Notre Dame’s first Junior Day is scheduled for this weekend. The new coaching staff had to get up and running quickly to finish out the Class of 2017 and they haven’t missed a beat in getting promising members of the Class of 2018 in for the first Junior Day. Multiple staff changes inevitably put a program behind the eight ball in not only finishing out the present year’s class but also in developing relationships with the next class, but it’s clear that the hard work put in has paid off as the Irish have gotten a number of their targets in for the weekend. Last week Irish Sports Daily reported on one of the young men that will be participating in the Junior Day. They also spoke to a young man that recently received a Notre Dame scholarship offer and appears to be very high on the Irish. What have you been missing by not being a member of Irish Sports Daily?
Kalon Gervin, CB, 5-11, 180, Cass Tech High School, Detroit, MI received his Irish scholarship offer just in the last week but he admits it was a big one.
“I’ve always liked Notre Dame,” he shared. “You could say it’s like a family dream school. When I grew up I always knew who Notre Dame was, so it’s always been in my head.”
Gervin’s athleticism enables him to play any number of positions, but the Irish see him as a cornerback. His 4.44 forty speed will undoubtedly be an asset at that position.
“It doesn’t matter to me, whatever gets me on the field quick,” he explained. “First and foremost I’ve been talking with Coach Mike Elston for a minute. He’s been telling me the opportunity to play early is there. Education, of course, is second to none. A lot of stuff stands out.”
Notre Dame joins a crowded field of schools that are vying for the four-star cornerback’s signature in a little less than a year. In addition to the Irish he holds scholarship offers from the likes of Michigan, Michigan State, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh, Penn State, LSU, West Virginia and Wisconsin. He doesn’t have a current list of favorites but hopes to do so soon. It seems fairly certain, that the Irish will make that list.
“Notre Dame is up there, they’re on the list for sure,” he said. “They’ve cracked it.”
The two Michigan in-state schools, Oklahoma, Pittsburgh and Tennessee are also likely to make the list. Notre Dame is looking to improve their current standing this weekend.
“I’m probably going to get down to visit this weekend,” he said. “They want me to get down there.”
Since the original interview Gervin confirmed that he was, in fact, going to attend the Junior Day. Even before he confirmed his attendance, he knew what he would be looking for when he finally did get on campus.
“I just want to bond with the coaches, bond with the coaches more, see what Coach Kelly is up to,” he said. “That’s most important.”
Irish Sports Daily
Notre Dame also hit the state of Michigan for another
recent offer. Ryan Hayes,
OL, 6-7, 252, Traverse City West High School, Traverse City, MI received word
of the offer from offensive line coach Harry Hiestand and Head Coach Brian
Kelly.
Hayes’ offer list currently consists of Notre Dame, Michigan State, Northwestern and Central Michigan but that number is certain to grow considerably in the next few weeks and months.
“I was really excited because I really like Coach Hiestand,” Hayes explained. “I really like it there. It felt good to get that one as an option.”
Hayes has visited Notre Dame a number of times and was impressed by each visit.
“I really liked the atmosphere,” he said. “It’s just a really nice place to watch a game with a nice campus.”
Hayes plans to return to South Bend as some point, probably soon, but doesn’t have any date set. In fact, he plans to visit numerous campuses in the coming months, but as yet has none of those dates locked in either.
I haven’t made many plans yet just because I’ve been really busy with basketball,” he said.
Hayes, though is in no hurry, to take trips or make a commitment.
“I don’t know when that will be, but it won’t be any time soon.”
These two summaries represent just a sample of the Notre Dame football recruiting information available each week on Irish Sports Daily.
