Recruiting Week In Review

Written by Joe Bradshaw

Knowledgeable recruiting fans understood Notre Dame was going to suffer some decommitments this cycle. After a disappointing season and dramatic coaching changes in the offseason, it was inevitable.

In the end, the Irish may well sign a class significantly lower ranked than it appeared they would before things went south. However, the Irish are hardly throwing in the towel. With new offensive and defensive coordinators now in place, both with reputations as dynamic recruiters and Brian Polian again on staff, there is reason for optimism. 

Notre Dame’s new coaches are already working tirelessly to fill recruiting openings and some of the new names that have appeared possess the potential to be impact players. If Notre Dame does not ultimately sign these late offerees, it won’t be for lack of effort.

Last week, Irish Sports Daily reported on two recruits that would fill a position of need and possess true game-changing ability. What have you been missing by not being a member of Irish Sports Daily? 

Terrell Bailey, DB, 6-0, 175, John Ehret High School, Marrero, LA always wondered why Notre Dame never offered him a scholarship. He need not wonder anymore. The Irish threw their hat in the ring for him last Tuesday.

“He’s going to take a trip up there the 27th, he’s very excited,” said his head coach, Corey Lambert. “They called me last night and told me they were watching their tape and everything. They have him on the board and they want him to be one of their corners.” 

There is a fly in the ointment, though. Bailey is currently committed to Tennessee. That commitment appears to be somewhat shaky, though.

“Since he was a kid, he liked Notre Dame and those schools,” said Lambert. “He’s excited about it. I think Notre Dame is in the hunt.” 

Lambert elaborated on Bailey’s looking forward to his South Bend trip.

“I think he just wants to come see how it is up there,” Lambert shared. “He’s always heard good things about it and wants to see how it is up there, the culture, things like that and see if that’s a place he’d want to spend his four or five years at.” 

Bailey is looking around at more than just the Irish. He has trips planned to Arizona State and Houston as well as Notre Dame. And while Bailey says he’s still committed to Tennessee, Lambert believes that his star defensive player is serious about considering other schools.

“I can honestly say this, I think if he’s taking trips like that, I don’t think it’s 100 percent,” he said of Bailey’s Tennessee commitment. “I think it’s something that happened and he committed, he held a spot to secure some things.” 

Lambert knows Bailey as more than just one of his football players. The two are also cousins and that gives the head coach a much deeper perspective on the four-star prospect than what he sees on the field or in the weight room.

“Terrell is a very quiet, humble kid,” Lambert explained. “Terrell does everything you ask him to do.” 

While Lambert acknowledges that Bailey’s not the most athletic recruit at cornerback in the Class of 2017, he believes that the skills he does possess more than makes up for that.

“He’s not the fastest kid, but he has great fundamentals and he’s probably a consistent 4.6, high 4.5 40 guy, but he has true cornerback fundamentals,” Lambert said. “He has a high I.Q. at the cornerback position.” 

While Bailey is undoubtedly a cornerback at the next level, schools are unsure of where to play Connor Weddington, ATH, 5-11, 185, Sumner High School, Sumner, WA once he signs with his college of choice. Tracy Ford who trains Weddington at Ford’s Sports Performance is certain he knows where the four-star athlete should play.

“Defense,” Ford said definitively. “I think he’ll be a really good running back in college, but I think he’s a Sunday player on the defensive side of the ball.” 

Ford also contends that Weddington also knows where he will be most effective at the next level.

“He’ll tell you that he’s an offensive guy, etc., but he knows he’s a D guy,” Ford shared. “He’ll always tell you he’ll play wherever, but I think defense is where it’s at.” 

Ford believes Weddington can be equally effective at either cornerback or safety.

“I think he’s the new age corner with what they’re looking for, that 6-1, 6-2, long body,” he explained. “Or he’s a shutdown safety who can fly around, get to the middle of the field, play on one half and get to the other half and intercept the ball out of the air as well.” 

Ford is looking forward to seeing Weddington play at the next level.

“He’s a great player and a great young man, extremely good young man,” he said. “He’s an extremely, extremely good young man with a tremendous upside. I think he’s definitely special.” 

Weddington decommitted from Washington last month and since then he has seen numerous schools renew their recruiting of him. Notre Dame is just one of the schools that has stepped up. One school in particular really stands out. His decommitment from Washington came hot on the heels of Stanford admitting him. Ford insists, though, that he’s not a Stanford lock. His current top five consists of Notre Dame, Stanford, Washington, UCLA and Baylor.

“If he’s taking a trip, he’s serious,” Ford said. “If he’s taking a trip, he’s definitely serious.” 

And Weddington is taking a trip to South Bend. Ford believes that the Irish do have much to offer.

“I think it’s the tradition,” he explained. “I think it’s the coach that’s recruiting him that really sets them apart.”

Ford believes Weddington has only himself to credit for being in the position he currently is in. 

“I think it’s the effort,” he said. “I think the work ethic he has separates him from everybody else in my opinion.”

These two summaries represent just a sample of the Notre Dame football information available each week on Irish Sports Daily.