Notre Dame Making Early Impression On 2019 ATH Isaiah Rutherford
With the class of 2018 coming to close soon, the Notre Dame coaching staff will start to turn its focus to the class of 2019, and several targets have already been identified.
One such target is Carmichael (Calif.) Jesuit three-star athlete Isaiah Rutherford, who picked up an offer from the Irish in August.
Since then, Rutherford has been communicating mainly with special teams coach Brian Polian, and the two have reportedly hit it off.
“He’s a good dude,” Rutherford said. “He’s a reliable guy and he’s a coach that I can trust in this whole process.”
According to Rutherford, he hears from Polian at least once a week, and sporadically from other coaches and staffers on Twitter.
It’s early in the process for Rutherford, but there is definitely early interest in Notre Dame.
“They’re pretty high on my list,” Rutherford said. “I don’t have a top eight or anything, but they’re definitely a school I’m going to look into taking an official to for sure.”
For Rutherford, like a lot of recruits, the history of the Notre Dame program is alluring.
Rutherford said when he thinks about Notre Dame, the first thing that pops into his head is the prestige of the university and the football program.
“Their tradition, probably,” Rutherford said. “They have a big tradition surrounding their whole name. they have a great education and great sports.”
Currently, Rutherford holds offers from Notre Dame, Alabama, Colorado, Fresno State, Oregon, Oregon State and San Diego State.
As the class of 2019 enters the spotlight, the 6-foot-2, 170-pound Rutherford will certainly attract more attention from major programs.
Rutherford, the No. 29 athlete in the class of 2019, said he’s already got a few factors in mind that will help him eventually make a decision.
“Obviously, if they need me,” Rutherford said. “You have to compete, but if there’s an opportunity for me to play…Whatever is the best fit for me.”
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