Recruiting Off to Great Start!
Frank Vitovitch
December 5, 1999

Notre Dame, Ind - As reported by Mike Frank, of Irish Report, Greg Pauly and Mike Goolsby committed to Notre Dame this weekend.  Both are great defensive prospects, Pauly on the defensive line and Goolsby at linebacker.  Both players have the ability to be difference makers, which is what Notre Dame needs.

Greg Pauly (6-5, 275, 4.8) is ranked as the #9 defensive tackle in the country by Rivals.com.  Pauly is a four year starter on both lines for South High School in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  Notre Dame was battling Michigan for his services but had lead for him for a good time now.  He announced last night that he intended to come to Notre Dame for his college career.  This season he had 19 sacks in 10 games.  His only other official visit was to Michigan on October 16 prior to his visit to Notre Dame this weekend for the banquet.

Mike Goolsby (6-3, 230, 4.55) is one of the Midwest's best prospects this year.  Notre Dame has been his big leader since before the summer, but he made it official last night.  Michigan State was his #2 school, but Notre Dame got the only visit and the verbal.  Goolsby, like Pauly is a difference maker on defense and will help strengthen the linebacking corps.  Last year, the only true linebacker ND signed was Justin Thomas, so getting a top of the line one so soon this season is a big help. 

Other than the two verbals, everyone else had a pretty good time at the banquet.  Some of the players that were there that Notre Dame makes to make a big push at are. Derron Parquet, Alex Hollis, Nate Curry, Michael Jenkins, and Alex Barron.

Parquet and Hollis are running backs with speed.  They can both fly and a prime time players.  They can bust the big run at any time which is what Notre Dame needs.  Parquet was leading the state in rushing for most of the season and has a great combination of speed and size.  At 6-0, 210 and his speed, he can run through someone and then burn everyone else away.  LSU is the big leader for him though so ND needs to make a push.  Hollis favors Texas, but Notre Dame can sneak in and possibly get him. The chances are remote, but its far from over.  It would take quite a coup, but its possible.  He wants to also run track in college, which doesn't help Notre Dame much, since they aren't know for great tack teams.

Michael Jenkins is a 6-5 wide receiver with 4.45 speed.   If Notre Dame could get him and Ronnie Rodamer to commit, I think everyone would be happy.  He would have an advantage over just about any corner back trying to cover him with his height, and he has the speed to separate himself from a defender.  He played a lot of running back his senior season, but will be a wide receiver.  Landing him and Rodamer would be great and give Notre Dame even more talent at wide receiver.   It would also give them something at wide receiver they will be missing with Bobby Brown leaving - height! 

Alex Barron is the probably one of the best offensive linemen looking at Notre Dame this season along with Paul Mociler so landing him would be very good.  Notre Dame does not need to get an entire line this year in recruiting so landing 2-3 top quality offensive linemen is the plan.  Barron is a little under sized compared to the offensive linemen Notre Dame has, but he has a lot of room to grow and improve.  His uncle went to Notre Dame in the 70's (Luther Bradley), and he attended the same high school as Deveron Harper.  Florida State is the only other competition, but its close.  I like Notre Dame to win this one.

Lastly, Nate Curry possesses SPEED!  He runs a 4.3 40 and can play multiple positions.  He is a smart kid and wants to go to a school with strong academics so Notre Dame has an edge there, but one of his other schools is Harvard.   Harvard? That's right, there are few times you see a player look at a school like Harvard with his talent, but that just shows you how important academics are, it also shows you this kid is very intelligent.  This again, is a battle I feel Notre Dame can win, but it won't be easy.