Notre Dame Top Targets For 2019
Annnndddd, we’re officially on to 2019.
Notre Dame is already off to a fast start with commitments from quarterback Cade McNamara, defensive tackle Jacob Lacey and cornerback K.J. Wallace in the Class of 2019.
The Irish have also already put themselves in extremely strong positions with several other top targets in the class. Here’s a look at some of those prospects, although this is not an exhaustive list.
DT Hunter Spears
The Texas native has been high on Notre Dame from the start and hasn’t been shy about letting that be known. Even with a decision date already announced for his birthday on Sept. 15th, some in a position to know haven’t ruled out him potentially deciding for the Irish long before that. He was one of several defensive line targets in South Bend for last month’s Junior Day and we’re told all of them got along well and talked about playing together in the future. There was some concern about whether Mike Elko leaving would change things, but Spears certainly seems comfortable with the promotion of Clark Lea and some close to the situation have told us they don’t see Spears following Elko to College Station.
RB Chez Mellusi
The Florida prospect and his family went to extreme majors to get to South Bend for the Georgia game back in September, driving all of the way from Naples when they were unable to fly because of Hurricane Irma. He made his interest in the Irish even more clear after the trip, naming Notre Dame as his leader. USC was the other early school that had his attention and we think the Trojans still do as do schools like Miami and Auburn. But as of now, we’re confident in saying Notre Dame is still the clear leader. Look for Mellusi to take an official visit to South Bend sometime in April and we wouldn’t be stunned by a relatively early decision.
OL Quinn Carroll
Harry Hiestand’s departure hasn’t hurt the Irish’s chances too much here. One of the top offensive linemen in the country, Carroll has the offer sheet to prove it. He grew up in a huge football family and a huge Notre Dame Football family as his father has been a lifelong fan. Carroll will have the freedom to choose the school of his own, but it’s clear many of the characteristics of the school that made his father a fan have made Carroll a fan. He’s been to South Bend for two unofficial visits already and plans on returning for an official this spring. The competition is going to be stiff, but it’d be difficult to point to a school in a better position than Notre Dame right now.
DE NaNa Osafo-Mensah
The Irish made a major move with the Texas defensive end during last month’s Junior Day. Notre Dame was always going to be a school he took a close look at, but after having to delay his trip to South Bend several months, other programs were able to get a bit of a lead. That all changed with the Notre Dame visit. Alabama offered last week, Oklahoma and Georgia have already offered as have just about all of the in-state schools. He announced his Top 10 earlier in the week. At this point, the Irish have a great deal of momentum and they should have a chance to ride it all of the way through his decision in May, especially with an official visit to South Bend in the works for April.
OL John Olmstead
Notre Dame was a dream school for the New Yorker growing up and he was seriously looking at the Irish even before landing his offer during an unofficial visit to South Bend last June. He returned to Notre Dame for a game back in November and enjoyed himself again. With offers from schools like Florida, Florida State, LSU, UCLA and Oregon, Olmstead is a true national recruit, but he definitely seems like a Big Ten/Notre Dame type of kid. As with Carroll, Hiestand got the Irish off to a great start, but his absence hasn’t damaged Notre Dame’s chances much at all. He’ll be back in South Bend in April. Look for Olmstead to come out with a top five soon and for the Irish to be included on the list.
CB Kenyatta Watson II
Notre Dame has set the bar the for the 2019 Georgia prospect following a visit to South Bend for last month’s Junior Day. It was the first program that checked every box for three-star prospect on and off the field. Watson has plans to visit Michigan, Texas and USC in the coming weeks, but after visiting over 30 schools, we’re not sure they will be able to top what he experienced in South Bend.
TE Hudson Henry
The Arkansas native may end up being ranked as the top tight end in the entire country. He was excited to land his Notre Dame offer back in December and was even more fired up after visiting South Bend for the first time for the Irish’s Junior Day last month. His former teammate, 2018 offensive lineman Luke Jones, just signed with the Irish and has been in his ear. But Henry has deep ties to the homestate school as his brother Hunter Henry starred for Arkansas before moving onto the NFL, where he’s currently starring for the San Diego Chargers. He’ll have offers from several of the nation’s top programs, but there is a very good chance this one could come down to the Irish and the Razorbacks.
LB Keith Maguire Jr.
The Pennsylvania native had offers, but the Notre Dame offer two weeks ago pushed him into the next tier of schools. Maguire values education, but also formed a strong respect for defensive coordinator Clark Lea over his visit to Notre Dame. The Irish will be in the race to the end and Notre Dame will battle it out with some of the nation’s elite to land the four-star prospect.