Tag: Notre Dame Fighting Irish Football Recruiting

Freeman at it again as Notre Dame offers 5-Star Outside Linebacker

Notre Dame defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman spoke with Texas 5-Star outside linebacker Harold Perkins and then received an offer.

There is a different feel to the Marcus Freeman era, specifically on the recruiting trail. With the prestige of the Notre Dame program, it’s given the new defensive coordinator a lot more pizzaz on the recruiting trail. That showed this evening when Texas’ Harold Perkins spoke with Freeman and subsequently received an offer.

Perkins checks in as the 19th best player in the country and the best outside linebacker according to the 247Sports composite. Standing six-feet-three-inches and weighting 200-pounds, this offer is significant.

There seems to be a changing in philosophy regarding who the Irish give out offers. Freeman has been going after high level players like Perkins, certainly a difference from when Clark Lea was making the offers.

There obviously was a difference in talent levels when the Irish ended up losing their final two games of the season to Clemson and Alabama. Perkins has the ability to play for any school in the country. Now the Irish have put their offer into the mix and a changing of the guard has been made. Only good things can come from Freeman and Brian Kelly in their newfound recruiting philosophy.

Irish stay busy on recruiting trail, Notre Dame re-offers ‘22 Texas athlete

With a coaching change a star athlete in Texas wasn’t sure of his status with the Irish, last night it all got cleared up with Jarred Kerr.

[jwplayer gziteLqQ-er0jUifI]

Former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea had offered Texas star athlete Jarred Kerr, six-foot-one-inch and 185-pounds, but when he left to become the head coach at Vanderbilt, Kerr wasn’t sure where he stood with his replacement Marcus Freeman. Well, things were cleared up yesterday as Kerr tweeted out this good news.

Texas is a powerhouse state for high school football and Kerr could end up at multiple positions when he arrives to a college campus. You have to assume that the re-offer from the Irish staff has to be on the defensive side of the ball, as there were no big changes to the offensive staff.

Kerr is an impressive athlete, who could play wide receiver or running back if it doesn’t work out of the defensive side of the ball. What we do know is that Freeman is having an early impact out on the recruiting trail and hopefully this is a step in the right direction in ultimately landing a commitment from this phenomenal athlete.

Irish stay busy on recruiting trail, Notre Dame re-offers ‘22 Texas athlete

With a coaching change a star athlete in Texas wasn’t sure of his status with the Irish, last night it all got cleared up with Jarred Kerr.

[jwplayer gziteLqQ-er0jUifI]

Former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Clark Lea had offered Texas star athlete Jarred Kerr, six-foot-one-inch and 185-pounds, but when he left to become the head coach at Vanderbilt, Kerr wasn’t sure where he stood with his replacement Marcus Freeman. Well, things were cleared up yesterday as Kerr tweeted out this good news.

Texas is a powerhouse state for high school football and Kerr could end up at multiple positions when he arrives to a college campus. You have to assume that the re-offer from the Irish staff has to be on the defensive side of the ball, as there were no big changes to the offensive staff.

Kerr is an impressive athlete, who could play wide receiver or running back if it doesn’t work out of the defensive side of the ball. What we do know is that Freeman is having an early impact out on the recruiting trail and hopefully this is a step in the right direction in ultimately landing a commitment from this phenomenal athlete.

Will running back Logan Diggs sign with Notre Dame in February?

The lone committed 2021 recruit who did not sign with Notre Dame in the early period could still end up in the Blue and Gold.

The second and final signing day for the 2021 class is fast approaching, it happens the first Wednesday of February every year. This year it’s the 3rd but since the early signing period has arrived, the majority of prospects sign in mid-December.

Brian Kelly and the Irish signed 26 players and have added a graduate transfer in quarterback Jack Coan. Typically a team can only roster 85 scholarship players, but the NCAA ruled this year would be different due to COVID-19. Players who would have normally exhausted their eligibility after this season, have the option to return. Some players have taken advantage of this, some have not.

The reason why this is important is because recruiting classes could be abnormally larger this cycle. That means that the long unsigned Notre Dame commit, running back Logan Diggs, is still in play.

Recently, his trainer, Albert Brock spoke with 247Sports Kevin Sinclair (insider article) to get a look if the talented Louisiana native was still intending on signing with the Irish. Although Brock did’t give Sinclair a definitive answer, he did give out this nugget: “We actually got on the phone today with coach Kelly and the running backs coach.”

The conversation was more about Diggs skill set and what he has been working on, but it’s still good news for the Irish with holding his commitment. Could he have signed in the early period and just didn’t make it official? Yes, but he could also flip due to the Irish signing another running back, Audric Estime.

Only time will tell if Diggs will sign with the Irish, but if I had to guess at this moment, the answer is yes. Diggs will eventually head up north and play his collegiate football in Notre Dame Stadium.

Notre Dame football 2022 defensive recruit wishlist

A look at which defensive players with Notre Dame offer that would be great additions to the 2022 recruiting class.

A few weeks ago, I took a look at which Notre Dame recruits on offense who currently held offers and could potentially join the growing 2022 class. Realistically, some of them could join, some of them might end up elsewhere, but one can wish right? We’ll, it’s time for the other side of the ball, my ’22 defense recruit wishlist for the Irish.

