As the pendulum continues to swing on the Manti Te’o situation, I thought it’d help all of us to talk a little football around these parts. While I plan to dive back into those murky waters later, let’s cleanse the palate and get back to the gridiron.
Tomorrow kicks off a slew of college all-star games, giving some graduating seniors a chance to play in their final football game, while potentially auditioning for NFL scouts. All in all seven former Domers are playing in All-Star games, with the headliner, Manti Te’o, turning down an opportunity to play in the Senior Bowl.
Let’s run through the games and players:
NFLPA Collegiate Bowl -- January 19 in Los Angeles
Jordan Cowart, Long snapper
Dayne Crist, Quarterback
Raycom College Classic -- January 19 in Montgomery, Alabama
Mike Golic Jr., Center/Guard
Robby Roma, WR
East-West Shrine Game -- January 19 in St. Petersburg, Florida
Zeke Motta, Safety
Theo Riddick, Running Back
Senior Bowl -- January 26 in Mobile, Alabama
Braxston Cave, Center
Te’o’s decision to skip the Senior Bowl isn’t a product of the last few days. He’s following the lead of many top prospects, including Michael Floyd last season.
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Turning the subject to recruiting, the Irish coaching staff are on the march, working to close strong on a class that’s among the best in the nation. Let’s run through a few of the headliners, some names we’ve mentioned, some names we haven’t, all of whom are going to be taking a look at Notre Dame on January 25th.
Eddie Vanderdoes -- While Vanderdoes is visiting USC this weekend, Notre Dame gets their shot at him next weekend, when he and his parents plan on visiting South Bend. The Irish staff have put a full court press on Vanderdoes, with Irish coaches visiting him every week allowed, with Mike Elston and Mike Denbrock logging some serious miles. Several people I’ve talked to close to the situation feel confident that Vanderdoes is leaning Notre Dame’s way, but a solid visit to South Bend will be needed to close the deal.
Kylie Fitts -- The Irish are also taking dead aim at another one-time USC commit in Fitts. At 6-foot-4, 260-pounds, Fitts profiles nicely as a 3-4 defensive end, with a frame that’ll likely be ready to add the weight needed to play up front. He’s a classic power player in the Kelly recruiting model.
Torrodney Prevot -- Prevot is a USC commitment, but that hasn’t stopped Notre Dame from getting a visit set for the 25th as well. Where Notre Dame sees the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Texas product fitting in is probably being decided. But the athleticism he shows is apparent, and he’s high on the Irish’s wish list as a replacement for Alex Anzalone.
Deon Hollins Jr. -- Another Texas product, and another committed recruit, this time to UCLA. But Kerry Cooks has done a good job on the linebacker, and he’ll be getting a visit from Irish coaches and plans to see campus on the 25th, too. The name of Hollins’ game is speed, and he could be the type of edge player that helps the Irish pass rush quickly.
Head coach Brian Kelly has started to make his in-home visits, hitting up committed prospects this week, while likely staying on the road up until Signing Day. The Irish are in a very strong position to close with a number of undeclared prospects, taking full advantage of their tremendous season.
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Lastly, BlueandGold.com had a nice update on cornerback Lo Wood, who spent the year rehabbing a torn achilles injury suffered during preseason camp. While freshman KeiVarae Russell‘s stellar rookie season took some of the spotlight of Wood’s recovery, it’ll be good to have Wood back for spring practice, where he’ll begin to compete for time at corner.
This from B&G, who caught up with Wood down in Florida during Media Day:“It was really tough when you can’t be out there sharing the victories, the great moments and going down in history with your teammates,” he said a day after arriving in Miami to watch his team fall to Alabama in the BCS Championship game.
“In the beginning of the season it was [frustrating]. It was hard to watch the games and you don’t want to be at practice because you just want to be out there so bad.”Wood’s return to a secondary with Russell and Bennett Jackson -- who underwent shoulder surgery earlier this week for an injury he’s been playing with all season -- should really build the Irish’s depth on the back line. With Austin Collinsworth coming back and Matthias Farley getting a jump start on his playing career, the Irish secondary should look very strong next season.