Even more info
Even more info
Life is good right now if you're a Notre Dame fan.
Not only is your team going to a BCS bowl game, but your team is winning recruiting victory after recruiting victory. So thump your chest Irish fans because it seems like it's only going to get better and better – so much so that Notre Dame is already starting to zero in on some of the nation's top junior prospects.
With 22 commitments and Notre Dame expected to land a few more guys like Minnesota four-star prospect Matt Carufel and the nation's top tight end in Konrad Reuland, things are going to be slow for the Irish over the next month and a half.
Sure Notre Dame will learn the fate of three-star linebacker Toryan Smith later tonight, but after that Notre Dame really isn't waiting for too many targets.
That's why you're already seeing the Irish staff head all over the nation scouting juniors. This includes a run through Ohio by ace recruiter Rob Ianello. The rest of the Irish staff have fanned out all over the nation too and hope to get the jump on everybody else.
The Irish already appear to be in good shape with several of the nation's top junior prospects, most notably Jimmy Clausen and Marc Tyler, who both took unofficial visits to South Bend, Ind., earlier this season for the USC game.
With the way that Notre Dame jumped out of the gate in the 2006 class, expect more of the same for the 2007 group.
Yes, indeed life is grand for the Irish fan.
Ohio State has always recruited hard throughout the Midwest but hasn't been afraid to take its name and compete for national recruits. One of the names Ohio State has zeroed in on from the nation from is Carteret, N.J., defensive end Jason Adjepong.
The 6-foot-3, 248-pounder took an official visit to Ohio State this past weekend and came away with positive things to say about the Bucks.
Adjepong was hosted on the visit by freshman cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, also a New Jersey native. Jenkins was one of the biggest contributors out of the 2005 recruiting class, earning several starts, and Adjepong would like to mimic his success if he ends up signing with Ohio State.
"I think it all comes down to timing," Adjepong said. "He was fortunately put in a position where he had a chance to come in and compete and really play. I see myself in a similar situation, where I can come in and compete and possibly play. He told me it's a lot of hard work, but anything is possible."
He is scheduled to visit Virginia Tech this weekend and Rutgers after that. He visited Michigan back in October and Boston College and Iowa have also been lined to him.
Heading into his official visit this past weekend, Plainfield (Ill.) Central offensive tackle Perry Dorrestein was about 80 percent sure he was going to commit to Michigan.
The visit from the Wolverines put him over the edge and ended up being 100 percent as he committed to coach Lloyd Carr.
"I liked everything about the campus. I was impressed with the players, coaches – all that stuff. I pretty much got the package deal, so I committed," Dorrestein said.
"Going in I was probably 80 percent that I wanted to go there. On Saturday night, after seeing everything and meeting with everybody, I knew it was the place."
Michigan beat out Nebraska, Duke, Illinois, Iowa State and Northwestern for the talented 6-foot-6, 283-pound offensive tackle. Even though Dorrestein is ranked as a three-star prospect, he has a good shot at being a major contributor for the maize and blue.
"After I make the initial block I get downfield and get two or three more blocks," he said. "That's the type of player I am."
Penn State has always seemingly had success with players from New York and it looks like Joe Paterno is sitting in a good spot now with Rivals100 defensive Maurice Evans.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pounder now lists Penn State as his No. 1 team with an official visit to Happy Valley on tap for this weekend. Virginia is also high up on the four-star prospect's list.
"Penn state is No. 1 on my list," Evans said. "There's a lot of tradition down there. I really like the coaching staff, especially the coaches that are recruiting me."
Penn State coaches Brian Norwood and Larry Johnson are the ones who have been able to woo the senior from New York. Both coaches came up to visit Evans last week.
Illini pledge ready to help
Offensive line is one of the biggest priorities for Ron Zook and Co. this season, and Illinois has gone both to the high school and junior college ranks to get the job done. One of Illinois' biggest pledges is from Pasadena (Calif.) City College standout Josh Coburn.
Illinois fans were disturbed late last week when Coburn said he would take an official visit to East Carolina this weekend, but Coburn says not to worry, though.
"I'm totally committed to Illinois," he said on Tuesday. "I just want to see a few more places to be sure about my commitment. I want to be sure I'm making the right decision. Coach Zook called me four weeks in a row and told me how important I am to their future.
"I'm not going to overlook that at all."
Hoosiers impress TE
Washington (Pa.) Trinity three-star tight end Andy Miler has had IU near the top of his list for most of the recruiting process, and the 6-foot-6, 249-pounder got a chance to see Indiana in person this past weekend. He came away very impressed, despite still having visits set to Ohio State, West Virginia and Pitt.
"It was a great visit," he said.
"The people were wonderful and I think I fit in with the players too. I could really relate to them. The coaches seemed awesome also."
Iowa landed a commitment last week from Detroit Murray-Wright receiver Dominique Douglas, and his commitment continues to build on a strong pipeline that is forming between the Hawkeyes and the Motor City.
Secondary coach Phil Parker is a big reason for the sudden re-emergence in Detroit. Parker landed Douglas, who is vastly under ranked at this point by Rivals.com, and he also snagged a commit from three-star running back Anthony Bowman early in the process.
"Coach Parker sold me on Iowa from day one," Douglas said. "He's been recruiting me the hardest, and I just felt like he was being the most honest with me."
Etc.
Michigan State slipped to No. 2 on the list for four-star JUCO offensive tackle Brandon Walker. Walker, originally from the Detroit area, will take his official visit with the Spartans in January and could easily flip back toward MSU… Minnesota co-offensive coordinator Mitch Browning has landed three players in Minnesota's class this season, including super sleeper offensive linemen Dominic Alford and D.J. Burris… Pittsburgh Central Catholic two-star inside linebacker Nate Williams committed to Northwestern earlier this week. The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder was also recruited by Toledo and Illinois… Purdue has hit the juco ranks hard the past few days landing big-time commitments from corner Justin Scott, running back Jaycen Taylor and defensive end Shaun Richardson. All three are expected to play quickly for the Boilermakers… Hudson, Ohio, offensive lineman prospect Bill Nagy committed to the Badgers Monday night and now Miramar (Fla.) Parkway Academy cornerback Kevin Holloway says he will be the next prospect to give his verbal pledge to Bret Bielema.