Adam Breneman and his father, Brian, made sure to get out and see as many schools as they could in 2011. Some of the Brenemans’ stops included Notre Dame, Penn State, Alabama, Rutgers, Virginia, Boston College, Maryland, and Pittsburgh among others.
Those miles are starting to pay off now for the nation’s top 2013 tight end from Cedar Cliff High School in Camp Hill, Pa.
“It has some benefit,” Breneman’s father said. “Since we were able to travel out to a bunch of schools, we have a baseline understanding of the universities, the facilities, the academics, so with the coaching changes, it’ll allow us just to focus on those changes because we’ve kind of taken care of everything else.”
Breneman is hitting the road again. He was at Penn State on Friday with a scheduled stop at Ohio State next weekend followed by trips to Notre Dame, North Carolina and probably Michigan next month with others surely to be added to the itinerary.
“I look at this period of time, now through the spring, to be able to really let us know what’s happening with the team; any new coaches, coaching changes, talk about how Adam would fit into their offense,” Brian said. “It’s good because we won’t have as much work to do, with the exception of Ohio State, which is new.”
While the Buckeyes and Urban Meyer are new, the only thing new about Penn State is head coach Bill O’Brien. The scandal at Happy Valley certainly rocked Breneman, who admittedly grew up a big Penn State fan, but the hiring of the former New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator is the first step to mending things.
“It was certainly shocking and disappointing,” Breneman said of the news that came out of Penn State in the fall. “It was a distraction not knowing where things were headed and I think now that there’s a new coach in place, Adam and other recruits can kind of zero in on what that means for Penn State. It’s nice to have that now in place.”
O’Brien’s track record of using tight ends like Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez in his offense is definitely a positive. At one point, that was a strength Notre Dame had over the Nittany Lions, but the Irish are still pushing hard.
Breneman could end up in South Bend for Notre Dame’s Junior Day on March 24th or he might get there just before in order to get some additional individual time with the coaches. He’s already seen the campus and the gameday atmosphere during his trips last summer and fall.
“We went out last June and we went out for the game, but we really didn’t sit down with the coaches during that gameday,” Breneman’s father said. “We’re just looking to reconnect with everybody and get kind of updated with their situation. I know Adam has been talking to the coaching staff a fair amount.”
The Irish have five coaches – Brian Kelly, Chuck Martin, Harry Hiestand, Scott Booker and Mike Denbrock – handling his recruitment.
Breneman isn’t quite ready to name a leader or even a list of favorites. Notre Dame would surely be on a list of favorites at this point, but it sounds like the Irish will need to make another big impression next month if they want to come out as the leader at some point.
TACO’S DAD TALKS: 2013 Ohio defensive end Taco Charlton wanted to see a game at Notre Dame Stadium anyway, but his father, Norman, was going to make sure he did. Eventually, Charlton and his father made it to South Bend for the Irish’s game against USC last October and they weren’t disappointed.
“We are very interested in Notre Dame; the tradition, the athletes, the academics, just everything about Notre Dame,” Charlton’s father said. “The campus was real nice. The game was exciting. We really liked what we saw.”
Notre Dame assistant Mike Elston made sure to reach Charlton on National Signing Day for the Class of 2012 earlier this month.
“It’s pretty big,” Norman said of hearing the Irish defensive line coach on signing day. “He’s a 2013 kid, so it was a pretty big deal with him. He’s already got great schools contacting him and for Coach Elston to reach out, that’s a pretty big thing.”
Charlton’s education will be the most important factor in his recruitment, according to his father.
“Notre Dame has a 99-percent graduation rate for student-athletes, that’s a very big thing,” he said. “As far as his position, what kind of defense they play, that’s very important too.”
Comfort will also be a factor and the presence of Charlton’s former high school teammate, current Irish freshman Eilar Hardy, in South Bend certainly won’t hurt the Irish.
“They’re pretty good friends,” Norman said. “Eilar is a couple of years ahead of him, so he’s kind of like a big brother to him, giving him advice about college and recruiting. He’s been pretty helpful.”
Charlton is continuing to pile up the offers. In addition to the offer from Notre Dame, he currently has offers to Cincinnati, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Syracuse and most recently Ole Miss, Arizona State and North Carolina.
Charlton hasn’t set up another visit to South Bend yet, but his father said they’re definitely going to make the trip again.
