We posted a quick roundup of all of the news and notes on the Notre Dame football recruiting front on Sunday night that was a big hit based on looking at our traffic numbers so since there’s been a lot of nuggets of info out there since then, here’s another quick roundup of where we stand with just over a week to go until Signing Day 2014.
Trending up right now…
- Kolin Hill – Notre Dame received some excellent news on Tuesday when Kolin Hill reaffirmed his commitment to Notre Dame over Twitter after a late push from Texas. The Longhorns offered over the weekend, but after Notre Dame’s in-home, Hill reaffirmed his commitment. Texas likely won’t give up here, but it looks like Hill is very solid right now and that is great news following the decommitment of Richard Yeargin last week.
100% committed to Notre Dame for those people worried, will not be taking any visits anywhere. My decision is final. #GoIrish
— Kolin Hill (@KoLiNHill45) January 28, 2014
- Courtney Garnett – New name that surfaced on Monday night. Notre Dame offered the Louisana DT with an impressive offer list and despite the late offer, Notre Dame will get a visit this weekend and looks to be a player here. Barnett has offers from Oklahoma, Tennessee, Oregon, Texas, and USC. Rivals currently only lists Oklahoma and Notre Dame as his top suitors while 247 adds Tennessee as a third candidate.
Notre Dame offered
— Courtney Garnett (@ONLYFORAKING) January 28, 2014
South Bend Friday
— Courtney Garnett (@ONLYFORAKING) January 28, 2014
- Drue Tranquill – Tranquill has been committed for a while now and there is no drama here, but Tranquill tweeted out some interested measurements that he measured in at today. Will be very interesting to see where he ends up playing. With the depth at linebacker, look for Tranquill to start off at safety.
Measured at 6′ 2.5″ 220lb yesterday! Still at 4.45 #Safety or #LB ??? What do y’all think… #OffSeason
— ✈️ Drue Tranquill (@d_TraNquill) January 28, 2014
Holding steady for now…
- Daniel Cage – Cage will be on campus tomorrow until Friday for an official visit. Logistics will be tricky for the Notre Dame coaching staff with so many coaches on the road this week and winter weather in various parts of the US. With Kelly in California on Wednesday, he will need to high tail it back to South Bend in order to spend some time with Cage during his visit.
- Isaiah McKenzie – Lots of different reports out there right now and as of now, this one looks entirely up in the air. South Carolina reportedly offered McKenzie today and this could be a fluid situation right up until Signing Day. The 247 crystal ball still has Notre Dame in the lead but this one might not be over until Signing Day. McKenzie tweeted out late tonight that he is still visiting Notre Dame this weekend and is undecided.
I’m taking my official to ND this weekend. Choice:undecided
— Isaiah McKenzie (@JoyStick_izzy) January 29, 2014
- Michiah Quick – Nothing new here. Kelly and Notre Dame will make their in-home visit this week and make their final push for the talented wide receiver. Still looks like it’s down to Notre Dame and Oklahoma here.
- JuJu Smith – Reportedly took an unofficial visit to UCLA on Monday before getting ready for a series of in-home visits. This one could probably be listed as trending down because there hasn’t been too much positive for Notre Dame here in a while and on Tuesday night west coast recruiting guru Greg Biggins tweeted that if anyone other than UCS gets Smith it will probably be Oregon.
I've felt for awhile if there is any school with a chance to surprise #USC for Smith, it's #Oregon and still feel that way
— Greg Biggins (@GregBiggins) January 29, 2014
- Terrence Alexander – Kelly visited with Alexander on Monday night. That in-home visit apparently went pretty well according to Alexander on Twitter. Notre Dame will battle Stanford and Ole Miss for Alexander’s signature.
Great in Home Visit with Coach Kelly And Coach Cooks #GoIrish
— | N O X |❄️ (@Terrence_9) January 28, 2014
Trending down for now…
- Michael Sawyers – Sawyers tweeted on Tuesday that he will be visiting Tennessee this weekend after previously confirming that he would be visiting Notre Dame. Without a trip to Notre Dame, we can scratch Sawyers off the board since Sawyers has never stepped foot on campus. With Sawyers off the board, Notre Dame’s last two options at defensive tackle are Cage and Garnett.
Official visit to University of Tennessee this weekend.
— Mike Sawyers Jr (@MikeSawyers_75) January 28, 2014
ok ron
400 million for real estate and they cant afford to acquire a world class oc, dc or stc this is a joke
And there you have it ladies and gentlemen, Tony Robbins strikes again.
He is competing with Deontay Greenberry for the title of biggest head scratch recruit. If I am 5’8″ (being generous) 175 (soaking wet) I think I take that ND education and all that entails.
Tranquill is blowing up physically. 6’2 1/2 and 225 is Harrison Smith neighborhood. We’ll wait and see about the 4:45. There’s a part of me that wants him to drop down to linebacker and have some of our alleged linebackers bulk up and move to the DL. Quick defenses are good.
The McKenzie decision is correct but painful. Many of us will root for McKenzie wherever he goes, but it’s a Fram oil filter deal with his push back on the admisssions meeting. 180 degrees differently, Mokwuah is comfortable with our academic demands.
McKenzie Smith and Quick are difference makers the kind of guys who can make plays that turn the game against the likes of USC, FSU, Stanford and a Final four opponent.
Yeah, we could use Alexander and another DT, but getting two of the difference making three is, for me, the tipping point of this class.
For Smith, the spiritual life of Notre Dame would have to outweigh geography, the uncle, love of USC and much much more. He’d have to sacrifice much to advance his Faith, easily, in South Bend. Tough decision for a nice kid.
McKenzie instantly upgrades our special teams. He will annoy opposing coaching staffs for 50 games. You must account for him.
Duranko, Thats exactly why I dont like this class as of now. There are no difference makers. Just some solid 3 and 4 star guys that will provide much needed depth to certain areas. Now if we can land those three guys you mention then I could be happy with that. Losing Elijah Hood was a big blow as he was the difference maker in this class.
They need to get either one or both of those d-line recruits. I would also like to see Machenzie in an Irish uniform next year. All in all a good class if they all sign
bj complaining about the stadium renovation begins in 3….2…..1……
Great update, thanks. Strange that Garnett has so many big name offers but seems hardly ranked (at least on Rivals)