Marcus Freeman behind latest Notre Dame 2022 defensive offer

Notre Dame’s new defensive coordinator is already out on the recruiting trail making waves with the Irish’s latest offer to Jaylen Sneed.

After Notre Dame secured their first commit of new defensive coordinator Marcus Freeman’s watch in defensive end Tyson Ford, there is still more work to be done. Freeman was tagged on Twitter with their latest defensive offer, going out to South Carolina’s outside linebacker Jaylen Sneed.

Sneed is one of the best OLB’s in the country, ranked by the 247Sports composite as the 78th overall prospect and 5th at his position. He already possess a college-ready body at six-foot-two-inches and 215-pounds and is an absolute terror for opposing offenses.

The linebacker shows great versatility, during Sneed’s past high school season, he mainly lined up as a defensive end, showing he can rush the passer. Obviously, he is undersized at the position but shows traits of an elite outside linebacker at the next level.

The current offer list for Sneed is basically a who’s-who of college football elite, as he has an Alabama, Oklahoma, and USC offer’s among many others. It won’t be an easy task getting a commitment from Sneed, but the Irish have made him a priority, especially with Freeman heading his recruitment.

Scouts view: Newest Notre Dame commitment ‘22 DE Tyson Ford

A look at what to expect from the Newest Notre Dame commitment, defensive end Tyson Ford in the 2022 recruiting class.

The first commit of the Marcus Freeman era is a big one, in Missouri’s Tyson Ford. The elite defensive end stands six-foot-five-inches and weighs 245-pounds, but you wouldn’t know it by the way he plays.

Ranked as a top 10 player at his position, Ford is an absolutely huge recruiting win, as Brian Kelly and the Irish made a huge late push to overcome an his presumed commitment to Oklahoma.

Here is a scouts view of what to expect from Tyson Ford when he arrives to South Bend:

First thing that pops off on Ford’s film is his elite first step, many times getting past offensive tackles before they have an opportunity to get their hands on him. When they do, Ford shows a variety of high-level moves to get to the quarterback which include a swim, speed and bullrush. He uses great hand movements to fend off defenders, something Ford shows an impressive display doing. Strength isn’t an issue, but once strength coach Matt Balis gets his hands on him, Ford’s abilities in this category will greatly improve. He never gives up on plays, often chasing down ball-carriers from the backside.

Ford is the type of player that could make an immediate impact due to his pass-rushing abilities. I’m a big fan of his game and excited to see what he can do during his Notre Dame career.

Polian heads out to Utah for newest Notre Dame offer to stud athlete

Recruiting never sleeps and Notre Dame recruiting coordinator has found a big time athlete in Utah and offered him yesterday.

The second offer out to a defender since Marcus Freeman took over as defensive coordinator went out to Utah’s Lander Barton, a very impressive athlete who most likely will end up as an outside linebacker.

 

Although recruiting coordinator Brian Polian is leading his recruitment, Barton surely fits the mold that Freeman is looking for in his defense.

After reviewing the six-foot-four-inch and 220-pound linebackers film, there isn’t much to complain about. Barton flies around the field, showing his sideline-to-sideline speed, which will undoubtedly translate over to the collegiate level. The speed is shown off again when Barton blitzes off the edge, punishing offensive players and showing active hands when he arrives to ball-carriers. He’s no slouch at picking passes off either, with very good coverage skills. This shows that Barton will most likely be a three-down linebacker when he hits the field in college.

Notre Dame has identified a great prospect as Barton already holds offers from Oregon, Stanford, Washington and others. This is a great offer and I personally hope to see Barton ultimately end up donning the Blue and Gold.

Notre Dame offers 2022 star New Jersey defensive back

The first offer of the Marcus Freeman era goes out to a New Jersey defensive back.

We are all waiting to see how the Marcus Freeman effect will impact Notre Dame recruiting and the first offer to a defender has been made to New Jersey’s cornerback Davison Igbinosun.

It seems like cornerback coach Mike Mickens is leading the six-foot-three-inch and 185-pound defenders recruitment. I am a big fan of this offer, bigger corners are exactly what modern defenses are looking for.

Although Igbinosun’s offer list isn’t overly impressive (Duke, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Rutgers and a few others), he fits the profile that the Irish are looking for. A great student-athlete who has a bright future on the playing field.

Igbinosun’s recruitment is just starting to heat up, but with the Irish getting his attention now, it could potentially yield good news down the road.

Watch: Notre Dame football targets dominate in Dallas Pylon event

Highlights from the Dallas Pylon 7 on 7 event who hold Notre Dame offers.

It is the offseason for high school athletes, which means going to camps, getting individual and group workouts along with competing in 7 vs. 7 tournaments.

The latter was happening in Dallas, Texas this weekend with the Pylon 7 vs. 7 tournament. Plenty of Notre Dame targets were in attendance and there were highlights that Notre Dame fans needed to see. Here are some of the top 2022 and 2023 targets highlights who have Notre Dame offers. I also have personally seen three of the four prospects featured, and they are more than impressive. Also, two of them were on my 2022 offensive wish list as well.