2019 Irish RB Target Cesare Mellusi 'Wants To Win Every Rep'
Naples (Fla.) High 2019 running back Cesare Mellusi is one of Notre Dame’s top running back targets in the class of 2019.
Mellusi, the No. 16 running back in the class of 2019 and No. 223 overall player in the nation, visited South Bend during football season for the game against Georgia, and left campus with the Irish leading the way in his recruitment.
Several big-time programs have offered Mellusi, including Auburn, LSU, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Texas A&M, USC and several others.
Naples head coach Bill Kramer said once you watch Mellusi on film or in-person, it’s easy to see why so many teams want to add him to their commit list.
“He doesn’t need much space,” Kramer said of Mellusi. “He can make things happen from very small spaces, and he gets a tremendous amount of yards after contact. He’s also a very good route runner, has terrific hands and very good ball skills. That’s a pretty lethal combination. “
Kramer added that physically, Mellusi is already ahead of the curve, and his continued growth should make him an even more coveted prospect.
“He’s a long back who can scoot, and he’s just going to get bigger,” Kramer said. “He’s very young for his grade. He’s up one grade level, so he’s just turned 16 as a junior. There’s only upside in that.”
Mellusi has all the physical traits coaches want in a running back, but Kramer said what truly makes the four-star standout is his desire to consistently beat the person in front him.
“He’s got tremendous vision and balance, and of course speed,” Kramer said. “The ultimate thing that I think makes him really good is he’s a competitor. He wants to win every rep.”
Obviously, Notre Dame wants Mellusi for his skills at the running back position, but the Irish don’t just recruit everyone who can run.
Kramer said Mellusi’s attitude and maturity off the field is something you don’t see in a lot of kids who just turned 16.
“His dad is in the restaurant business with really nice restaurants, so he’s used to being around cosmopolitan people, people who are multilinguistic and have traveled the world,” Kramer said. “He’s a little more mature than a guy his age would normally be.”
Mellusi has a long way to go in his recruitment process, and will have tons of schools to chose from when the time comes.
Kramer said he could see Mellusi shining at any school, Notre Dame included.
“I think he could be successful lots of places,” Kramer said. “And I think Notre Dame is one of them”
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