Notre Dame, Auburn, Stanford get stronger over summer

[Tux of Borg]

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/recruiting/...al-summer_N.htm

 

Notre Dame, Auburn, Stanford get stronger over summer

 

By Jeremy Crabtree, Rivals.com

Looking for an early candidate for Rivals.com's national recruiter of the year? Check out Notre Dame assistant Brian Polian.

 

It should be no surprise that Polian knows talent. His father, Bill, is the president of the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. Older brother Chris serves as the assistant general manager for the Colts, and younger brother Dennis works for the Arena Football League.

 

Since his arrival at Notre Dame in 2004 from UCF, where he had been that program's recruiting coordinator, Polian has become one of the top recruiters in the Midwest and West. Last year, he reeled in five prospects: two five-star prospects and three four-star players. This year, he is responsible for five early commitments, including the nation's No. 2 player in running back Cierre Wood of Santa Clara (Oxnard, Calif.) and talented linebacker Dan Fox of St. Ignatius (Cleveland).

 

He also helped orchestrate the biggest news of this week, when four-star cornerback Marlon Pollard switched his commitment from UCLA to Notre Dame.

 

"Coach Polian was honest and direct with me," said Pollard, a 6-foot-1, 160-pounder from Cajon (San Bernardino, Calif.) who announced his switch on Monday. "He talked to me about all the advantages of playing at a great academic institution that Notre Dame is. He also talked about how it would be a great fit for me socially. The way he treated me and my family was another big factor in my decision to switch."

 

As Notre Dame's special teams coach, Polian also has helped the Irish score commitments from two of the nation's best specialists — kickers Nick Tausch of Jesuit (Dallas) and Ben Turk of St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale).

 

Polian also has a few big fish potentially on the line. Five-star wide receiver Shaquelle Evans of Inglewood (Calif.) is giving Notre Dame a strong look, as is five-star linebacker Manti Te'o of Punahou (Honolulu). Notre Dame is also trying to make a push for four-star fullback Tyler Gaffney of Cathedral Catholic (San Diego).

 

Tigers roaring: Auburn debuted at No. 23 in the first edition of the Rivals.com team recruiting rankings, but the Tigers should climb higher in the next update. Since the release, Auburn has scored a commitment from three-star linebacker Brandon Jacobs of Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.).

 

They also have a commitment from potential four-star cornerback Reggie Taylor of Peach County (Fort Valley, Ga.), but he has yet to be officially ranked by Rivals.com.

 

Early on, Auburn linebacker coach James Willis has been a workhorse. He has had a hand in helping secure commitments from seven players, including four in-state prospects. Throw in commitments from highly regarded junior college players Nick Fairley and Eltoro Freeman, and the job Willis has done is even more impressive.

 

The Tigers' current class of 18 players definitely is defense-oriented. Auburn always does a great job of finding — and developing — defensive talent, and this group should be no exception. Defensive tackle Jamontay Pilson of Greenville (Ala.) is a four-star recruit with a load of potential, and Harris Gaston of Bessemer (Ala.) Academy, Jonathan Evans of Blount (Prichard, Ala.) and Jacobs give the Tigers one of the nation's best linebacker groups thus far.

 

Stanford soaring: Quietly, Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh is putting together one of the nation's best classes. Things definitely look like they're on the way up in Palo Alto.

 

The Cardinal class stretched to nine commitments this week with the additions of three-star quarterback Taysom Hill of Highland (Pocatello, Idaho) and three-star tight end Ryan Hewitt of Mullen (Denver).

 

Hill, who is 6-2 and 200 pounds, is one of the most overlooked passers in the nation because he's from Idaho, but he was a hot target for many Pac-10 coaches. With standout freshman Andrew Luck already on campus, the Cardinal depth chart at the position suddenly has become loaded with talent.

 

"There are a lot of reasons I picked Stanford, but one of the biggest has to be Coach Harbaugh," Hill said. "I truly believe he's going to get that program turned around, and it's going to be one of the best — not just in the Pac-10, but also in the nation."

 

Harbaugh had Stanford in the top 25 of the team rankings with only seven commitments, and the additions will help the Cardinal's ability to climb in the rankings.

 

Etc.:

 

• Ohio State continues to show why it has the nation's No. 1 class. Earlier this week, the Buckeyes scored commitment No. 24 from three-star offensive lineman Sam Longo of Bellbrook (Ohio). Longo (6-5/270) has tremendous upside and has increased his strength and size over the summer. If he plays well as a senior with his added bulk, he could climb to the four-star level. That would mean 18 of Ohio State's 24 commitments would be rated four-star prospects or better. The Buckeyes are on their way to having a stranglehold on the nation's top-ranked class.

 

• Recruiting in Florida has become a priority for Purdue, and the Boilermakers scored a solid commitment earlier this week from wide receiver Gary Bush (6-0/175) of Columbus (Miami). Bush flew under the radar a bit, but he did have offers from Purdue and Indiana. He also was receiving heavy interest from Boston College, Miami, Michigan and UAB. As a junior, Bush made 15 catches for 320 yards and six touchdowns for a run-oriented team. Bush's team started 11-0 last season, but lost in the playoffs to eventual state – and national – champion Northwestern (Miami).

 

• Star junior college lineman Anthony Morgan is heading to Oklahoma State after he finishes the season at Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas. Morgan is expected to compete for early playing time when he arrives in Stillwater.

 

• Texas A&M scored big over the weekend when the Aggies landed wide receiver Uzoma Nwachukwu of Allen (Texas). The four-star prospect said the chance to be an immediate playmaker for new coach Mike Sherman was a big factor in his decision.

 

• Ball State continues to surprise this summer. Recent commitments from Steele (Amherst, Ohio) running back Branden Kish and Fleming Island (Orange Park, Fla.) linebacker Justin Cruz were nice gets, but the pledge of three-star tight end Jacob Green was huge. Green, from Wyoming (Ohio), near Cincinnati, is the nation's No. 26 tight end prospect.