Notre Dame's annual Irish Invasion is in the books and things couldn't have gone any better for Brian Kelly and the rest of the Irish coaching staff. Things got started early Friday evening when Orlando (Fla.) Bishop Moore three-star defensive end Jonathan MacCollister gave a verbal pledge to the Irish. The momentum continued on Saturday when Winter Park (Fla.) High three-star wide receiver Jordan Pouncey gave a commitment to Kelly just minutes after the invite-only camp inside Notre Dame Stadium.
The question now is ... whose next?
While many might point to Destrehan (La.) High three-star wide receiver Michael Young as the next guy to pull the trigger, it appears that Hamden (Conn.) Cheshire Academy four-star all-purpose back CJ Holmes might beat him to the punch. Young by all-accounts had a great visit and the folks inside the Gug think that they made a move up his board, but Holmes is the guy who walked off the field raving about the Irish. He isn't set to leave South Bend until sometime on Sunday and it wouldn't be a surprise if he decided to give a pledge to Notre Dame. His parents after all appear to already be sold on Notre Dame and the coaches at Notre Dame appear to be already sold on Holmes, especially after he dominated at the Irish Invasion.
Moving on from the immediate commit watch, it looks like Notre Dame will be a major player moving forward for Graham (Wash.) Graham-Kapowsin four-star offensive tackle Foster Sarell. The Rivals100 prospect didn't workout on Saturday, but he and his father got plenty of one-on-one time with offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. Stanford was rumored to be the leader heading into the trip, but people inside Sarell's camp believe that the Irish might have pulled even. Sarell arrived in town on Thursday and got a full tour of campus on Friday. He was blown away by the academic presentation at Notre Dame and the environment inside Hiestand's meeting rooms. Sarell wants to play in a pro-style offense, and while the Irish's scheme might not rivals what Stanford does with i-formation, he does like the fact that Hiestand puts guys like Ronnie Stanley in the NFL. A contact close to Sarell also said that the nation's No. 32 overall prospect likes how Notre Dame's business program is more focused on stocks and mutuals while Stanford's seems to be based around technology. We'll see how things go moving forward, but the Irish look to be in good shape for an official visit.
That's also the case with Rivals100 linebacker Justin Foster. The Shelby (N.C.) Crest four-star prospect was a late-addition to the visitors list, but he was treated like a priority. Notre Dame defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder was spotted talking with Foster throughout the night. He has the Irish in his top seven along with Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Kentucky, Stanford and Tennessee, but Notre Dame appears to be in that upper group as he said on Saturday that the plan is to return to campus this season for either an official or unofficial visit. Notre Dame sees the nation's No. 79 overall prospect as a linebacker that could rush the quarterback from the edge.
Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) High three-star safety Amari Carter didn't workout at the Irish Invasion, but Notre Dame looks to have leapfrogged Miami in his recruitment. A source close to Carter said that the rising senior loved every minute of the trip and was already talking about joining former Palm Beach Gardens standouts Tevon Coney and Devin Studstill at Notre Dame. Michigan tried to talk Carter into visiting Ann Arbor on Sunday before he flew back to Florida, but he told the Wolverines that he was going to have time and was here to see Notre Dame. The nation's No. 42 ranked safety ate dinner with both Coney and Studstill on Saturday.
Rivals100 defensive end and UCLA commit Hunter Echols was a headliner at the camp, and he actually worked out for defensive line coach Keith Gilmore, which came as a surprise to many. Echols hasn't been afraid to say in the past that he's open to Notre Dame, and it's becoming more and more apparent why he likes the Irish. The Los Angles Cathedral product was overheard on Saturday saying that he isn't concerned about his football future. Instead he wants to go to a school that will set him up for life after football and a good career. We believe that Echols should be viewed as a legitimate flip contender moving forward.
Now a rundown of some of the names that were on hand.
Jaylen Kelly-Powell and Ambry Thomas: The Detroit defensive back duo rolled in late to the Irish Invasion and was quickly escorted over to Brian Kelly who took them for a ride in his golf cart over to the stadium. We continue to hear that Michigan leads for both prospects, but this is Kelly-Powell's third trip to Notre Dame in as many months. Keith Gilmore has been putting in work when it comes to the two, and it's paying off in at least one way or another. We're not saying the Irish lead for JKP or Thomas, but they appear to be making up some ground.
