Sunday Reflections: Five Guys That Went Elsewhere
National Signing Day is almost upon us, and Notre Dame is likely to land another Top 10 class on Wednesday. The Irish will have several difference makers in the class, but there will always be prospects fans and coaches wish were in the class.
Taking a look at the 2018 opponents, I made a quick list of five prospects I wish Notre Dame had given an offer or a harder look at during the process. I didn’t include guys like Amon-Ra St. Brown, who Notre Dame heavily recruited.
Jamie will have a piece following Signing Day taking a look at how Notre Dame's opponents finished up the recruiting cycle.
RB Ja’Veon Marlow: Vanderbilt Signee
Vanderbilt has several quality players in the 2018 class but the 5-foot-10, 200-pounder sticks out to me. Marlow has the talent to get snaps as a freshman at Vanderbilt, and Notre Dame could see him in the fall.
Notre Dame looks have a solid running back class coming in with Jahmir Smith and possibly C’Bo Flemister, but Marlow was one of those under the radar kids, and Vanderbilt found a gem.
As a senior, the Winter Haven (Fla.) star ran for 1,366 yards and 15 scores on just 172 carries. Marlow is a hard runner but has plenty of wiggle to get himself out of tight spaces and has the speed to hit the home run.
DB Kenneth Dicks III: Wake Forest Signee
The 6-foot, 200-pound defensive back was a player I hoped Notre Dame might take a look at during the spring. Things turned out well for the Irish at defensive back for the Irish, but the Demon Deacons got a player that could make a difference in year one, which isn’t common at Wake Forest.
Dicks has the potential to help Wake Forest at cornerback or safety, so it will be interesting to see where he ends up. Jesse Bates declared for the NFL Draft a year early, so there is a hole at the safety position heading into 2018.
The Suwannee (Ga.) star has a natural feel for the game, much like 2018 Notre Dame target DJ Brown. Dicks understands coverage concepts and leverage, which I believe will help him get on the field as a freshman this fall.
DB Kendall Williamson: Stanford Signee
Much like Kenneth Dicks, I really wanted Notre Dame to offer Williams as the 6-foot-1, 188-pounder has all the tools to be a stud at the next level. Notre Dame recruited Williamson’s brother, Chris, back in 2015, but I think the Brookwood (Ga.) standout will be better than his brother, who signed with Florida.
The one thing you will notice about Williamson is the fact he’s always around the football. Williamson made play after play against some of the best competition in Georgia and with Stanford’s losses at safety, I could see him ending up at safety. I think Stanford could also utilize him at nickel and let him make plays as he understands coverage and just attacks the football. Big-time pick up for the Cardinal.
WR Tre Turner: Virginia Tech Signee
He’s listed at 6-foot-4, but I’m not sure he’s that tall, but it doesn’t matter as Turner is a big play waiting to happen. The four-star prospect did hold an offer from Notre Dame but never showed much interest.
Notre Dame has size at receiver, but Turner is a fluid athlete that can get himself into space, which is something the Irish lacked in 2017. I’m not sure Turner would see the field as a freshman in South Bend, but combining him with Kevin Austin Jr. and Braden Lenzy would be exciting as Chip Long would have another big athlete with speed on the outside.
Turner finished his prep career with 76 catches for 1,632 yards and 18 scores over the last two seasons.
OL Sam Stovall: Northwestern commit
The 6-foot-4, 285-pounder out of Chattanooga (Tenn.) was a long-time Western Kentucky commitment, but has the talent to play at a Power Five program and is expected to sign with Northwestern on Wednesday. Stovall is the typical kid that needs two years in the weight room but would have likely turned into a guy that would have moved his way into the two-deep and fought for a starting spot as an upperclassman.
Notre Dame loves athletic lineman, and Stovall fits the bill but also is the physical player that has shaped the Irish line over the past few seasons.
I’m not going to consider Notre Dame not offering Stovall a miss, as they have a good offensive line class coming in and I'm not sure he was ever on the radar, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Northwestern commit end up being an NFL talent in five years.