Notre Dame's coaching staff got after it again on Thursday. Blue & Gold Illustrated can confirm that the Irish were recruiting in six states and saw at least four Rivals100 prospects. The staff also saw some priorities at certain positions.
Here's what we know…
Sanford Sees His Guy
Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Sanford has had contact with a number of different quarterbacks over the past two months, but it's one quarterback in the class of 2017 that seems to be getting more attention than most.
Sanford was at Brownsburg (Ind.) High on Thursday to watch Rivals100 quarterback Hunter Johnson workout. Johnson -- who holds offers from Penn State, Miami, Michigan and others -- has been a priority for Sanford ever since he arrived in South Bend back in February, and a visit this early in the evaluation period is a telling sign of where he sits on the board.
Sanford also watched three-star athlete Toks Akinribade workout. Akinribabde was at Junior Day back on March 21 and has been invited to the Irish Invasion in June. He recently picked up an offer from Michigan and is being recruited by some schools as a running back and others as a linebacker.
Elston Swings Through Bluegrass State
For third consecutive day, Notre Dame handed out a class of 2017 offer, and recruiting coordinator Mike Elston was the man pulling the trigger once again. Elston offered Lexington Lafayette three-star offensive tackle Jedrick Wells while he was making the rounds in Kentucky.
Lafayette High head coach Eric Shaw said he was surprised by the gesture from Elston.
"I think for someone to actually show up from Notre Dame at our school was big," Shaw said. "But we're seeing a lot of schools that we haven't seen in a while. Michigan State was in yesterday for the first time in eight years."
Wells is a 6-5, 307-pound tackle that also holds offers from Florida, Florida State and Kentucky. While the stop at Lafayette High might have looked like the focus of the trip, Elston also made another important stop 15 minutes down the road. The assistant coach was at Lexington Henry Clay three-star cornerback and Kentucky commit Davonte Robinson. The Irish offered offered Robinson back in late March and have been doing what they can to get the track-star on campus. Blue & Gold Illustrated was told that a potential visit is in the works.
Hiestand Sees Another Top Lineman
Harry Hiestand's tour of top line targets continued on Thursday. The offensive line coach was at Hartland (Wis.) Arrowhead High to check up on Rivals100 tackle Ben Bredeson. Hiestand has now seen four of his top five lineman on the board in the span of just four days with Rivals250 tackle Parker Boudreaux the odd man out -- for now.
Tim Sullivan of The Wolverine reported Thursday that Bredeson has pushed back a visit to Michigan. We're hearing that this is Notre Dame-Michigan-Wisconsin race, with Ohio State running in fourth for the lineman.
Hiestand is scheduled to visit Boudreaux's school in Orlando sometime next week.
VanGorder, Lyght Hit Atlanta Area
Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder and Todd Lyght were outside of Atlanta on Thursday. The two swung by Suwannee Peachtree Ridge where there's enough talent in the secondary to stock a college roster.
VanGorder and Lyght inquired about…
Rivals100 safety Nigel Warrior
Rivals100 safety Deangelo Gibbs
3-star cornerback Chad Clay
3-star cornerback Baylen Buchanan
3-star safety Malik Staples
Denson Watches Hammond
Autry Denson was in South Florida again on Thursday making the rounds. Blue & Gold Illustrated learned that the running backs coach was at Hallandale High on Wednesday to watch three-star wideout Josh Hammond practice.
Hammond, who visited South Bend back in April, remains a priority for the staff and is one of Denson's top targets this cycle. Notre Dame is expected to visit again later this spring.
Denson was at Delray Beach Atlantic on Wednesday to see cornerback Antwaine Richardson. The 6-1, 170-pound defensive back has flown under-the-radar to date, but holds offers from Miami, FAU and South Alabama. Richardson was just graded out by Rivals.com as a three-star prospect.
Gilmore In Carolina
Keith Gilmore remained in North Carolina. The defensive line coach was at Winston-Salem East Forsyth where he checked up on two underclassmen: running back Christian Beal and cornerback Madison Cone. Both 2017 prospects hold early offers from ACC schools.
Booker Checks In On Angeline
Notre Dame tight end coach Scott Booker has made his way up and down the coast the past few days. On Wednesday he rolled into Exton (Pa.) Downington East to check in on three-star tight end Cary Angeline.
On Deck
- We're hearing that Elston will be in the Indianapolis area.
- Denson is expected to remain in South Florida with Gilmore in North Carolina.
65 confirmed visits now up on the map… 12 states, 1 place.
