Huge Recruiting Weekend On Deck For Irish
Andrew Ivins
BlueandGold.com Recruiting Analyst
Recent USC decommit Daelin Hayes will be one of a number of official visitors in South Bend this weekend.
There's no question, that a home game against USC can have a major impact on an Irish recruiting class. The last time the Trojans were in town, Notre Dame welcomed 15 official visitors to campus for the weekend, including current starting left guard Quenton Nelson, current starting tight end Tyler Luatua, cornerback Nick Watkins and linebacker Nyles Morgan.
Notre Dame is expected to host another large group of visitors for the 2015 edition of the rivalry game, and the talent level has the potential to be just as outstanding.
As of early Tuesday, the Irish are scheduled to host 15 official visitors, but that number has the potential to grow should Farmington Hills (Mich.) four-star defensive end and Alabama commit Khalid Kareem make his way to campus. The list of visitors includes: Ann Arbor (Mich.) Pioneer five-star linebacker Daelin Hayes, who decommitted from USC on Sunday, Corona (Calif.) Centennial four-star wide receiver Javon McKinley, who is a top target on offense, and Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) three-star safety Devin Studstill, who remains a priority for the Irish.
Blue & Gold Illustrated takes a quick look at the prospects expected to be on campus for official visits.
The Big Fish
5-star LB Daelin Hayes Ann Arbor (Mich.) Skyline — Hayes was already set to visit Notre Dame, but his recent decommitment from USC only added a twist to the weekend. The stud linebacker plans to travel to campus with his mother. Rankings: The No. 3 outside linebacker in the country, the No. 13 recruit in the nation and the No. 1 prospect in Michigan.
4-star WR Javon McKinley Corona (Calif.) Centennial — McKinley will be making his third visit to South Bend since end of March. He has already seen Tennessee and Washington, and plans to see Oregon and UCLA before announcing a decision at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Rankings: The No. 18 wide receiver in the country, the No. 96 prospect in the nation, and the No. 16 recruit in California.
4-star CB Damar Hamlin Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic — Hamlin returns to Notre Dame after visiting with his family in late July. He hasn't made any public cuts, but the Irish appear to be battling Pittsburgh to land his services. Rankings: The No. 8 safety in the country, the No. 132 prospect in the nation, and the No. 4 recruit in Pennsylvania.
4-star LB Jeffrey McCulloch Houston Aldine Davis — Notre Dame needs linebackers, and McCulloch is a top target. He has been linked heavily to schools like LSU, Texas and Texas A&M, but this is his first official visit. Rankings: The No. 5 inside linebacker in the country, the No. 169 recruit in the nation and the No. 18 prospect in Texas.
4-star ATH Brandon Burton Gardena (Calif.) Junipero Serra — Burton is fresh off visits to Florida State and Oklahoma, but he has stated that he wants to give the Irish a look. The athlete projects as a safety in Notre Dame's system. Rankings: No. 3 athlete in the country, the No. 47 recruit in the nation and the No. 11 prospect in California.
3-star S Devin Studstill Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) High — Studstill might not have the most stars next to his name, but he's viewed as an elite prospect by the Irish. The trip will mark his second to campus and first official of the process. Rankings: No. 43 athlete in the country and the No. 63 recruit in Florida.
The Others
3-star APB Deon McIntosh Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons — McIntosh is a name that hasn't been linked much to the Irish, but he'll make his way to campus for the first time. The running back is also considering West Virginia. Rankings: The No. 14 all-purpose back in the country.
3-star CB Troy Pride Greer (S.C.) High — Pride, who is committed to Virginia Tech, says he wants to keep his options open. Notre Dame evaluated him in person two-weeks ago, and then the visit was set up. Rankings: The No. 11 recruit in Virginia.
3-star CB Davonte Robinson Lexington (Ky.) Henry Clay — Robertson is committed to Kentucky, but says the only school he'll consider out of the local Wildcats is Notre Dame. He'll get his first look at the Irish this weekend. Rankings: The No. 7 recruit in Kentucky.
3-star S Ikenna Okeke Smyrna (Tenn.) High — Okeke is set to return after visiting for the Irish Invasion back in June. He also has Penn State on his short list of schools along with Stanford. Rankings: The No. 32 safety in the country and the No. 15 prospect in Tennessee.
The Commits
3-star QB Ian Book El Dorado Hills (Calif.) Oak Ridge — Mike Sanford's quarterback return to South Bend after flipping from Washington State in early August. He says the plan is to recruit guys like Javon McKinley. Rankings: The No. 19 pro-style quarterback in the country and No. 73 recruit in California.
3-star RB Tony Jones Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy — Jones will visit campus for the third time since making his commitment back in March. Rankings: The No. 28 running back in the country and the No. 85 prospect in Florida.
3-star WR Kevin Stepherson Jacksonville (Fla.) First Coast — Stepherson, who plans to enroll early, will get his second look at South Bend after committing at the Irish Invasion. Rankings: The No. 68 wide receiver in the country and No. 58 prospect in Florida.
3-star S Jalen Elliott Chesterfield (Va.) L.C. Bird — Elliott is another kid that committed back at the Irish Invasion, but will return for his official visit. Rankings: The No. 39 safety in the country and the No. 13 recruit in Virginia.
3-star S Spencer Perry Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy — Perry had previously mentioend that he might take visits to other schools, but he recently confirmed that he's solid to the Irish and that's why he'll be in the stands. Rankings: The No. 38 safety in the country and the No. 73 recruit in Florida.
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