LB Ovie Oghoufo Excited For Future Of Notre Dame’s 2018 Class
Heading into the program’s first Junior Day earlier this month, Notre Dame was sitting in good shape with six commitments. Fast forward a little more than two weeks later and the class now has 11 pledges, which ranks No. 2 in the country and is close to possibly overtaking Penn State for the top spot.
Farmington Hills (Mich.) Harrison linebacker Ovie Oghoufo believes it is only the beginning for the Irish.
“Right now, the class is blowing up,” Oghoufo told Brandon Brown of TheWolverine.com. “I think it’s a matter of time before we get a lot of recruits coming in. A lot of people are still trying to figure out if that’s the home.
“The things I say to them is if you feel it pull the trigger and if not find somewhere else.”
Helping the coaching staff recruit the nation’s best is something the current commits like to do to continue growing the class.
“It takes a lot of burden off the coaches and we try to look at film and try to figure out the best players that can make this team great,” Oghoufo said. “Go after people? Kind of. I leave that to Markese Stepp. I’m the guy that solidifies it. I ask them if they are feeling it or rocking with it. If not, I just kind of leaving them alone.
“I tell them the honest answers possible. If I want to talk to them I ask how they feel about Notre Dame, their top schools and how close they are to committing. Things like that.”
Oghoufo was in South Bend for Junior Day and could return for the Blue-Gold Game later this spring. But for now, he continues to work on his game in preparation for camp season and his senior year.
“Coming into my senior year I definitely want to be a team leader and win as many games as possible,” Oghoufo said. “The ultimate goal is a state championship.
“At the end of the day, I just want to have a great season and just be ready to go on to Notre Dame.”
With ink hitting paper for the 2017 haul, the 2018 class is up next and will arrive at their respective schools next year. Oghoufo has high hopes for when he makes it to Notre Dame.
“My expectation is to dominate,” Oghoufo said of when he arrives in South Bend. “I’m trying to go in there and get some playing time and figure out how to keep up with the speed of college football. It’s a blessing to even have this opportunity to be committed to the University of Notre Dame.
“It’s also a blessing to be out there playing college football.”
Oghoufo looks to build off a junior campaign, when he recorded 56 tackles, 20 stops for loss and five sacks. He plays to participate in the Nike Football The Opening Regional in Chicago April 2, the Under Armour camp in Chicago April 23 and the Rivals 3 Stripe Camp in Columbus May 14.
NOTE: Quotes obtained by Brandon Brown of TheWolverine.com at Saline High School in Saline, Mich., during a gathering put together by Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network.
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