Recruiting Week In Review
Once again Notre Dame faces off season coaching changes but unlike last season, these changes have resulted from the Irish’s success on the field as Offensive Line Coach Harry Hiestand and Defensive Coordinator Mike Elko have voluntarily left to take more lucrative positions. However, just like last season, the rest of the staff will need to step up and pull double duty in recruiting as Notre Dame looks to finish off the Class of 2018 and keep the 2019 momentum going. And it appears they’ve done just that. Last week Irish Sports Daily reported on two 2019 prospects that are hearing from the Irish as the Notre Dame coaching staff continues building relationships with 2019 players. What have you been missing by not being a member of Irish Sports Daily?
Trey Knox, WR, 6-4, 206, Blackman High School, Murfreesboro, TN has every reason to believe that he’s a good football player. The combination of on field performance and off field recruiting has made it clear that he’s a highly coveted prospect. However, when Notre Dame extended him a scholarship offer, it also validated the hard work he’s been doing in the classroom.
“My grades played a big factor in me getting that offer,” he said. “I was just excited because to get a great education and to play for a great football program is a once in a lifetime dream.”
Despite holding offers from programs like Clemson, Ohio State, Florida and LSU, the Notre Dame offer was really special.
“Great coaching, a storied program,” said Knox of what make the Irish offer stand out. “I can go there and get developed and get to The League from there, so that’s a big thing too. Obviously, I’m going to look into them a lot, take visits up there and just get to know the coaching staff and program a little bit better.”
Knox doesn’t have any definite plans for getting to South Bend but could travel there as soon as the end of January.
“I might be going to the Junior Day,” he said, referring to Notre Dame’s January 27th camp. “I don’t know for sure yet. I’ve got to talk to my parents.”
Knox knows what he will looking for when he arrives in South Bend.
“The atmosphere, I’m really big on the culture of the football team and the way the coaches interact with the players and stuff like that,” he shared.
Notre Dame’s Wide Receivers Coach Del Alexander is Knox’s primary recruiter and he’s made an early good impression.
“He (Alexander) could prepare me for The League, mold me into the player I need to be and then send me off to show off the talents Notre Dame has given me,” he explained.
Right now, Knox admits that a lot of schools have his attention and though he doesn’t yet have any visits scheduled, he hopes to make a final decision by the end of the summer.
“I’m trying to push for a date before the actual season starts so I can get that out of the way and focus on winning a state championship.”
Isaiah Williams, ATH, 5-10, 160, Trinity Catholic High School, St. Louis, MO visited Notre Dame last month with his teammate Shammond Cooper and like Cooper he came away impressed.
“Really, just the coaches, the people,” he said of what stood out on his visit. “They’re great people to be around from being around them the short time that I was.”
Williams is sitting on top of nearly fifty scholarship offers. In addition to Notre Dame he’s been offered by Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Illinois, Nebraska, Wisconsin, Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida and numerous others. He isn’t yet ready to start narrowing his list or naming leaders. His contact with Notre Dame has tailed off as of late but he expects that to change soon.
“Not as much since the bowl season, but I’m pretty sure it’s going to kick back up,” he said. “I know they like me. It’s more than just football to them, it’s building a young man. I just love the coaches.”
Williams could play on either side of the ball, wide receiver on offense or cornerback on defense.
“Both of the coaches are fighting are fighting over me,” he shared.
Williams plans to return to South Bend but doesn’t have anything set up as of yet. He does intend to take advantage of the new rule allowing prospects to take official visits in the spring and will likely sign in the early signing period in December. While he hasn’t narrowed down his list of schools, he has developed a list of things he will be considering when visiting schools.
“Mostly, the atmosphere, the people, the school and then the coaches, having a great relationship with the coaches, somebody I can count on.”
These two summaries represent just a sample of Notre Dame football recruiting information available each week on Irish Sports Daily.