Archives › Keith Arnold
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It may seem like a lifetime ago, but Notre Dame’s defense faces a pretty extraordinary task: replacing one of college football’s most decorated defensive players ever. Four years after landing Manti Te’o, a rare player who surpasses the recruiting hype that comes along with a five-star tag, the Irish coaching staff found another elite talent…
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In landing five offensive linemen during this recruiting cycle, Notre Dame filled a critical need at a position group that had gotten way too thin. With Steve Elmer and Mike McGlinchey, the Irish have two intriguing candidates that have NFL potential at tackle. In John Montelus and Colin McGovern, Harry Hiestand has two true guard…
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Safety Jamoris Slaughter‘s career at Notre Dame has official come to an end. The NCAA denied Slaughter’s appeal to return to the Irish for a sixth season, the university announced in a statement. The six-foot, 200-pound safety from Georgia, who has already earned his degree at Notre Dame in Industrial Design, will shift his focus…
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Bob Elliott‘s battle with kidney failure always seemed to be on the back burner. Revealed on the eve of the BCS National Championship in a tremendous story by Sports Illustrated’s Pete Thamel, Elliott’s quiet battle, which included sessions of self-dialysis from the Notre Dame coaching offices, didn’t get in the way of the Irish safeties…
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Each recruiting class has a purpose. For Brian Kelly and company, continuing to widen the base of the roster was a key for the 2013 recruiting class. It was far from coincidental that this group could literally line up and play against itself if it needed to do so. In fact, that balance — and…
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It’s no secret that Notre Dame recruits nationally. That’s one of the benefits that comes along with one of the longest-standing brand names in college football. But a footprint that large also has its challenges. And for the Irish coaching staff, that’s the work that comes from reaching far and wide to find football players.…
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Walk-on safety Connor Cavalaris might have done something that most offensive lineman will struggle with. He stopped blue-chip recruit Eddie Vanderdoes in his tracks. Sure, it didn’t happen on the field. But when Vanderdoes was looking at jersey numbers, he scrolled down the roster and saw that his long-worn high school number — No. 47…
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As we dig deeper into the talented class that Brian Kelly and his staff reeled in, some trends are starting to emerge in a group widely accepted to be among the best in the nation. We will spend the next few weeks talking about the 24 athletes that comprise the class of 2013, but athlete…
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While the excitement of Signing Day is still lingering, eight Notre Dame seniors received a very important invitation yesterday that will play a huge factor in their professional careers. The NFL’s annual scouting combine in Indianapolis released their official invite list and it was filled with Irish players. Here are the following players who will…
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It took until well after dark, but Notre Dame finally landed the last crucial piece they were chasing in this recruiting class. California defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes picked the Irish over Alabama, UCLA and USC Wednesday evening, capping off a historic Irish class at 24. The U.S. Army All-American announced his choice from a hometown…
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After a late flirtation with Auburn, Notre Dame finally received the commitment of Tarean Folston this afternoon, adding a key final piece to the offensive recruiting class. Let’s take a closer look at what Folston brings to the Irish offense. TAREAN FOLSTON Cocoa, Florida Measureables: 5-foot-9, 190-pounds Accolades: Consensus four-star prospect. First-team All-State Florida 4A…
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For a coach that quipped he could sell Avon, it’s no surprise that Brian Kelly could sell 12-1. Even with that one loss being a resounding thud in the national title game, Notre Dame’s head coach was all smiles when discussing his 2013 recruiting class, even if there were storylines swirling throughout his noon press…
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The tight end depth chart received another infusion when one-time Texas Longhorns commit Durham Smythe sent a fax to The Gug this morning. Let’s take a look at what the Irish got. DURHAM SMYTHE Belton, Texas Measureables: 6-foot-5, 230-pounds Accolades: Top 50 on Waco Tribune-Herald. Two-time first-team Texas District 8 5A. All-State Academic. three-star prospect…
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Notre Dame just reeled in their third five-star prospect of the day with the official signing of one-time USC commitment Max Redfield. The elite safety has added another intriguing weapon to the defensive arsenal. Let’s take a closer look at what Redfield brings to the table. MAX REDFIELD Mission Viejo, California Measureables: 6-foot-2, 181-pounds Accolades:…
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Notre Dame just made it official with one of the elite cornerbacks in the country, with Arizona’s Cole Luke sending in his letter-of-intent. Playing his high school ball for former Irish quarterback Steve Belles, the Irish held onto one of the West Coast’s premiere cover men. Let’s take a closer look at Luke. COLE LUKE…
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Lost in the flurry of action this morning, Brian Kelly accepted the signature of a recruit from his hometown of Everett, Massachusetts. Let’s see what the Irish are getting in blue-chipper John Montelus. JOHN MONTELUS Everett, Massachusetts Measureables: 6-foot-5, 314-pounds Accolades: First-team All State, Massachusetts Football Coaches Association. Four-star Rivals, 247 Impressive offers: LSU, Michigan,…
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Notre Dame has officially added another blue-chip offensive line prospect to join Harry Hiestand’s troops. Let’s take a look at long-time commit Hunter Bivin. HUNTER BIVIN Owensboro, Kentucky Measureables: 6-foot-6, 290-pounds Accolades: First-team All-State AP and Louisville Courier-Journal. Four-star prospect, Rivals, ESPN and 247. Under Armor All-American. State Champion Shot Put. Impressive Offers: Auburn, Clemson,…
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Notre Dame’s offensive line class continues to grow. Chicagoland prospect Colin McGovern made things official this morning by faxing in his letter-of-intent. Let’s take a look at what the Irish are getting. COLIN MCGOVERN New Lenox, Illinois Measureables: 6-foot-6, 290-pounds Accolades: First-team All-State 5A. First-team All-State, Chicago Tribune. First-team All-Area, Chicago Sun Times. Four star…
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Notre Dame continues to refill their their offensive line coffers with the addition of Philadelphia’s Mike McGlinchey. Let’s dig into the monster offensive tackle that just faxed in his letter-of-intent. MIKE MCGLINCHEY Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Measureables: 6-foot-8, 285-pounds Accolades: First-team All-State, Philadelphia Sports Writers AAA team. First-team All-Southeast Pennsylvania. First-team All-City by Philadelphia Daily News. Four-star…
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He’s only now taking his first steps after a freak injury in non-contact drills at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl broke Torii Hunter Jr.’s femur. But even as he recovers from the injury, Hunter’s faxed letter-of-intent to Notre Dame delivers the Irish another game breaking wide receiver option in the 2013 recruiting class. Let’s take…
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One of the biggest names in the modern recruiting era has made it official. Jaylon Smith has faxed in his letter-of-intent. Let’s try and put in perspective just how big of a commitment this is. JAYLON SMITH Fort Wayne, Indiana Measureables: 6-foot-3, 215-pounds Accolades: 2012 High School Butkus Award Winner. First-team USA Today All-American. First-team…
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A very important fax just came into the Gug this morning as running back Greg Bryant officially signed with Notre Dame this morning. Let’s take a look at the five-star running back from Florida. GREG BRYANT Delray Beach, Florida Measureables: 5-foot-11, 197-pounds Accolades: Five-star prospect Rivals, ESPN, MaxPrep. No. 2 running back in country, Rivals.…
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Notre Dame’s wide receiving depth chart just got better this morning, when Philadelphia’s William Fuller sent in his letter-of-intent. Let’s take a look at what the Irish are getting. WILLIAM FULLER Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Measureables: 6-foot-1, 170-pounds Accolades: First-team All-State AAAA, All-City per Philadelphia Daily News. First-team All-Southeastern Pennsylvania. MVP of Philadelphia Catholic League. Four-star prospect…
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The Irish added another key piece to the secondary with the fax arriving from Washington D.C.’s Devin Butler. While we’ll give you the particulars of Butler, here’s a great piece written by the South Bend Tribune’s Tyler James on Butler that’s worth giving a look. DEVIN BUTLER Washington, D.C. Measureables: 6-foot-1, 179-pounds Accolades: First-team All-Metro,…
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Notre Dame added another linebacker to its stable with Doug Randolph’s letter-of-intent coming into the Gug. Let’s see what the Irish have in the one-time Stanford commit and the high school teammate of CJ Prosise. DOUG RANDOLPH Woodberry Forest, Virginia Measureables: 6-foot-3, 229-pounds Accolades: U.S. Army All-American, four-star Rivals, ESPN, 247. Impressive offers: Boston College,…
