Where ND's coaches, Kelly have been lately on the recruiting trail
Notre Dame’s upcoming College Football Playoff game against Clemson has not kept its coaching staff off the recruiting trail.
The contact period, which allows coaches to have off-campus face-to-face conversations (in-home visits) with 2019 recruits, began on Nov. 25. The Irish coaching staff has since visited over 25 targets and all of their 2019 commits.
Coaches only visited the schools of the 2020 and 2021 recruits and were not permitted to have face-to-face conversations with them. For more specifics on the rules of the contact period, as well as where the ND coaches visited from Nov. 26-30, click here.
Head coach Brian Kelly, offensive coordinator Chip Long, defensive coordinator Clark Lea, offensive line coach Jeff Quinn, wide receiver coach DelVaughn Alexander, quarterback coach Tommy Rees, running back coach Autry Denson, defensive backs coaches Terry Joseph and Todd Lyght, defensive line coach Mike Elston and special teams coach Brian Polian were on the recruiting trail this week.
ND Insider confirmed the following coaching visits from Dec. 3-14.
Targets
Monday, Dec. 3
2020 DE Rylie Mills, Lake Forest (Ill.) High — Elston
247Sports: Four stars, No. 8 SDE, No. 145 overall | Rivals: Four stars, No. 9 SDE, No. 165 overall
Tuesday, Dec. 4
2020 CB Jalen Kimber, Arlington (Texas) Mansfield Timberview — Lyght
247Sports: Three stars, No. 30 CB, No. 422 overall | Rivals: Three stars, No. 33 CB
I am honored and excited To announce that I have received an offer feom the University of Notre Dame!!! #GoIrish ☘ @KevinSinclair_@simplyCoachO@ClayMackSkills@TViewWolves (Post got deleted) pic.twitter.com/oTZNDF6i3Z
— JALEN KIMBER (@J_BOOGIE_5) December 5, 2018
2020 WR Elijah Canion, Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade-Madonna Prep — Alexander
247Sports: Three stars, No. 59 WR, No. 305 overall | Rivals: Three stars, No. 71 WR
2020 CB Lejond Cavazos, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy — Alexander
247Sports: Three stars, No. 25 CB, No. 357 overall | Rivals: Four stars, No. 12 CB, No. 231 overall
Please respect my decision... pic.twitter.com/xU3YyIcqkE
— Lejond Cavazos (@lejondaryy) December 4, 2018
2020 S RJ Mickens, Southlake (Texas) Carroll — Lyght
247Sports: Four stars, No. 2 S, No. 56 overall | Rivals: Four stars, No. 4 CB, No. 37 overall
Wednesday, Dec. 5
2020 DT Aidan Keanaaina, Denver (Colo.) J.K. Mullen — Elston
247Sports: Three stars, No. 27 DT, No. 353 overall | Rivals: Four stars, No. 17 DT
2020 WR Daniel Jackson, Mission (Kan.) Bishop Miege — Rees
247Sports: Four stars, No. 53 WR, No. 271 overall | Rivals: Three stars, No. 68 WR
Notre Dame this weekend☘️
— Daniel Jackson3️⃣ (@25DanielJackson) December 14, 2018
Thursday, Dec. 6
2020 DE Xavier Carlton, Modesto (Calif.) Christian — Elston
247Sports: Four stars, No. 9 SDE, No. 173 overall | Rivals: Three stars, No. 25 SDE
Wednesday, Dec. 12
2021 Blake Fisher — Quinn
247Sports: Four stars, No. 10 OT, No. 88 overall
