Tariq Bracy Commitment Adds to Notre Dame’s DB Haul
The Notre Dame recruiting class of 2018 picked up another member late Sunday when Tariq Bracy became the 18th commitment in the class for the Fighting Irish. Bracy had long had Notre Dame as his favorite and finally pulled the trigger over the weekend. The commitment gives Notre Dame some well timed momentum after the Irish lost two commitments last week.
Notre Dame had to restock its secondary with the recruiting class of 2018. After adding Bracy – a 4-star CB according to 247Sports – the Irish have now secured commitments from four defensive backs. Bracy joins Derrik Allen – the crown jewel of the defensive class – as the only 4-star prospects in the secondary to this point.
Tariq Bracy is an All Purpose Weapon
Bracy is a versatile athlete who has also played extensively on offense. As a senior he ran for 1,280 yards and 17 touchdowns. This past weekend though, Bracy’s offensive skills were on display more than ever. In the state semifinals, Bracy ripped off 311 yards on 36 carries with four touchdowns to lead Milpitas to the state final.
AS a junior Bracy was used all over the field. He racked up 1,177 yards rushing to go with 11 touchdowns while also hauling in 52 passes for 1,036 yards and another 13 touchdowns. For his career, Bracy has scored 67 touchdowns – 41 rushing, 19 receiving, 4 defensive (3 INTs, 1 fumble), and 3 returns (2 punt, 1 kick).
That kind of versatility will likely lead to many comparisons to Keivarae Russell who also was an all purpose offensive player and defensive back in high school. Rivals and 247Sports both have Bracy designated as an “athlete” given his all around skillset.
Notre Dame, however, has recruited Bracy for the defensive side of the ball where he is the second cornerback in the class along with Joe Wilkins. Over the course of his career he intercepted 14 passes including three this season as a senior all of which he returned for touchdowns. Prior to committing to Notre Dame Bracy held offers from Utah, Boise State, Washington State, and Cal.
Notre Dame Not Done at Corner
Even with Bracy on board, look for Notre Dame to continue to aggressively recruit Houston Griffith, Kyler Gordon, and Noah Boykin. All three corners are 4-star prospects and it’s hard to imagine any scenario in which Notre Dame wouldn’t accept a commitment from two of them if two of the remaining three wanted to jump on board. As of now, things look very good for Notre Dame with all three too – especially Griffith and Gordon whom Notre Dame is believed to be leading for.
Griffith was committed to Florida State up until recently when he decommitted around the same time Jimbo Fisher left for Texas A&M. Notre Dame was considered the favorite for Griffith back in the spring before he cooled on the Irish. With Notre Dame’s bounce back season though, things look very good for the Irish here. Griffith is an early enrollee so we should know soon if he’ll be joining Bracy in the secondary.
Gordon meanwhile visited Notre Dame for a second time this past weekend and the visit reportedly went very well. Things look pretty good for the Irish here as well.
Should Notre Dame close out this class with six defensive backs including any of the two remaining corners, Notre Dame will have filled out this class very well. Landing that many defensive backs could allow for from shuffling of the secondary as well. Julian Love played some safety this year and could move there full time if Notre Dame has an influx of corners – especially if one of them is an early enrollee like Griffith.
Tariq Bracy Junior Highlights
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
SFR , sorry if I went off on tangent, but if it relates to politics I would make Durankos long posts look like shorties. You see, I love, bleed politics, where else can one go and shoot off ones mouth without any money and get a paying job. Do some research , in some faithful fans eyes , BK long ago was associated with philanderer Gary Harts campaign.
MTA, still bitter? Move to Alabama to relieve your pain.
Add Houston Griffith to the fold. With Gilman, Allen and Love, the future of the DBs is looking brighter.
Let’s not forget ” Magic the Gathering” . When are some of ya’ll gonna learn, ” it’s all about Winning” or is that Un- American. Lucky We have citizens/vets like Roy Moore step forward to defend this Country.
Roy Moore may be a Senator but he violates both women’s rights to be let alone and Christ’s clear, unequivocal incontrovertible teachings about separation of church and state. If your brand of vodka is to sell Christ down the river and muddle His clear line of separation between church and state, then sell on.