“I don’t know when because basketball season is going on right now,” he said. “He’s going to focus on that and when that ends, we’re going to start looking into colleges and taking unofficial visits.”
NOTRE DAME HARD TO IGNORE FOR FULWOOD’S MOM: Terri Fulwood admittedly doesn’t know much about the game of football, but it didn’t take long to understand the type of opportunities the game would afford her son, 2013 Florida wide receiver Ahmad Fulwood.
Fulwood already has one of the most impressive offer sheets in the Class of 2013 with offers from Notre Dame, Alabama, Ohio State, Florida, Miami, South Carolina, Tennessee, USC, Georgia, Clemson, Arkansas and Auburn among several others. Fulwood recently tweeted that Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Georgia and Ohio State were his top five, but that the Irish and Florida were also in there as well.
From what Fulwood’s mother understands, Notre Dame is a school her son needs to look at.
“I hear they have an excellent alumni base,” she said. “I hear that once you go there to visit, you don’t want to go to any other school because it’s impressive and beautiful. That’s what I’ve heard.”
Terri is hopeful her and her son will have the chance to see it for themselves soon.
“Hopefully sometime this year,” she said. “I’d love to go up to Notre Dame and check it out.”
Terri said education will definitely be first when it comes to her son’s decision with football coming in next. She’ll let Ahmad evaluate the football programs, but would like to meet the men in charge of those programs.
“I really can’t talk football because I really don’t know the game, but I guess I’d like to meet the coaching staff and see what their philosophy is,” she said. “I’d like to see the graduation rate; I’m definitely going to see that. And I guess what their needs are. I assume they have needs for a receiver, that’s why they’re recruiting him.”
Just about every program in the country has a need for a player like Fulwood.
SECOND JUNIOR DAY CONFIRMED: Notre Dame’s Junior Day on March 24th has been on the books for a while now, but confirmation of a second, early Junior Day came out late this week. Ohio offensive lineman Evan Lisle and Kentucky offensive lineman Hunter Bivin both told ISD on Friday that they’ll be in South Bend for an Irish Junior Day on March 3rd.
Newly offered Pennsylvania linebacker/running back Alex Anzalone also said he was told he could attend either Junior Day and hopes to do be at one.
Notre Dame also hosted a pair of underclassmen on unofficial visits this week. You read about 2013 Illinois offensive lineman Kyle Bosch’s trip here and 2014 Virginia linebacker Greer Martini’s visit here.
VISITING ELSEWHERE: Meanwhile junior days are being held all across the country this weekend.
Adam Breneman made it to Penn State a day earlier than most prospects, but today, the Nittany Lions will be hosting Alex Anzalone along with Pennsylvania receiver Robert Foster, Pennsylvania running back David Williams, New Jersey linebacker Garrett Sickels, New Jersey athlete Rashad Kinlaw, Pennsylvania quarterback Damion Terry and West Virginia athlete Ryan Switzer.
On the other coast, Cal will be holding its Junior Day, which will include four California prospects –wide receiver Steven Mitchell, offensive lineman Aaron Cochran, defensive back L.J. Moore and defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes – who recently received Notre Dame offers. Other prospects with Notre Dame offers expected to attend include California linebacker Michael Hutchings and California safety Max Redfield.
Ahmad Fulwood and Mississippi safety Antonio Conner, who also recently grabbed an offer from Notre Dame, will be at Alabama’s Junior Day. Illinois offensive lineman Colin McGovern is still waiting on his Irish offer and will be at Nebraska this weekend. Florida defensive lineman Jaynard Bostwick will be at Miami while Maryland cornerback Kendall Fuller will be at Virginia Tech.
TWEET OF THE WEEK: Hunter Bivin’s visit to Vanderbilt last weekend was preceded by a couple interesting tweets from Vanderbilt OL coach Herb Hand.
“@CoachHand: We are on the HUNT today for big game…When I say big I mean BIG. I’m a HUNTER for BIG ‘UNS. Won’t take ‘No’ for an answer. #ANCHORDOWN”
“@CoachHand: My mission from Coach Franklin is to find the best Offensive Tackle in the country for 2013. Today I’m the Hunter – Who is the Hunted?“
With three new coaches on the staff, there is certainly going to be some shakeup for Notre Dame on the recruiting trail.
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