Notre Dame Recruiting Weekend Preview: Week One
The 2017 football season is here and as the Irish begin their quest for a comeback season, prospects from all over the country will descend on South Bend for an opportunity to get a closer look at Notre Dame.
Each week, Blue and Gold Illustrated will bring its readers a rundown of what recruits will be in South Bend, where other top targets will be visiting, and a look at the upcoming high school games for Irish commits and targets.
WEEKEND VISITORS
The Skinny: Notre Dame was hoping to get Booker back on campus for Irish Invasion in June (10-11) which would have been perfect timing given the Stanford Cardinal officially entered the mix for the four-star offering June 9. But Booker was unable to make the trip due to a family matter. Stanford and Notre Dame are not the only ones Booker is interested in as Clemson, Florida State, Duke, Northwestern and Virginia remain programs he's discussed in the past. The Cardinal and Irish however will likely be the two Booker picks from when a decision comes.
Booker got a thorough look at the Irish program this spring where he learned more about how the program mixes academics and athletics. Notre Dame did well the first time around with Booker and will need to do so again to try and fend off the Cardinal. The Irish have a chance to build a nice lead this weekend with another good visit.
To read Booker's thoughts from his spring visit, click HERE.
The Skinny: Gordon has been high on the Irish since landing his offer on Feb. 23, and obviously cornerback is a position of great priority to the Irish staff. Both of Gordon's parents will join him on the visit, so Notre Dame will have a perfect opportunity to impress the whole family. At this time, Gordon does not have any additional visits set. Though more are sure to come. it's definitely a positive that Gordon is coming to South Bend early in the year and bringing mom and dad along.
To read more of Gordon's visit, click HERE.
The Skinny: The in-state product is starting to come on the radar for the Notre Dame staff in the 2019 class. He holds early offers from Iowa, Indiana and Purdue. Saturday will be his first game experience in South Bend which he is looking forward to. A Notre Dame offer would be a big for the three-star. Everything is still in the early stages between the two sides, and Kiser will be a prospect that will be evaluated further by the Irish as his junior year progresses.
To read more about Kiser's thoughts on the visit and Notre Dame, click HERE.
The Skinny: Given his proximity to campus, it is no surprise Moala will be in town this Saturday when the Irish host Temple. The senior was a standout during the summer's Irish Invasion where he ran a sub-4.5 40-yard dash and impressed the coaching staff enough to extend an offer. It is a little unclear exactly where Moala stands on the safety board for the Irish. He did make another visit this summer where he spent some one-on-one time with defensive backs coach Todd Lyght. His recruitment will be one to follow especially to see how hard Notre Dame pushes.
The Skinny: Ossai will arrive in South Bend with the Irish in his top three along with Texas and Texas A&M. Being that he's a Texas product, the common thought is Ossai will stay in the Lonestar state. However, Ossai told BGI that he's open to idea of leaving Texas to play his college football. Ossai and his parents will arrive at Notre Dame Friday evening and head back to Texas Monday morning.
For more on Ossai's visit, click HERE.
GAME SCHEDULE
Notre Dame Commits - Games on Sept. 1 unless otherwise noted
Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep (0-0) vs. Union City (N.J.) High (0-0) - Defensive tackle commit Jayson Ademilola, defensive end commit Justin Ademilola and rover commit Shayne Simon will open their senior seasons Friday night against a Union City team that went 9-2 in 2016 and advanced to the semifinals of the New Jersey North 1 Group 5 Playoffs.
Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter (2-0) vs. Marietta (Ga.) Kell (0-1) - Safety commit Derrik Allen and Lassiter will look to stay unbeaten on the year against a Kell team that posted an 11-3 record in 2016 and advanced to the semifinals of class 5A playoffs.
Coconut Creek (Fla.) North Broward Prep (1-0) vs Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) The Benjamin School (1-0) - Wide receiver commit Kevin Austin and North Broward Prep will look to continue the dominance they displayed in a 57-0 week one win. They'll matchup with a Benjamin team that went 7-3 in 2016 and features 2019 Notre Dame cornerback target Kaiir Elam.
Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep (1-0) at Erie (Pa.) High (1-0) - Linebacker commit Bo Bauer and Cathedral Prep will look to move to 2-0 on the year as they travel to play an Erie team that opened the season with a 34-7 over Meadville (Pa.) High.
Maria Stein (Ohio) Marion Local (1-0) at Hamler (Ohio) Patrick Henry (0-1) - Offensive tackle commit John Dirksen will look to pick up a road win in a rematch of last year's Ohio Division IV semifinal game.
Ridgely (Md.) North Caroline (0-0) at Salisbury (Md.) Wicomico (0-0) - Defensive tackle commit Ja'Mion Franklin and North Caroline will start off their 2017 season against a Wicomico team that finished 2016 with a 3-7 record.
Gurnee (Ill.) Warren Township (0-1) vs. Winnetka (Ill.) New Trier (1-0) - Wide receiver commit Micah Jones and Warren Township will try to bounce back from a week one loss against a New Trier team that went 9-2 in 2016 and advanced to the second round of the Illinois Class 8A Playoffs.
Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Richland (1-0) vs. Pittsburgh Mt. Lebanon (1-0) - Coming off a huge performance on national TV, quarterback commit Phil Jurkovec and Pine Richland will look to continue their success against a Mt. Lebanon team that went 7-4 in 2016.
Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren (2-0) vs. Franklin (Ky.) Franklin-Simpson (1-1) - 2019 defensive tackle commit Jacob Lacey and South Warren will look to move to 3-0 against a Franklin Simpson team that went 14-1 last season, its lone loss coming the Kentucky Division 4A State Championship.
Temecula(Calif.) Great Oak (0-1) at Riverside (Calif) King (0-0) - Great Oak will look to rebound from 42-0 season-opening defeat. Linebacker commit Jack Lamb will be sidelined after suffering a knee injury in week one.
Brentwood (Tenn.) High (2-0) vs. Dickson (Tenn.) Dickson County (0-2) - Offensive tackle commit Cole Mabry will look to stay hot against a Dickson County team that finished with a 3-7 record in 2016.
Reno (Nev.) Damonte Ranch (1-0) at Fresno (Calif.) Edison (0-1) - 2019 quarterback commit Cade McNamara and Damonte Ranch will look to get their second win of 2017 against an Edison finished 2016 with a 5-7 mark.
Sanford (N.C.) Lee County (2-0) vs. Raleigh (N.C.) Wakefield (0-2) - Running back commit Jahmir Smith and Lee County will face off against a Wakefield team that finished at 6-6 in 2016.
Indianapolis Cathedral (0-2) at Pickerington (Ohio) Central (0-1) - Running back commit Markese Stepp and Cathedral will try to pick up their first win of the season against a Pickerington team that went 13-2 in 2016 and advanced to Ohio Division I semifinals.
Naples (Fla.) Gulf Coast (1-0) vs. Hialeah (Fla.) High (1-0) - Tight end commit George Takacs and Gulf Coast will try to move to 2-0 against a Hialeah team that finished 2016 at 3-6.
Top Targets - Games on Sept. 1 unless otherwise noted
Baltimore Gilman (0-1) at Olney (Md.) Good Counsel (0-1) - Defensive end target Thomas Booker and Gilman will try to pick up their first win of the season against a Good Counsel that went 6-5 in 2016.
Milpitas (Calif.) High (1-0) at Dublin (Calif.) High (1-0) - Cornerback target Tariq Bracy and Milpitas will try to stay unbeaten as they take on a Dublin team that finished with a 4-6 record in 2016.
Loganville (Ga.) High (0-1) vs. Cumming (Ga.) North Forsyth (1-1) - Cornerback target Donte Burton and Loganville will look to put one in the W column against a North Forsyth team that went 4-6 in 2016.
Anaheim (Calif.) Servite (1-0) vs. American Fork (Utah) High (1-1)- Safety target Julius Irvin and Servite will look to move to 2-0 against an American Fork team that finished 9-5 in 2016 and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Utah Division 5A State Playoffs.
New Orleans McDonogh 35 (1-0) at New Orleans St. Augustine (0-0) - wide receiver target Lawrence Keys and McDonogh 35 will look to stay unbeaten as they take on a St. Augustine team that finished 2016 with a 6-5 record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the Louisiana Class 5A State Playoffs.
San Jose (Calif.) Valley Christian (0-1) vs. Santa Clara (Calif.) Wilcox (0-1) - Safety target D'Angelo McKenzie and Valley Christian will try to grab their first win of the season against a Wilcox team that went 5-6 in 2016.
Berkeley Prep (1-1) vs. Auburndale (Fla.) Kingdom Prep (0-1) - Offensive tackle target Nick Petit-Frere and Berkeley Prep will look to move to 2-1 on the year against a Kingdom Prep team that finished 2016 with a 7-4 record.
Etiwanda (Calif.) High (1-0) vs. (Calif.) Redlands East (0-0) - Wide receiver target Geordon Porter and Etiwanda will try to improve to 2-0 on the season against a Redlands East team that went 9-3 in 2016.
Atlanta Pace (0-1) vs. Atlanta Hapeville Charter (1-1) - Offensive guard target Jamaree Salyer and Pace will look to get on the winning track against a Hapeville Charter team that posted a 10-4 record in 2016 and advanced to the semifinals of the Georgia Class AA State Playoffs.
Salt Lake City East (1-1) at Saguaro (Ariz.) High (1-1) - Offensive guard target Sam Taimani and East will look to bounce back from a week two loss as they take on a Saguaro team that went undefeated in 2016, capturing the Arizona Conference 4A State Championship.
Norcross (Ga.) Wesleyan (2-0) vs. St. Simons Island (Ga.) Fredercia Academy (2-1)- Norcross will look to move to 3-0 on the season. Tight end target Tommy Tremble will be sidelined the rest of the season with an ankle injury.
North Fort Myers (Fla.) High (1-0) vs Fort Myers (Fla.) High (1-0) - Cornerback target Joseph Wilkins Jr. and North Fory Myers will look to remain unbeaten as they take on a Fort Myers team that finished 2016 with an 8-5 record.
TARGETS VISITING ELSEWHERE
Wide receiver target Geordon Porter will unofficially visit UCLA for the Texas A&M game.
Offensive guard target Jamaree Salyer will visit Athens for Georgia's game against Appalachian State
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