Recruiting Week In Review
Written by Joe Bradshaw
With eleven recruits in the fold and fall camp approaching, the Notre Dame coaching staff has made significant progress but still has a long way to go to turn this good start into a great class. In order to accomplish that task, they still need to hit some home runs with playmakers and maybe win a recruiting battle or two that they aren’t expected to win. There’s no secret or shortcut to that kind of success, just hard work and success on the field. Last week Irish Sports Daily reported on two prospects that might both be considered somewhat long shots. What have you been missing by not being a member of Irish Sports Daily?
Brandon Legendre, ATH, 5-9, 180, E.D. White Catholic High School, Thibodeaux, LA wears the position designation of athlete, not because he doesn’t really fit a position but because he fits too many. He’s both a great playmaker and an outstanding person.
“First off, obviously he’s a dynamic player to be getting the publicity he’s getting, but he’s also a tremendous young man in our school,” said Chris Bergeron, Legendre’s head coach. “He’s a very humble individual. He’s a tremendous leader. He’s a great student obviously to garner some of the publicity he’s garnered. I think it all starts in the classroom. He’s a good leader in our school. Those are the qualities that make a good man.”
Legendre’s offer sheet includes Vanderbilt, Army, Air Force, Arizona State, Kentucky, West Virginia, TCU and some Ivy League Schools. Earlier this month, he added a Notre Dame offer to that list.
“For him, I think it (the Irish offer) validates a little bit of the hard work he’s put in,” said the head coach. “It validates how good I think he really is to garner some of the attention he’s been getting. Obviously, the prestige that comes along with Notre Dame…it’s Notre Dame.”
College coaches see him playing a multi-faceted role in their offense.
“A lot of schools are coming in and talking to him about a running back/slot receiver type guy, maybe creating some mismatches in coverage,” Bergeron explained. “Also, the value he brings in the kicking game, he’s a dynamic kick returner. He can fill a couple of needs for some schools.”
Bergeron continued.
“Obviously, a lot of his game is his track speed,” said Bergeron. “But he also has a really good ability to make people miss in the open field.”
Bergeron hasn’t yet spoken with Legendre about whether he’s planning a trip to South Bend but wouldn’t be surprised if he is.
“I think he will try to make a visit, but I don’t want to speak for him,” he said. “I think the offer is intriguing for him definitely because it is Notre Dame. He and I will sit down and will speak and see where he wants to visit and how we want to move forward in the process.”
Legendre has yet to make a decision about when he wants to commit to a school, early or late.
“I think he would like to be able to make his decision before the season starts, but I also think he’s a mature enough young man that he doesn’t want to rush into a decision,” Bergeron explained. “I think it’s one of those that if he feels comfortable making the decision before the season starts, he’ll make it. If not, he’ll go through the process and take a little bit more time to figure out what’s best for Brandon.”
David Bell, WR, 6-2, 180, Warren Central High School, Indianapolis, IN plans to take an unofficial visit to Notre Dame on June 10th. This visit is significant because, though the Irish have been recruiting him for two years, Bell has yet to express any real interest in them.
The four-star Bell is one of the top prospects in the Midwest and his numbers over the last three years make it clear why. He has caught 155 passes for 2925 yards and 33 touchdowns during his three years of varsity play.
Bell is noted for playing things close to the vest, but most experts believe that he is Ohio State’s to lose. The fact that he’s planned a visit to Columbus just a week after his South Bend trip probably isn’t great news for Notre Dame. It seems that the Irish will need to make a tremendous impression on him to stay in the race.
In addition to Notre Dame and Ohio State, he currently holds scholarship offers from Arizona, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Penn State, Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, Toledo, Vanderbilt and many others.
It'll be interesting to see if Bell ends up making the trip to South Bend after announcing a "final five" that didn't include the Irish on Thursday.
These two summaries represent just a sample of the Notre Dame football recruiting information available each week on Irish Sports Daily.