Recruiting Week In Review
Written by Joe Bradshaw
Notre Dame’s football season is going well so far. That seems like an obvious statement given their 3-0 start and the fact that no team has come within two touchdowns of beating them.
However, the truth is considerably more nuanced. COVID-19 impacted the Irish heavily just when it seemed that both sides of the ball had hit their stride in the 52-0 drubbing of South Florida. They struggled at times against Florida State but still posted a 16-point victory. And in the midst of the chaos that has been Notre Dame’s early season, the Irish’s performances on both sides of the ball have been the type to attract high level recruits.
Last week, Irish Sports Daily reported on two Class of 2022 blue chip defensive linemen who have Notre Dame high on their lists. What have you been missing by not being a member of Irish Sports Daily?
One need look no further than Isaac Hamm’s Twitter feed to figure out which college football programs he holds in the highest esteem. Hamm, DE, 6-6, 270, Sun Prairie High School, Sun Prairie, WI says that those programs he’s listed on Twitter as having offered him scholarships are those who have the best chance of being considered until the very end. When the Irish offered him he posted on Twitter, “Honored to have earned a scholarship offer to THE University of Notre Dame! #GoIrish”
Hamm has remained in touch with Notre Dame Defensive Line Coach Mike Elston for months now and was happy to add an Irish scholarship offer to his others including Wisconsin, Nebraska, Penn State, Iowa, Purdue, Minnesota, Indiana and numerous others. The four-star prospect described Notre Dame’s football program, coaches and facilities as “top-tier.”
When Hamm releases his top five it’s likely that Notre Dame will be on it. He said the Irish have “a very high chance of making that final list.”
Because of the impact of COVID-19, Sun Prairie will play their football season this spring. He doesn’t plan to make any decision until after his season.
If Notre Dame feels good about their chances to land Hamm, they must be absolutely giddy about where they stand with Tyson Ford. Ford, DE, 6-6, 240, John Burroughs School, St. Louis, MO doesn’t just have Notre Dame high on his list but made it clear that he has the Irish at the top of his list.
“They’re my favorite school at the moment,” he shared.
The Notre Dame coaching staff has recruited the four-star Missouri prospect hard and their persistence has played a huge role in their current position. It’s been a team effort thus far with involvement from everyone from Head Coach Brian Kelly, through Defensive Line Coach Elston to Defensive Line Assistant Mike O’Guin. Ford has a particularly close relationship with Elston, with whom he speaks several times a week. When ISD asked him if the communications were virtual, phone calls or texting, Ford replied “all of the above.”
Ford’s season is just beginning. St. Louis schools delayed their football season several weeks in the face of COVID-19. In order to scratch his football itch, he’s been going to watch his cousin play for Lutheran of St. Charles County. That happens to also be the team on which Notre Dame commit Gabriel Rubio plays. Rubio has not wasted the opportunity to be in Ford’s ear, reminding him that if he wants a great education and a chance to go to the NFL, Notre Dame is a “great school.”
Ford doesn’t have a timeline for a decision because he hopes to be able to take campus visits before committing.
These two summaries represent just a sample of the Notre Dame football recruiting information available each week on Irish Sports Daily.