Notre Dame Football Recruiting Offers of the Week
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame football had one of its most active recruiting weeks in recent months, sending out a dozen offers across the country.
The Irish emphasized defensive backs during the week, targeting eight cornerbacks or safeties between the classes of 2016 and 2017.
Each week we’ll be keeping tabs on the new scholarship offers sent out by the Notre Dame coaches, tracking the recruiting process as the Irish focus their attention toward the classes of 2016, 2017 and maybe even 2018.
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Marquez Stevenson
Class-of-2016 wide receiver Marquez Stevenson was one of just two offensive players to land a Notre Dame offer last week when the Irish reached out Wednesday, per Irish247’s Tom Loy.
Stevenson hails from Shreveport, Louisiana, and is slotted as the No. 144 wide receiver in the country. The 5’11”, 163-pounder also holds offers from Miami, Arizona State, Nebraska and Baylor, in addition to others.
“It feels good,” Stevenson told Loy. “It means a lot. Notre Dame is a great school and it really means a whole lot to me.”
Luke Farrell
On Tuesday, Notre Dame offered class-of-2016 tight end Luke Farrell, who became the fifth tight end in the class to land an Irish offer.
Farrell hails from Perry, Ohio, and he’s slotted as the No. 6 tight end and No. 175 overall prospect in the class. The 6’6”, 240-pounder hauled in 43 receptions for 730 yards and six touchdowns in his junior season.
Farrell has also received offers from Oregon, Michigan State, Penn State, Alabama and Wisconsin, among others.
Devin Bush Jr.
Class-of-2016 inside linebacker Devin Bush Jr. received an offer from Notre Dame on Tuesday, per 247Sports’ Ryan Bartow.
Bush checks in as the No. 9 inside linebacker and No. 221 overall player in the country. The Hollywood, Florida, native has landed offers from Texas, Oregon, Alabama, Michigan and Florida State, among others. He piled up 67 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks as a junior.
Aaron Hansford
Notre Dame jumped into the mix for another 2016 linebacker when it offered outside ‘backer Aaron Hansford on Tuesday.
"I'm thankful for the scholarship opportunity to play & attend The University Of Notre Dame #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/HT19TYWD8S
— Aaron hansford (@AaronTheRealMVP) June 3, 2015"
Hansford is 6’2”, 210 pounds and is tabbed as a 3-star prospect. He ranks as the No. 32 outside linebacker and No. 432 player in the class. Hansford has also reeled in offers from South Carolina, Georgia, Penn State, Ohio State and Wisconsin, in addition to others.
“Hansford has a nice outside linebacker frame, and he is very athletic and fluid at that size,” 247Sports national director of scouting Barton Simmons told Loy.
Parrish Cobb
Notre Dame stayed busy all week offering defensive backs and extended an offer to class-of-2016 cornerback Parrish Cobb on Saturday.
Cobb is a 5’11”, 178-pounder from Waco, Texas. He’s listed as the No. 47 cornerback and No. 530 prospect in the nation. Since Baylor offered in early February, Cobb has also received offers from Oklahoma, Arkansas, Arizona State and Texas, among others. Cobb notched 72 tackles and two interceptions in 2014.
Troy Pride Jr.
A pledge to Virginia Tech didn’t stop Notre Dame from offering class-of-2016 cornerback Troy Pride Jr. on Wednesday.
Pride, who is ranked as the No. 60 cornerback and No. 649 overall prospect in the country, committed to the Hokies on Feb. 20.
Lamar Jackson
The Irish wasted no time starting last week off with activity, offering class-of-2016 safety Lamar Jackson on Monday.
The No. 8 safety and No. 224 recruit in the nation, Jackson boasts a 6’3”, 205-pound frame. The Elk Grove, California product grabbed a USC offer in early April and has also received offers from Michigan, UCLA and Arizona State, among others.
“I just talked to [Irish offensive coordinator] Mike Sanford,” Jackson told Loy. “He was just telling me that I had an offer and they want me to come in and play for them. He said they are going to recruit me hard to play safety.”
“The offer really intrigues me,” Jackson said. “I plan on cutting things down to a top five or seven, and Notre Dame will be in there.”
Chanse Sylvie
Like Stevenson, fellow Shreveport, Louisiana native Chanse Sylvie, a class-of-2016 safety, received an Irish offer Wednesday.
"Blessed to receive an offer from Notre Dame ! #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/amnKdS22VD
— Chanse Sylvie (@ChanseSylvie) June 3, 2015"
Sylvie is the No. 39 safety and No. 611 player in the class. A 3-star prospect, Sylvie claims offers from Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Arizona State and Nebraska, in addition to others. In the past two seasons, Sylvie has combined to rack up 243 tackles and two interceptions.
According to Loy, Sylvie is the cousin of Notre Dame junior running back Tarean Folston.
Thomas Jones
In the ongoing pursuit for safeties, Notre Dame offered class-of-2016 safety Thomas Jones on Thursday, according to Loy.
A 6’2”, 190-pounder from Laurens, South Carolina, Jones is pegged as the No. 43 safety and No. 644 overall prospect. He also holds offers from South Carolina, Louisville and Georgia Tech.
William Poole III
Notre Dame didn’t neglect the class of 2017, either, offering a trio of defensive backs heading into their junior campaigns. Class-of-2017 cornerback William Poole III nabbed a Notre Dame offer Wednesday, per Loy.
Currently ranked as the No. 15 cornerback and No. 198 overall player, Poole has received offers from Penn State, UCLA, Auburn and Alabama, among others.
“The Notre Dame offer came as a nice surprise,” Poole told Loy. “It’s pretty nice knowing I caught their attention. I’ll try my best to get up there and visit sometime soon.”
Paris Ford
Saturday proved a noteworthy day for class-of-2017 safety Paris Ford, and not just because it was his birthday. The Pittsburgh native landed an offer from Notre Dame.
The No. 9 safety and No. 144 prospect in the class is the younger brother of former Notre Dame cornerback Darrin Walls, who’s currently with the New York Jets.
“Man, this is another defining moment in my life,” Ford told Loy. “I’ve been craving this offer. Knowing my brother graduated from the school and that I have a chance to go there is amazing. I have a strong interest in the school and a big part of that is because of my brother. Man, this is a big moment for me. It really means a lot.”
Ford also claims offers from Tennessee, Michigan State, Virginia Tech, Auburn, Michigan and Penn State, in addition to others. He posted 58 tackles and four interceptions last season.
R.J. Potts
To close out a full week of offers, Notre Dame remained in state to offer class-of-2017 safety R.J. Potts on Sunday.
Notre Dame is the first school to offer the Fishers, Indiana, product. Potts is currently slotted as the No. 16 safety and No. 210 overall prospect in his class, and the 6’2”, 175-pounder is a 4-star recruit.
“It feels great,” Potts told Loy. “It’s my first offer and it’s from a big school.”
“I’m just so in shock,” Potts said. “My mom and I were excited and happy.”
Potts becomes the fourth safety in his class to receive an offer from Notre Dame.
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 the lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco on Twitter.
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