With less than two months until National Signing Day, it is
almost time for the Notre Dame coaching staff to shift their recruiting focus
from the 2013 to the 2014 class. One player who has consistently been hearing from the Irish staff is OLB Greg MicLisse from Bayside High School in Palm Bay, Florida. According to the 6’1” 233 lb. junior prospect, he finished this season with 66 tackles, 9 sacks, 18 TFL, 3 FF, and 1 FR. Now that his season has come to a close, he can begin focusing on his recruitment more. When asked about how often he talks to Notre Dame he was quick to say “ALL the time...I talk to Coach Alford almost every day. Notre Dame loves me.” Though he has yet to receive an offer from the Irish, Coach Alford has told him “to be
patient and it will come to him”. With Notre Dame expected to take a significantly smaller class for the 2014 class (somewhere around 15), MicLisse and others in the 2014 class may have to wait longer to allow the coaching staff the needed amount of evaluation time before they can expect an offer. However, it seems like Notre Dame does have a
significant amount of interest here.
[caption id="attachment_363" align="alignright" width="211" caption="Could MicLisse end up a Domer in the future? "]
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One of the big factors that could help assist the Irish coaching staff’s pursuit of MicLisse will be his familiarity with some current Notre Dame recruits, and a great relationship he’s built with one of them. “I know Jaylon Smith, Alex Anzalone, Greg Bryant and more, but I talk to Alex the most he’s like a brother to me. He’s hosting me on my visit.” He went on further to say that Notre Dame will be his “first visit” when he does decide to start putting some visits together (expected to be sometime in the spring). For those of you who have followed Notre Dame’s 2013 recruiting class, you should know that Jaylon Smith has been an AVID recruiter for Notre Dame, so his relationship with MicLisse could be important for the Irish, especially because they would be lining up next to each other for years to come.
After my short conversation with Mr. MicLisse, it wasn’t hard to understand why Notre Dame is strongly involved with this kid. On top of being one of the better linebackers
in the state of Florida, he’s a very humble individual and certainly fits the “RKG” (Right Kinda Guy) mold that Brian Kelly looks for in the student-athletes that he recruits. Of course, it helps that MicLisse “grew up an ND fan” and when asked if Notre Dame would be his leader if they offered stated “No doubt!!” and “my dream will come true!” However, we all know recruiting is a very fluid process and emotions can change at the flip of a switch. But, right now Notre Dame seems to be sitting in a pretty good position here.
MicLisse also plans to be watching the Irish take on Alabama for
the National Championship in Miami on January 7th. While many people are considering the Irish to be large underdogs in the title game, the Florida native was quick to make
the bold prediction “21-0 Notre Dame”, citing the defense as being “too good”
and what would ultimately carry the Irish to their first crystal ball since 1988.
Every coach, school and fan base obviously loves when great players choose to attend their schools. At Notre Dame you expect to see great athletes with great character. We want to see athletes who take pride in wearing those Blue and Gold jersey’s on Saturday’s. Should Notre Dame offer this young man that is exactly what they would be receiving. Whether Greg MicLisse chooses to make South Bend his home in the future or not, I will be rooting for him because he truly is the “Right Kinda Guy” that Brian Kelly and Irish fans everywhere love to see represent the University of Notre Dame.
-Show Greg some love #IrishNation on Twitter @Gblack_DidDat3
-Greg MicLisse highlights: http://www.hudl.com/athlete/912812/#highlights/27439373
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