Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com PRESEASON 2020 51 Metairie (La.) Rummel class of 2021 running back Logan Diggs an- nounced his commitment to Notre Dame July 29. His decision came down to Arizona State, Memphis, Ole Miss and USC, along with the Fighting Irish. "It took a lot of thinking and pa- tience," Diggs said about his deci- sion-making process. "I sat down with my parents, talked about the schools I was interested in, did re- search and looked up the facts. I talked a lot to Coach Terry [Joseph], and he opened up my eyes to Notre Dame. I trust him. "I love the academics, plus the tradition and how they're family oriented. The connections there are deeper than football." Notre Dame's coaches recruit spe- cific areas, but for the most part, the assistant coaches recruit student-ath- letes at their position and are more secondary recruiters for the targets in their regions. That wasn't the case with Diggs. The talented running back from the Pelican State formed a very close connection with safeties coach Terry Joseph, who — like Diggs — hails from New Orleans. "He really made my decision way easier than it was at first," Diggs said. "He was one of the primary reasons I chose Notre Dame. He kept it real with me from day one and told me what to expect. He's from New Orleans, so he's told me his expe- riences and how he adapted to the culture up there. "He said I'm really going to like it. Being from New Orleans, this is one of the best things he ever did for himself, and he knows for a fact that this can really change my life." The weekend prior to announcing his pledge, Diggs was out of town with his family. That was when he and his parents came to the decision to commit to Notre Dame, then Diggs gave Joseph a call to inform him that he wanted to join the Irish's 2021 class. "At the end of the call, I told him that I have some good news for him," Diggs recalled. "He said, 'What's that?' I told him I was ready to com- mit. He was really excited." After Diggs gave the news to Joseph, he got on a call with Notre Dame run- ning backs coach Lance Taylor and of- fensive coordinator Tommy Rees. Ac- cording to Diggs, these calls occurred late at night, and the coaches decided it may be best to wait until the following morning to get head coach Brian Kelly on the phone with their new commit. Diggs and Kelly spoke Tuesday, the day prior to the news going public, and it was a call the 6-0, 191-pounder cherished. "A lot of people probably wouldn't think it, but he's really funny," Diggs said of Kelly. "He has a good sense of humor and was joking with me a lot. He was also saying what Notre Dame has to offer and what I should expect coming in." Lance Taylor 's impact in Diggs' commitment shouldn't be discredited either. He'll be Diggs' position coach at Notre Dame, and his background as a coach was important to the na- tion's No. 29 running back as well. "He has great experience," Diggs said. "He coached Christian McCaf- frey, and coached in the NFL and college football. That was really big for me, knowing that he coached Mc- Caffrey." As a junior, Diggs accounted for 1,110 yards from scrimmage with nine trips into the end zone. He rushed 165 times for 924 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and five scores, plus notched 26 receptions for 186 yards and four touchdowns. "He's a complete back," Rum- mel head coach Nick Monica said. "He's as versatile as they come with his ability to be a power runner but also make you miss in space, and his pass-catching abilities are pretty im- pressive for a running back as well. He takes pride in his pass protection, and that's pretty impressive as well. "He's a great kid, a 3.4 GPA stu- dent who is relatively quiet. He's well liked on our campus, not just by his teammates but by other students and faculty members." — Mike Singer COMMITMENT PROFILE LOGAN DIGGS Notre Dame Finds Its 2021 Running Back In Louisiana Diggs — the nation's No. 29 running back per Rivals — picked the Fighting Irish over Arizona State, Memphis, Ole Miss and USC. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM Film Analysis "He runs like a player who is bigger than he is, which is good and bad. He doesn't shy away from contact and has the pace and movement skills of a big back. He brings some southern swagger and plays like an SEC-type player. He's a three-down type and has a competitiveness to him. He can do it all. "The speed doesn't look tremendous on film, but there are some plays on his tape where he man- ages to get around an edge. Everyone wants the top-end speed and elite quickness, but he has a tough mentality and runs physically. That might make up for what he lacks in speed. "He has the making to be a fan favorite because he's a banger. He does not shy away from contact; he initiates it. He's a fun kid to watch play." — Blue & Gold Illustrated football analyst Mike Goolsby "He was one of the primary reasons I chose Notre Dame. He kept it real with me since day one and told me what to expect. He's from New Orleans, so he's told me his experiences and how he adapted to the culture up there. He said I'm really going to like it." DIGGS ON FELLOW LOUISIANA NATIVE AND IRISH SAFETIES COACH TERRY JOSEPH