Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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40 AUGUST 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY EJ HOLLAND Blake Fisher is one of the top over- all recruits in the country in the class of 2021. With offers from coast to coast, the nation's No. 14 overall player per Rivals had all the reasons to remain patient with the recruiting process. Instead, the talented offensive tackle from Avon (Ind.) High, com- mitted to Notre Dame this summer. For Fisher, the feeling was just right, and he gave the Irish a verbal pledge while on a weekend unofficial visit in mid-June. "When we went down there, we didn't have the intentions to commit that day," he said. "I was just go- ing down there to participate in the camp. They wanted me to see what it was like to be coached by Coach [Jeff] Quinn and be around the guys and have fun. I had meetings the first day I got there, one with Coach [Brian] Kelly and then one with Coach Quinn. We went over film and really got down to the basics. "I had that gut feeling. I knew I wanted to be at Notre Dame. My par- ents were in the room, I looked back at them, and I could tell they were ready. They gave me the thumbs up. I told Coach Quinn I was staying home, and everyone went nuts. It was a phenomenal atmosphere, and one I wish I could relive." As Fisher mentioned, it was a fam- ily affair in South Bend that week- end. His father, Mark, and mother, Erika, both loved Notre Dame head- ing into the trip and were more than happy to sign off on their son's deci- sion. "We decided as a family among the three of us that yes this was Blake's decision, but all three of us were a part of the decision," Mark ex- plained. "Blake had the 'wink,' and he passed it along. When he got our 'winks' to move forward, that's when Coach Quinn was informed. We were right on board with Blake." South Bend is less than a three- hour drive from Avon, which means Fisher 's family will be able to see him play at the next level. Staying home for that reason, as well as hav- ing pride in the state of Indiana made Fisher's decision that much easier. Blue blood programs like Notre Dame are supposed to keep the best in-state talent at home. And that's exactly what the Irish did, securing one of their biggest ever recruiting wins in the Hoosier State. "I think the best players should stay home," Fisher said. "I'm going to be a few hours away from my par- ents, so they can see me. My grand- father lives in Fort Wayne, so he can see me play. My cousin is going to IU South Bend to play baseball. "Nothing against the other schools in Indiana, but Notre Dame has the best fit for me academically and ath- letically. The fact that it was home made all the pieces to the puzzle fit together." At 6-6 and 330 pounds, Fisher is a mammoth prospect in the trenches with the versatility to play guard or tackle at the next level. Rivals also rates him as a four-star talent, the No. 1 recruit in Indiana and the No. 3 offensive tackle in the country. Fisher certainly has NFL potential, and Quinn has produced several Sunday players. "He's going to give you all the tools and the help that you need," Fisher said. "It's all about you taking it from him and being the best player you can be. I know that Coach Quinn will take my game to the next level. "He's coached plenty of guys that are in the NFL. He knows his stuff. He's not going to harp and yell, but he's going to get his point across. I know that I'm in good hands." His mom Erika is confident Quinn can help develop her son, both as a player and person. "I think Coach Quinn is an all- around good guy," she said. "When you have conversations with people as a parent, you are able to — for the lack of a better term — discern when there is genuineness and when there's not. With each conversation we had with Coach Quinn, he was consistent, and he remained the same across the board. Never did we get an uneasy feeling. He treats all of his players as if they are his own." At the end of the day, the blend of faith, family and football made pick- ing Notre Dame an easy decision for the Fishers. With so much recruiting attention surrounding his life, Fisher admitted that he was "ready to make the call" and get back to just playing football. He is already actively recruiting for the Irish and is ready to lead an Avon team coming off an appearance in the Indiana 6A regional championships. ✦ FILM ANALYSIS Strengths Blake Fisher is massive (6-6, 330), but de- spite his size he is a unique athlete that moves like a smaller blocker … Shows impressive foot quickness at the snap, with the ability to quickly get into his pass sets, to change direction with relative ease, and to drive off the ball and win at the snap in the run game … Combination of length, power and athleticism makes him an ideal fit for offensive tackle in the Irish system … Strong punch allows him to shock defenders at the snap, and he then uses his weight to dominate in the run game. Areas For Improvement Will need to reshape his body and turn some of his baby fat into better weight. Once that happens he's going to be even more dominant … At times, he will bend at the waist instead of bending his knees, which slows him down a bit. — Bryan Driskell COMMITMENT PROFILE BLAKE FISHER Notre Dame Lands A Pledge From Talented In-State Junior Rivals ranks Fisher as a four-star talent, the top player in Indiana, and the No. 3 offensive tackle and No. 14 overall recruit in the 2021 class. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN