Irish Commits And Targets Set To Start 2017 Campaign
While college football doesn't kick off this week, high schools across the country are gearing up for the start of their respective 2017 seasons.
Several Notre Dame commits and targets will kickoff their senior and junior seasons and Blue & Gold provides a quick guide to which players are in action and their opponent.
Below you will find the individual game listed followed by which Irish commit or target is participating in that particular contest. Other players are starting their season next week or later and those games are listed as well.
Aug. 18
Notre Dame commits
Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter vs. Alpharetta (Ga.) Johns Creek: Rivals100 safety Derrik Allen opens the 2017 season at home against Johns Creek looking to build upon his 52 tackles as a junior.
Bowling Green (Ky.) vs. Hopkinsville (Ky.) High: 2019 defensive tackle Jacob Lacey will be at home to face Hopkinsville (Ky.) High. He was the second commit for the Irish in the 2019 class.
Brentwood (Tenn.) High vs. Franklin (Tenn.) High: Offensive tackle Cole Mabry makes his 2017 debut tonight facing off against Franklin which features Rivals250 offensive lineman and Ohio State commit Max Wray.
Sanford (N.C.) Lee County at Pittsboro (N.C.) Northwood: Running back Jahmir Smith is back as the focal point for Lee County and will face Northwood to open his senior season. He rushed for 2,130 yards and 40 touchdowns in 2016.
Indianapolis Cathedral at Louisville St. Xavier: Running back Markese Stepp is back and fully healthy after missing most of his junior year dealing with a hamstring injury. He'll look to bounce back and regain his form from his sophomore season.
Notre Dame targets
Norcross (Ga.) Wesleyan vs. Atlanta Therrell: Tight end target Tommy Tremble will suit up for the first time for Wesleyan tonight against Therrell. He played for Johns Creek in 2016. He'll line up at tight end and linebacker for Wesleyan.
Mission Viejo (Calif.) High vs. Wailuku (Hawaii) Baldwin: Cornerback target Chris Mitchell will start the season at a neutral site against Baldwin.
Mishawaka (Ind.) Penn at Valparaiso (Ind.) High: Local safety target Paul Moala will travel to Valparaiso to open up his senior season. He starred at Irish Invasion this summer after running a sub-4.5 40-yard dash and landed an offer from the staff.
Future Openers
Many of Notre Dame's commits and targets will begin their season next week or later. Here is a quick rundown.
Notre Dame Commits
* Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep vs. Union City (N.J.) High on Sept. 1 will feature three Irish commits in Jayson Ademilola, Justin Ademilola and Shayne Simon starting their 2017 season at home.
* Recent wide receiver commit Kevin Austin and his Coconut Creek (Fla.) North Broward team will be on the road Aug. 25 squaring off against Pembroke Pines (Fla.) High.
* Linebacker Matthew 'Bo' Bauer and his Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep teammates start their season Aug. 25 at home vs. Pittsburgh Central Catholic.
* Maria Stein (Ohio) Marion Local offensive tackle John Dirksen returns after suffering a broken leg last season to face Dayton (Ohio) Chaminade-Julienne.
* Wide receiver Micah Jones and Gurnee (Ill.) Warren Township will be on the road Aug. 25 to face Barrington (Ill.) High.
* Temecula (Calif.) Great Oak and linebacker Jack Lamb start 2017 at home on Aug. 25 against Romoland (Calif.) Heritage.
* Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Richland and quarterback Phil Jurkovec will be on nationally television to start the season against Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne at home.
* Linebacker Ovie Oghoufo and Farmington Hills (Mich.) Harrison on Aug. 24 will travel to Grand Rapids (Mich.) East Grand Rapids.
* Naples (Fla.) Gulf Coast tight end George Takacs begins 2017 on the road Aug. 25 against Naples (Fla.) Lely.
Notre Dame Targets
* Baltimore Gilman defensive end Thomas Booker begins his season Aug. 26 at home against. Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga.
* Milpitas (Calif.) High and Irish cornerback target Tariq Bracy will be at home Aug. 25 to face Fremont (Calif.) American.
* Cornerback target Donte Burton of Loganville (Ga.) High opens 2017 at home against Monroe (Ga.) Monroe Area.
* Wide receiver Tommy Bush will suit up Sept. 1 for Schertz (Texas) Clemens against Round Rock (Texas) High on the road.
* Anaheim (Calif.) Servite and safety Julius Irvin begin their season Aug. 25 on the road facing Norco (Calif.) High.
* New Orleans McDonogh vs New Orleans Elanor McMain on Aug. 25 will feature wide receiver Lawrence Keys.
* Safety D'Angelo McKenzie and San Jose (Calif.) Valley Christian travels to Manteca (Calif.) High on Aug. 25.
* Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei and offensive guard Chris Murray will be on the road Aug. 25 against La Puente (Calif.) Bishop Amat.
* Defensive end Joseph Ossai and Conroe (Texas) Oak Ridge will be at home Aug. 31 to face Pearland Dawson.
* Blairstown (N.J.) Blair Academy vs. Havertown (N.J.) Haverford on Sept. 16 will feature defensive end Jayson Oweh.
* Top offensive tackle target Nick Petit-Frere and Tampa (Fla.) Berkeley Prep will host Clearwater (Fla.) Central Catholic on Aug. 25.
* Wide receiver Geordon Porter and his Etiwanda (Calif.) High teammates will be at a neutral site on Aug. 25 against Fontana (Calif.) Summit.
* Two-way lineman target Sam Taimani and his Salt Lake City East teammates began their season last evening against Provo (Utah) Timpview. East won the game 42-10.
* North Fort Myers (Fla.) High vs Fort Myers (Fla.) Riverdale on aug. 25 will feature cornerback Joe Wilkins Jr.
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