The following was produced by the ND Sports Information Department:
NOTRE DAME ADDS 17 TO 2009 FOOTBALL ROSTER
Seventeen high school seniors
will have their names added to the University of Notre Dame’s football roster
and begin playing for the Irish in 2009.
The 17 student-athletes
represent 11 different states – California (two), Connecticut, Florida (three),
Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana (two), New Jersey (three), Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Tennessee and Texas.
As listed by position, Notre
Dame adds two running backs, one wide receivers, two tight ends, three
offensive linemen, one defensive lineman, four linebackers, one defensive backs,
one kicker, one punter and one long snapper.
Three of the 17 players –
cornerback E.J. Banks, linebacker Zeke Motta and defensive lineman Tyler
Stockton – enrolled at the University in January and are taking classes. They
will participate in Notre Dame’s spring football practices that begin in March.
The other 14 players have signed national letters of intent.
Among the 17 players are:
– Three who received First-Team All-America accolades
from USA Today – linebacker Manti
Te’o, offensive lineman Chris Watt and running back Cierre Wood.
– Three named Parade prep All-Americans – Te’o, Wood and Watt.
– Four rated among the top
100 players nationally by the Chicago Sun-Times (and Tom Lemming) – Te’o (seventh), Wood (17th),
Watt (43rd) and wide receiver Shaquelle Evans (44th).
– Four ranked in the top 100
by Sporting News – Te’o (second), Wood
(10th), Watt (35th) and Evans (44th).
– Seven rated nationally in
the ESPNU150- Te’o (second), Wood (25th), Stockton (32nd),
Evans (41st), Watt (69th), offensive lineman Zach Martin
(110th) and Banks (135th).
– Eight ranked in Scout.com’s
Top 300 – Te’o (sixth), Watt (31st), Wood (54th), Stockton
(121st), Evans (127th), offensive lineman Alex Bullard
(171st), Motta (179th) and running back Theo Riddick (241st).
– Seven ranked in the
Rivals250 by Rivals.com – Te’o (12th), Motta (54th), Wood
(76th), Watt (77th), Evans (160th), Stockton
(193rd), and Riddick (242nd).
– Eight rated in the TAKKLE
Top 200 presented by Sports Illustrated – Te’o (fifth), Wood (12th), Stockton (17th),
Evans (20th), Watt (68th), Martin (107th),
Banks (139th) and Motta (168th).
– Five rated in the
Offense-Defense Top 100 – Te’o (first), Wood (4th), Evans (36th),
Riddick (82nd) and tight end Jake Golic (88th).
– Six who participated in the
U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio last month – Evans, Golic, Motta,
Stockton, Watt and Wood.
– Two who participated in the
Under Armour All-American game last month in Orlando – Martin and Te’o.
– Two were selected to Long
Beach Press-Telegram’s Best in the
West first team – Te’o and Wood.
– Three named to the Western
100 by Tacoma News Tribune – Evans,
Te’o and Wood.
– Two who were named to the Mobile
Press-Register’s Super Southeast 120
– Motta and Bullard.
– One selected to the Super
Southern 100 by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution – Bullard.
– Two named to the Detroit
Free Press’ Best in the Midwest team
– Martin and Watt.
– Two selected Gatorade
Player of the Year by state – Te’o (Hawaii), Watt (Illinois).
2009 UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL FRESHMAN
Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Hometown
(High School)
Banks, E.J. DB 5-11 181 Pittsburgh,
PA (Montour)
Bullard, Alex OL 6-3 275 Franklin,
TN (Brentwood Academy)
Calabrese, Carlo LB 6-2 225 Verona,
NJ (Verona)
Cowart, Jordan LS 6-2, 255 Plantation,
FL (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Eifert, Tyler TE 6-6 220 Fort
Wayne, IN (Bishop Dwenger)
Evans, Shaquelle WR 6-1 203 Inglewood,
CA (Inglewood)
Fox, Dan LB 6-4 219 Rocky
River, OH (St. Ignatius)
Golic, Jake TE 6-4 220
Avon,
CT (Northwest Catholic)
Martin, Zach OL 6-5 270 Indianapolis,
IN (Bishop Chatard)
Motta, Zeke LB 6-2 207 Vero
Beach, FL (Vero Beach)
Riddick, Theo RB 5-10 185 Manville,
NJ (Immaculata)
Stockton, Tyler DL 6-1 290 Linwood,
NJ (Hun School)
Tausch, Nick K 6-1 180 Plano,
TX (Jesuit)
Te’o, Manti LB 6-2 225 Laie,
HI (Punahou)
Turk, Ben P 6-0 190 Davie,
FL (St. Thomas Aquinas)
Watt, Chris OL 6-3 280 Glen
Ellyn, IL (Glenbard West)
Wood, Cierre RB 6-0 192 Oxnard,
CA (Santa Clara)
Banks, E.J.,
DB, 5-11, 181, Pittsburgh, PA (Montour) – Selected
as first-team all-state defensive back in 2007 as junior and first-team
all-state special teams player in 2008 as senior … selected to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Fabulous
22 as well as Pittsburgh Tribune-Reviews
Terrific 25 as junior and senior … high school team was 12-1 and WPIAL Class
AAA state runner-up and conference champion during his junior year … rated as
139th-best overall player according to SI/TAKKLE Top 200 … ranked 135th overall
player in ESPNU150 and 13th among “athletes” according to ESPN …
rated 43rd-best “athlete” according to Rivals.com … named 13th best player from
Pennsylvania in Superprep’s
Pennsylvania 35 … started at quarterback and safety beginning with his freshman
year … passed for more than 1,000
yards in each season, as a sophomore (1,076), junior (1,235) and senior (1,027)
… threw for career-high 10 touchdowns as a senior, after throwing for six during
his junior campaign and seven as a sophomore … rushed for 1,015 yards and 14 TDs as a senior and 920 yards
with 10 TDs during junior season in 2007 … tallied 50 tackles and four
interceptions as junior in 2007 … also participated in basketball and track in
high school … one of three early enrollees at Notre Dame, joining Zeke Motta
and Tyler Stockton … comes from same hometown as former three-year Irish
starting quarterback Tom Clements … played for head coach Lou Cerro at Montour
High School … born Jan. 31, 1991 … son of Cardelle and Edgar Banks.
Bullard,
Alex, OL, 6-3, 275, Franklin, TN (Brentwood Academy) – Selected to Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s
Super Southern 100 recognizing him as one of best 100 high school football
players in combination of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee … the Knoxville News Sentinel rated him second in its Top 10 in Tennessee … named
to Division II all-state team by Tennessee Sportswriter’s Association following
senior season … rated 171st overall player according to Scout.com …
ranked the fifth-most agile offensive lineman and 15th-best
offensive guard by Rivals.com … named fifth–best prospect in
Tennessee in Rivals.com postseason prospect rankings by state … named third–best
player in Tennessee according to Superprep’s Tennessee 24 … named first-team all mid-state as
junior and senior by Nashville Tennessean … recorded 52 pancake blocks as junior at Brentwood Academy … led high
school team to Tennessee’s Division II Class AAA state championship game as senior
in 2008 … helped high school team capture the 2007 Division II Class AAA state
title as a junior with an 11-1 overall record … blocked for two running backs
who combined for 1,736 yards in 2007… father was an offensive lineman with the
Seattle Seahawks (1978-80) and at Jackson State … played for head coach Ralph
Potter at Brentwood Academy … born March 20, 1991 … full name is Alex Eugene
Bullard … son of Dorothy and Louis Bullard.
Calabrese (CAL-uh-breeze), Carlo, LB, 6-2, 225,
Verona, NJ (Verona) – Named to 2008
MaxPreps All-America second team … ranked 23rd among inside
linebackers and the fourth-best run stopper by Rivals.com … named 11th-best
prospect in the Rivals.com postseason New Jersey Top 30 … ranked 12th-best
inside linebacker by ESPN … selected to Superprep All-America
team as the 30th-best linebacker nationally … rated as sixth-best
player in New Jersey 35 by Superprep …
rated 234th-overall player and 14th-best middle
linebacker by Scout.com … named first-team all-state and New Jersey defensive
player of the year as a senior at Verona High school … named second-team
all-state, first-team all-group 1 and first-team all-Essex County as junior by Newark
Star-Ledger, to go along with Essex County
sophomore defensive player of the year … totaled 131 tackles and three sacks as
senior … played quarterback and receiver on offense, catching 27 passes for 488
yards and four touchdowns his senior year … led team to New Jersey state championship in 2008 … recorded
104 tackles including 34 tackles for a loss, six sacks, three forced fumbles
and two interceptions during junior campaign … rushed for 800 yards as starting
quarterbacks during junior season in 2007 … recorded 53 tackles, 2.5 sacks and
four fumble recoveries as sophomore in 2006 … named freshman defensive player
of the year by Star-Ledger after
tallying 50 solo tackles and three sacks in 2005 … played for head coach Lou
Racioppe at Verona High School … born Nov. 25, 1990 … son of Annie and Carlo
Calabrese.
Cowart (COW-ert), Jordan, LS, 6-2, 255,
Plantation, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas) – Ranked
as 66th overall “athlete” according to ESPN … strictly a long snapper in high school
at St. Thomas Aquinas High School … made 370 long snaps during four-year high
school career … member of 2007 and 2008 Florida Class 5A state championship
teams … Raiders finished their season ranked first nationally by USA Today and
ESPN Rise … high school teammate of fellow
Irish signee Ben Turk … hails from same high school as current Notre Dame
offensive linemen Sam Young and Dan Wenger … played for coach George F. Smith
at St. Thomas Aquinas … born July 19, 1991 … son of Jodi and Gary Cowart.
Eifert (EYE-fert),
Tyler, TE, 6-6, 220, Fort Wayne, IN (Bishop Dwenger) – Named to Indiana Class 4A first-team all-state team
as a defensive back in 2008 by Associated Press … named to Indiana Football
Coaches Association Top 50 All-State team as tight end as senior … placed on
all-Northeast Indiana first team by Fort Wayne Journal Gazette in
2008 … rated as 10th-best prospect in Indiana according to
Rivals.com’s postseason state rankings … rated as 12th-best tight
end in the country by ESPN …
ranked 24th-best tight end according to both Rivals.com and
Scout.com … recorded nine
touchdowns on offense and 97 tackles as well as five interceptions, returning
one for a TD on defense as a senior in 2008 … caught 33 passes for 586 yards
and four touchdowns as a junior … received honorable mention all-state
accolades as a junior in 2007 … tallied 40 tackles and three interceptions as a
defensive back during junior season … logged minutes at tight end, wide
receiver, linebacker and safety during senior season at Bishop Dwenger High
School … led team to perfect record entering Indiana 4A state championship game
in 2008 … Superprep named him 51st-best
overall player in Midwest … as junior his quarterback was current Irish wide
receiver John Goodman … played for head coach Chris Svarczkopf in high school … born Sept. 8, 1990 …
son of Greg and Julie Eifert.
Evans,
Shaquelle (Shuh-KEEL), WR, 6-1,
203, Inglewood, CA (Inglewood) – Selected
to play in U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio … ranked 41st-overall
player in ESPNU150 and fourth-best wide receiver … rated 44th-best
player nationally and the eighth-best wide receiver in the country by Sporting
News … dubbed the best playmaker in the west by Sporting News … named to the Western 100 following senior year by Tacoma
News Tribune … ranked as 20th-best
overall player according to SI/TAKKLE
Top 200 … rated 36th in the Offense-Defense Top 100 … rated 127th-overall
player according to Scout.com …
ranked 160th in Rivals250 … named 17th-best
overall prospect in California according to Rivals.com’s postseason state
rankings … ranked as one of top 100 high school football prospects according to
Tom Lemming of CBS College Sports … rated 39th in Athlon 2009 Consensus 100 … selected to Superprep All-America team as the ninth-rated wide receiver …
named to Superprep’s Far West
150, ranked as the seventh-overall player and best wide receiver in the area …
lauded as the top wide receiver and sixth overall player in California by Contra
Costa Times in 2009 class … named honorable
mention for 2009 Long Beach Post-Telegram’s Best in the West team … placed on all-state third
team by CalHiSports.com following senior season … earned tri-player of the year
award in Ocean League as senior … caught 51 passes for 810 yards and 11
touchdowns as senior following his junior campaign in which he caught 37 passes
for 700 yards and six TDs at Inglewood High School … participated in Hawaii Prep Football Classic, matching
all-star team from the U.S. mainland against all-star team from Hawaii, as a
member of the mainland team … played for head coach Charles Mincy at Inglewood
High School … born March 7, 1991 … son of Kelisha Wright.
Fox, Dan, LB,
6-4, 219, Rocky River, OH (St. Ignatius) – Rated
13th-best outside linebacker by Rivals.com and 15th-best
overall prospect in Ohio according to their postseason prospect state rankings
… ranked as fourth-best outside linebacker and best in pass coverage according
to OhioVarsity.com … named to Ohio All-Championship Team by Bill Greene and
Dave Berk, who rank the best players in Ohio during championship weekend … selected to Division I second-team
all-state squad by Associated Press … named third-team Division I-II all state
by OhioVarsity.com … ranked 76th-best player in Midwest by Superprep
… member of St. Ignatius High School state championship football team in 2008 …
the Wildcats finished the season ranked 12th nationally by USA Today … intercepted one pass in 2008 state title game …
recorded 76 tackles as junior, including nine tackles for loss and three
interceptions … former high school teammate of current Irish players Robby
Parris and John Ryan … played safety throughout prep career but is expected to
play linebacker at Notre Dame … played for head coach Chuck Kyle at St.
Ignatius … born March 17, 1991 … full name is Daniel Patrick Fox … son of
Kathleen and Michael Fox.
Golic, Jake,
TE, 6-4, 220, Avon, CT (Northwest Catholic) – Participated in 2009 U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio … named first-team all-state following
senior season by Hartford Courant … ranked 88th in
Offense-Defense Top 100 …
Rivals.com ranked him as sixth-best player in Connecticut’s postseason
rankings 2009 … named 10th-best
player in New England 12 by Superprep …
caught 43 passes for 613 yards and eight touchdowns as senior on offense at
Northwest Catholic High School … made 32 tackles and recorded a sack
defensively in 2008 … tallied 21 receptions for 410 yards and two TDs as a
junior in 2007 … brother Mike Jr. currently plays for Notre Dame … father,
Mike, and uncles Bob and Greg, all played for the Irish … played for head coach
Mike Tyler at Northwest Catholic High School … born Dec. 25, 1990 … full name
is Jacob Kenneth Golic … son of Mike Sr. and Chris Golic.
Martin, Zach,
OL, 6-5, 270, Indianapolis, IN (Bishop Chatard) – Selected to play in 2009 Under Armour All-American game in Orlando
… named to Best in Midwest team by
Detroit Free Press as the fifth-best player and second-best
offensive lineman (behind future classmate Chris Watt) in the Midwest … ranked
as 107th-best prospect in the SI/TAKKLE Top 200 … rated 110th
in ESPNU150 and 10th-best offensive tackle according to ESPN … named
to Indiana Football Coaches Association Top 50 All-State team as an offensive
lineman in senior year … selected
first-team all-state in 2008 by Indianapolis Star and Associated Press … also named to Indianapolis
Star’s 2008 Super Team … tallied 114
pancake blocks during senior campaign … first-team all-state selection as
senior and junior … named to Bloomington Herald Times Junior All-State team as sophomore … selected to Bloomington
Herald Times Top 33 team as junior and
senior … selected as Superprep
All-American and 20th-best offensive lineman … Superprep ranks him as 16th-best player in the
Midwest … ranked as second-best prospect in the Rivals.com Indiana postseason
rankings … member of Indiana Class 3A State Championship team as sophomore with
12-3 record … helped lead high
school team to 14-1 record and second consecutive Indiana Class 3A state
championship as junior in 2007 … started both ways as sophomore along offensive
and defensive lines … recorded 73 tackles including five tackles for loss as defensive
tackle during sophomore season in 2006 … father played football at Kentucky
… played for head coach Vince
Lorenzano at Bishop Chatard High School … born Nov. 20, 1990 … full name is
Zachary Edward Martin … son of Pam and Keith Martin.
Motta, Zeke,
LB, 6-2, 207, Vero Beach, FL (Vero Beach) – Participated
in 2009 U.S. Army All-American Game in San Antonio … selected to play in Hawaii
Football Prep Classic, featuring all-star team from the U.S. mainland against
all-star team from Hawaii … Rivals.com ranked him 54th in Rivals100
rankings … rated the eighth-best overall prospect in Florida according to
Rivals.com’s postseason prospect rankings by state … rated the 168th overall prospect in SI/TAKKLE
Top 200 … ranked 179th overall player according to Scout.com …
member of Florida Varsity Top 100 … named Class 6A first-team all-state in
Florida in 2007 and first-team academic all-state in 2008 for Florida Class 6A
football … named District 17 Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008 … named Superprep All-American as 25th-best linebacker
nationally … ranked 13th among Florida’s best players according to Superprep’s Florida 110 … selected to the Jacksonville
Times-Union’s Florida Super 75 squad …
tabbed the second-best outside linebacker in Florida by the Times-Union … named first-team Class 6A all-state as a senior …
tallied 137 tackles including eight tackles for a loss and three sacks during
senior campaign at Vero Beach High School… one of three early enrollees at
Notre Dame, joining E.J. Banks and Tyler Stockton … played for head coach Gary
Coggin at Vero Beach High School … born May 14, 1990 … full name is Ezekiel
Edward Motta … son of Bill Motta, who was the defensive coordinator at Vero
Beach High School.
Riddick,
Theo, RB, 5-10, 185, Manville, NJ (Immaculata) – Ranked 82nd in Offense-Defense Top 100 … member of
Rivals250, ranking 242nd overall … 241st overall player in country according to
Scout.com … named Superprep All-American, rating him as 23rd-best
running back nationally … Superprep
ranks him as seventh best player in New Jersey 35 … first-team all state
performer senior year at Immaculata High School … selected third-team all-state
running back during junior season by Newark Star-Ledger … Star-Ledger named him to first-team non-public school all-state squad after junior
season …named second-team all-state performer as defensive back during
sophomore campaign by Associated Press and Newark Star-Ledger … as junior carried 159 times for 1,192 yards and 13
touchdowns on offense and added 17 tackles on defense … tallied 1,352 yards and
23 TDs on 172 carries during sophomore season … added 13 catches for 157 yards
offensively and five interceptions as safety on defense in 2006 sophomore
season … ran for 217 yards in 2006 state championship game, leading his team to
victory and perfect 12-0 season … added three TDs and an interception in the
end zone with 57 seconds left to preserve victory in state championship …
rushed for 4,042 yards and 52 TDs during high school career … ranked second in
New Jersey preseason top 30 according to Rivals.com and fourth in its
postseason rankings … played for head coach Pierce Frauenheim at Immaculata
High School … born May 4, 1991 … son of Celeste Bell.
Stockton,
Tyler, DL, 6-1, 290, Linwood, NJ (Hun School) – Selected to play in 2009 U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio …
rated third-best defensive tackle in country by ESPN … ranked 17th
in SI/TAKKLE Top 200 …
ranked 32nd in ESPNU150 … rated as 121st overall player by Scout.com …
Rivals.com ranked him 192nd in its Rivals250 … ranked top player in
New Jersey in postseason state rankings according to Rivals.com … named to Superprep All-American team as 22nd-best overall
defensive lineman … rated second among New Jersey’s top 35 players according to
Superprep … named first-team
all-state by the Newark Star-Ledger as a junior at The Hun School … Trenton
Times named him all-area performer during
junior season in 2007 … earned Mid-Atlantic Conference defensive
player-of-the-year honors as junior … helped team to 9-0 record and recorded 68
tackles, 24 tackles for loss and nine sacks during junior campaign … one of three early enrollees at Notre
Dame in 2009, joining E.J. Banks and Zeke Motta … played for head coach Dave
Dudeck at The Hun School … born Feb. 11, 1990 … son of Naomi and Lyndon
Stockton.
Tausch (TOWSH), Nick, K, 6-1, 180, Plano, TX
(Jesuit) – Ranked as ninth-best kicker
nationally according to Rivals.com … connected on nine of 15 field goals during
senior season including made FGs of 51 and 53 yards… 22 of 41 kickoff attempts
resulted in touchbacks as senior … opposing teams averaged 16.0 on kickoff
returns in 2008 … participated in Hawaii Prep Classic, converting only field
goal attempt from 37 yards and averaging 47.2 yards on four punts … named to Dallas
Morning News Top 100 list for area players – the only kicker placed
on the list … also named first-team all-area by the Dallas Morning News … placed on third-team all-state following senior
year by the Texas Sports Writers Association … named to first-team all-district
squad as both punter and placekicker as senior … attended same high school as
former Irish star Omar Jenkins … father, Terry, played offensive line in the
NFL for eight years (Minnesota, 1982-88; San Francisco 1989) and was with the
49ers team that won Super Bowl XXIV … brother, Eric, is a 280-pound offensive
lineman who will sign with TCU on signing day … played for head coach Bob
Wunderlick at Jesuit Prep … full name is Nicholas Andrew Tausch … son of Ela
and Terry Tausch.
Te’o (TAY-ow), Manti (MAN-tie), LB, 6-2, 225, Laie, HI
(Punahou)- Selected to play in 2009 Under
Armour All-American game in Orlando … participated in Hawaii Prep Football
Classic, which featured an all-star team from U.S. mainland against an all-star
team from Hawaii … named 2008 High School Athlete of the Year by Sporting
News … selected as defensive player of the year by USA TODAY … became inaugural high school recipient of the
Butkus Award, given to the best linebacker in the country … two-time recipient
of Hawaii Gatorade Player-of-the-Year award in 2007 and 2008 … Sporting
News rated him the top defensive player in
the nation and second-best player in the country … rated second-best overall
prospect in the ESPNU150 and best linebacker according to ESPN … ranked fifth
nationally in SI/TAKKLE Top 200
for 2008 … rated third in 2009 Athlon Consensus 100 … ranked sixth nationally by Scout.com and its top
linebacker prospect … Rivals.com ranked him as 12th-best overall
player nationally and second-best inside linebacker … rated as the best player
in Hawaii according to Rivals.com’s postseason state rankings … listed seventh
nationally in Chicago Sun-Times
rating of top 100 players … Tom Lemming of CBS College Sports rated him as 12th-best
all around player in his Top 100 … named to Superprep Elite 50 squad as 12th-best overall
player and made Superprep
All-America team as second-best linebacker in the county … also named Superprep Farwest Defensive Player of the Year … named top
overall prospect in the Offense-Defense 100 … top vote-getter among defensive
players in Long Beach Press-Telegram’s 2009 Best in the West team … selected to Western 100 in 2008 by Tacoma
News Tribune … named to 2008 MaxPreps All-America first-team defense as a senior … named
2007 defensive player of the year and first-team all-state linebacker by Honolulu
Star-Bulletin … received first-team all-state and conference defensive player
of the year honors as junior and senior by Honolulu Advertiser … as sophomore named 2006 second-team all-state
linebacker by both Honolulu Advertiser and Honolulu Star-Bulletin as
well as first-team all-conference … registered
129 tackles, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles, three interceptions, one which he
returned for a touchdown and a blocked punt that he scored a touchdown on during
his senior campaign … helped Punahou High School team capture its first ever
state championship by racking up eight tackles, two sacks, three tackles for
loss, and a forced fumble in title game en route to 38-7 victory … recorded 90
tackles and five sacks as junior in 2007 … named an Eagle Scout in 2008 and
volunteers his time at Hawaii Special Olympics and Head Start Preschool program
… attends President Barack Obama’s alma mater … played for head coach Kale Ane
at Punahou School … born Jan. 26, 1991 … full name is Manti Malietau Louis Te’o
… son of Ottilia and Brian Te’o.
Turk, Ben, P,
6-0, 190, Davie, FL (St. Thomas Aquinas) – Scout.com
ranks him as the third-best punter nationally … rated the sixth-best kicker in
the country by Rivals.com … named first-team all-state for Class 5A following
senior year … selected to Florida Super 75 squad by Jacksonville Times-Union
and also tabbed the state’s top kicker by the Times-Union … named first-team all-Broward County following
senior season … averaged 41 yards per punt as a junior and 39 yards per punt
during his senior campaign at St. Thomas Aquinas … landed 14 of his 28 punts
inside the 20-yard line as a senior in 2008 … high school teammate of fellow
Irish signee Jordan Cowart … attends same high school as current Irish
offensive linemen Sam Young and Dan Wenger … nephew of current Houston Texans
punter Matt Turk … helped his high school to a 29-1 record as a junior and
senior and was a member of 2007 and 2008 Florida Class 5A state champions … the
Raiders finished the 2008 season ranked first nationally by USA Today
and ESPN Rise … played for head coach George Smith at St. Thomas
Aquinas High School … born June 5, 1990 … son of Kelly and Tony Turk.
Watt, Chris,
OL, 6-3, 280, Glen Ellyn, IL (Glenbard West) – Participated in 2009 U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio … named
to USA Today All-American team … placed on Parade All-America team following senior year … honored as
the top high school recruit in the Midwest in the Detroit Free Press’ Best in the Midwest rankings … named to Tom
Lemming’s 26-man All-America team … ranked 31st-best overall player
and top overall offensive guard according to Scout.com … considered 35th-best
player nationally and the fifth-best offensive lineman by Sporting
News … rated as 68th-best
overall prospect in the SI/TAKKLE
Top 200 … ranked as 67th-best overall prospect in country according
to Tom Lemming of CBS College Sports … Rivals.com ranks him as 77th-best
overall player and second-best offensive guard … selected first-team
All-American by MaxPreps in 2008
… ranked second in Illinois postseason Top 30 according to Rivals.com … named
to Superprep All-American team as
the third-best overall offensive lineman in the country … selected as an Elite
50 player, 40th overall, by Superprep … selected first-team all-state as senior by
Illinois High School Football Coaches Association, Chicago Tribune and Champaign News-Gazette … named
2008-09 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year … selected to Chicago
Sun-Times’ all-area team as a senior …
named special mention all-state as junior by Chicago Tribune and Champaign News-Gazette … Arlington Heights Daily Herald named Watt captain of 2008 all-area football team for DuPage County …
named West Suburban Silver Conference Most Valuable Player in 2008 … recorded
118 pancake blocks as a junior and 107 as a senior despite missing two games
due to an ankle sprain in 2008 … led Glenbard West High School to 12-1 record
in 2008 … played three different positions along offensive line and never surrendered
a sack … brother Kevin just completed his second season as a defensive end at
Northwestern … played for head coach Chad Hetlet at Glenbard West High School …
born Aug. 17, 1990 … son of Mary Pat and Rich Watt.
Wood, Cierre (See-AIR), RB, 6-0, 192, Oxnard, CA
(Santa Clara) – Selected to play in 2009
U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio … named to USA Today
All-American team … rated 10th-best overall player nationally and
second-best running back by Sporting News …
ranked 12th-best overall prospect and second-best running back in SI/TAKKLE Top 200 … rated 15th-best overall
player and third-best running back in Tom Lemming’s Top 100 football prospects
rankings … rated 17th-best player nationally by Chicago
Sun-Times … ranked 76th in
Rivals100 by Rivals.com and rated as the 8th-best running back
prospect in the country … rated as eighth-best overall prospect in California
according to Rivals.com’s postseason state rankings … ESPN ranks him as 25th-best
overall player in ESPNU150 … rated as 54th-best overall player
according to Scout.com … ranked 17th overall in the 2009 Athlon
Consensus 100 … was the only running back selected to 2009 Long Beach
Press-Telegram’s Best in the West first
team … named to Western 100 by Tacoma News Tribune in 2008 … named first-team all-state by
CalHiSports.com as a multi-purpose player following senior season … selected to
2008 all-Ventura County small schools football team … tabbed 2008 defensive
back of the year … co-offensive player of the year in Tri-Valley League as
senior … lauded as the top running
back and 12th-best player in California by Contra Costa
Times in 2009 class … named first-team
all-Ventura County as junior … named Division IV state player of the year by
Maxpreps.com … rated fourth in Offense-Defense Top 100 … selected Superprep All-American as the 14th-rated running
back … named to the Superprep Far
West 150 as 15th overall player and top pure running back in the
area … rushed for 1,632 yards and 20 touchdowns and caught eight passes for 182
yards and four TDs as senior following 2,612 yards rushing with 34 TDs during
junior year … posted 33 tackles,
two interceptions and two fumble recoveries in 2008 … led high school team to
first division title in 42 years as junior … also handled punting duties and
played cornerback, recording 63 tackles and two interceptions in 2007 … tallied
1,407 rushing yards with 17 TDs rushes as a sophomore, to go along with 585
receiving yards on 16 catches with seven additional scores … also returned four
kickoffs for TDs during high school career … named first-team all-area as
sophomore by Ventura County Star
… CalHiSports.com named him sophomore player of the year in 2006 … recorded 64
tackles on defense as sophomore … named second-team all state as junior in 2007
by CalHiSports.com … named offensive player of the year for CIF Southern
Section Mid-Valley division after junior season … as special teams player in
2007 he returned seven punts for 373 yards, had seven kickoff returns for 307
yards and also kicked off five times resulting in three touchbacks … tallied
2,480 all-purpose yards as sophomore and named receiver of the year in Frontier
League after averaging 37.2 yards per catch … played for head coach Fran
Fredette at Santa Clara High School … born Feb. 21, 1991 … full name is Cierre
Marcelle Wood … son of Valerie and Martine Robertson.