Notre Dame Football: Early look at top 5 targets in 2020 class

Is Notre Dame going to be searching for a potential slot receiver? Clark Phillips III could be that guy if he wasn’t a lockdown corner, first and foremost.

The four-star from La Habra, Calif., has a highlight video filled with two-way play and he looks pretty good at receiver, burning opposing corners down the field with his speed and showing off his hands and breakaway acceleration. Like Enzo Jennings, this kid can flat-out ball on both sides.

Phillips III is being recruited as a cornerback, though, and for good reason. While he’s a talented receiver with breakaway speed, he is a high-IQ corner with pick-six written all over him. His timing is impressive and he can jump a route with the best of the class. He can read a quarterback’s eyes while keeping with his receiver and he can jump in front of the ball without being too aggressive and creating penalties — he’s fairly stealthy.

Notre Dame’s defense was a strong point in 2018 under the direction of first-year defensive coordinator Clark Lea, and he could use a guy like Phillips III to provide lockdown defense in 2020, and beyond.

Phillips III is ranked the No. 53 player in the class and is the sixth-best cornerback, according to 247Sports. The Irish will be battling it out with the likes of Washington, UCLA, Oregon, Arizona State, Arizona and BYU for his services.