Tracking the trail: Notre Dame recruiting trips 1-13
Notre Dame continued its recruiting travels Friday. With many recruits likely taking visits over the weekend, the Irish may have had their options limited in who they could see. But it didn't prevent the coaching staff from being active.
Defensive coordinator Mike Elko kept his recruiting tour going with a trip to Washington, D.C. There he visited St. John's College High School, which features a pair of defensive end recruits of note: Tyree Johnson, a Texas A&M commit, and Kofi Wardlow, a Maryland commit. Johnson impressed me during the week leading up the the Under Armour All-America Game. Neither have reported offers from Notre Dame.
Elko also made a stop at Olney (Md.) Good Counsel, which features defensive end target Joshua Paschal, who committed to Kentucky last month. The Irish have shown no indication that they're ready to give up on that recruitment.
Taking #fightszn to the nations capital! #GoIrishpic.twitter.com/7dLCVVVw3p
— Coach Mike Elko (@CoachMikeElko) January 13, 2017
A visit to Atlanta Pace Academy by running backs coach Autry Denson produced a Notre Dame offer for Duke running back commit Deon Jackson. The Irish had essentially stopped recruiting running backs earlier in the recruiting cycle. The decision to target Jackson adds an interesting wrinkle to the final weeks before signing day.
Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Notre Dame #GoIrishpic.twitter.com/n1Sm8Tipc9
— Deon Jackson (@deon_jackson4) January 13, 2017
Linebackers coach Clark Lea stuck to the Midwest on Friday and made stops at two schools with talented 2018 linebacker recruits. Irish linebacker commit Ovie Oghoufo said Lea came to Farmington Hills (Mich.) Harrison. Linebacker target Dallas Gant also said Lead came to Toledo (Ohio) St. John's Jesuit.
Notre Dame defensive line commits Jayson and Justin Ademilola, both 2018 recruits, were scheduled to receive a visit from recruiting coordinator/defensive line coach Mike Elston at Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter's Prep, but Jayson Ademilola said Elston's flight was cancelled because of bad weather. Instead, Jayson Ademilola said, Elston, Elko and head coach Brian Kelly are expected to come by the school on Thursday.
