Top 2022 RB Gavin Sawchuk Impressed with Notre Dame RB Coach Lance Taylor In Many Ways

The 2022 running back class is deep and Notre Dame running backs coach Lance Taylor is looking to take advantage. 

Valor Christian (Colo.) running back Gavin Sawchuk‍ is a name Notre Dame fans should be familiar with as the Irish offered back in February. Sawchuk has made an effort to make sure he calls Taylor every week and the relationship has started to grow in recent weeks. 

"It's been good,” Sawchuk told Irish Sports Daily. “We've been talking weekly and we have our days set up. We'll get on the phone and chop it up. It's good talking to him and building a relationship." 

The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder hasn’t started to narrow down his recruitment, but it’s still a crucial time in his recruitment as establishing a relationship is important. 

Taylor hasn’t made a huge football pitch yet, but that’s just fine by Sawchuk.

"When we talk, it's more of a conversation and getting to know each other,” explained Sawchuk. “We haven't really talked much about football or how it would look. We do want to schedule something to get a conversation like that going and we've been working on it. 

"Right now, it's been about him getting to know me and me getting to know him. The good thing is I've been out to Notre Dame before and I was able to see the facilities and the school. I've seen some of those aspects that are harder to get over the phone." 

There is also common ground between Taylor and Sawchuk. Former Valor Christian star Christian McCaffrey was recruited and developed by Taylor, which is a fact Sawchuk knows very well. 

"I think it helps with him understanding where I am and he's able to relate to me in that way,” stated Sawchuk. “I know he was able to coach Christian and I'm good friends with his family. That's another connection I have and it's great to see some of the ways he was able to help Christian." 

The relationship between Sawchuk and the McCaffrey family is a positive in this case, but the four-star prospect also knows Taylor can develop talent. 

"The great thing is coaches talk to you and tell you everything they can do, but it's amazing when you can see what they did,” Sawchuk explained. “It's good to see the actual progression. That's one thing that's great because I can see that progression Christian had and how he helped him as a coach." 

With well over 20 offers, Sawchuk isn’t a 2022 prospect needing more exposure. In fact, the Colorado native makes sure to call Michigan, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Stanford, USC and Washington on a consistent basis. 

There isn’t a sense of pressure to earn offers as Sawchuk has seen with some of his peers. 

"It's been amazing,” said Sawchuk. “I've had a couple friends that have been going through the process and know some kids that are seniors. They are struggling with making decisions because they were late with the process and with Covid, they weren't able to get out to see the schools they wanted to see. 

"It's been a blessing to build these relationships early and be able to visit a couple of schools. There are still some I want to get to, but it's been a blessing to get out and have this early recruitment." 

That’s not to say the Covid-19 pandemic hasn’t impacted his recruitment, but Sawchuk understands it’s out of his control and has made the best of it. 

"I don't know if it slowed down my recruitment,” Sawchuk said. “It's definitely worse that I can't get out to these schools. I'm still able to get on calls with the coaches and talk with them. We can do Zoom meetings and I can see pictures and videos of the facilities. 

"It has been tough not being able to get out to some places. I hope that before I come close to making a decision, this whole thing clears up and I can see some other schools." 

Colorado has pushed the high school football season to the spring, which means the offseason got a little longer for the Valor Christian star. However, Sawchuk has goals and the extra time will be put to good use. 

"I've focused more on my intelligence of the game and understanding everyone's job and how it relates to me,” Sawchuk explained. “I want to understand the linemen and how they're blocking a certain play, so I know pre-snap of what it should look like and where I should go. 

"I'm always focused on getting faster and getting in and out of my cuts faster. I want to get stronger and build up everything." 

As far as a commitment, Sawchuk isn’t in decision mode and wants to take a few more visits. He does know what he is looking for in a school and it will serve as a foundation in making a decision. 

"I look at three main things when I'm looking at a school,” said Sawchuk. “The first is I want to play at a program that's going to compete every year, challenge me and allow me to grow as a football player. 

"I look at the academics. I want to be pushed the same academically as I am in football. I want to be held to that same level as football.

"The last thing I look at is the culture. I want to see how the coaches would build me as a man. I want to see the culture of the players, but also the students and professors."