I am a vet, and a decorated one. That does not give me the right to prey on people’s daughters.
Now meanwhile, about those defensive backs……
Fortunately, in Alabama, if you lose by a few votes or three million, unlike the presidency, you still lose.
GK,
Please tell me that was a “Ron Burgundy” attempt at humor?!
Look, “Duranko” and I have disagreed on a lot. But Amen to him and for his response below! Well said, sir!
Brian Driskell, who can be tedious, finds a lot of similarities between Tariq Bracy and KeiVarae Russell.
Interesting.
Let’s put the “O” back in Shea’s name as a nice present when He visits in the fall.
SFR, How about SKOL vs. Steeltown in Lll. Can’t wait to see Rudy and Tuitt bang heads, and Harry sack Big Ben. Positive Pete a takeoff from Pioneer Pete mascot for Pioneer Chicken long ago.
GK: Being positive is a way of life for me. There are so many benefits in life to being positive. I live to this mantra. That is why people call me Positive Pete. This a great article on the very subject:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/positive-thinking/art-20043950
Negativity gets people nowhere in life and leads to this ??? I am always shocked ? when fans are disappointed with a 9 and 3 season. For goodness sake, my ND Brethren we won 9 games and won them in dominant fashion ???. As Michael Jackson says “We should burn this Disco down!!!!” and celebrate!!!!!! Go Irish!!!
And I would like to reach out to Steel Fan Rob. You seem like a very nice man but you seem to be a little tense lately. Have you tried YOGA???? It is a game changer!!!! One session and you will be hooked ???. You are welcome my friend!!!!
9-3 with yoga, 13-0 with pumping iron and pushing sleds.
“Positive Pete” I’m a Christian and don’t partake of pagan practices.
Perhaps you’re an idol worshiper as well.
Apparently in your religion you don’t distinguish between reality and superstition. Your faux fanaticism is merely superstition.
But then again what should we expect from a fictional character who espouses pagan practices and idolatry.
Sorry if I offend your superstitious paganism, “Positive Pete,” by wishing Christians on this site a Blessed Advent.
Now let’s see how many “Catholics” on here give me “dislikes” for defending the faith against “Positive Pete’s” superstition and paganism, to definitively prove how bogus this click bait in fact is!
BTW, “Positive Pete”:
Let me tell you what’s a game changer, Jesus Christ.
Perhaps instead of yoga you might like to try “Lectio Divina” or praying the Rosary. Have you tried Christian prayer?
One session of devotional prayer, praying the Hours or the Rosary and you will be hooked (no emojis needed when referring to the gospel of Jesus Christ).
You’re welcome my friend!
Keep the “dislikes” of Jesus Christ coming “Catholics”!
Keep the “likes” of whatever BS “Positive Pete” says. “Pete” could write “Satan is Lord” followed by an emoji and a few idiots (probably “Pete” himself or whomever) would click “like”.
If any of you out there needed proof of the click-bait idiocy of this new feature, of this increasingly commercially compromised site, here it is!
Never believed I’d see the day pro-Jesus comments would receive a “dislike” on this site.
C-Dog is spot on. This site sold out a long time ago! “Positive Pete” (complete with his ridiculous emojis) is proof positive of that!
Well I find the emojis fun, and isn’t that what this is about, after all?
Now, some say that a picture is worth a thousand words. Not sure I believe that. But if so, what’s an emoji worth?
Positive Pete, not for nothin’
Roy Moore claims he is a devout Christian
Roy Moore claims he is not a racist
Roy Moore claims that all those women and other opponents merely lie about him
you do the math, my friend, either with or without emojis!
.
GK,
Until the Stillers figure out how to beat the Pats, they won’t make it to the SB.
Much like Canes own the Irish in Miami, so do the Fins own the Pats in S. FL. So I put no stock in the Dolphins’ beatdown of the Patriots.
The Stillers need to take care of their own business. Until then, I’m not holding my breath. Mike “Dumblin” vs. Bill B. was, is, and always will be a huge coaching mismatch.
