2 THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM INSIDER RECRUITING DB Ykili Ross to take official visit to campus By MIKE MONACO squares off with Louisville, Senior Sports Writer but the California native moved up his trip by one week. After 35 days between home “With him coming in a week games — tied for the lon- early, he’s going to get the red- gest stretch in Notre Dame carpet treatment,” Loy said. program history — the Irish “There’s nobody else coming will return to their home turf in this weekend that’s gon- Saturday when they welcome na steal any attention from Northwestern to Notre Dame [Irish head coach Brian] Kelly, Stadium. And with its first op- Cooks, [defensive coordinator portunity since mid-October Brian] VanGorder, anybody to host recruits for a game really. The whole staff’s gonna weekend, Notre Dame will give a push. welcome class of 2015 four- “So that’s a big key for Notre star defensive back Ykili Ross Dame. They’re very, very much for an official visit. in this.” Ross, the No. 180 overall Loy said he expects the de- player in the country accord- cision to come down to Notre ing to 247Sports’ Composite Dame versus USC. Rankings, took an unofficial Cornerbacks Shaun Crawford, visit to South Bend in late June, Nick Coleman and Ashton White per 247Sports. Irish recruiting and safeties Prentice McKinney analyst Tom Loy said Notre and Nicco Fertitta have also Dame is recruiting the multi- committed to the Irish for this skilled Ross as a cornerback. recruiting cycle. “You could make an argu- While Ross is the only ment that he’s the top guy scheduled weekend visitor, left on the board just for his Notre Dame already has five versatility to play corner- recruits lined up for next back, safety, wide receiver,” weekend’s senior day match- said Loy, who covers Notre up with the Cardinals. Class Dame recruiting for Blue and of 2015 running back Ronald Gold Illustrated, part of the Jones II, an Oklahoma State 247Sports network. “He can commitment since April, is play anywhere.” among those set to be in at- Irish defensive backs coach tendance. Jones checks in as Kerry Cooks has been Ross’s the No. 9 running back and primary recruiter, according No. 84 overall player in the to Loy. class of 2015. Loy said the Irish “It all makes sense,” Loy have liked Jones for a long said. “They want a long, ath- time and described Jones’s letic, fast corner. He’s exactly commitment to the Cowboys Photo courtesy Blue & Gold Illustrated, 247Sports that. He fits the bill. He’s just as “surprising.” Class of 2015 defensive back and receiver Ykili Ross is scheduled to take an official visit to campus this a freak athlete that could be “The combination of athlet- weekend, according to Irish recruiting analyst Tom Loy. dominant on both sides of the ics and academics offered in ball.” South Bend was a big selling The Irish have continued to running back targets on its (an LSU commitment), Jones Ross was initially scheduled point, and Jones is a strong recruit Jones since his com- board for the class of 2015. Loy and Dexter Williams (a Miami to take his official visit next academic kid and he liked that mitment, Loy added. Notre said Soso Jamabo remains the pledge expected to visit next weekend when Notre Dame about Notre Dame,” Loy said. Dame still has a group of top option, but Nick Brossette weekend) are all in the mix as well. “If they can get their hands on one of these top guys, that collection of running backs, that’s a huge pull,” Loy said. The Irish offered class of 2016 cornerback Damar Hamlin on Tuesday. The No. 11 cornerback in his class, Hamlin also holds offers from the likes of Penn State, Ohio State and West Virginia. “I love Damar Hamlin,” Loy said. “He’s long. He’s only 6-feet tall, but he’s got long arms. He reminds me a lot of [Irish freshman cornerback] Nick Watkins coming out of high school — above-aver- age speed, really technically sound, just a polished corner- back compared to a lot of kids his age. “… I think Notre Dame will be a player for Hamlin.” For more on Notre Dame recruiting, check out BlueAndGold.com. Email Andrew Owens at [email protected] and tell him The Observer sent you. Photo courtesy Blue & Gold Illustrated, 247Sports Class of 2015 running back Ronald Jones II, an Oklahoma State commitment since April, is expected to visit Notre Dame next weekend when Contact Mike Monaco at the Irish host Louisville on Senior Day, according to Irish recruiting analyst Tom Loy. [email protected] INSIDER NDSMCOBSERVER.COM | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014 | THE OBSERVER 3 By ISAAC LORTON watched away games from his Farley said he placed these and experiences that Farley because I wear the same Assistant Managing Editor dorm, Carroll Hall. As a soph- lofty expectations on himself has become a calming source things every day,” Farley omore, Farley was asked to as well, but such thoughts and advisor for his young said. “Every once in a while, Whatever may change on play safety, and shortly there- were hindrances at times. teammates and new starters I throw a curveball and wear the field, Matthias Farley re- after, he was thrown into a “I think I had to grow up on the Irish defense, he said. some cowboy boots. mains the same. starting role after injuries to a lot,” Farley said of his play “I feel like I have gone “There’s not too much vari- “Sweet beard pic,” Farley former Irish safety Jamoris last season. “When you get through a lot of things that ety. I just own it. I just rock it.” said as he wrapped up his Slaughter and put in a situation where you they have gone through,” With his style comes his photo shoot Wednesday. g r a d u a t e do well and then you come Farley said. “My sophomore music. Farley has a great af- Farley’s facial follicles are a student back and things are expected year, I got thrown in due to an finity for music, one he has talent of his, he noted. s a f e t y of you and you don’t do as injury, and last year, I had a been trying to express by “Every time I have had a A u s t i n well or don’t live up to it, it’s lot of ups and downs. So hav- learning the ukulele from beard since I started playing easy to take it hard on your- ing gone through that, and sophomore receiver Corey football, I have played better self and harp on things that seeing guys when they get Robinson. than if I shave my face, his- you should probably let go.” done, it’s really easy for me “I love music,” Farley said. “I torically,” Farley said. As a senior, Farley was to pick up on it because I was don’t think the world should The easy-going, self- asked to play the nickelback right there really not too long exist if there wasn’t music in assured Charlotte, corner position under new ago at all.” it. I have never been musical- North Carolina defensive coordinator Brian Farley remains rooted ly gifted — I am not very good native said it is VanGorder. The position was in and inspired by the les- at the ukulele — but I really this nature that much more complex com- sons his family has taught enjoy playing. I think music allows him to pared to the nickel corner him, he said. His memories is applicable to anything and weather the in former defensive coordi- cover his left arm, chest and everything in life, whether it chaos of nator Bob Diaco’s system, and back in the form of tattoos. is good or bad.” N o t r e after watching a lot of film, On his bicep, his very first Learning the ukulele has D a m e VanGorder asked Farley to tattoo, which reads “Farley not been as easy as changing foot- ball. take on that role. Used to Sempre,” or “Farley Forever,” a position, Farley said. “ I have been changing positions, Farley surrounded by the outline “It’s honestly a frustration t h e exact same said he took it all in stride. of North Carolina reminds because Corey Robinson is w a y since I’ve “I saw it as a way to start him of his family and home. still so much better at it than g o t here,” over,” Farley said of his The number “7” on his elbow me,” Farley said. “I always Farley said. position change. “It’s a represents his seven siblings. wanted to play an instru- “ W h e n new coordinator, a new sys- Coming off the “7,” a stair- ment. I joke around all the y o u ’ r e tem. It’s kind of been the sto- case climbs into the clouds time and say I’m really good g o i n g ry of my career: starting over. of heaven in remembrance of at the kazoo, which I actually through I had no reservations about his deceased brother, Titus. am, but that doesn’t take too change, if when he said he wanted to The poem, “Invictus,” on his much talent. It’s been cool y o u ’ r e move me.