Notre Dame Recruiting Week In Review: May 1-7
Welcome to BGI's newest weekly feature: the Notre Dame Recruiting Week In Review. Here, we'll lay out all the happenings from the past week in Irish recruiting in one story. Every Monday morning, you'll get a look at any commitments, new offers, visits and other recruiting news from the previous week.
First, take a look at BGI's Hot Boards to see where Notre Dame stands with some of its top targets. These are updated daily, and are the best place to get up-to-the-minute updates on each of Notre Dame targets. HOT BOARDS.
The spring evaluation period is still going on, and Notre Dame coaches once again spread out across the country this week in search of more 2018 prospects to add to the class.
COACHES ON THE ROAD
Defensive coordinator Mike Elko made his way to a high school football power house this week, stopping in at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy.
IMG is the home of one of Notre Dame's top targets on the defensive board in four-star athlete/defensive back Houston Griffith. Griffith has visited Notre Dame several times, and his recruitment is widely thought to be a Notre Dame/Ohio State battle.
IMG is also the home of two talented defensive linemen with Notre Dame offers in four-star DE Stephon Wynn and three-star DT Josh Walker.
Defensive backs coach Todd Lyght was in Texas this week, checking in on a pair of talented defensive backs from Houston Lamar in five-star Anthony Cook and four-star D'Shawn Jamison.
Lyght also spent time at Cypress (Texas) Cy-Fair, further evaluating three-star cornerback Erick Hallett, who could be in line for an Irish offer.
Running backs coach Autry Denson visited two running backs in the heart of SEC country this week.
First, Denson made his way down to a familiar territory in Florida when he visited three-star Melbourne (Fla.) Central Catholic running back Lavonte Valentine. The junior speedster was offered by the Irish on April 12.
Denson also stopped into see three-star Mountain Brook (Ala.) High running back Harold Joiner, who has been communicating with Denson via Twitter in recent weeks.
Special teams Brian Polian spent the week on the West Coast as usual, and stopped in to see a few of Notre Dame's top targets.
Polian was at Temecula (Calif.) Great Oak on Monday checking in on four-star OLB target Jack Lamb, who is hoping to visit Notre Dame this summer.
In Oregon, Polian stopped at Portland Central Catholic to see four-star OLB Eli'Jah Winston, who is also interested in eventually checking out South Bend.
Defensive line coach Mike Elston and offensive coordinator Chip Long also headed South this week.
Elston was at Athens (Ga.) Christian, dropping in on three-star drop end Richard Jibunor.
Long made his to Brentwood (Tenn.) High to check in on Irish OT commit Cole Mabry.
NEW OFFERS
The Skinny: Tremble reported his Notre Dame offer the same day that long visited his school this week. The three-star had been hearing from Notre Dame for a while leading up to the offer, and is definitely interested in the Irish. Tremble, whose father played at in-state Georgia, will visit Notre Dame on June 10 for the Irish Invasion.
To read more about Tremble's reaction to the offer, click HERE.
The Skinny: Johnson was also visited by Notre Dame at school this week, and announced the offer shortly after. Being in-state, Johnson obviously has great interest in Notre Dame, and is planning to visit for Irish Invasion on June 10. Going forward, Johnson said he'll be focusing on building a relationship with Lyght.
To read more from Johnson on the offer, click HERE.
The Skinny: Rattler was one of two 2019 QBs to be offered by Notre Dame last week, along with fellow four-star prospect Bo Nix. Rattler was thrilled to land the Irish offer, and said Notre Dame immediately jumped into his top group. With several visits already planned, Rattler will have a busy summer, but said he may try to squeeze in a visit to South Bend.
To read more on Rattler's reaction to the offer, click HERE.
The Skinny: Nix was the other 2019 QB prospect offered by Notre Dame last week. Being the son of a former Auburn QB, it's widely assumed that Nix will stick in SEC country. However, his father/coach Patrick Nix said the family will be looking at a list of schools they hope to visit after spring ball, and Notre Dame will likely be one of them.
BGI caught up with Patrick Nix earlier this week to get a scouting report on Bo and discuss his interest in Notre Dame. You can read that HERE.
The Skinny: The third 2019 prospect to be offered by Notre Dam last week, Crouch announced his offer via Twitter on Friday afternoon. Crouch is a highly recruited sophomore, currently holding more than 15 offers. That offer list includes Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Michigan, Ohio State and several other big-time programs.
Rivals National Analyst Adam Friedman recently caught up with Crouch to get his thoughts on the offer and the latest on his recruitment. You can read that HERE.
NEWS AND NOTES - GERVIN DECOMMITS
Notre Dame got a bit of bad news Saturday when four-star Rivals100 CB Kalon Gervin announced via Twitter that he is no longer committed to the Irish.
Losing Gervin is a big blow to the 2018 class, especially considering he was only CB commit in the class, and that Notre Dame failed to sign one in 2017.
Gervin spoke with Rivals National Analyst Josh Helmholdt about his decision, which you can read HERE.
Following the announcement, BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell took a look at where Notre Dame will go from here with cornerback recruiting. You can read his analysis HERE.
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