In the Crosshairs

With 17 verbal commits and room for a few more, the Irish have an opportunity to focus in on select prospects with some discretion.  There are a lot of targets in Notre Dame’s crosshairs, and the Irish have a better chance at landing some more than others.  With the O-line and linebackers seemingly set for the recruiting class of 2013, there are some areas that could use more attention than others.  With signing day seven months away, nothing is certain and even long shots committed elsewhere are still in play. Here is a look at prospects I would like to see in South Bend, why and the chances that could happen.

Without a doubt, 5’11 185 lb. five-star cornerback Vernon Hargreaves with 4.41 speed is Brian Kelly’s most wanted and needed recruit.  Tony Alford is recruiting the Florida star, which is no easy task as he is also being recruited by in state powerhouses Florida and Miami.  Getting a commitment from Hargreaves would strengthen the Irish secondary while being a major coup by getting a big prospect out of the football rich State of Florida. With a recent visit and a father (who by the way coaches with Skip Holtz at USF) who is reportedly gushing over the prospect of Vernon playing for Notre Dame, I like our chances.

Another cornerback that could end up in South Bend is Priest Willis, a 6’2” 185 lb. star from Arizona.  Safeties Coach Bob Elliot is recruiting Willis, competing with schools including LSU, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Florida State, among others.  With a long list of contenders and official visits being set, I don’t expect Willis to make a decision anytime soon, but I do believe that the Irish are a legitimate front runner for his services.

Rounding out the cornerbacks would have to be MacKensie Alexander, a 5’10” 175 lb. athlete with 4.4 speed from Florida.  Once again, recruiting coordinator Tony Alford is attempting to pluck a Florida super star from the likes of Florida State, Florida, Clemson and Alabama, all of which have offers in to Alexander. 

Another Bob Elliot recruit is cornerback Cole Luke, a 6’0” 170 lb. 4-star from Arizona who has recently shaved his college choices down to four schools: USC, Texas, Oklahoma and Notre Dame.  Luke may not be the best or most interested in this group of defensive backs, but the position is a need and he is a very solid prospect.

There are kids out there that may not be a need as much as the three cornerbacks, but would be a good addition to the roster and have interest in playing for the Irish.

6’4” 230 lb. defensive end Alquadin Muhammad from football factory Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey is being recruited by Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator Bob Diaco.  Diaco is considering offers from Michigan, Rutgers and South Carolina all of which Muhammad is interested in.  Although I suspect he will end up somewhere else, I would not be overly surprised if he ended up is South Bend.

Wide receiver 6’1” 172lb. Torii Hunter Jr. (yes his father is a Major League Baseball Player).  who had an impressive showing at Nike’s The Opening, has seen his stock rise and has offers from and is interested in schools including Alabama, Oklahoma State, Stanford and what may be his leader, Arkansas.  Co-Defensive Coordinator and cornerbacks Coach Kerry Cooks may have a tough time getting this prospect to commit to the Irish, but Notre Dame seems to be in the running.

Josh Augusta is listed as a 6’5” 275-295 lb. defensive tackle and although his highlight film on Irish Envy shows being a man among boys on the line, it also shows him splitting out and catching passes.  I know he plays for his high school basketball team and would love to see more of this kid.  It is Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach Chuck Martin’s job to get Josh interested in the Irish.  Unfortunately, I think he will end up at Michigan.

On the other hand, I do believe that Notre Dame has a good chance of landing 6’3” 227 lb. defensive end Ebenezer Ogundeko.  Bob Diaco reportedly has help in recruiting Ogundeko by current Notre Dame verbal commits from the class of 2013. Syracuse is rumored to be in the lead for the New York native’s services.

Wisconsin product Alec James is a 6’4” 220 lb. defensive end who has been favoring the Wisconsin Badgers, but is warming up to the Fighting Irish with the help of Bob Elliot.

There are dozens of other prospects with offers from Notre Dame and even more wanting one.  The Irish have good momentum as the focus has shifted from the O-line to linebackers and now toward defensive backs.