Recruiting Week In Review
Written by Joe Bradshaw
Since the Lou Holtz era it would be a bit of an understatement to say that Notre Dame football has had its ups and downs. The Irish have had more sub-.500 seasons (5) than National Championship games (1). One thing that has not changed though is the world class education that players receive. It’s not that Notre Dame is the only highly academic school in FBS football, it’s just that Notre Dame is one of the few that actually holds its players to the same academic standards as the general student population. So, when recruits refer to the first class education they would receive at Notre Dame, they’re really saying that if they choose the Irish, they’re also choosing to be embrace high standards of academic achievement.
Last week Irish Sports Daily reported on two 2019 prospects that that appreciate Notre Dame’s refusal to bow to lower academic performance standards for its athletes. What have you been missing by not being a member of Irish Sports Daily?
Genson Hooper, WR, 6-5, 205, St. John’s School, Houston, TX has cut his list of favorite schools to five and Notre Dame made the cut. Joining the Irish on the list are Northwestern, Duke, Cal and Baylor. Other schools are still coming after him, but he’s decided to focus on only the five. He took his first official visit recently, to Northwestern and it appears as if the Wildcats helped themselves.
“It was really great,” he said. “I liked it a lot. I went in and they were kind of on my radar, but they weren’t very high on my list. After meeting Coach (Pat) Fitzgerald and spending time with all of the coaches like Coach Lou Ayeni, the receivers coach (Dennis) Springer all of those guys. I had a great experience. I liked them a lot and I’m definitely considering.”
When the current dead period ends on July 24th, Hooper plans to hit the road and South Bend is on his itinerary.
“Academics are amazing there and also just the tradition with the football there,” he said of the appeal of Notre Dame. “You get the best of both worlds with Notre Dame and I really like that a lot. I want to be able to play football and get a good education and stuff.”
Notre Dame Wide Receivers’ Coach Del Alexander has remained in close contact with Hooper, explaining to him the Irish’s plans for him.
“He sends me texts telling me, ‘I can imagine you in this play, doing this job.’ I’m just trying to pick his mind and see how they would utilize me and stuff like that, how quickly they would utilize me.”
He has also yet to visit Cal but he did spend a couple of days at Duke and has been to Baylor twice.
“Baylor is pretty high,” he said. “They’ve been there from the start. I’ve always gotten really great vibes from the coaching staff. Same as Northwestern, great coaching staff, great group of guys, people who actually want to make you better and aren’t just in it for the wins and losses. Baylor is definitely on my radar, I’m definitely considering them.”
Hooper wants to major in engineering so academics is high on his list of priorities.
“Academics is definitely one of them and then, like I said, coaching staff, making sure they’re people who have the patience to develop me and really work with me when I get in and a place that feels like home,” he explained. “It’s all about getting on campus.”
He plans to make a summer decision, before his season starts.
Like Hooper, Isaiah Rutherford, CB, 6-2, 170, Jesuit High School, Carmichael, CA recently cut his list of favorites, though he cut his to seven. Notre Dame also made that cut, along with Oregon, Cal, Colorado, Oklahoma, LSU and Alabama. For Rutherford, it’s not just about what he’s thinking but also who’s recruiting him the hardest.
“I have a great relationship with all of those coaches,” he shared. “I’ve been to the campus or I’m going to visit the campus. It’s a stress relief to even cut it down. I’m happy about it.”
Notre Dame is one of the schools that Rutherford has yet to visit. Nevertheless, the Irish are one of his favorites.
“I’m happy about how everybody has been recruiting me at Notre Dame,” he said. I talk with Coach (Brian) Kelly here and there, so I have a great relationship with everybody. Notre Dame is like the best of both worlds. They have the academics and the football program. That’s what makes them extremely unique and one of my top schools.”
He’s yet to lock in a visit date for South Bend but seems certain to do so.
“I’m not sure when I’m going to come but I’m going to visit soon,” he said. “Unofficial or an official, I’m not sure.”
More than anything else, Rutherford hopes to use his visit to Notre Dame to get a feel for the environment and community.
“I just want to see how the town is and see all of the stuff outside of the program,” he explained. “I already know they have a very strong program, so I’m not worried about what’s going on on campus, just what’s going on outside with the off-campus stuff.”
Rutherford also plans to visit Oklahoma and LSU in the fall. He hopes to make a November or December decision or even possibly sooner if it feels right.
These two summaries represent just a sample of the Notre Dame football recruiting information available each week on Irish Sports Daily.