Notre Dame Football: Players to Watch in High School All-American Games
Following Notre Dame football's Music City Bowl clash with LSU on Tuesday, the attention on the Irish will turn toward the future and the next wave of Notre Dame teams.
With Notre Dame's 2015 recruiting class already stocked with 22 commitments, who are the players to watch in the upcoming high school All-American games?
A mix of Irish commitments and remaining targets litter the list.
Let’s have a look.
QB Brandon Wimbush
1 of 7
Under Armour All-American Game
"QB Brandon Wimbush #UAAllAmerica https://t.co/ygA5ausvgr
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) December 29, 2014"
Notre Dame fans will get a glimpse of one of the team's quarterbacks of the future with commitment Brandon Wimbush set to take part in the Under Armour All-American Game. Wimbush is slotted as the No. 4 dual-threat quarterback in the country and the No. 55 player overall.
Wimbush pledged to the Irish in October, so there's more of an unknown factor with the Jersey City, New Jersey, product than with some of the other Irish commitments.
Monday marked the first day of practice in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, and Wimbush teamed up with fellow quarterbacks Kyler Murray and De’Andre Johnson on Team Armour. According to 247Sports’ Tom Loy (subscription required), Wimbush’s arm “is easily the strongest of the bunch.”
"#UAALLAMERICA — Team Armour QB Standouts: A look at the play of Kyler Murray, Brandon Wimbush and De'Andre Johnson http://t.co/a4C2bh6QPb
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) December 29, 2014"
OL Jerry Tillery
2 of 7
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
"ND commit Jerry Tillery vs OSU commit DreMont Jones https://t.co/YEG0GRS7dc
— Barton Simmons (@bartonsimmons) December 29, 2014"
There’s been a steady buzz surrounding the recruitment of 4-star offensive tackle Jerry Tillery, who pledged to the Irish all the way back in June 2013. And with the recruiting cycle nearing its end, Notre Dame fans have a chance to check out the No. 157 player in the country.
After watching Tillery’s West team practice Monday at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl, 247Sports Director of Scouting Barton Simmons offered his thoughts (subscription required) on the 6'5.5" 315-pounder, calling him “extremely athletic” while citing a need for consistency.
"Terrific #NotreDame #ArmyBowl Practice Report from @SWiltfong247 and @bartonsimmons. http://t.co/VJkWgvNakR (VIP)
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) December 30, 2014"
RB Soso Jamabo
3 of 7
Under Armour All-American Game
"RB Soso Jamabo with a spinning catch #UAAllAmerica https://t.co/wpUQhvdsMh
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) December 29, 2014"
Notre Dame has been linked to 5-star running back Soso Jamabo for months, and it appears the Irish are still in the running for the services of the No. 27 player in the country:
"#Bolt: Two teams tied at the top for 5-Star running back Soso Jamabo. Is #NotreDame still in it? The latest: http://t.co/SnrElRKvW3 (FREE)
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) December 28, 2014"
According to Loy (subscription required), Notre Dame and UCLA “are in the lead” for the Plano, Texas, native. The Irish continue to seek a second running back to pair with 2015 commitment Josh Adams, and Jamabo is the highest-ranked of the reported targets.
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RB Ronald Jones
4 of 7
Under Armour All-American Game
"Ronald Jones found himself wide open, pass from Blake Barnett #UAAllAmerica https://t.co/dRhyTG5zlK
— Tom VanHaaren (@TomVH) December 29, 2014"
In addition to Jamabo, Notre Dame has targeted 4-star running back Ronald Jones in recent weeks. Jones checks in as the No. 9 running back and No. 82 overall prospect in the nation.
The 6'0" 185-pounder visited Notre Dame for the awards banquet earlier this month and decommitted from Oklahoma State following the weekend trip. Jones is scheduled to announce his decision during the game Friday and is considering Notre Dame and USC, per Loy.
"The latest on #UAALLAMERICA 4-star RB Ronald Jones. He's set to choose from #NotreDame and #USC http://t.co/MuPOPbR39S (VIP) @Scott_Schrader
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) December 29, 2014"
WR Equanimeous St. Brown
5 of 7
Under Armour All-American Game
Wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown may not be scheduled to announce his commitment until national signing day, according to Loy (subscription required), but the 4-star prospect is worth watching in Florida.
At 6’5” and 205 pounds, St. Brown offers an impressive skill set and a combination of athleticism and size. St. Brown is pegged as the No. 14 wide receiver and the No. 139 player overall.
"#NotreDame pushing hard for four-star WR Equanimeous St. Brown. He spoke at the #UAALLAMERICA Game http://t.co/S7RVbg4oU0 (VIP)
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) December 28, 2014"
Per Loy (subscription required), Notre Dame is one of six schools St. Brown says he’s considering at this stage of the recruiting process.
ATH Ykili Ross
6 of 7
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
"Ricky town to Ykili Ross https://t.co/wKDm3ZUUZL
— Barton Simmons (@bartonsimmons) December 29, 2014"
Defensive back Ykili Ross, the No. 108 player in the nation, is scheduled to announce his decision Saturday during the game, according to 247Sports’ National Recruiting Insider Ryan Bartow (subscription required), and USC and Notre Dame are the likely destinations.
"#VIP: Two teams tied for four-star ATH Ykili Ross going into decision week. http://t.co/GSw83NUMId @TomLoy247 @TheRealYK_7 @FightOn247
— Ryan Bartow (@RyanBartow) December 28, 2014"
The 4-star prospect took an official visit to Notre Dame in November.
TE Aliz'e Jones
7 of 7
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The nation’s top tight end, Aliz’e Jones, has been committed to UCLA for more than 13 months. Still, Notre Dame is reportedly a possible landing spot for the Las Vegas product, according to Tom Loy and Steve Wiltfong of 247Sports:
"It will be #NotreDame or #UCLA for 4-star #ArmyBowl TE Aliz'e Jones. @SWiltfong247 and I are feeling Irish here http://t.co/ycFm3V3J1H (VIP)
— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) December 29, 2014"
After Monday’s bowl practice, Simmons (subscription required) described Jones as “one of the toughest matchups at the tight end position as a receiver in the country.”
Jones took an unofficial visit to Notre Dame in early September for the Michigan game and returned to campus for an official visit earlier in December.
Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting stats and information courtesy of 247Sports.com and all quotes obtained firsthand. Star ratings reflect 247Sports composite rankings.
Mike Monaco is a lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco_ on Twitter.
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