2 THE OBSERVER | FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016 | NDSMCOBSERVER.COM INSIDER RECRUITING COMMENTARY Irish out to record New, returning starters will pace for 2017 class forge Notre Dame’s identity By BEN PADANILAM stop you, and he’s going to be Alex Carson Associate Sports Editor great in those games against the triple option.” Assistant Managing Editor This time last year, Notre Werner, however, is the play- Dame had five commitments er Ivins thinks has the most po- N otre Dame returns just four in its 2016 recruiting class. tential at the position for Notre offensive and five defensive This year, the Irish have Dame, he added. starters from its 10-2 team a sea- jumped out to a quick start, “He, out of those guys, prob- son ago. with nine commitments in the ably has the best upside,” Ivins There’s no Will Fuller or C.J. class of 2017, putting them at said. Prosise; no Ronnie Stanley or the No. 7-ranked class thus far, Another important pickup Sheldon Day; no Jaylon Smith or per Rivals. for the Irish was dual-threat KeiVarae Russell. “The class started off pretty quarterback Avery Davis, who Yet when the Irish kick off their well,” Irish recruiting expert was ranked the No. 72-overall 2016 campaign in Austin, Texas, for Blue & Gold Illustrated and prospect in the ESPN 300 rank- on Sept. 4, the goal will be the Rivals Andrew Ivins said. “It ings. For the Irish, Davis of- same as it was last year: a berth was kind of a faster start — fers another prospect who will in the College Football Playoff. they had more commits than come in and willingly compete Welcome back to perennial they had ever had as early as for playing time rather than ex- relevance, Notre Dame football. they did this cycle when they pect to inherit it, Ivins said. Now, Irish fans shouldn’t nec- had four or five. They lost some “I think what really got Notre essarily expect to see their team momentum there a couple Dame excited about him was at the Fiesta Bowl or Peach Bowl months ago when [defensive that he’s a competitor,” Ivins — this year’s playoff semifinals end] Robert Beal decommit- said. “What he does is he gives — this season, but that doesn’t ted, [but] they’ve rebounded you a durable body — someone mean it’s exactly outside the nicely.” that’s okay with coming in and realm of possibility. There’s still Apart from Beal’s decom- competing for playing time, loads of talent on this team, and mitment — which Ivins said is and I think that’s really im- new pieces that could fit together Observer File Photo largely due to his desire to go to portant for Mike Sanford, and even better than the ones did a Graduate student defensive lineman Jarron Jones tries to evade school with his sister, who did that’s what he’s looking for in season ago. blockers during Notre Dame’s 17-14 win over Stanford on Oct. 4, 2014. not get in to Notre Dame — the his quarterback room.” Of course, we know what Irish have been largely success- Notre Dame also struck gold Notre Dame’s getting at running most important — that hasn’t the turnovers disappear — and ful in their effort to lock players in the tight end department, back this year. Sure, Prosise de- been a struggle for the Crete, that means there’s a fresh start in early in the recruiting cycle. signing two of the top five play- parted for the NFL Draft, but the Illinois native this spring. for this team headed into the This push, however, is not ers at the position per Rivals. return of senior Tarean Folston “He’s gotten our defense Blue-Gold Game on Saturday. unique to Notre Dame and has Despite their level of talent, means the Irish won’t be down- lined up effortlessly,” Kelly It’s tough to see how it’s all going largely changed the way the signing the two athletes was grading in the backfield. Without said. “There’s been great com- to come together for this squad, Irish recruit athletes, he added. relatively easy for Notre Dame, Fuller, Chris Brown or Amir munication, and he’s played and at this point, that’s quite “That’s kind of the new trend: according to Ivins. Carlisle, the receiving corps is extremely well. A lot of it is how fine. Early challenges at Texas to get these kids to commit “Brock Wright and Cole Kmet weakened, but it should still be a hard he works at the game. It’s on Sept. 4 and against Michigan earlier and earlier, and Notre are both Notre Dame-type kids, solid group, anchored by senior really important to him. His first State on Sept. 17 mean it’ll need Dame’s kind of stepped up so I think once Notre Dame re- Torii Hunter Jr. And even though two years here helped him im- to find its identity pretty early on, what they’re doing with that,” alized that, it was easy for them the offensive line lost three start- mensely in terms of learning the but it’s not too hard to see how Ivins said. “Notre Dame’s never to get them,” Ivins said. “But ers this offseason, it’s hard to defense.” everything could gel perfectly, or going to push a kid to commit, this time last year, Notre Dame see that unit being much of an For the first time at Notre horribly, for this unit. but they’re doing a better job was always planning to take a issue for senior Malik Zaire or Dame, Morgan is the undisputed At the end of the day, the 2015 of finding the kids that they tight end in the class of 2016, junior DeShone Kizer — which- guy at his position. If he can take squad got as far as that group of think are going to be fits, get- but then they got a commit- ever one wins the quarterback the “quarterback of the defense” players was going to. They were ting them on campus [and] get- ment from Brock Wright really competition. role and thrive in it, we might good — really good — but not ting them locked up early in the early, and they fell in love with Despite losing seven starters, finally see that high-pressure great. process.” Cole Kmet, so they said, ‘We’re the Notre Dame offense will be defense VanGorder’s arrival in There’s not too much evidence And at no position has this going to take two in 2017 and fine. 2014 promised. yet on the 2016 squad. And as been more clear for Notre just kind of pass on the posi- But if the Irish are going to Like Folston’s on the other daunting as that notion might Dame than linebacker, Ivins tion’ last year.” get to the playoff, it’s going be side of the ball, graduate student be, there’s certainly a chance said. The Irish made a signifi- After addressing their biggest on the shoulders of the defense. defensive lineman Jarron Jones’ this group thrives together. cant push this recruiting cycle priority in the linebacker slots That’s not to say the unit needs return from injury should help at the position after missing out and inking nine commitments to be great like the 2012 one was lessen the blow of losing Day, Contact Alex Carson at on the likes of Caleb Kelly and thus far, Notre Dame will con- — this season’s offense should while there’s a lot of promise [email protected] Ben Davis last time around, tinue to hit the recruiting trail be much better than that team’s throughout the secondary. The views experessed in this and they have been able to land throughout the rest of this sum- was — but it can’t be as poor as it Notre Dame has experienced a column are those of the author most of their top targets so far. mer and upcoming season. was at times a season ago. lot of turnover heading into 2016 and not necessarily those of The The three linebackers who “Offensive line is the one For me, that starts at middle — though Irish fans will hope Observer have committed thus far to position that’s really the big linebacker, squarely on the Notre Dame — David Adams, focus right now,” he said. “ … shoulders of junior Nyles PI A D ADVERTISEMENT Pete Werner and Drew White After offensive line, I think the Morgan. — are expected to fill out the next priority is wide receiver, During his first two years at Mike, Will and Sam lineback- and they’re going to probably Notre Dame, it’s no secret that Live the Tradition er spots, respectively. Of the take four, but right now they’ve Morgan struggled. He’s barely group, Ivins said Adams, who is got none committed, so it will seen the field at his preferred Enjoy the ranked in the top 100 amongst be interesting to see how that position — Joe Schmidt had a lot tradition of quality all players per Rivals, is the one shakes out.” to do with that — but when he who can have the most imme- did, the impact he made wasn’t off-campus living in diate impact for the Irish. For more on Notre Dame always a positive one; just recall a Kramer house “They think [Adams] is a recruiting, check out his block in the back penalty five Call today for best selection Mike linebacker, very talented BlueandGold.com.