Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1210272
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2020 35 2020 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY TODD D. BURLAGE The road for Michael Carmody from Mars, Pa., near Pittsburgh to Notre Dame was already neatly paved before he was even a serious target on the Irish recruiting radar. Michael's older brother Robby was already enrolled and a member of the Notre Dame basketball team in the summer of 2018 while Michael — eventually rated by Rivals as the No. 2 player in Pennsylvania and the nation's No. 22 offensive tackle, as well as an All-Amer- ican Bowl participant — was weighing countless football scholarship offers from top schools around the country. Preparing for his junior high school season, Michael had already made many trips to Notre Dame with his brother and family, providing an un- derstanding of what the uni- versity's mission is all about. So when a Notre Dame football offer came in May 2019, schools such as Texas A&M, Michi- gan, home-state Penn State and nearby Ohio State couldn't stand up, and Carmody verbally pledged his Irish allegiance about a month later. "I would say the whole team atmo- sphere," Carmody said when asked to revisit his reasons for choosing Notre Dame. "Everyone there is really close with each other. I just really feel comfortable there. It's a really special place and where I feel most at home." The sudden departure of Notre Dame offensive coordinator Chip Long Dec. 11 — just one week before the early signing period — brought some uncertainty as to how the 2020 Irish recruits on offense might react. However, the relationship Carmody had already forged with Notre Dame offensive line coach Jeff Quinn was too strong to dismiss. Quinn proactively made two visits to the Carmody home last Decem- ber to make sure his 6-6, 292-pound, four-star standout didn't get away. "I definitely feel comfortable with [Quinn]," Carmody said, "which makes me feel good because he's go- ing to be the person who oversees what I do for the next few years." Given the level of commitment Carmody already had demonstrated to Notre Dame, Quinn's efforts were likely not necessary but certainly appreciated. "Having him in my house was really special," said Car- mody, who became a regular campus visitor last summer, at one point, visiting three consecutive weekends. "… It definitely was awesome to talk to those guys and get to know them." Similar to his brother Robby, Carmody is a gifted basketball player, who hopes to lead his No. 8 Mars High School team to a run at the Class 5A state title. After that, his focus will shift back to his gridiron future. "I'll get right into condi- tioning and lifting and get- ting ready to get up at Notre Dame," he said. "I'm most excited about just finally being there and working with all of the players and coaches." So what is Carmody most looking forward to upon his campus arrival this summer? "I know I'll be developing lifelong friendships for the next few years," he said. ✦ Family Ties And Familiarity Helped Bring Michael Carmody To Notre Dame Rivals lists Carmody — a 6-6, 292-pounder from Mars, Pa. — as the No. 2 player in Pennsylvania, and the No. 22 offensive tackle and No. 230 overall prospect in the country. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM MICHAEL CARMODY OFFENSIVE LINEMAN 6-6 · 292 MARS AREA MARS, PA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 230 22 2 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 128 16 2 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 148 12 2 STATISTICS • Paved the way for Mars Area to rush for 2,531 yards and 31 touchdowns in just 11 games in 2019. NOTABLE • Born on Aug. 1, 2001 • Member of the 2019 Pittsburgh Tribune-Re- view's top 25 high school players • 2019 PennLive All-State Pennsylvania first team • Brother of Notre Dame sophomore basketball guard Robby Carmody • Class 5A Pennsylvania Football Writers All- State Team in 2018 • 2018 USA Today All-State Pennsylvania • Stars on the Mars Area basketball team and was named to the PIAA Class 5A All-State second team in 2018 • 4.1 GPA ALL-STAR GAMES • Selected for the All-American Bowl and the Polynesian Bowl RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on June 16, 2019. • Has visited South Bend countless times, whether it was during his brother's recruitment or his own. • Picked Notre Dame over Auburn, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Texas A&M, Wisconsin and others. • Recruited by Notre Dame offensive line coach Jeff Quinn. • Visited Notre Dame three times in June 2019 alone, including his official visit. 2020 PROJECTION • Carmody is expected to redshirt as a freshman in 2020. THEY SAID IT Mars Area head coach Scott Heinauer: "He can play guard if Notre Dame needed him to do that, but with his size and mobility he has, I think it gives him a great advantage over a lot of people. I don't think a lot of people have the ability of movement that he has. His footwork is great. Playing basket- ball, his mobility has helped him a great deal." National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming: "Mike shows the ideal height and length that col- lege scouts love to see in a left tackle. Fast and agile, he can get to the second level in the blink of an eye and can also get outside on screens quicker than most tackles. Very aggressive, he has good knee bend, technique, and has a great combina- tion of size, strength and speed."