Notre Dame staff visits commits, top targets during bye week
Notre Dame's coaches took advantage of the bye week by hitting the recruiting trail. Still amid the evaluation period, coaches are not permitted to speak face-to-face with high school athletes away from Notre Dame's campus.
Head coach Brian Kelly, offensive coordinator Chip Long, defensive coordinator Clark Lea, offensive line coach Jeff Quinn, running back coach Autry Denson, wide receiver coach DelVaughn Alexander, quarterback coach Tommy Rees, defensive back coaches Terry Joseph and Todd Lyght, defensive line coach Mike Elston and special teams coordinator Brian Polian visited schools this week.
ND Insider confirmed visits of the following players.
2019 commits
Tuesday
CB Isaiah Rutherford, Carmichael (Calif.) Jesuit — Polian
OL Zeke Correll, Cincinnati Anderson — Quinn
Wednesday
S Kyle Hamilton, Atlanta Marist — Kelly, Joseph
CB K.J. Wallace, Atlanta Lovett — Kelly, Joseph
OL Quinn Carroll, Edina (Minn.) High — Quinn
QB Brendon Clark, Midlothian (Va.) Manchester — Rees
RB Kyren Williams, Kirkwood (Mo.) St. John Vianney — Denson
WR Kendall Abdur-Rahman, Edwardsville (Ill.) High — Alexander
DL NaNa Osafo-Mensah, Fort Worth (Texas) Nolan Catholic — Elston
DL Hunter Spears, Sachse (Texas) High — Elston
LB Osita Ekwonu, Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day — Lea
P Jay Bramblett, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Hillcrest — Polian
Thursday
S Litchfield Ajavon, Alexandria (Va.) Episcopal — Lea
OL Andrew Kristofic, Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Richland — Quinn
2020 commits
Tuesday
TE Michael Mayer, Park Hills (Ky.) Covington Catholic — Long
Wednesday
TE Kevin Bauman, Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic — Long
Thursday
QB Drew Pyne, New Canaan (Conn.) High — Rees
K Harrison Leonard, Avon (Conn.) Old Farms — Polian
More: Polian visited Rutherford — a consensus four-star on 247Sports and Rivals — three days after the cornerback committed. The two discussed the possibility of him returning punts and kicks for the Irish, Rutherford told ND Insider.
• ND Insider reported last month of Polian’s plans to watch Leonard practice during the bye week. It went well, as Leonard announced he accepted a preferred walk-on offer Thursday night.
• One of Kelly’s few visits this week went to Atlanta, swinging by Marist and Lovett. Hamilton’s impressive senior season has elevated him dozens of spots on 247Sports. Now as the site’s No. 22 overall player, Hamilton nears five-star territory.
2020 targets
Wednesday
RB Chris Tyree, Chester (Va.) Thomas Dale — Kelly
RB A.J. Henning, Frankfort (Ill.) Lincoln-Way East — Rees
Thursday
OL Kevin Pyne, Millis (Mass.) Milford — Rees
RB Kalel Mullings, Boston (Mass.) Milton Academy — Rees
DE Braiden McGregor, Port Huron (Mich.) Northern — Lyght
More: Tyree could be Notre Dame’s most talented target. 247Sports rates the 5-9, 175-pounder as a five-star. Although Rivals rated him four stars, both sites consider him as the nation’s No. 1 all-purpose back. Rivals ranks him as the No. 55 overall player. 247Sports slates him at No. 23.
The Thomas Dale product clocked a 4.38 40-yard dash in the spring. The Irish responded with an offer on May 2, 2018. It took seven games for Tyree to eclipse four figures in rushing yards. He has 1,019 yards and nine touchdowns on 113 carries. This has also been his most productive season as a pass-catcher. Tyree has hauled in 11 passes for 224 yards and a score.
• Henning's first visit of the season was at Notre Dame for the Sept. 1 Michigan game. He's listed as the No. 3 receiver and No. 26 overall player on 247Sports. He's also a four-star on Rivals, which ranks him as the No. 3 all-purpose back and No. 68 overall player. As a sophomore, he caught 13 passes for 276 yards and four touchdowns in nine games (incomplete stats). He also carried it 24 times for 230 yards and two touchdowns. The Irish offered him on Jan. 11, 2018.
• Kevin Pyne, cousin of 2020 commit Drew Pyne, is the No. 33 offensive tackle on 247Sports and is No. 3 at the position on Rivals. 247Sports listed him as the No. 278 overall player, granting him three stars. Rivals has him at four stars but as the No. 21 overall player. He garnered a Notre Dame offer on Jan. 29, 2018.
• Mullings marks another Top 100 target the Irish visited this week. 247Sports and Rivals list him as an outside linebacker, rating him four stars. Rees’ visit implies the Irish want the 6-2, 225-pounder to play his other position, running back.
Mullings received his Irish offer on July 27, 2018. He took an unofficial visit for Notre Dame’s Sept. 1 contest against Michigan.
• McGregor is rated lower than the aforementioned three players. A three-star, McGregor was named the No. 14 strong-side defensive end and No. 278 overall player on 247Sports. Rivals ranked him as the No. 24 outside linebacker.
McGregor record 98 tackles and 17 TFLs in 2017. He visited the Irish and received an offer afterward on April 10, 2018. He also impressed at one of Notre Dame’s Elite Skills Camps in June.
*This list is not comprehensive.
