Summer Showings

It may seem as if summer is just revving up, but the summer football showcases are winding down before high school players need to report for their high school team workouts and practices.  This past weekend in Orlando, the Gridiron Kings event was held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports facility at Disneyland.  64 skill position players including quarterbacks, tight ends, running backs, linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties competed for three days in a 7 on 7 competition.  Teams were divided by region - Southeast, Southwest, Midwest and West. 

Many of the big time college football program commits were there and Notre Dame was no exception.  6’1” 190 lb. safety C.J. Prosise played on the Midwest team.   The West team showcased 6’0” 180 lb. cornerback Tee Shepard from Fresno California.

In addition to verbal commits, there were a number of undeclared players on the field that the Irish are targeting.  Dwayne Stafford II, a 6’3” 187 lb. wide receiver from Cincinnati, Ohio was on the Midwest team with Irish verbal commit C.J. Prosise.  One of the best athletes still available is Davonte Neal (Gridiron Kings West), teammate of Notre Dame commit Tee Shepard.  Also on the West team was Irish target KeiVarae Russell, 6’0” 175 lb. running back out of Mariner H.S. in Evertt Washington.  Finally, from the West team was Shaq Thompson, a 6’1” 210 lb. wide receiver from Grant H.S. in Sacramento, California.

These events give commits an opportunity to compete against the top level talent they will see every Saturday next fall.  It also provides the chance for commits to persuade undeclared played to join them at the program they are going to.  I hope Tee and C.J. talked up the Irish over the weekend.