Notre Dame Football Recruiting
2018 AL CB Hearing from Lyght and Kelly.
May 20, 2017
5,045
Another new name has emerged this week at the cornerback position for Notre Dame. 2018 Ramsay (Ala.) standout Starling Thomas has been speaking with defensive backs coach Todd Lyght for a few months, but things really heated up this week according to the three-star prospect.
“Coach Lyght has been talking to me for a while, and he has told me about himself,” the 5-foot-11, 170-pounder told Irish Sports Daily. “We have stayed in contact and everything.
“He wants to build a relationship with me before they offer. I have spoken to him for the last two months.”
The Birmingham native also communicated head coach Brian Kelly and got an invite to Irish Invasion in June.
“I also talked to Coach Kelly on Thursday,” stated Thomas. “We were texting back and forth. He was also trying to build a relationship with me. They want me to come to the Irish Invasion this summer.
“It’s something I am trying to come up for too.”
Thomas stars on both sides of the ball, and it’s something Notre Dame appears open to, but Lyght also might want to keep him on defense.
“When I spoke to Coach Lyght, he said they were open to me playing both ways or one side,” said Thomas. “I am open to playing both ways.
“I don’t really have a preference on what side of the ball I play on. I want to play where the team needs me.”
Getting Thomas to Irish Invasion could very well further the evaluation process along, and the Irish could decide if they wanted to join the race. Ball State, Memphis, Toledo, Tulane, and UAB have offered Thomas, while the Irish and other Power 5 programs are doing research on him.
“UAB and Memphis are recruiting me the hardest right now,” Thomas stated. “Vanderbilt is also recruiting me hard.
“I have been to Memphis and Mississippi State so far. I will get out this summer to visit some schools, but I haven’t made any plans yet.”
The ability to be comfortable will be a significant factor in Thomas recruitment, and he intends to dig into that aspect on his visits.
“I want to feel like I am at home,” said Thomas. “I want to feel like a priority, but I want to be comfortable at the school I choose.”
“Coach Lyght has been talking to me for a while, and he has told me about himself,” the 5-foot-11, 170-pounder told Irish Sports Daily. “We have stayed in contact and everything.
“He wants to build a relationship with me before they offer. I have spoken to him for the last two months.”
The Birmingham native also communicated head coach Brian Kelly and got an invite to Irish Invasion in June.
“I also talked to Coach Kelly on Thursday,” stated Thomas. “We were texting back and forth. He was also trying to build a relationship with me. They want me to come to the Irish Invasion this summer.
“It’s something I am trying to come up for too.”
Thomas stars on both sides of the ball, and it’s something Notre Dame appears open to, but Lyght also might want to keep him on defense.
“When I spoke to Coach Lyght, he said they were open to me playing both ways or one side,” said Thomas. “I am open to playing both ways.
“I don’t really have a preference on what side of the ball I play on. I want to play where the team needs me.”
Getting Thomas to Irish Invasion could very well further the evaluation process along, and the Irish could decide if they wanted to join the race. Ball State, Memphis, Toledo, Tulane, and UAB have offered Thomas, while the Irish and other Power 5 programs are doing research on him.
“UAB and Memphis are recruiting me the hardest right now,” Thomas stated. “Vanderbilt is also recruiting me hard.
“I have been to Memphis and Mississippi State so far. I will get out this summer to visit some schools, but I haven’t made any plans yet.”
The ability to be comfortable will be a significant factor in Thomas recruitment, and he intends to dig into that aspect on his visits.
“I want to feel like I am at home,” said Thomas. “I want to feel like a priority, but I want to be comfortable at the school I choose.”
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