2019 Illinois Lineman Returns To Notre Dame, Looks To Camp

After making the trip down to South Bend for last month’s Junior Day, Jarod DePriest‍ was back in town for Saturday’s Blue-Gold Game and the 2019 Illinois lineman was again impressed.

“It went well,” the 6-foot-4, 270-pounder said. “It was a nice time, good experience.

“I pretty much saw the same stuff I did last time I toured the campus. The one thing I didn’t see last time was the cathedral, which I liked. It was really pretty.”

He also enjoyed checking out the Irish spring game.

“The game was fun,” he said. “It was a cool experience.”

The Farmington, Ill., native has some mid-level offers, including some from Ivy League schools, as a defensive lineman, but some is receiving interest from some Power Five schools, like Notre Dame, as an offensive lineman.

“I talked with Coach (Jeff) Quinn a little bit,” he said. “He took the o-linemen into their meeting room and talked with us all. He was just saying to keep working hard and keep in touch.”

DePriest understands the importance of getting back to South Bend to camp in June.

“I’m probably going to have to if I’m serious about playing there,” he said. “I just have to show them my abilities. I think that would obviously be my best choice.”

The Farmington Central High School standout is serious about playing for the Irish, so he’s leaning toward attending camp.

“My ability to block and my speed,” he said of what he should be able to show the staff. “Maybe they’ll like my speed for my size, I don’t really know.

“It’s a great community. I feel like the campus is awesome. I don’t know if anything really compares to it.”

DePriest expects to continue hitting the road in the weeks to come.