Notre Dame Football Recruiting: Signing Day Predictions for the Class of 2013
By Andrew Hall
About 19 hours (or less depending on when you read this), high school recruits will begin to sign their ‘Letters of Intent’, making it official that they will be playing for that team at least for the next year. Predicting what can happen is usually more difficult than even flipping a coin. At least with the coin, there is a 50-50 shot. In recruiting, there are multiple schools and a lot of different moving parts. Here are the final Slap the Sign predictions for the Class of 2013.
Eddie Vanderdoes — DL — Placer, CA (Placer)
Finalists: Alabama, Notre Dame, UCLA, USC and Washington
The consensus among people attempting to predict this recruitment seem to believe that UCLA will land the 5-star Defensive Linemen tomorrow during his announcement on MaxPreps.com. This is what Slap The Sign originally predicted during its first round of predictions. Washington appears to be the outlier here. It is probably reasonable to believe that they do not have a realistic chance. Do the Irish and Tide have a shot? Unclear. The relationships that they have with Vanderdoes are probably not as extensive as the ones with UCLA or USC. The Bruins and Trojans are the local schools. He was originally committed to the Trojans and de-committed in late December. It seems like there is a reason why he did not want to go there. Nothing has changed at USC. Publicly, they actually have taken more black eyes about how Lane Kiffin handled the locker room. UCLA is on the rise and is an excellent local school. It seems like an easy choice for Vanderdoes. But, Irish fans should believe that they do have a really good shot at landing him tomorrow because this is very close.
Prediction: UCLA Bruins
Kylie Fitts — DE — Redlands, CA (East Valley)
Finalists: Notre Dame, UCLA, USC, Utah
Kylie Fitts was in supposed to enroll early at USC when the Trojans declined to allow him to do so. This caused Fitts to open up his recruitment. He most recently took visits to Notre Dame, UCLA and Utah. All teams did well to land his signature. Fitts actually adjusted his announcement time from National Signing Day to tonight at 7:00 p.m. PT. After what Kiffin and his staff did to Fitts, it seems unlikely that he would select the Trojans as his final choice. Notre Dame did an excellent job to convince Fitts to come to South Bend. But, the distance might be an issue for the Fighting Irish. Utah also seemed to do well but just does not seem like the destination for a recruit of this caliber. Therefore, Fitts with lineup with Vanderdoes in 2013 as Notre Dame strikes out on National Signing Day.
Prediction: UCLA Bruins
Tarean Folston — RB — Cocoa, FL (Cocoa)
Folston has told Notre Dame that he will sign with the Fighting Irish on Wednesday. It would be easy to take him at his word. But, we all know what happens when you do that with recruiting. Folston is really important for Notre Dame. There is not smoke that Tarean Folston will head to Auburn but there is a possibility that it will happen. Notre Dame should land Folston on Wednesday.
Prediction: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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