Notre Dame goes into Memphis to pick up CB/SS Donte Vaughn
Written by Ryan Wright
Twitter: @HogManInLA
The months-long flirtation between Memphis area talent Donte Vaughn and Notre Dame ended on Monday when the big defensive back picked the Fighting Irish over in-state powerhouse Tennessee.
Vaughn, listed at 6’3”, 195 pounds, is a true cover corner for Whitehaven High School. The west Tennessee powerhouse, famously on Elivs Presley Blvd., has been on a roll the last three seasons with Vaughn on the roster. In 2013 the Tigers posted a 9-3 record followed by a 14-1 mark that ended in the state semifinal round of the high school playoffs. The Tigers are back at it again this year with a 7-1 record with their lone loss coming to Arlington (28-25).
College recruiters from around the nation have offered with but in early July Vaughn cut the list down to eight with Tennessee, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Auburn, Missouri, Mississippi State, LSU, and Notre Dame among his top schools. The list was narrowed down again days before his commitment to Notre Dame and Tennessee.
The Irish hosted Vaughn on three different occasions, twice over the summer, picking up his offer during his first visit on June 10. Vaughn took an official visit to South Bend for the Texas game over Labor Day weekend.
Notre Dame now have 16 verbal commitments to their 2016 recruiting class. The early part of the class is heavy with defensive backs, five total. Due to Vaughn’s size, he like Spencer Perry, could play different positions as needed once on campus. Vaughn can cover and has size making him a possible candidate for safety. If Vaughn and Perry get any bigger they could grow into an outside linebacker.
Notre Dame 2016 Verbal Commitment List (16)
CB/WR Jalen Elliott, 6’1”, 175 lbs, Lloyd C. Bird HS, Chesterfield, VA
CB Julian Love, 5’11”, 175 lbs, Nazareth Academy, LaGrange Park, IL
CB Donte’ Vaughn, 6’3”, 195 lbs, Whitehaven HS, Memphis, TN
SS D.J. Morgan, 6’3”, 200 lbs, St. John Bosco, Bellflower, CA
SS Spencer Perry, 6’3”, 200 lbs, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
LB Jamir Jones, 6’3”, 230 lbs, Aquinas Institute, Rochester, NY
DE Adetokunbo Ogundeji, 6’5”, 220 lbs, Central HS, Walled Lake, MI
DE Julian Okwara, 6’4”, 220 lbs, Ardrey Kell HS, Charlotte, NC
OG Parker Boudreaux, 6’5”, 291 lbs, Bishop Moore HS, Orlando, FL
OT Liam Eichenberg, 6’6”, 290 lbs, St. Ignatius HS, Cleveland, OH
OT Tommy Kraemer, 6’5”, 305 lbs, Elder HS, Cincinnati, OH
LS John Shannon, 6’2”, 230 lbs, Loyola Academy, Wilmette, IL
RB Tony Jones Jr., 6’0”, 212 lbs, IMG Academy, Bradenton, FL
WR Chase Claypool, 6’5”, 215 lbs, Abbotsford HS, Abbotsford, B.C.
WR Kevin Stepherson, 6’0”, 180 lbs, First Coast HS, Jacksonville, FL
QB Ian Book, 6’1”, 175 lbs, Oak Ridge HS, El Dorado Hills, CA
Photo credit: 247sports.com; Donte Vaughn visits Notre Dame.