Recruiting Week In Review
When Notre Dame replaced the offensive and defensive coordinators following the 2016 season, fans knew that they would bring changes to the positions. Thus far, the overwhelming perception is that the changes have been very positive. Both appear to be tireless recruiters and tremendous presences on the practice field.
One change that many might not have expected, though, was in the type of players being recruited. defensive coordinator Mike Elko’s rover position has led to the recruitment of numerous safety/linebacker hybrid recruits and offensive coordinator Chip Long seems to have a preference for big and rangy receivers.
Last week, Irish Sports Daily reported on two prospects whose skill sets fit in very nicely with the new coordinators’ philosophies. What have you been missing by not being a member of Irish Sports Daily?
Shayne Simon, S/LB, 6-2, 195, St. Peter’s Preparatory School, Jersey City, NJ is a perfect fit for Elko’s rover position. His size, speed and length is ideal and the Irish coaches have noticed.
“Physically, number one he’s 6-3, 215, 220 pounds,” said his head coach Rich Hansen. “He’s either a really big safety or he’s going to be a really athletic outside backer. I think he’s got a chance to put people in the position where personnel packaging is not difficult. He can cover backs out of the backfield, he can cover tight ends, line up on some slots and wides, so I think he can create some flexibility there.”
Notre Dame will face numerous top schools in competing for Simon but they do have some connections to the four-star prospect. Starting quarterback Brandon Wimbush is a St. Peter’s alumnus and 2018 recruits Jayson and Justin Ademilola are current teammates of Simon. And like those three Simon brings far more to the table than just what he produces on the field.
“He’s one of the hardest working kids you’ll ever have,” Hansen shared. “He’s just a great leader, great student, great person. You’ve got a lot of boxes to check when you talk about him.”
Hansen says that Simon’s interest in Notre Dame is “high” and he knows why.
“His family and he are very, very conscious of the academic part of this,” he explained. “It’s an important piece to them so obviously, Notre Dame is going to be high on his list. I think the things Notre Dame brings to the table that our kids have seen as attractive are of the same ilk for him.”
Simon visited Notre Dame last weekend and then planned to continue on to Michigan and Ohio State. He also looks to make a trip to the West Coast this summer.
“We have a timetable and hopefully, by the middle or end of May, he’s going to whittle it down to three or four or five and then we can go from there,” Hansen said. “I don’t think he wants to go the distance with this, so I would not be surprised if he pulled the trigger earlier rather than later.”
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While the Irish have Simon squarely in its sights, it’s just beginning the process with Solomon Enis. Enis, WR, 6-4, 190, North Canyon High School, Phoenix, AZ possesses excellent football genes. His father, Curtis Enis, was a star running back at Penn State. The younger Enis doesn’t yet hold a Notre Dame scholarship offer but they’ve picked up their recruiting of him as of late and one may be on the way.
“It’s been mail and Twitter,” he said of his contact with the Irish. “A couple of coaches are coming out for spring ball.”
He does seem to possess a genuine interest in Notre Dame.
“Just the academics, the education is a very important thing in my recruiting process,” he shared. “That stands out. They had a down year, but I’m pretty sure they’re going to come back next year.”
Solomon currently holds numerous scholarship offers from a list of schools that include Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA, USC, Oregon and Duke. He’s managed to take some unofficial visits to some of those already.
“It’s a blessing, I’m not going to lie,” he said. “It’s going to be hard to decide on one school at the end of the day, but I’m truly blessed to be in this position.”
He has one other trip currently planned, to Cal and he hopes to schedule more in the near future. Coaches have told him why he’s such a priority for them.
“I’m just a tall lengthy receiver who can move and come down with the ball, who can high point it and catch it, so just that overall athlete,” he explained.
Enis has very definite goals in mind for his college career and will be looking for a place that will help him to fulfill those.
“Just if they have my degree and trying to get me out in three years,” he said. “I know USC, Duke and all of them, they try to get you out with your major, so that’s what I’m trying to go for.”
He plans to pursue a Business degree with an emphasis in either marketing or accounting. Where he finally chooses will be his choice, though his father has made it clear what his preferences are for his son.
“He’s just been telling me to take it slow and make the decision that’s best for me,” Enis said. “He wants me to go to Penn State because he was there, but at the end of the day, he wants me to go where I want to go.”
These two summaries represent just a sample of the Notre Dame recruiting information available each week on Irish Sports Daily.