Recruiting Week In Review
Written by Joe Bradshaw
Through five games this season, it’s become clear to Irish fans that this team is an entirely different group than last year’s squad. They play harder, they play more physical and they play for four full quarters. And while there are concerns, the future of the program looks much brighter than it did a year ago. The team must continue to perform on the field but so far so good. Another step in the rebuilding process is elevating recruiting to the point that it competes with the perennial bowl playoff contenders like Ohio State, Alabama and Clemson. In order to do that, they will need to identify and offer players younger and sooner than they currently do and it also appears as if they’re working on that as well.
Last week Irish Sports Daily reported on two Class of 2019 prospects that are hearing from the Notre Dame coaches. Both seem genuinely interested in the Irish. What have you been missing by not being a member of Irish Sports Daily?
Trent McDuffie, CB, 5-11, 175, Servite High School, Anaheim CA comes from a school that has sent numerous players to South Bend, including current Notre Dame star Equanimeous St. Brown. If the Irish have their way McDuffie will continue that trend. The Servite junior trekked to South Bend for the Miami of Ohio game and left with something very important.
“I was in a meeting with Brian Polian and after the meeting they offered me a scholarship,” he reported. “I was really excited. It’s such a great school.”
On his visit, McDuffie got to see St. Brown score a touchdown. While his current high school teammate, Julius Irvin was at Notre Dame just a couple of weeks ago, McDuffie got the opportunity to develop his own impression of the school.
“Just the tradition part, they have a lot of history behind their football team and school,” he said. “They have a lot of connections outside of football. I think it’s really great.”
McDuffie plays on both sides of the ball for Servite but the Irish like him as a cornerback.
“I talked to the coaches,” he shared. “I think I talked to Brian Polian the most. I also got to chat with Todd Lyght, the DB coach, and Brian Kelly. We really fit in together. They’re really great coaches, especially seeing them out there win.”
McDuffie’s interest in Notre Dame has risen, but there’s more the three star athlete wants to see and learn about the school.
“(I’d like to maybe learn) just more about the academics,” he shared. “They didn’t really go into great, great detail. I learned a lot but I still want to learn a little more about it.”
Like most visitors, McDuffie was struck by the beauty of the campus. And while he is going to be taking other unofficial visits, he assured ISD that the Irish will remain on his mind.
“I’m definitely going to stay in touch, maybe try to get out here another time this year or maybe next year,” he said. “I’m definitely interested in Notre Dame. I think I’ll really keep in touch with them and see how it goes from here.”
Notre Dame is recruiting numerous Class of 2019 prospects and like most Irish classes, they hail from all parts of the country. ,Jack Kiser LB/S, 6-2, 210, Pioneer High School, Royal Center, IN is right in their backyard. Not only is Kiser a homegrown athlete, but his current head coach, Adam Berry, is as well. Berry has known about his star player since the three star athlete was in fourth grade. Even then, he was known for his athletic prowess and that hasn’t changed.
“I’m originally from the area and came back when I got a teaching job,” Berry explained. “I heard about him and you knew he was a special kid the first time you met him.”
Kiser currently holds scholarship offers from Indiana, Purdue and Iowa. While Notre Dame has yet to offer, they’re obviously very interested in him.
“A lot of schools are talking about linebacker, kind of a hybrid safety type,” said Berry. “Even last year as a sophomore, he became the instant leader of the team. He’s basically another coach on the field for us. He can tell us what he sees they’re doing on offense.”
Kiser stood out in the summer elite 7 on 7 leagues in Indianapolis.
“When bigger schools see him in 7 on 7 and things like that, they just say they don’t see a kid move like that,” Berry said. “Anywhere you put him, he’s going to do well. He’s just a football player.”
Notre Dame’s higher academic standards will be no problem for Kiser. The football standout is also a classroom standout. He currently possesses a 4.0 grade point average and is ranked number one in his class. He’s also vice-president of his class. The total package that Kiser is has caught the eye of the Irish coaches and he was invited to attend their first two home games.
“They contacted me and invited him down,” Berry explained. “He was real excited that Notre Dame contacted him. It’s really a prestigious university in Indiana so he’s really excited.”
Kiser’s father and uncle were track athletes at Purdue and Iowa respectively so those two schools have established strong early relationships with Jack. Still, Berry says that it’s early in his star player’s recruitment.
“He’s actually pretty quiet about it,” Berry said. “He’s completely open to every school. He’s taking his time. He wants to visit a lot of schools to see what they have to offer academically and athletically.”
These two summaries represent just a sample of the Notre Dame football recruiting information available each week on Irish Sports Daily.