Here are tonight's Lucky Charms...
*** St. Louis (Mo.) De Smet 2021 cornerback Jakailin Johnson announced a top six list of Oklahoma, Ohio State, Missouri, USC, Florida and Clemson last week, and many of my colleagues contacted me after that was released and told me how surprised they were that Notre Dame didn't make the cut. And for the record, I was certainly surprised too. I didn't feel that Notre Dame was the team to beat, but I thought they'd be in it for the long run as long as he checked out academically.
*** Johnson released a top six last fall that included Notre Dame, and he made another group of favorites very soon after De Smet head coach Robert Steeples was told that he would not be hired as the Irish's cornerbacks coach. Coincidence? I'd certainly imagine not. A source close to Johnson told me that Steeples being hired would really shake up Johnson's recruitment, and it appears that Notre Dame not hiring Steeples endedf things between the Irish and Johnson.
*** As much as Notre Dame loved Johnson's talent, I never got the sense that the Irish staff made a big push for him. Could that have been because of grades? Maybe. It also could've been related to Johnson not having the means to consistently be in communication with college coaches, or maybe it was the Irish coaches just not recruiting Johnson as hard as other schools. Either way, Johnson is likely to end up at Ohio State and I'd be shocked if Notre Dame gets back in it with him.
*** Did Notre Dame burn a bridge at De Smet by not hiring Steeples? Absolutely not, unless what I was told was just lip service. Steeples' interview at Notre Dame went well, and those involved in the meeting (Kelly, Joseph, Lea, based on what I heard) really enjoyed the meeting. Steeples left Notre Dame really impressed with the Irish program and has no hard feelings whatsoever. De Smet is a powerhouse faith-based school in St. Louis that Notre Dame will continue to recruit.
*** 2023 De Smet tight end Mac Markway will visit Notre Dame for the March 21 weekend. The freshman prospect holds an early offer from Michigan and stands at 6-3, 230-pounds. 2022 De Smet safety Kaleb Purdy is a prospect who I feel that Notre Dame will eventually offer. Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Michigan have offered him so far. There are a couple other 2023 prospects too who Notre Dame may recruit down the road at De Smet too.
*** St. Louis (Mo.) De Smet 2021 cornerback Jakailin Johnson announced a top six list of Oklahoma, Ohio State, Missouri, USC, Florida and Clemson last week, and many of my colleagues contacted me after that was released and told me how surprised they were that Notre Dame didn't make the cut. And for the record, I was certainly surprised too. I didn't feel that Notre Dame was the team to beat, but I thought they'd be in it for the long run as long as he checked out academically.
*** Johnson released a top six last fall that included Notre Dame, and he made another group of favorites very soon after De Smet head coach Robert Steeples was told that he would not be hired as the Irish's cornerbacks coach. Coincidence? I'd certainly imagine not. A source close to Johnson told me that Steeples being hired would really shake up Johnson's recruitment, and it appears that Notre Dame not hiring Steeples endedf things between the Irish and Johnson.
*** As much as Notre Dame loved Johnson's talent, I never got the sense that the Irish staff made a big push for him. Could that have been because of grades? Maybe. It also could've been related to Johnson not having the means to consistently be in communication with college coaches, or maybe it was the Irish coaches just not recruiting Johnson as hard as other schools. Either way, Johnson is likely to end up at Ohio State and I'd be shocked if Notre Dame gets back in it with him.
*** Did Notre Dame burn a bridge at De Smet by not hiring Steeples? Absolutely not, unless what I was told was just lip service. Steeples' interview at Notre Dame went well, and those involved in the meeting (Kelly, Joseph, Lea, based on what I heard) really enjoyed the meeting. Steeples left Notre Dame really impressed with the Irish program and has no hard feelings whatsoever. De Smet is a powerhouse faith-based school in St. Louis that Notre Dame will continue to recruit.
*** 2023 De Smet tight end Mac Markway will visit Notre Dame for the March 21 weekend. The freshman prospect holds an early offer from Michigan and stands at 6-3, 230-pounds. 2022 De Smet safety Kaleb Purdy is a prospect who I feel that Notre Dame will eventually offer. Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State and Michigan have offered him so far. There are a couple other 2023 prospects too who Notre Dame may recruit down the road at De Smet too.
