Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/109499
in the nation and the No. 131 overall prospect in the land by 247Sports … Listed as a four-star prospect, the No. 9 player in the state and the No. 22 offensive tackle in the country by Rivals. com … Tabbed as a four-star player, the No. 8 offensive tackle in the country and the No. 90 overall recruit in the class of 2013 by Scout.com … Ranked as a four-star prospect, the No. 10 player in Pennsylvania, the No. 19 offensive tackle in the land and the No. 46 recruit in the Northeast by ESPNU … Rated as the 17th-best offensive tackle in the country by MaxPreps. Statistics: Played all four years on football and basketball varsity …Averaged 10 stops and three tackles for loss per game on defense as senior on a 5-4 team … Lined up as tight end or fullback on occasion, carrying six times for 30 yards and grabbing seven passes for 140 yards … Scored three touchdowns, including one on defense … All-league center in basketball in 2011-12, and expected to repeat after averaging 15 points per game during 14-8 start to his senior campaign … Won the Pennsylvania private school state title in the shot put, and his career long toss is 51 feet, two inches. Honors: 2012 Pennsylvania Sportswriters AAAA All-State first team … Earned a spot on the Philadelphia Inquirer All-Southeastern Pennsylvania unit … Was a member of the Philadelphia Daily News all-city squad. All-Star Games And Camps: Played in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl Jan. 4 in Los Angeles and selected as a captain for Team East. Brian Kelly's Comments: "We worry that [Notre Dame basketball coach] Mike Brey is going to take him from us. He could be 6-11 here soon … We were really impressed with the way he played basketball. He was a ferocious competitor and ran well … He gives us that long-reach guy that can play the tackle position." William Penn Charter Offensive Line Coach Ed Doyle Comments: "He's your prototypical left tackle with long arms and really good feet. If there is something about him that is special, it's his feet. He can move so well." Tom Lemming Of Prep Football Report: "A legit 6-8 with arms that NFL left tackles would be proud to have and quick hands. Once he builds himself up, he could be the best tackle they've had in 20 years at Notre Dame. He could weigh 330 and look skinny. He's not yet a dominating guy … but once [strength and conditioning coach] Paul Longo gets a hold of him, he could develop him into a first-round draft pick." Recruitment: Committed to Notre Dame on March 25, 2012, when several other visitors also gave their pledge … Had taken previous unofficial visits to Boston College, Duke, Maryland, Penn State and Virginia … Primary recruiter was offensive line coach Harry Hiestand … Took his official visit Dec. 7 for the Football Awards Show and was hosted by sophomore offensive lineman Nick Martin. Why He Chose Notre Dame: "Its blend of academics and athletics is unmatched. The coaching staff is unbelievable. The facilities are unbelievable. The only drawback is it's far from home, but that's all I could find wrong with it." Jason Sapp's Scouting Report: Gets off the football low and hard … Long and lean, which makes him an ideal fit at left tackle, and also has enough agility to play the position … Owns the edge, but can also block in a zone scheme and combo blocks well with the guard. 2013 Projection: Destined to preserve a fifth year of eligibility while starting his first extensive weight training. Left tackle is the natural projection, but two other tackle prospects with four years of eligibility — Ronnie Stanley and Steve Elmer — will also vie for action.