Several 2019 Notre Dame Targets Featured In First Release Of Rivals100
Rivals will be releasing numerical rankings this week in regards to the 2019 class and first up is the Rivals100 ranking the nation's premier players in the rising junior class.
Blue & Gold Illustrated takes a look at where some of Notre Dame's top targets sit in the first edition of the rankings.
First, we will start with players who have made trips to Notre Dame and appear to have interest in the Irish.
Cincinnati Walnut Hills defensive tackle Jowon Briggs visited South Bend earlier this year and is impressed with the package the Irish program can offer on and off the field. Fellow Ohio defensive lineman Zach Harrison (No.9) of Lewis Center (Ohio) Olentangy Orange visited South Bend for the 2016 Virginia Tech game, as well as Sophomore Day on April 2.
Checking in at No. 29 on the list is Shane Lee, a four-star linebacker from Baltimore St. Francis. Lee has expressed a good bit of interest in the Irish, and was on campus for a visit in June.
Dallas Bishop Dunne safety Brian Williams (No.11) visited Notre Dame for the Irish Invasion in June, and is a big fan of defensive coordinator Mike Elko.
Kenny McIntosh (No.49), a four-star running back from Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) University School, visited Notre Dame for the Blue-Gold Game on April 22 and has a connection to the program being the younger brother of current Irish running back Deon McIntosh.
Metuchen (N.J.) St. Joseph's offensive tackle John Olmstead (No. 59) is high on Notre Dame following spending time with Harry Hiestand and the Irish in June.
In-state wide receiver David Bell (No. 70) landed an offer in February and was in South Bend for the program's Sophomore Day in early April. The Irish will push for the Indianapolis Warren Central product, but an Ohio State offer could shake up his recruitment.
Edina (Minn.) High offensive tackle Quinn Carroll (No. 71) is one of the staff's top targets on the offensive line in the class along with Olmstead. He landed an offer in May and said it "meant the world." The four-star will be highly coveted across the country with offers from many of the nation's top programs including Alabama, Florida, Michigan, Ohio State, USC and others.
Belleville (Mich.) High athlete Julian Barnett (No. 73) landed an offer following his performance during a camp in July. The Irish like the four-star at cornerback is also being pursued by Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Michigan State and others.
With Mike Elko's new defense, the staff is recruiting players for the hybrid 'drop' position and Lexington (Ohio) High product Cade Stover (No. 96) is one of the top targets in 2019 to fill the spot. Stover took in a game last fall and hasn't been back to South Bend since landing the offer this June, but the Irish will be a contender along with Ohio State.
Notre Dame impressed Mineral (Va.) Louisa County linebacker Brandon Smith during his June visit where he landed an offer. The four-star is a fan of linebackers coach Clark Lea and the Irish will battle many of the nation's best for Smith including Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia and Ohio State, among others.
Other Irish targets who made the list include four-star cornerback Chris Steele (N0.26), four-star defensive tackle Faatui Tuitele (No.45), four-star ATH Bru McCoy (No.80) and four-star linebacker Henry To'oto'o (No. 51).
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