Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2022 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY TODD D. BURLAGE Ty Chan wasn't necessarily panicked late last November, but he admits to being plenty concerned when Irish head coach Brian Kelly surprisingly jetted Notre Dame for LSU. But a trip for Chan to campus soon after, followed in Janu- ary by a phone call and home visit from his new offensive line coach, Harry Hiestand, eased any anxiousness and left this four-star prospect out of Lawrence Academy in Groton, Mass., more excited than ever to arrive on campus in June as part of one of the best classes of of- fensive linemen in the country. "For [Hiestand] to come see me first and then recruit in our area was a blessing for me, be- cause I wanted to really estab- lish that connection with him," Chan explained. "I can just tell by the way he speaks and the knowledge he displays about everything." Hiestand's visit helped to calm some coaching chaos in January. "I'm very honored to be able to be one of the kids that he coaches," Chan said. But the most impactful event that kept Chan true to his verbal commit- ment to Notre Dame took place about a month before Hiestand was hired. Less than two weeks after Kelly's de- parture, and only a few days before the early signing period opened Dec. 15, new Irish head coach Marcus Freeman hosted his first major recruiting week- end Dec. 11-13. A three-day gathering that will for- ever rank among Freeman's most im- portant at Notre Dame attracted Chan and 17 of his verbally committed class- mates to campus, and this band of brothers shared, galvanized and bonded through a difficult period of coaching confusion. "I would definitely say that [campus visit] solidified feel- ings that were kind of altered with everything going on with Coach Kelly," Chan explained. "Just to see all of my buddies still committed to the class, and to see who was exactly com- mitted to us. … Our class stayed together, and I wanted to see ev- erybody." That weekend visit also gave Chan a chance to familiarize himself with Freeman. "Before this weekend, he was just a coach on the staff that I had a decent bond with," Chan said. "But now that he's my head coach, I really wanted to go out there and say 'hi' to him." A gifted basketball player with a long 6-foot-5, 300-pound frame that could still handle at least another 20 to 25 pounds, Chan's combination of impressive size and quick feet is drawing some com- parisons to former Irish All-American offensive lineman and 2016 first-round NFL Draft pick Ronnie Stanley. "I think [Chan] could be a No. 1 NFL Draft pick someday," CBS Sports Net- work recruiting analyst Tom Lemming shared in a glowing review when Chan pledged to Notre Dame in December 2020. "He's got all the tools." ✦ With New Coaching Relationships In Place, Ty Chan Is More Excited Than Ever Chan's combination of impressive size (6-5, 300) and quick feet has drawn some comparisons to former Irish All-American offensive lineman Ronnie Stanley. PHOTO BY MIKE SINGER TY CHAN INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE 6-5 · 300 LAWRENCE ACADEMY LOWELL, MASS. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE consensus ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 291 20 1 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 42 5 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 294 26 1 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 219 11 1 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ 173 17 1 NOTABLE • Born on Dec. 29, 2002. • 2022 Under Armour All-American. • 2021 Independent School League (ISL) and New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) Lineman of the Year. • 2021 All-NEPSAC first-team offense. • 2021 Boston Herald All-Scholastics. • Two-time Independent School Leauge first- team all-star (2020 and 2021). RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on Dec. 10, 2020. • Will enroll at Notre Dame this summer. • Picked Notre Dame over Boston College, Michi- gan, Michigan State, Penn State, Virginia and others. • Recruited by former offensive line coach Jeff Quinn. • Outside of a self-guided tour during the spring of 2020, his only two trips to South Bend were for his official visits in June 2021 and December 2021. 2022 PROJECTION • Chan is likely to redshirt as a true freshman. THEY SAID IT Lawrence Academy head coach Jason Swepson: "He has all of the intangibles — the height, size, agility and the best thing about him is that he's a piece of clay. He's not one of these guys who has been to a bunch of camps where these 'O-line gurus' give you techniques. "That's why a lot of college coaches love him; they know they can shape him into their system with no bad habits." National recruiting analyst Tom Lemming: "Chan shows all the tools for future stardom. He has the length, long arms, quick feet, strong and violent hands, aggressiveness and most of all the intel- ligence to dominate from his left tackle position. "He comes from a basketball background, and it shows. His footwork is exceptional. Chan is a great effort guy who leaves it all on the field." 52 MARCH 2022 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED