Recruiting Week In Review
Written by Joe Bradshaw
The Notre Dame coaches didn’t waste any time making contacts when the NCAA contact period for 2022 recruits opened on September 1st. The Irish made sure that their top targets knew how much they wanted them with Head Coach Brian Kelly leading the way. Notre Dame’s talent level has improved over the last several years and a sense of being close to National Championship caliber has emerged. If Notre Dame finishes the Class of 2021 strong then the Class of 2022 could be pivotal in their national championship drive.
Last week, Irish Sports Daily reported on two 2022 prospects whose talent and athleticism could play a role in the development of a championship level roster. What have you been missing by not being a member of Irish Sports Daily?
Devon Jackson, LB, 6-2, 200, Burke High School, Omaha, NE was a busy man on September 1st as numerous coaches took advantage of the NCAA rules allowing contact with 2022 prospects. He was appreciative of the attention.
“It means a lot because they took the time out of their day to reach out to me out of all the athletes across the country,” he said. “That goes to show that they put me in front, so I appreciate that.”
Notre Dame was one of those that contacted Jackson.
“The head coach, Brian Kelly, sent me that graphic and said he wanted to send me that personally,” he shared.
Other Irish coaches contacted him during the day as well and they shared a constant theme.
‘”Devon, we would like to have you at Notre Dame,”’ he said of the message. “That’s why they offered me. I’m on their mind and I’m very important to their program and they think I can help them win the national championship.”
Notre Dame offered the Burke High standout in July and have remained in consistent contact with him since, especially Defensive Coordinator and Linebackers Coach Clark Lea.
“I like them,” Jackson said of the Irish coaches. “It seems like they have a good vibe, a good culture. The schooling is very good for life outside of football, Notre Dame gives you that. The actual coaches, I like the coaches. They know what they’re doing. They send guys to The League and you always like to see that.”
When COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, Jackson plans to visit South Bend as well as several of the other schools recruiting him. Those schools include Nebraska, Michigan State, Michigan, Kansas, Kansas State, Illinois, Iowa State and Arizona State.
Like Jackson, Damari Alston, RB, 5-10, 200, Woodward Academy, Atlanta, GA received a call from Notre Dame on the first day the NCAA allowed contact for juniors. The Irish had company with Alston estimating that he received forty calls on that first day.
“It didn’t feel like 40 at all,” he said. “I was just texting back, I didn’t have a problem doing that. I took the time out, got to speak with some coaches and meet some coaches I haven’t met.”
Not surprisingly, Alston’s scholarship offers approximated the number of phone calls he received on September 1st.
“It just feels like many schools are definitely on my tail, I’m one of the best recruits in the nation,” he said. “I know that most of the schools that offered me are serious about it.”
Alston was also contacted by Brian Kelly before his potential position coach Running Backs Coach Lance Taylor took over.
“Coach Kelly sent me a graphic and was basically telling me I’m a priority for Notre Dame and they’re really interested in me,” he shared. “It felt good because I haven’t spoken to him yet since Notre Dame just offered a couple weeks ago. That’s big because they’re serious about me and like my film.”
Even though the Irish just recently offered, Taylor has been in regular contact with Alston since.
“Coach Taylor is definitely a great coach,” he said. “He coaches on the NFL level, coached some good guys like Christian McCaffrey. I think he’ll be a great coach in the future and he’s a great person also.”
Alston visited South Bend last year for the Navy game and hopes to return.
“We’re just taking it one step at a time, hop on some Zoom calls here and there,” he explained. “When the dead period opens and we can visit, I’ll definitely be up there again.”
In addition to Notre Dame, Alston holds scholarship offers from Michigan, Oregon, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia Tech and several others.
These two summaries represent just a sample of the Notre Dame football recruiting information available each week on Irish Sports Daily.