Tag: Notre Dame recruiting

Notre Dame Football: Irish Kept Top Tight End Commit As Two Powerhouses Swarmed Late

After Chip Long was let go we have learned from Tom Loy at 247Sports that both Michigan and Penn State checked in on then-commit, tight end Michael Mayer  (Covington Catholic, Alexandria, KY) ahead of signing day.

When Chip Long was relieved of his offensive coordinator duties in early December there was a small window between his firing and the early signing period taking place.

We all know now that Notre Dame not only kept the entire anticipated class in place but actually added an extra player when corner back Ramon Henderson from Bakersfield, California committed.

The wound up that way but not by the choice of a couple Mid-west powerhouses.

After Chip Long was let go we have learned from Tom Loy at 247Sports that both Michigan and Penn State checked in on then-commit, tight end Michael Mayer  (Covington Catholic, Alexandria, KY) ahead of signing day.

“Michigan was big-time on me. Coach Sherron Moore, the tight ends coach,” said Mayer, when asked who reached out when Long was fired. “Penn State reached out. Kentucky too. Penn State was my No. 2 school and I had a great relationship with coach Bowen” – Michael Mayer to 247Sports

It’s worth checking out the article (linked above) to the 247Sports/Irish Illustrated piece.  In it Mayer discusses what he thinks Chris Tyree so special, why he stayed loyal to Notre Dame and why he didn’t push things back until February’s signing period.

247Sports rated Mayer, Kentucky’s High School Player of the Year this past fall and a four-star prospect as the second best tight end in the 2020 recruiting class.

Notre Dame Football: Santa Awards Two Scholarships to Walk-Ons

With Mrs. Claus by his side and Brian Kelly speaking for him, Santa dropped off two presents for the young men earlier this week.

Santa has been busy the last few days but did find the time to make a stop in Orlando to give out a couple of presents to two members of the Notre Dame football team.

Those two are Mick Asaff, a walk-on running back from Atlanta and Colin Grunhard, a walk-on offensive lineman from Kansas.

With Mrs. Claus by his side and Brian Kelly speaking for him, Santa dropped off two presents for the young men earlier this week.

These never get old to me and my favorite part may be seeing how excited the scholarship players are to see their teammates who have given so much time, energy and effort get rewarded.

Assaf has 34 yards on 10 carries for his career and Grunhard, son of Tim (played at Notre Dame from 86-89, later with the Kansas Chiefs) has appeared in eight games over the last two years.

Interview (Listen) – Always Irish Podcast

John was kind enough to invite me on his show and discuss the state of Notre Dame football and how close they are to catching the next level of teams that are always contending for national championships.

In preparation for the Camping World Bowl I was asked to come on the “Always Irish” podcast with John who is about as passionate of Notre Dame fan as you’ll ever meet.

You can follow him on Twitter @jkznd4 where he shares his love for Notre Dame football, animals and battles general stupidity on a daily basis.

John was kind enough to invite me on his show and discuss the state of Notre Dame football and how close they are to catching the next level of teams that are always contending for national championships.

The recent recruiting class, Camping World Bowl and offensive coordinator search are all discussed as are some just real general Notre Dame topics. Hope you enjoy and if you’d ever like to have me on a similar show feel to reach out and I’d be happy to.

Here is John’s latest episode of the “Always Irish” podcast with my appearance.  I hope you enjoy:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zk06sb8n_c0&w=560&h=315]

Notre Dame Football: Three-Star Ramon Henderson Rounds Out Class for Irish

Braden Lenzy’s fastest time ever recorded in the 100 meter dash is 10.82 seconds.  Not at all shabby and quick enough to make him the fastest man almost anytime he steps onto a football field.

That is unless Henderson is there, as Henderson has gone 10.59 seconds in the 100 before.

Notre Dame entered Wednesday’s first National Signing Day knowing they’d likely have at least 17 high school seniors sign their National Letters of Intent and become the newest members of the Fighting Irish football team.

There was some optimism that number could grow slightly higher and it eventually did as early Wednesday afternoon Ramon Henderson signed his NLI and became the final player in Notre Dame’s 2020 recruiting class to sign.

Henderson is listed as an athlete in most places but figures to fit into Notre Dame’s mix in the defensive backfield.

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The Liberty High School product from Bakersfield, California chose Notre Dame over Utah and Oklahoma who were both in pursuit of his services.

Henderson is listed at 6-2 and 183 pounds and is blessed with truly elite speed.

How fast are we talking?

Braden Lenzy’s fastest time ever recorded in the 100 meter dash is 10.82 seconds.  Not at all shabby and quick enough to make him the fastest man almost anytime he steps onto a football field.

That is unless Henderson is there, as Henderson has gone 10.59 seconds in the 100 before.

Henderson was ranked as the 23rd best player in California by Rivals.

Notre Dame Football: Four-Star ILB Jordan Botelho Signs with Irish

Te’o, Gilman, Tagovailoa-Amosa and Toma are only a few of the several names that have appeared and starred on Notre Dame’s roster in recent years.

Now it’s time to add another.

Jordan Botelho.

Notre Dame has created quite a recruiting pipeline to Hawaii over the last decade having several star players from the Aloha State.

Te’o, Gilman, Tagovailoa-Amosa and Toma are only a few of the several names that have appeared and starred on Notre Dame’s roster in recent years.

Now it’s time to add another.

Jordan Botelho.

