Coach: Mutual Interest Between Notre Dame & Langham

We’re getting to the homestretch of recruiting with the Class of 2018, but new names continue to be added to Notre Dame’s Target List with another being added on Monday night.

Irish defensive line coach Mike Elston conducted an in-home visit with Malik Langham‍ last night and ended up extending a scholarship to the 2018 Alabama defensive end.

“We got some inquiries about him, but once you start to get national recognition, everybody sends stuff,” Lee High School head coach Tony Woods said.

“I wasn’t sure if they would pull the trigger, but I got word yesterday morning that they would be in town and thought they would offer and late yesterday evening, it happened.”

The 6-foot-5, 270-pound Woods also has offers from schools like Ole Miss, Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Kentucky among several others, but his coach said the Irish certainly caught his attention.

“I think the interest is mutual,” Woods said. “Nothing is off the table for him.”

Woods, an Alabama native, played his college ball at Arkansas and has encouraged Langham to consider all of his options.

“That’s kind of what I told him, don’t close the door on anybody,” the coach said.

Even a school like Washington isn’t off the table at this point, although the extreme distance may make that a little less realistic.

“Notre Dame is doable,” Woods said. “Like I said, the feelings are mutual as far as the interest level.”

The two sides are talking about a potential official visit, which would likely take place in January.

Langham was once a hoops prospect, but Woods and his staff convinced him to give football a try.

“He started as a basketball player, but he was still growing at 6-5 and we talked him into coming out for football as a sophomore,” the coach said. “He started to blossom. His upside is tremendous. I don’t know if he goes to Notre Dame, whatever school he goes to, they’re going to get a great kid and at some point, a really good football player.

“You have to start with his physical stature. He’s 6-5, 6-6 270 and can run. He also does well academically. He’s well-grounded in his faith. He’s a very family-oriented young man.”

Out of necessity, Langham played three-technique at times for Lee, but will be on the outside at the next level.

“He’s a defensive end who can come off the edge,” said Woods. “They’ll be double and triple-teaming him and he’ll still get sacks. I won’t say he’s relentless, but when he tries to go get the quarterback, he’s going to get him.”

Langham is a mature, young man who is good in the community, according to his coach.

“Our seniors go to our feeder elementary and middle schools on game days and work the dropoff line,” Woods explained. “This dad asked, ‘Are you the one I see on TV?’ He asked him to walk his daughter to walk him to class and as he started to walk off, the girl reached up and grabbed his hand.

“That sums up who he is.”