Recruiting Week In Review

Written by Joe Bradshaw

Team recruiting rankings are great discussion fodder for fans at this time of year but what is often ignored is the fact that those rankings mean very little. The fact is that not a single recruit is bound by his pledge at this point. The term “verbally committed” carries much more import than many wish to give it. Until players sign on the dotted line, they are all free agents. Notre Dame fans were slapped in the face with that cold realization last year and have once again come face to face with it. Over the last few weeks, first, cornerback Kalon Gervin backed off his pledge to the Irish and then more recently, wide receiver Braden Lenzy also decommitted. 

This is not to downplay the importance of pre-signing commitments. The fact is that most recruits stick to their verbal pledges and verbally committed recruits can have a powerful impact on un-committed players. And not all news on the recruiting front has been bad. A big target for the Irish recently made his verbal pledge, softening the impact of those decommits. Notre Dame has also recently issued new offers to Class of 2018 targets. What have you been missing by not being a member of Irish Sports Daily?

George Takacs, TE, 6-7, 235, Gulf Coast High School, Naples, FL has long been high on Notre Dame’s wish list, but the Florida standout’s been very quiet about his recruitment, leaving many Irish recruitniks wondering just where he stood. Well, they don’t have to wonder anymore. Takacs took his third visit to campus earlier this month and before he left he pledged his commitment to Notre Dame. 

“On the last visit, it kind of felt like home,” he shared. “It was great being around all of the players and the coaches and getting to see what it’s all about.”

Takacs had a strong connection to the Irish through his mother, who performed her post-graduate work at Notre Dame. Still, his attraction was not just based on that connection but also to Notre Dame’s history of developing great tight ends. 

“It’s a really elite group of guys,” he said of past Irish tight ends. “It’s awesome being part of that, both historically and right now.”

Takacs plans on upholding Notre Dame’s tradition as “Tight End U.” 

“I think I’ll be able to continue the great tradition of tight ends,” he said. “I’m ready to go in, I’m ready to work and compete.”

Takacs enjoyed the recruiting process but was more than ready for it to end. 

“It’s awesome,” he said. “It’s a really tiring process. It takes a toll on you so now I can just get ready for my senior season.”

Irish Sports Daily

Even as Takacs, recruiting came to an end, Geordon Porter’s, at least with Notre Dame, is just beginning. Porter, WR, 6-2, 175, Etiwanda High School, Rancho Cucamonga, CA recently received a Notre Dame scholarship offer and, though, he currently holds numerous offers from some of the best programs in the nation, he was excited about the Irish stepping to the plate. 

“I was excited,” he shared. “That’s a great school with a great tradition. They play on NBC, three o’clock. It’s always been over there. They sell out every game. It’s a big school.”

Though Notre Dame came a bit later to the party than others, it doesn’t appear as if that will matter.

“I’m still open in my recruiting,” he explained. “I’ll probably go visit out there and just go along and go through the recruiting process and see what’s best for me at the end.”

The three-star receiver plans to trek to South Bend this summer where he will check out the campus and surrounding area. His interest in the Irish extends beyond the field, though. He also understands the importance of a good education. 

“You’re not going to be able to play football forever, so if I get a good degree and just go on to whatever career I feel would be great for me and be happy with it,” he said.

Porter also plans to visit Cal this summer as well. He doesn’t currently have a timeline for a final decision. 

“I don’t know right now, I’m just going through it.”

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