chooses Notre Dame on National Signing Day because of the number of linebackers already committed to the Irish. is showing this type of uncertainty this late in the recruiting process-he visited Utah on Jan. Having been committed to UCLA for nearly one year, it's a tad surprising that Hollins Jr. In fact, the Missouri City, Texas native visited Notre Dame last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed that visit, leaving the 6'2", 225-pound linebacker with a lot to think about before National Signing Day, per Steve Hare of. is showing serious interest in the Irish. 1.ĭespite Notre Dame having perhaps the deepest linebacker class in the country, current UCLA commit Deon Hollins Jr. Either way, Fitts would more than likely be in the rotation for playing time at defensive end.įitts visited Notre Dame last weekend with Vanderdoes and has an official visit to Utah scheduled for Feb. If I was a member of the Notre Dame coaching staff recruiting Fitts, a 6'4", 260-pound defensive end, I would be hammering away at the point that the Irish's 2013 class currently only has one true defensive end -Isaac Rochell.Īnd with former defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore's vacant starting spot up for grabs, Fitts would likely be able to compete for that spot right away. Vanderdoes, a former USC commit, visited Notre Dame last weekend and has an official visit to Alabama-the Crimson Tide is likely the Irish's stiffest competition for Vanderdoes-scheduled for Feb. The Placer, Calif., native would be a perfect fit as a nose guard in Diaco's 3-4 scheme, checking in at 6'3" and 310 pounds, which is only a few weeks in the weight room with Notre Dame strength and conditioning coach Paul Longo away from matching Nix's 326-pound frame.Īnd with limited depth at nose guard, Vanderdoes would likely receive playing time as a freshman. The Irish would have a few feasible options with their current roster, including sliding Jarron Jones from defensive end to nose guard, but the more sensible option would be to secure a commitment from Vanderdoes. Notre Dame will only have the services of Louis "Irish Chocolate" Nix for one more season, meaning that the search for his replacement should begin now. Notre Dame is currently targeting four available defenders who would be ideal fits within defensive coordinator Bob Diaco's 3-4 scheme. The initial step in that process is the acquisition of elite prep talent, which the Irish are in the process of accomplishing. But it's a unit that now needs to develop quality depth. Notre Dame has established a formidable group up front, with players such as defensive end Stephon Tuitt, nose guard Louis Nix and hybrid linebacker/defensive end Prince Shembo. Championships are won with defense (see Alabama 2009, 20), and elite defenses begin with the structuring and formation of a monstrous front seven.
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