Remember the name as the top-rated player in Hawaii, a product of St. Louis High School in Honolulu officially signed his letter of intent to join the Fighting Irish on Wednesday.

Botelho is listed at 6-2 and 229 pounds and committed to Notre Dame back in April of this year.

He’s been an absolute star the last two seasons picking up 25 sacks and forcing six fumbles in that time and has been rated as high as the sixth best interior linebacker in this year’s class.

Botelho signed with Notre Dame while being pursued by the likes of Washington, UCLA, Oregon, Cal, Oklahoma and others.

 

Notre Dame Football: Top Rated Long Snapper Alex Peitsch Signs with Irish

Peitsch committed to Notre Dame back in April and figures to be on the field right away replacing the great John Shannon.

Notre Dame may be regarded as “Tight End U” by some but “Long Snapper U” is starting to make a lot of sense for the Catholic university in South Bend.

Last week John Shannon was awarded the inagural Patrick Mannelly Award for the best long-snapper in the nation.  It was also announced that Shannon would be forgoing his final year of eligibility at Notre Dame and instead beginning his career in law-enforcement.

Worries at long snapper for the Fighting Irish?

Not so fast.

Alex Peitsch of St. John’s College High School in our nation’s capital signed his letter of intent Wednesday to play football at Notre Dame.

Peitsch is ranked by 247Sports as the number-one long-snapper in all of the 2020 recruiting class.

Peitsch committed to Notre Dame back in April and figures to be on the field right away replacing the great John Shannon.

 

Notre Dame Football: Three-Star WR Jay Brunelle Signs with Irish

Brunelle is listed by all outlets as a three-star receiver and pulled down 121 receptions for 2229 yards and 29 touchdowns in his final two years of high school.

Notre Dame will need to replace a lot at wide receiver in 2020 as both Chase Claypool and Chris Finke who combined to haul in 94 passes for over 1300 yards and 16 touchdowns are gone.

Signing Jordan Johnson early Wednesday was a huge step in the right direction there, but he wasn’t the only receiver Notre Dame had their eye as Jay Brunelle from Shrewsbury, Massachusetts also signed his NLI.

Brunelle is listed by all outlets as a three-star receiver and pulled down 121 receptions for 2229 yards and 29 touchdowns in his final two years of high school.

Brunelle chose the Irish over West Virginia, UCLA and Michigan while also holding offers from both Harvard and Yale.

Notre Dame Football: Four-Star DE Rylie Mills Signs with Irish

The four-star recruit chose Notre Dame over other midwestern powers Ohio State, Wisconsin, Alabama and LSU among very many others.

 

Lake Forest, Illinois product and 6-5, 275 pound defensive end Rylie Mills signed his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday and is headed to Notre Dame.

The four-star recruit chose Notre Dame over other midwestern powers Ohio State, Wisconsin, Alabama and LSU among very many others.

Mills will enroll early at Notre Dame and will likely not play in more than four games next season in order to preserve a year of eligibility.

He ranks as the ninth best strong-side defensive end per Rivals and is the fourth-rated player in this years class from the state of Illinois.

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Mills attended the same high school as Notre Dame assistant coach Tommy Rees and has trained under former Irish linebacker Kerry Neal for sometime.

Notre Dame Football: Four-Star TE Michael Mayer Signs with Irish

Mayer was the 2019 Kentucky Player of the Year after pulling in 50 receptions for 970 yards and 15 touchdowns and has been described as “can’t miss” but many who have seen him play.

Michael Mayer has been very strong in his commitment to Notre Dame, clarifying again last week that he was all-in on the Fighting Irish even right after Chip Long was relieved of his offensive coordinator duties.

Mayer, a four-star tight end from Covington Catholic in Alexandria, Kentucky makes up one-half of the best tight end tandem of any team in 2020’s recruiting class as he’s joined by Kevin Bauman of New Jersey, also a four-star recruit.

Mayer was the 2019 Kentucky Player of the Year after pulling in 50 receptions for 970 yards and 15 touchdowns and has been described as “can’t miss” but many who have seen him play.

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Mayer chose Notre Dame aka Tight End U over the likes of LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan and Ohio State.

You can see Mayer take part in the annual All-American Bowl in San Antonio on January 4.

Notre Dame Football: Four-Star QB Drew Pyne Signs with Irish

In case you forgot because you’ve been swept up in Buchner-mania or whatever you’d like to call it – here’s a quick reminder:

Drew Pyne is really good at football.

Way back in mid-April of 2018 quarterback Drew Pyne of New Canaan, Connecticut made his commitment to Notre Dame as he gave his verbal commitment.

Not because of anything he did or failed to but more because of the insane numbers that 2021 Notre Dame commit Tyler Buchner put up this season in Southern California, it seems like Pyne has essentially been forgotten about by parts of the Notre Dame fanbase.

In case you forgot because you’ve been swept up in Buchner-mania or whatever you’d like to call it – here’s a quick reminder:

Drew Pyne is really good at football.

In his senior year Pyne threw for over 2000 yards and surpassed the 9000 passing yards for his high school career.  He also threw 54 touchdown passes to just 13 interceptions over the last two seasons as his New Canaan squad finished his senior year with a 9-3 record.

The 6-0, 194 pound Pyne chose Notre Dame over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, LSU, Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State and plenty of others.

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247Sports ranks Pyne as the seventh best pro-style quarterback in the 2020 recruiting class.