Tag: Adam Gorney

Notre Dame one of four finalists for safety recruit Sherrod Covil

Will Notre Dame beat out three ACC schools for Covil’s services?

Notre Dame has made the final cut for safety recruit Sherrod Covil’s college choices. Also among his final choices are ACC schools Miami, North Carolina and Clemson. He will announce his decision Thursday on Rivals. Ahead of this big day, Covil spoke with Rivals national recruiting director Adam Gorney, who asked for Covil’s thoughts about each of the programs eagerly awaiting his announcement:

The fact that Covil considers Notre Dame one of his top-two choices gives the Irish reason for optimism. He particularly gives credit to senior defensive analyst Nick Lezynski for being aggressive in his pursuit of him. It shows how it truly takes an entire coaching staff to bring talent in.

Exports for both Rivals and 247Sports believe it’s a certainty that Covil will choose Clemson. If that’s the case, he put on a nice poker face for his interview. Then again, no recruit really is going to say where they want to go until they make their official announcement. And so, we wait.

Rivals thinks recent ‘23 Indiana decommit could consider Notre Dame

Could Moore repledge to a different Indiana school?

At first it didn’t seem like much would be made of 2023 Georgia linebacker Denzel Moore decommitting from Indiana but after seeing multiple reports by Rivals about the ‘backers interest in the Irish, it might be something worth watching.

It’s been a little under a week since Moore changed his mind and it seems like the interest between both Notre Dame and Moore is mutual. According to Adam Gorney “the rumor is that so many schools have reached out in recent months that Moore felt it would be best to rethink his choices.”

Among the schools mentioned were Florida State, Tennessee, Mississippi State, Alabama, LSU and Auburn. At the current moment the Irish do not have any 2023 pledges, but given the recent recruiting success in Georgia, Moore is certainly in play for Notre Dame.

Since he was already committed to heading to Bloomington, why not head a bit further north and make his next home South Bend? Who knows what Moore’s new timeline is, but it does seem like the Irish are squarely in the discussion for his next verbal pledge.

Rivals: Notre Dame could steal recruit in Wisconsin’s backyard

This could be a huge development

The rivalry between the Badgers and the Irish didn’t get a chance to see the field last season, their game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but their other battles off the field still are happening. With a report from Adam Gorney of Rivals, Wisconsin offensive lineman Carson Hinzman might not be a lock to the Badgers that many have thought.

Gorney suggests that the planned visits to Ohio State, Iowa and the Irish have now put a wrench into the Badgers locking up one of the best prospects in their backyard.

Hinzman could still very well end up with the Badgers like many other elite offensive lineman from the state, but saying no to the Buckeyes and the Irish among other is easier said than done. – Gorney

The six-foot-five-inch and 280-pound lineman is being courted by some of the best Midwest programs, putting thoughts into Hinzman’s head that could ultimately lure him away from his home state.

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The early signing period is rapidly approaching and the Irish currently have 13 commits, two of them being offensive lineman. Brian Kelly would love to add Hinzman to the group and is seems like they currently have a fight chance to gain his commitment in the near future.

Rivals National Recruiting Director projects 4-star DT Rayshaun Benny to MSU

Yet another recruiting expert forecasts the Spartans landing four-star defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny out of Oak Park, Mich.

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We continue to see positive vibes for Michigan State football on the recruiting trail, with yet another recruiting expert forecasting the Spartans to land four-star defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny out of Oak Park, Mich.

Mike Farrell — National Recruiting Director of Rivals.com — recently hashed out his thoughts on the intense recruiting battle for Benny and believes MSU is in store for some good news when he announces his commitment on Monday.

“This changed quickly, huh? At one point it looked like Kentucky was the biggest threat to Michigan because of the Justin Rogers connection, but Mel Tucker and his staff have done a great job selling the program and opportunity at Michigan State. And this will be another massive in-state blow to Jim Harbaugh and Michigan if it happens and it appears like it will,” Farrell wrote in an article published on Rivals.com.

Rivals.com national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney expressed a similar opinion in that same article, stating he likes the Spartans to land Benny but would “caution those who think Benny is an absolute lock to the Spartans now,” citing that nothing is ever certain in a battle of this nature.

Earlier this week, a handful of 247Sports crystal ball predictions flipped from Michigan to Michigan State, creating a lot of buzz on the recruiting trail. Penn State and Kentucky are also among his four finalists, but it appears this battle will come down to the Spartans and Wolverines at this point.

Benny is the No. 14 defensive tackle prospect in the 2021 class, and No. 6 overall recruit in the state of Michigan. Should Benny choose the Spartans next week, he will be the highest-rated player new head coach Mel Tucker has landed and the first four-star prospect, according to 247Sports.

Click here to read more of what Farrell and Gorney have to say about Benny’s recruiting battle.

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Rivals: Irish don’t have enough firepower to beat Clemson

It’s a bit premature to make that assumption, there are a lot of unknowns about Notre Dame’s new offense behind Tommy Rees’ direction.

There are plenty of prognosticators who want to go out on a limb and make predictions that might be a bit far out there. Rivals’ Mike Farrell and Adam Gorney both looked at if the Irish could beat out Clemson for the ACC Title.

Both, Farrell and Gorney, believe that Notre Dame won’t be able to knock off the perennial College Football Playoff contestant. Farrell says that “I don’t think there’s a threat” when referring to Notre Dame’s potential to topple the Tigers. Farrell cites Clemson’s hunger after losing last year’s CFB Championship to LSU and that he “can’t see either (North Carolina or Notre Dame’s) defense holding up to the explosive Clemson offense.”

Clemson’s explosive offense has probably the best pair of backfield mates in quarterback Trevor Lawrence and running back Travis Etienne in the country. However, losing potential star wide receiver Justyn Ross to a spinal injury and Tee Higgins going to the NFL, gives the Tigers WR unit some questions going into the season also. Lots of talented players are behind them, but like the Irish, they’re going to have to find playmakers. Their situations, Notre Dame’s and Clemson’s, are very similar and claiming Clemson has an explosive offense at this point in time seems foolish.

Gorney see’s things playing out very similar to Farrell. He worries “the Irish don’t have enough offensive firepower to keep up with Clemson… because Notre Dame is still looking for playmakers in the passing game.” Gorney, like Farrell, fails to see the similarities between both teams playmakers situations.

It’s a bit premature to say Notre Dame’s offense won’t be able to contend with Clemson’s. Defensive coordinator Clark Lea is a rising star and new offensive coordinator Tommy Rees had time to install his offense during the offseason. Rees will find playmakers from his talented group, it could be tight end Brock Wright, wide receiver Braden Lenzy or Lawrence Keys III, running back Chris Tryee that breaks out. The Irish will have players break out and perform at a high level this year.

Farrell and Gorney are a bit off when saying the Irish don’t have the offensive firepower, there’s plenty of talented players on the Notre Dame roster who will have their opportunities this season. Each team will have plenty of time to get their offenses humming by the time they meet on the field November 7th. It should be a great one that will impact not just the ACC race, but the CFP as well.