Thursday, Dec. 13
2020 S Makari Paige, West Bloomfield (Mich.) High — Lyght
247Sports: Four stars, No. 9 S, No. 197 overall | Rivals: Four stars, No. 11, No. 229 overall
Blessed To Receive An Offer From The University Of Notre Dame ☘️#GOIRISHpic.twitter.com/YDudJctyTl
— MAKARI PAIGE (@makaripaige) December 13, 2018
2021 RB Donovan Edwards, West Bloomfield (Mich.) High — Lyght
247Sports: Four stars, No. 4 RB, No. 69 overall
Blessed to receive my 10th offer from The University of Notre Dame #GOIRISHpic.twitter.com/9RBxGTy7yr
— Donovan Edwards ¹ᵏ (@DEdwards__) December 13, 2018
2020 LB Jaheim Thomas, Cincinnati Princeton — Elston, Quinn
247Sports: Four stars, No. 22 LB, No. 319 overall | Rivals: Four stars, No. 10 LB, No. 152 overall
— Jaheim (@JaheimThomas454) December 15, 2018
2020 DE Darrion Henry, Cincinnati Princeton — Elston, Quinn
247Sports: Four stars, No. 6 SDE, No. 61 overall | Rivals: Four stars, No. 4 SDE, No. 43 overall
— D Hen (@darrion_henry) December 15, 2018
2020 OL Paris Johnson Jr., Cincinnati St. Xavier — Elston, Quinn
247Sports: Four stars, No. 1 OT, No. 8 overall | Rivals: Five stars, No. 1 OT, No. 7 overall
Prospects
Tuesday, Dec. 4
2020 WR Michael Redding III, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy — Alexander
Rivals: Four stars, No. 27 WR, No. 125 overall
Thursday, Dec. 6
2020 QB Michael Henderson, Carrollton (Texas) Ranchview — Lyght
247Sports: Three stars, No. 24 ATH, No. 302 overall | Rivals: Three stars, No. 13 DUAL
Thursday, Dec. 13
2021 RB Corey Kiner, Cincinnati Roger Bacon — Elston
247Sports: Four stars, No. 8 RB, No. 101 overall
A big thanks to @CoachMikeElston for stopping by today. It was great catching up and talking football. #hailspartans#goirishpic.twitter.com/s2xpKWpR4w
— Roger Bacon Football (@RogerBaconFB) December 13, 2018
OL Josh Fryar, Beech Grove (Ind.) High — Quinn
247Sports: Three stars, No. 2 OC, No. 315 overall | Rivals: Three stars
@NDFootball was at BGHS today to meet with Coach Weller about 2020 offensive lineman, @joshfryar2 ! #GoIrish@BGHS_football_pic.twitter.com/UrS3bfKHO1
— BGHS The Hive (@TheHiveBGHS) December 13, 2018
More: ND is trying to capitalize on Urban Meyer, Ohio State's head coach, announcing his retirement last week. The Irish visited targets that are high on OSU’s radar — Darrion Henry, Jaheim Thomas, Lejond Cavazos and Paris Johnson Jr.
247Sports’ crystal ball predicted all four to land with the Buckeyes until Cavazos decommitted last week. Henry, Thomas and Johnson are visiting ND for its junior day weekend. Johnson, the nation’s top offensive tackle, committed to OSU on June 28.
• Jalen Kimber, Donovan Edwards and Makari Paige reported offers following their visits. For more on them, click here, here and here.
• Daniel Jackson told ND Insider he does not expect to announce his commitment until the end of next summer. However, it would be a surprise if he did not commit to the Irish. Jackson has taken many visits to ND and his ties with the program are endless. For more on him, click here.
