Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2021 25 2021 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY MIKE SINGER Devin Aupiu committed to UCLA on April 24, 2020, and was content with his choice of the Bruins. How- ever, an offer from Notre Dame the day before Thanksgiving gave him a new option to consider, and it was one that he embraced. Once Aupiu — a 6-5, 220-pound defensive end from Pacifica High School in Oxnard, Calif. — came to the decision to flip his pledge from UCLA to Notre Dame just a couple weeks before the early national sign- ing period, he only had one family member he needed to convince: His mother. "At first, she was iffy about it, but now she's on board," Aupiu said. "It's going to hit her that I'm far away once the day comes, but I think she'll warm up to it as time goes on." That day has come, as Aupiu made the trip to South Bend — his first time in the Midwest — when he en- rolled at Notre Dame in early Feb- ruary. As a Southern California kid born and raised, it's going to be an adjustment for Aupiu to get used to the weather, but he's well aware of it and feels ready for the challenge that being a Notre Dame student-athlete will bring. "I'm definitely excited for some- thing new; that's another reason why I chose Notre Dame," he explained. "I kind of wanted to stay close to home, but I really wanted to get a new experience. I wanted to branch out and see something new." While Aupiu committed to UCLA, other programs reached out to him, but the one that piqued his interest the most was easily Notre Dame. "They obviously have great athlet- ics and great academics," he added. "I feel like the recruiting class was a big part. Playing with a good num- ber of guys that you feel comfort- able with for the next four years is important." He also was invited to photo shoots with other top prospects in California to raise his profile, but Aupiu didn't see the value in it. "He said, 'I have nine offers and I love the ones that I have. I don't need to do anything more than that,'" recalled Pacifica head coach Mike Moon. "He's one of the humblest Power Five kids I've coached in my 20 years. You typically don't get that from those type of kids." On the football side of things, Au- piu fits what Notre Dame wants in an edge player — long and athletic. His selflessness is a big plus as well. "He knows how to compete and do what's best for the team," Moon added. "The coaches are going to love him. He's technically very sound, whereas a lot of those freaky, athletic guys are all going off brute strength. "Football-wise, he'll be fine. He's not going in there expecting that he's going to be the man. He knows he's going to have to put on size and get in the weight room." ✦ Devin Aupiu Trades California Sunshine For 'Something New' With Irish Aupiu, a long and athletic edge player, flipped from UCLA to the Irish a couple weeks before the early signing period in December. PHOTO BY JACE KESSLER/MAXPREPS DEVIN AUPIU DEFENSIVE LINEMAN 6-5 · 220 PACIFICA H.S. OXNARD, CALIF. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — 37* 54 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 66^ 62 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 30^ 38 ^ Ranked as OLB; * ranked as weakside DE STATISTICS • Did not have a senior season with California canceling fall football due to COVID-19 concerns. • Posted 62 stops, 21 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, 22 quarterback hurries, 12 passes defended, two forced fumbles and one blocked punt as a junior in 2019. • As a sophomore in 2018, totaled 50 total stops, 11 tackles for loss, eight sacks, three quarter- back hurries, five passes defended and one forced fumble. NOTABLE • Born on July 7, 2003. • Selected to play in the Polynesian Bowl in Hono- lulu, but the game was canceled. • 2019 Pacific View League Defensive Lineman of the Year. • 2019 first-team Ventura County Star All-County. • Led Pacifica to a California Division 2-A state championship in 2019. • His grandfather, Miller Aupiu Sr., was the 1983 and 1984 Ventura County Defensive Player of the Year, while his father, Miller Aupiu Jr., was the 2003 Pacific View League Player of the Year. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on Dec. 9, 2020 and enrolled in February. • Earned an offer from the Fighting Irish on Nov. 25, 2020, one day before Thanksgiving. • Originally committed to UCLA in April 2020. • Was recruited by Notre Dame defensive line coach Mike Elston. • Did not visit Notre Dame during the recruiting process. His first time on campus was when he enrolled. 2021 PROJECTION Aupiu is a safe bet to redshirt as a true freshman in 2021. THEY SAID IT Pacifica head coach Mike Moon: "He under- stands the game at a higher intellectual level than most kids coming out of high school. We could really tap into that as a high school coaching staff. Not only is he athletic and long, but he studies a lot of film and goes into the game knowing what the offense is going to do. That's a huge advantage. "He's a leaner guy, but he can get off blocks well. He's a physical kid; he grew up tough in this area. He's not a soft four- or five-star guy. He gets after it. If you train to run away from him, he'll run you down because he's a track kid, too. He has a lot of tools that help him be successful." National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming: "Devin has dominated the competition in his league and in his area for the past two years. A tall, lanky pass-rush- ing whiz with strong and violent hands, he wins most leverage battles and shows outstanding closing burst. He's able to break down in space, make plays and is equally adept at defending the run and the pass."