The college bowl season has wrapped up, which can only mean it’s time to dive head first into the high school all-star game portion of the offseason. Fortunately, Irish fans have ample reason to pay attention this year, as seven signed Notre Dame prospects will be taking the field in the two highest publicized contests, the Army All-American game (Saturday, 1 pm EST, NBC) and the Under-Armour All-American game (Thursday, 6 pm EST, ESPN).
Here is a break down of the signed players in each game, and some Notre Dame prospects to watch.
Under Armour Signed
- Houston Griffith, DB- Team Spotlight
- Jack Lamb, OLB- Team Highlight
Griffith will be participating for Team Spotlight, while Lamb will be competing for Team Highlight (yes, those are the names they are going with).
Lamb has received high marks during the prep from the game from non-Notre Dame affiliated recruiting reporters, which is encouraging for an early entrant who could be walking into a depleted linebacking core at Notre Dame in the spring. More athletic than he is given credit for, he’s also got some pretty good size for a high school player. Likely to be featured on the field during the contest.
Griffith has been playing the position a lot of people see him ending up in at Notre Dame, which is free safety. Mike Elko is on record as saying they are going to start Griffith at corner when he arrives on campus this winter, but his versatility is undeniable. He’s got the size and playing style of a safety, and we’ll get to see his skills there against the best high school players in the nation.
Under Armour Prospects
Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Team Spotlight
The five star offensive tackle has Notre Dame as a finalist, and will start on the offensive line for Team Spotlight. He still hasn’t finalized official visits and he has all of college football vying for his services. He’s one of those guys who doesn’t do a lot of interviews and doesn’t participate in the daily workings of recruiting, so no one really knows where Notre Dame or anyone else stands. You’d have to think Notre Dame churning out first round lineman on a yearly basis would play a factor, but who knows.
Probably the best chance at a five star talent left this cycle.
Tommy Bush, WR, Team Highlight
He is still talking to Notre Dame and has shown interest in an official visit, but until that visit actually happens, it’s hard to take this as anything more than a flirtation. Notre Dame would obviously like to take another receiver, and Amon-Ra St. Brown will be deciding this weekend. Perhaps if St. Brown chooses USC, the Irish will put the full court press on Bush.
Army All-American Signed
East Squad
- – Jayson Ademilola, DT
- – Derrik Allen, S
- – Phil Jurkovec, QB
- – Shayne Simon, OLB
- – George Takacs, TEbush
Some real highly rated prospects for Notre Dame in this one, with all of them playing for the same team, so it will be easy to watch and follow along.
Obviously, the headliner is Jurkovec, but I wouldn’t predict much of an impact in this game. There are two other quarterbacks on his roster, one of which is the highest rated player in the country. I’d expect he would be featured.
Allen and Ademilola will be very intriguing to watch, both figure to have the opportunity to see the field next season, especially Allen. He might be the best safety on the team as soon as he steps on the practice field at Notre Dame for the first time. He’s physically ready, is a very instinctive player, and he’s got the athleticism. Seeing him in action will be a treat.
When watching Simon in action, view him through the lens of what Drue Tranquill does, because Simon will be a Rover at Notre Dame. In other years, a tweener, but a perfect fit for the Notre Dame defense and what they want to do.
Army All-American Prospects
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, West
During the game he’s going to commit to USC, it’s going to be sad, and then we can stop talking about it. Notre Dame knew about him three years ago, they signed his brother, they had to get him, and they are going to miss.
He’s a great player, maybe the best in the country, and he is going to their rival. Not good.
Solomon Tuliaupupu, LB, West
Notre Dame has been linked to him for a bit, he visited for the USC game, but there hasn’t been a ton of traction beyond that. I wouldn’t put him in the likely category, it’s probably even doubtful, but he is someone to note while you’re watching the game.
Elko’s gone now.
I’ll be tuning into the freebie Army All- American game looking for Jurkovec. Then when some hot head declares, jump over to the Wild cards.