Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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prep profiles Late Offer From Irish A Big One For Illinois Linebacker Notre Dame has been recruiting know that he is excited about his opOak Park (Ill.) Montini Catholic three- portunity at Miami, but he has nothstar linebacker Nile Sykes for more ing but respect for the staff at Notre than a year and finally offered the 6-2, Dame," Sykes said. "He said that if I 223-pound prospect Nov. 14. don't want to consider his new school, Some recruits wouldn't consider a I should still strongly consider Notre school that took so Dame. It was a long to offer, but good talk." Nile Sykes Sykes was very Sykes was sched✪✪✪ excited when he uled to be at Notre Montini Catholic High School landed one from Dame for his offiOak Park, Ill. the Irish. cial visit Dec. 13. Status: Offered "When I picked The hard-hitting Class: 2014 up the offer, I linebacker will Position: Outside Linebacker talked to [former visit the campus Ht.: 6-2 • Wt.: 223 Notre Dame offenwith his parents 40-Yard Dash: 4.59 sive coordinator] and spend 48 247Sports Rankings: No. 13 recruit in Illinois Chuck Martin on hours with the and No. 34 outside linebacker in the nation the phone, and he Irish coaching staff let me know I fit and players. in perfectly in their defense. He told "I'm just excited to get up there as me they like me for the same position soon as possible," Sykes said. "Coach Manti Te'o played," the class of 2014 Martin said they want to get me up recruit noted. "He said that defensive there in front of Coach [Brian] Kelly coordinator Bob Diaco would love me and Coach Diaco. He said that they in his scheme. both want to talk scheme, fit and other "It just meant so much to get the of- stuff with me." fer. It was one I've wanted for a long Along with the Irish, Sykes holds time. I really tried staying patient, and offers from Cincinnati, Eastern Michiit worked out." gan, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa State, MisMartin had been the primary re- souri, Northern Illinois, Purdue, South cruiter for Sykes over the past 12 Florida, Toledo and Western Michigan. months, but that all changed when he During his senior campaign, Sykes accepted the head coaching position at finished with 74 tackles, eight tackles the Miami (Ohio) Dec. 3. for loss, four sacks and three intercep"I actually talked with Coach Mar- tions. tin the day before he left. He let me — Tom Loy