Andrew Thomas and Jamaree Sayler: Notre Dame was able to lure the Atlanta Pace Academy Rivals100 offensive tackle and the Rivals100 offensive guard back to campus, but the two didn't look to be the most interested of the bunch on Saturday. Both Thomas and Sayler were seen just walking around by themselves on multiple occasions. Still, that didn't stop area recruiter Scott Booker from trying to make them feel welcomed. Booker left the stadium and ran over to the practice fields to chat with Thomas. He's obviously a priority for the Irish given the needs on the line, but one that might be more difficult to pull than we initial thought.
Latavious Brini: The Hialeah (Fla.) Mater Academy three-star cornerback is another prospect that didn't workout because of injury, but he passed the eye test. He arrived with Notre Dame already in his top group, but he told us that the plan is to return for an official after seeing campus and meeting with the coaches. Georgia and Miami look to be the strongest competition, but you can't discount Autry Denson working in South Florida.
Kwity Paye: The Boston College commit didn't pick up a Notre Dame offer on Saturday, but he impressed, and from what we're told he's a guy that the coaches well have a long conversation about him at some point down the line. The Warwick (RI) Bishop Hendricken School prospect was athletic in drills and showed quick hands. If an Irish offer comes, expect him to decommit.
Colin Wilson: There was talented group of running backs on hand, and one guy that might have been overlooked was Wilson. The Green Cover Springs (Fla.) Clay Rivals250 running back showed no sign of wear or tear on his rehabbed knee and looked the part of a power back. Notre Dame entered the night running third behind South Carolina and Louisville, but Wilson says the Irish are now tied for his services with the other two schools.
Dallas Gant: Brian Kelly spent five plus minutes talking to the Toledo St. John's linebacker after the camp, and the Irish eventually ended up offering the 2018 prospect. Gant has said in the past that Notre Dame is a school that he likes, but the Irish are going to face some stiff competition after Ohio State offered on Friday. Still the relationship is there and Gant says the plan is to return to campus this summer.
Matthew Bauer: While Kelly chatted up Gant, VanGorder gave his pitch to Bauer at midfield. The Rivals100 2018 linebacker doesn't hold an offer form the Irish, but on his believed to be on the way. We're told that would in turn make the Irish are serious contender.
The question now is ... whose next?
While many might point to Destrehan (La.) High three-star wide receiver Michael Young as the next guy to pull the trigger, it appears that Hamden (Conn.) Cheshire Academy four-star all-purpose back CJ Holmes might beat him to the punch. Young by all-accounts had a great visit and the folks inside the Gug think that they made a move up his board, but Holmes is the guy who walked off the field raving about the Irish. He isn't set to leave South Bend until sometime on Sunday and it wouldn't be a surprise if he decided to give a pledge to Notre Dame. His parents after all appear to already be sold on Notre Dame and the coaches at Notre Dame appear to be already sold on Holmes, especially after he dominated at the Irish Invasion.
Moving on from the immediate commit watch, it looks like Notre Dame will be a major player moving forward for Graham (Wash.) Graham-Kapowsin four-star offensive tackle Foster Sarell. The Rivals100 prospect didn't workout on Saturday, but he and his father got plenty of one-on-one time with offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. Stanford was rumored to be the leader heading into the trip, but people inside Sarell's camp believe that the Irish might have pulled even. Sarell arrived in town on Thursday and got a full tour of campus on Friday. He was blown away by the academic presentation at Notre Dame and the environment inside Hiestand's meeting rooms. Sarell wants to play in a pro-style offense, and while the Irish's scheme might not rivals what Stanford does with i-formation, he does like the fact that Hiestand puts guys like Ronnie Stanley in the NFL. A contact close to Sarell also said that the nation's No. 32 overall prospect likes how Notre Dame's business program is more focused on stocks and mutuals while Stanford's seems to be based around technology. We'll see how things go moving forward, but the Irish look to be in good shape for an official visit.
