Road notes: Intel on Notre Dame 2024 four-star OL target Styles Prescod’s recruitment

The Midwest is almost always a fertile recruiting ground for the Notre Dame football program. And this recruiting cycle is no exception. 

In the 2024 class,  Notre Dame has offered 31 prospects across Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin. And so far, it has secured four pledges from the region, which accounts for half of the recruiting class. 

Saline (Mich.) quarterback CJ Carr, Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller cornerback Karson Hobbs, Hannibal (Mo.) running back Aneyas Williams and Glen Ellyn (Ill.) Glenbard West wide receiver Cam Williams have helped start the class. Now, the Irish are looking to the other 27 recruits to help complete it. 

On Wednesday and Thursday, Blue & Gold hit the recruiting trail to see three of those recruits: offensive lineman Styles Prescod and wide receivers Jeremiah McClellan and Ryan Wingo. We will have complete reports from those targets in the coming weeks. But until then, here’s what Blue & Gold learned about each of their recruitments. 

First up in this edition of road notes is Prescod. 

The On3 Industry Ranking — a proprietary algorithm that compiles ratings and rankings from all four primary recruiting media services — evaluates Prescod as the No. 574 overall player, No. 38 interior offensive lineman and No. 6 player in Indiana.

In On3’s rankings, Prescod is the No. 215 overall player, No. 9 interior offensive lineman and No. 2 player in Indiana. 

The latest on four-star interior offensive lineman Styles Prescod

The  6-foot-5 ½, 270-pound Prescod’s recruitment has blown up with scholarship offers from 20 Power Five programs. Notre Dame hosted the Hamilton (Ind.) Southeastern junior on a game day visit last fall and for its January junior day.

After Hamilton’s second visit, his connection with former offensive line coach Harry Hiestand was so strong that it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say the Irish were out in front. However, Hiestand retired on Feb. 12, and Notre Dame replaced him with Joe Rudolph on March 7. 

Over the 24 days when ND didn’t have an offensive line coach, head coach Marcus Freeman kept Prescod in the loop and reminded him that he was a priority for Notre Dame. Rudolph connected with Prescod shortly after getting the job and invited him to campus this spring. 

Prescod has visited Alabama, Iowa and Purdue this month. He does not have a date set for a return to Notre Dame. Still, he said he would like to visit campus in the next five weeks. The main priority for his return visit will be to learn about Rudolph. 

Prescod’s only scheduled visit is to Colorado on April 5. Head coach Deion Sanders and the Buffaloes offered Prescod on March 16. Even though Sanders has sparked a renewed interest in Colorado, this visit will be more than just seeing what “Primetime” has cooking. 

On Wednesday, Indianapolis Cathedral quarterback Danny O’Neil, one of Prescod’s friends, committed to Colorado. Soon after that, O’Neil began recruiting Prescod to the Buffaloes. And Prescod will give them an honest look.

Iowa is another team to watch in Prescod’s recruitment. Hamilton Southeastern head coach Michael Kelly has been impressed by the Hawkeyes’ recruiting efforts. Also, Prescod has been to Iowa City three times, more than any other school.

Prescod has also visited West Virginia, Cincinnati, Louisville, Wisconsin and Michigan State. Before committing, he intends to officially visit three to-be-determined schools. He hopes to keep two official visits in his back pocket as a safety net. 

Notre Dame is firmly in the mix for Prescod, but Rudolph must pick up the pace in the coming weeks. As of Wednesday, his contact with Prescod had been limited, which in fairness, is not surprising considering the quick turnaround to get acquainted with his new position before the start of spring practice. 

Nonetheless, this recruitment is not a slam dunk for the Irish. Prescod certainly likes what Notre Dame offers, but other schools have his attention. Getting him on campus this spring to meet Rudolph and reignite his interest in the Irish will be crucial. 

The post Road notes: Intel on Notre Dame 2024 four-star OL target Styles Prescod’s recruitment appeared first on On3.