Notre Dame’s Mike Elston In Early On Elite Florida Talent
While Notre Dame is focused on finishing the 2021 cycle strong, it is looking ahead to get a strong start in the 2022 class as well.
The Fighting Irish staff has even offered a few 2023 prospects, too. Notre Dame defensive line coach Mike Elston offered a pair of rising sophomore defensive line recruits from Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola High School in early June.
The 6-5, 240-pound Derrick Leblanc, who holds nearly 40 scholarships already, and the 6-3, 275-pound John Walker, who also holds several offers from powerhouse programs, were the recipients of the Fighting Irish offers.
Both prospects were excited to land an offer from Notre Dame.
“They love the Lord and I do, too,” Leblanc said. “They have the major I want to do, too, which is sports medicine. The things I look for in a school are graduation rate, the schemes they run, the strength coach and my relationships with the coaches.
“The little things matter a lot to me. And Notre Dame has what I like, which makes a big difference.”
“I was happy they offered me because they have a really good education and a really good football program,” Walker added.
Elston is arguably Notre Dame’s strongest recruiter, and he’s already built a strong connection with the two Sunshine State standouts.
“Me and Coach Elston’s relationship is really good, which we’ve been building,” Leblanc explained. “My coaches told me to call him, and he told me that the whole coaching staff liked my film. We talked and it was really good.
“They have everything I like in a school — really good academics, great football and play the best of the best every week. I would love to be a part of it.
“He’s a really cool guy. He followed me on Twitter, and ever since then, I’ve been calling him. He wanted to build a relationship and really know who I am. It’s been a really good experience to be offered by them.”
“He seems like a coach that makes sure his team is well disciplined and pushes his players to victory,” Walker noted. “I think he is a really good coach.”
Identifying and offering prospects occurs earlier and earlier each recruiting cycle, but for Leblanc to be nearing 40 offers prior to his sophomore year is unheard of.
“It really has been crazy,” he said. “I just stay humble about it, and every offer means you have to keep working hard and can’t let it get to your head.”
Leblanc hopes to visit Notre Dame as soon as possible.
“I’m going up there as soon as this [dead period] is over,” he said. “I’m going to go visit.”
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