That's also the case with Rivals100 linebacker Justin Foster. The Shelby (N.C.) Crest four-star prospect was a late-addition to the visitors list, but he was treated like a priority. Notre Dame defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder was spotted talking with Foster throughout the night. He has the Irish in his top seven along with Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Kentucky, Stanford and Tennessee, but Notre Dame appears to be in that upper group as he said on Saturday that the plan is to return to campus this season for either an official or unofficial visit. Notre Dame sees the nation's No. 79 overall prospect as a linebacker that could rush the quarterback from the edge.
Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) High three-star safety Amari Carter didn't workout at the Irish Invasion, but Notre Dame looks to have leapfrogged Miami in his recruitment. A source close to Carter said that the rising senior loved every minute of the trip and was already talking about joining former Palm Beach Gardens standouts Tevon Coney and Devin Studstill at Notre Dame. Michigan tried to talk Carter into visiting Ann Arbor on Sunday before he flew back to Florida, but he told the Wolverines that he was going to have time and was here to see Notre Dame. The nation's No. 42 ranked safety ate dinner with both Coney and Studstill on Saturday.
Rivals100 defensive end and UCLA commit Hunter Echols was a headliner at the camp, and he actually worked out for defensive line coach Keith Gilmore, which came as a surprise to many. Echols hasn't been afraid to say in the past that he's open to Notre Dame, and it's becoming more and more apparent why he likes the Irish. The Los Angles Cathedral product was overheard on Saturday saying that he isn't concerned about his football future. Instead he wants to go to a school that will set him up for life after football and a good career. We believe that Echols should be viewed as a legitimate flip contender moving forward.
Now a rundown of some of the names that were on hand.
Jaylen Kelly-Powell and Ambry Thomas: The Detroit defensive back duo rolled in late to the Irish Invasion and was quickly escorted over to Brian Kelly who took them for a ride in his golf cart over to the stadium. We continue to hear that Michigan leads for both prospects, but this is Kelly-Powell's third trip to Notre Dame in as many months. Keith Gilmore has been putting in work when it comes to the two, and it's paying off in at least one way or another. We're not saying the Irish lead for JKP or Thomas, but they appear to be making up some ground.
Andrew Thomas and Jamaree Sayler: Notre Dame was able to lure the Atlanta Pace Academy Rivals100 offensive tackle and the Rivals100 offensive guard back to campus, but the two didn't look to be the most interested of the bunch on Saturday. Both Thomas and Sayler were seen just walking around by themselves on multiple occasions. Still, that didn't stop area recruiter Scott Booker from trying to make them feel welcomed. Booker left the stadium and ran over to the practice fields to chat with Thomas. He's obviously a priority for the Irish given the needs on the line, but one that might be more difficult to pull than we initial thought.
Latavious Brini: The Hialeah (Fla.) Mater Academy three-star cornerback is another prospect that didn't workout because of injury, but he passed the eye test. He arrived with Notre Dame already in his top group, but he told us that the plan is to return for an official after seeing campus and meeting with the coaches. Georgia and Miami look to be the strongest competition, but you can't discount Autry Denson working in South Florida.
Kwity Paye: The Boston College commit didn't pick up a Notre Dame offer on Saturday, but he impressed, and from what we're told he's a guy that the coaches well have a long conversation about him at some point down the line. The Warwick (RI) Bishop Hendricken School prospect was athletic in drills and showed quick hands. If an Irish offer comes, expect him to decommit.
Colin Wilson: There was talented group of running backs on hand, and one guy that might have been overlooked was Wilson. The Green Cover Springs (Fla.) Clay Rivals250 running back showed no sign of wear or tear on his rehabbed knee and looked the part of a power back. Notre Dame entered the night running third behind South Carolina and Louisville, but Wilson says the Irish are now tied for his services with the other two schools.
Dallas Gant: Brian Kelly spent five plus minutes talking to the Toledo St. John's linebacker after the camp, and the Irish eventually ended up offering the 2018 prospect. Gant has said in the past that Notre Dame is a school that he likes, but the Irish are going to face some stiff competition after Ohio State offered on Friday. Still the relationship is there and Gant says the plan is to return to campus this summer.
Matthew Bauer: While Kelly chatted up Gant, VanGorder gave his pitch to Bauer at midfield. The Rivals100 2018 linebacker doesn't hold an offer form the Irish, but on his believed to be on the way. We're told that would in turn make the Irish are serious contender.