Commits
Monday, Dec. 3
P Jay Bramblett, Tuscaloosa (Ala.) Hillcrest — Polian
Great home visit this evening with @BrianPolian . Very excited about the future! pic.twitter.com/HtYJj3fNlN
— Jay Bramblett (@jbram_15) December 4, 2018
RB Kyren Williams, Kirkwood (Mo.) St. John Vianney — Kelly, Denson
OL Andrew Kristofic, Gibsonia (Pa.) Pine-Richland — Quinn
Always nice to have @CoachJeffQuinn in the building ☘️☘️... 39 days pic.twitter.com/MgytpsUG4i
— Andrew Kristofic (@AKristofic21) December 3, 2018
Tuesday, Dec. 4
LB Osita Ekwonu, Charlotte (N.C.) Providence Day — Joseph
Had an amazing time with Coach Joseph☘️ Can’t wait to make it official this month‼️#uNDefeatedpic.twitter.com/LvMeplzHJZ
— Osi Ekwonu™ (@Osita_Ekwonu59) December 5, 2018
OL Zeke Correll, Cincinnati Anderson — Kelly, Elston, Quinn
Had a great in-home visit with my future coaches! It’s crazy to think that I will be a college student on campus in 38 days... and I couldn’t be more excited. Now go get that ring ☘️ #GoIrish#FightClub19#dubszn#thefuturepic.twitter.com/F7p2Mp1bog
— Zeke Correll (@zekecorrell) December 5, 2018
DT Jacob Lacey, Bowling Green (Ky.) South Warren — Kelly, Elston
We had some awesome visitors today! The Coach of the undefeated Notre Dame football team @CoachBrianKelly and @CoachMikeElston! Such a blessing to to have Coach Kelly sitting at our Kitchen table @JacobLacey6 Head Football Coach And our AD @SWHSAthletics1 joined us too, BLESSED! pic.twitter.com/f8Hi4LauzE
— David Lacey (@revmackd10) December 5, 2018
Wednesday, Dec. 5
S Kyle Hamilton, Atlanta Marist — Kelly, Joseph
CB K.J. Wallace, Atlanta Lovett — Kelly, Joseph
QB Brendon Clark, Midlothian (Va.) Manchester — Long
WR Cam Hart, Olney (Md.) Good Counsel — Alexander
Monday, Dec. 10
LB Jack Kiser, Royal Center (Ind.) Pioneer — Kelly, Lea
Thanks to @NDFootball@Coach_Lea and @CoachBrianKelly for stopping by @PioneerJrSrHigh to visit with commit @JBKiser4! NSD is almost here! #FightClub19pic.twitter.com/VRotgeFO8M
— Aaron Kiser (@Takkle4) December 10, 2018
Tuesday, Dec. 11
Kristofic — Kelly, Long, Lea
Great in home visit last night! ☘️ #FightClub19pic.twitter.com/6SzxZ7DQZ0
— Andrew Kristofic (@AKristofic21) December 12, 2018
Wednesday, Dec. 12
S Litchfield Ajavon, Alexandria (Va.) Episcopal — Kelly, Joseph, Alexander, Long
Great having coach Kelly, my man coach Joseph, and the rest of the ND coaching staff on campus today☘️☘️☘️ #FightClub19pic.twitter.com/CeXSvnNuS8
— LA4️⃣ (@litch_ajavon) December 12, 2018
Hart — Kelly, Alexander, Long
Thursday, Dec. 13
Clark — Kelly, Long, Rees
Ekwonu — Kelly
It was great having Coach Kelly☘️ stop by school today! #GoIrishpic.twitter.com/TJLYu6xpxu
— Osi Ekwonu™ (@Osita_Ekwonu59) December 14, 2018
Bramblett — Kelly, Polian, Long
Good having Coach Kelly, Coach Polian, and Coach Long at home this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/w7ZlETXyO2
— Jay Bramblett (@jbram_15) December 13, 2018
More: Andrew Kristofic, Jack Kiser and Jay Bramblett were the only 2019 commits that were not visited in week one of the contact period. Osita Ekwonu, Cam Hart and Brendon Clark have been visited three times since Nov. 25. Kelly tagged along for 12 of the 17 commit visits in the last two weeks.
• Roswell (Ga.) Blessed Trinity’s JD Bertrand, ND’s linebacker commit, has not been visited since Joseph swung by on Nov. 29. He suffered a right MCL sprain in the Nov. 30 GHSA-AAAA semifinal. The Titans went onto trump Cartersville in the title game, however Bertrand was ruled out on a game time decision. Bertrand told ND Insider that he should be fine by January.
• Litchfield Ajavon sported a walking boot on his right leg when ND’s staff visited him on Dec. 12. Ajavon told ND Insider that he battled through injuries all season, suffering a broken big toe and a high ankle sprain.
• Jay Bramblett also suffered a high ankle sprain this season on Nov. 8. This injury, however, required surgery. After a month of physical therapy, Bramblett was cleared for activity on Friday. Barring disaster, he will be ND’s starting punter as a true freshman next season.