I mean, how good are Bill B. and Tom B. They won several SBs with “Fat” Charlie Weis as their OC!
Has Mike Tomlin won as many Super Bowls as Bill Cowher?
How do their total records compare?.
Is there a strategic or tactical problem with Mike Tomlin, or is it something much more vile, prejudicial and Unchristian that really sticks in your craw? Nahh, it couldn’t be, could it?.
Man, I wonder what your colleagues where you work would think of your repeated attacks on Tomlin and his intellectual prowes.. I just wonder…………….
There are lies, damnable lies, then there is “Duranko’s” use of statistics.
What I don’t like about Tomlin is his inability to beat the Pats. I also don’t like his regular habit of losing to bad teams. Check out his record against sub-500 teams.
As for your un-Christian insinuation, typical of you, “Duranko,” hypocrite, let me say that I have always been and will always be a huge fan of Tony Dungy.
Mike Tomlin inherited a SB-caliber team from Bill Cowher. Cowher inherited a very average team from Chuck Noll.
Let me put this into perspective for you, “Duranko.” Bill Cowher inherited Bubby Brister as his starting QB. Tomlin inherited Big Ben in his prime. See the difference, oh ye of little wit?!
BTW: Tomlin also inherited a SB-caliber D, coached by the legendary Dick LeBeau.
I’d suggest you stick to what little it is you claim know, and leave it to real men to talk about football.
One more thing, “Duranko,” do you disagree that Bill Belichick is a better coach than Mike Tomlin?
Since SB wins seems to be your stat of choice how do they rank?
Mike Tomlin didn’t have the CV to be a HC in the NFL. He was a DC for all of one year. Compare his CV with Bill Cowher’s. Don’t even bother comparing his resume with Chuck Noll’s before he got his gig with the Stillers.
Now, that’s not racist, as you so gratuitously suggest, it’s a fact that Tomlin didn’t have the credentials compared to the previous two Stillers’ HCs.
Like I said, Tomlin backed into a sweet position, inheriting a SB-caliber team, with a first-ballot HOF QB in his prime.
Don’t talk about what you don’t know and please don’t cast aspersions in ignorance. Stop bearing false witness and go confess your hypocritical wretchedness!
“Duranko”: Perhaps you should take up yoga, Tarot card readings, seances, and playing Dungeons and Dragons with “Positive Pete.”
Looks good on offense. We need help on punt return.
They don’t need help on returners, they need players that can block.
Very good point David!!! They tried darn hard to block but came up a little empty ?. It was by no means Mr Finke’s fault. He had defenders all over him like flies on poo poo by the time he caught the ball. Teaching better blocking techniques is the answer. We can correct this in 2018!!!!! We made strides in the offensive and defensive areas in 2017. Now it is time for Special Teams to become our EXTRA SPECIAL TEAMS in 2018!!!!! GO IRISH!!!!
T. Bracy is Houston Griffith! That’s the DB this class needs to go along with a bunch of projects at CB.
Meant to say “isn’t,” of course.
I am ? that you are disappointed by this signing. I think this kid is going to be an under the radar
signing for ND. He is just what the ? ordered!!!! We need speedy recruits in the secondary. And as Frank says, we are not done in this department!!! No sir and I don’t mean MAYBE!!!! We are going to land some BIG Time recruits in a few days!!!!! GO IRISH!!!
“Positive Pete” I’m more disappointed in your clownish use of infantile emojis. Perhaps you should strive for adult discourse.
But I know that’s not why your character was invented on this site. I appreciate your playing your role of site jester for those on here who can’t stand a little criticism.
I wonder if you and “David” aren’t in fact the same person, created for the “entertainment” (certainly not enlightenment) of the uber gullible on here.
For those who “dislike” reality, Houston Griffith is a much better prospect than Bracy.
But you not-so-lovable losers keep on with your pathetic “likes” and “dislikes”. I guess some of you need to feel like your votes count for something.
Nothing like anonymous internet cowards flexing their fake muscles!
Glad to hear we’re stockpiling. Little worried Tariq wasn’t on Cardinal or Trojan want list. Maybe they are already knee deep.