Spring Evaluation Period Map
Other Coaches on the Road Reports:
April 29
April 28
April 27
Here's what we know…
Sanford Sees His Guy
Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Sanford has had contact with a number of different quarterbacks over the past two months, but it's one quarterback in the class of 2017 that seems to be getting more attention than most.
Sanford was at Brownsburg (Ind.) High on Thursday to watch Rivals100 quarterback Hunter Johnson workout. Johnson -- who holds offers from Penn State, Miami, Michigan and others -- has been a priority for Sanford ever since he arrived in South Bend back in February, and a visit this early in the evaluation period is a telling sign of where he sits on the board.
Sanford also watched three-star athlete Toks Akinribade workout. Akinribabde was at Junior Day back on March 21 and has been invited to the Irish Invasion in June. He recently picked up an offer from Michigan and is being recruited by some schools as a running back and others as a linebacker.
Elston Swings Through Bluegrass State
For third consecutive day, Notre Dame handed out a class of 2017 offer, and recruiting coordinator Mike Elston was the man pulling the trigger once again. Elston offered Lexington Lafayette three-star offensive tackle Jedrick Wells while he was making the rounds in Kentucky.
Lafayette High head coach Eric Shaw said he was surprised by the gesture from Elston.
"I think for someone to actually show up from Notre Dame at our school was big," Shaw said. "But we're seeing a lot of schools that we haven't seen in a while. Michigan State was in yesterday for the first time in eight years."
Wells is a 6-5, 307-pound tackle that also holds offers from Florida, Florida State and Kentucky. While the stop at Lafayette High might have looked like the focus of the trip, Elston also made another important stop 15 minutes down the road. The assistant coach was at Lexington Henry Clay three-star cornerback and Kentucky commit Davonte Robinson. The Irish offered offered Robinson back in late March and have been doing what they can to get the track-star on campus. Blue & Gold Illustrated was told that a potential visit is in the works.
Hiestand Sees Another Top Lineman
Harry Hiestand's tour of top line targets continued on Thursday. The offensive line coach was at Hartland (Wis.) Arrowhead High to check up on Rivals100 tackle Ben Bredeson. Hiestand has now seen four of his top five lineman on the board in the span of just four days with Rivals250 tackle Parker Boudreaux the odd man out -- for now.
Tim Sullivan of The Wolverine reported Thursday that Bredeson has pushed back a visit to Michigan. We're hearing that this is Notre Dame-Michigan-Wisconsin race, with Ohio State running in fourth for the lineman.
Hiestand is scheduled to visit Boudreaux's school in Orlando sometime next week.
VanGorder, Lyght Hit Atlanta Area
Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder and Todd Lyght were outside of Atlanta on Thursday. The two swung by Suwannee Peachtree Ridge where there's enough talent in the secondary to stock a college roster.
VanGorder and Lyght inquired about…
Rivals100 safety Nigel Warrior
Rivals100 safety Deangelo Gibbs
3-star cornerback Chad Clay
3-star cornerback Baylen Buchanan
3-star safety Malik Staples
Denson Watches Hammond
Autry Denson was in South Florida again on Thursday making the rounds. Blue & Gold Illustrated learned that the running backs coach was at Hallandale High on Wednesday to watch three-star wideout Josh Hammond practice.
Hammond, who visited South Bend back in April, remains a priority for the staff and is one of Denson's top targets this cycle. Notre Dame is expected to visit again later this spring.
Denson was at Delray Beach Atlantic on Wednesday to see cornerback Antwaine Richardson. The 6-1, 170-pound defensive back has flown under-the-radar to date, but holds offers from Miami, FAU and South Alabama. Richardson was just graded out by Rivals.com as a three-star prospect.
Gilmore In Carolina
Keith Gilmore remained in North Carolina. The defensive line coach was at Winston-Salem East Forsyth where he checked up on two underclassmen: running back Christian Beal and cornerback Madison Cone. Both 2017 prospects hold early offers from ACC schools.
Booker Checks In On Angeline
Notre Dame tight end coach Scott Booker has made his way up and down the coast the past few days. On Wednesday he rolled into Exton (Pa.) Downington East to check in on three-star tight end Cary Angeline.
On Deck
- We're hearing that Elston will be in the Indianapolis area.
- Denson is expected to remain in South Florida with Gilmore in North Carolina.
65 confirmed visits now up on the map… 12 states, 1 place.
Spring Evaluation Period Map
Other Coaches on the Road Reports:
April 29
April 28
April 27
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