists for the U.S. Army Player of the Year, an award that would eventually be given to Clemson quar- terback signee Trevor Lawrence. THE FOUR HORSEMEN AT LINEBACKER After landing a trio of three-star line- backer in the class of 2017, Notre Dame followed up with one of the best incoming groups at the position in the country. Ovie Oghoufo, a Nike Football The Open- ing finalist from Farmington Hills (Mich.) Harrison, committed to Notre Dame on July 22, 2016, kicking off the haul. A few weeks after that, the second line- backer commit came for Notre Dame when four-star middle linebacker Bo Bauer of Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep announced his pledge to the Irish Aug. 3. In the final Rivals rankings, Bauer was listed as the No. 5 inside linebacker and No. 158 overall player in the class. Just less than a year later, Notre Dame landed two more four-star linebackers in two days. On July 25, 2017, four-star rover Shayne Simon committed to Notre Dame, joining his Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep teammates defensive tackle Jayson Ademi- lola and defensive end Justin Ademilola. Two days later, Rivals100 linebacker Jack Lamb announced his commitment to Notre Dame over a list of finalists that included Oregon, Washington, UCLA and Penn State. Of the four signees, three of them — Lamb, Oghoufo and Bauer — enrolled early at Notre Dame. The 2018 class marked the second time in the Kelly era that Notre Dame signed four linebackers in one year. Not only does this class stick out from a talent standpoint, but it added much needed depth at the position. Of the three lineback- ers the Irish signed in the 2017 class, two of them — David Adams of Pittsburgh Central Catholic and Drew White of Fort Lauderdale Recruiting Responsibilities DelVaughn Alexander (wide receivers) — Wide receivers, Los Angeles area Autry Denson (running backs) — Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and South Carolina Mike Elston (defensive line) — Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania Jeff Quinn (offensive line) — Offensive line Clark Lea (Defensive coordinator) — Defensive prospects, Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia Chip Long (offensive coordinator) — Tight ends and general offensive prospects Tom Rees (quarterbacks) — Quarterbacks, Illinois, Kansas and Wisconsin Todd Lyght (cornerbacks) — Cornerbacks, Texas and Michigan Terry Joseph (safeties) — Safeties, Louisiana and Georgia Brian Polian (special teams/recruiting coordinator) — California, Oregon, Washington, Hawai'i and the rest of the West region Temecula (Calif.) Great Oak four-star linebacker Jack Lamb was one of three Rivals250 linebackers to sign with Notre Dame in the class of 2018. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM