Notre Dame Football: Dax Hollifield Talks Top 9 And ND With Sinclair

Dax Hollifield has cut his list down to 9 schools.

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Dax Hollifield has been getting a massive amount of attention since he released his junior year highlight film. He was a fantastic linebacker going into his junior season but showed significant improvement last year which sparked interest from many Power 5 schools.

I had spoken to Dax a few weeks ago before he had cut down his list.

He was feeling a little overwhelmed with the amount of phone calls and texts he was receiving from coaches of programs on his list of 17 offers which includes Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame, Florida State, Ohio State, Stanford and more.

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I asked Dax Hollifield why he decided to cut down his list to 9 this week.

Here’s what he told me.

“The reason I decided to make one now is it seemed like every day that I keep going, it gets harder and harder to decide where I want to go to school, so I want to try to narrow it down a little bit more, bit by bit to help me know a little bit better, where I might go.

“It was getting really hard. It was time for me to cut it down.”

I then asked Dax if the amount of attention he was getting was beginning to be too much and if that was why he decided to make the list.

“It was but it wasn’t. The teams that are on there are the teams that are most in contact with me. They’re also the teams that I feel I fit in best. The schools I like the atmosphere the most. The teams I feel I can see myself playing at the most.”

“For a while, I had a top three that was UNC, South Carolina and Virgina Tech. They had to stop. They were texting me everyday.”

Last time we had spoken, Dax had told me that him and his father had probably visited the most schools on unofficial visits than any other recruit in the country.

This sparked my next question.

I asked him how many of the schools on his list he had been to.

“I’ve been to all of them except for Stanford, LSU and Florida State.”

Dax then told me which schools have been contacting him the most from his top 9 list.

“There’s 2-3 that text me everyday. LSU is talking to me a lot right now. I’m talking to like 3-4 coaches right now. They’re always texting me and stuff like that. They’re always in contact with me.”

“Notre Dame too. Coach Elko and Coach Lea, are always texting me and stuff like that. Those coaches I mentioned are the ones who talk to me the most.”

“Stanford talks to me a little bit but not as much as the others.”

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I then asked Dax what his overall thoughts were on Notre Dame.

“I love it. I love it up there. I went there last year for the Navy game. It was awesome. I loved the atmosphere. They were playing Navy and I know it’s a historic game but it was big time! It was like they were playing Alabama or something like that. It was insane.”

“I just love it how the fans love football up there. I love the way they play. I love the coaching staff. They’re great. I really know some of the coaches there.”

“Coach Elko and Coach Lea. I know them from when they were at Wake Forest and I’m really excited about them. I think they’re going to do even better at Notre Dame with that talent that they’re going to get.”

Dax spoke to me about how he feels about Notre Dame’s impressive start to the ’18 recruiting class.

“They’re balling right now. They have some great players. I know a few of them. Markese Stepp is trying to recruit me really hard. I think he’s the best recruiter from Notre Dame, no offense to the staff but he’s awesome. He’s always texting me. He’s awesome.”

Dax has been playing basketball, which his father coaches, and training very hard. He explained his progress.

“I feel I’m the fastest I’ve ever been in my life. I feel I’m the best shape I’ve ever been in in my life.”

“My shoulders are a little messed up right now from football and haven’t healed because of basketball but I think this spring I will settle down and run some track and not beat them down so much like I do playing basketball so I think I’ll be good.”

“My lower body, I’m feeling good. I’m squatting about 455. I’m hang cleaning 315. I’m power cleaning 295 and I feel awesome right now.”

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Dax then explained to me what his plans are for his recruitment going forward.

“I want to try to visit all of them this spring and summer and try to cut it down to five – the ones I want to take my official visits to. I’ll probably go from there, then decide. That’s how I’ll probably do it.”

Must Read: Top 10 Recruit Wish List For The '18 Class

In my opinion, Dax Hollifield is not only the best linebacker, he’s one of the best football players, period, in country from the ’18 class, and a mature kid with a solid, positive attitude.

Wherever he ends up, he’ll be a dynamic addition to the school’s football program and university as a whole.

Let’s hope it’s Notre Dame.

Staff will continue to work hard on this one.