How's It Going?: Quarterbacks
Frank Vitovitch
January 3, 2000

Notre Dame, Ind - The soothsayers were out in numbers in late November and early December saying Notre Dame was going to have a huge down year in recruiting.  On my! Notre Dame's only got one verbal and its the end of November all ready.  Penn State has 20+ and Notre Dame has one!! Its all over!!  Well, these people have been quieted and quieted fast.

Notre Dame's academic standards are too high, the weather is too cold, Notre Dame did too bad in 99, the NCAA thing will scare recruits away were all common reasons given for why Notre Dame wouldn't have a top notch class this season.  But guess what?  It's the beginning of January and the verbal list is up to 9 with 6 players being on Lemming's Top 100 list - not too shabby.  Now we'll take a look at how Notre Dame is doing at quarterback.  We will follow this up with articles on each position.

In are Matt Lovecchio and Jared Clark - two top 10 quarterbacks on Tom Lemmings list.  Lovecchio has mobility, but is known more for his as a passer.  He played for high powered Bergan Catholic.  Bergan did not pass the ball too much and relied on the power running attack so his numbers were not flashy enough to be first team all state in New Jersey, but Lovecchio has got tons of talent.  Clark is more used to running the option from playing at Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, Florida.   He is another top notch talent and regarded by many as the best QB coming out of Florida this season.

Lovecchio committed to Notre Dame way back in the summer and avoided all the recruiting process.   He camped at Notre Dame, and the coaches liked what they saw so they offered Lovecchio on the spot.  Shortly after he decided that Notre Dame was the place for him.  As a junior he was second team all state behind only Chris Simms who was the #1 rated QB coming out of high school last season.  He was second team again this year as well because he did not throw the ball as much this year as last.  He did lead his team to a national ranking however in his senior season.  He visited Notre Dame on December 10 and reaffirmed his commitment to the Irish.

Clark   also camped with Notre Dame and also impressed the coaching staff enough to get an scholarship offer at the camp.  He visited for the banquet weekend and listed Notre Dame as his favorite from that point to the time he committed after his December 17 visit to Miami.  Georgia was the main competition for Jared's services, but in the end the Irish came out on top.  Jared is more accustomed to running the option than Lovecchio and has good speed for a QB at 4.6 in the 40.  He has pocket passer skills with option style abilities. 

Notre Dame still plans on getting one more quarterback this year.  The most likely candidate at QB is Carlyle Holiday.   Holiday is a true option style quarterback and may have the most room to grow of the QB's.  He lists Notre Dame as his leader.  He will make his last official visit to Nebraska on January 14, and then he will make his choice.  He visited Notre Dame for the Banquet weekend and visited his third finalist, Texas A&M, on December 17.  Holiday is more like Arnaz Battle than Jarious Jackson.  Jackson was huge and able to run over just about anyone while Battle and Holiday are both faster QB's who can run the option well.  Notre Dame's chances here are very good and it would come as no surprise to anyone if he would come to Notre Dame.

Brandon Sumner is another quarterback who has Notre Dame high on his list.  He won't be visiting Notre Dame until late January however, and by that time Carlyle Holiday will have long since decided where he wants to go.  If Holiday picks Nebraska, Notre Dame's chances at getting Brandon are very good, but if Holiday picks ND there is virtually no way Sumner would pick the Irish since Holiday would be the third QB.  Georgia Tech is also near the top of his list.  He was scheduled for a visit to Notre Dame on December 3 for the banquet but was unable to attend due to the playoffs.  His coach is friends with both Bob Chimel and Greg Mattison so as long as there is room left Notre Dame is in good on Brandon.

Up until recently, Aaron Alston has Notre Dame as his co-leader, but over the New Year's holiday he committed to his other co-leader, North Carolina.  He is another highly rated quarterback who was interested in Notre Dame.   Once Jared Clark committed to Notre Dame and once Carlyle Holiday said that Notre Dame was his leader, Alston seemed to lose interest in Notre Dame.  He is a a good running quarterback, totaling over 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing as a senior to go along with his 1,700 passing yards and 17 touchdowns.

Abram Elam is a very versatile and athletic prospect who Notre Dame is recruiting as a quarterback/athlete.  He is listed as the #12 defensive back in the country by Tom Lemming.  He runs a 4.6 40 and has decent size as 6-1 and 200 lbs.  Michigan State is his other leader along with Notre Dame.  He visited Notre Dame for the banquet weekend and really enjoyed his trip.  Notre Dame may hold the lead here and it appears very likely he could be wearing Blue and Gold next season.

Quarterback was a major concern for this year's recruiting.  Last year CJ Leak left Notre Dame high and dry on signing day when he signed with Wake Forest after telling everyone that ND was the clear cut leader for him from early January on.  Notre Dame only has one scholarship quarterback for next season, Arnaz Battle.  Eric Chappell would have been eligible for a 5th year had he been dismissed from the team earlier this season.  Notre Dame has said that they want to sign three quarterbacks in this class.  Many people argue that signing three is pointless since one is sure to transfer.  However, all the quarterbacks that Notre Dame has recruited are all athletic enough that if the opportunity present itself they could play a different position.  Jared Clark told Smitty of Irish Report that he is not against playing linebacker in college.  All three will start off as quarterbacks though, what happens from there is up in the air.