Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BY TOM LOY Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Notre Dame High School four-star wide receiver C.J. Sanders, along with his family, visited South Bend for the first time May 2, and spent 48 hours learning about the tradition and academic opportunities, getting to know the current players and coaches, and figuring out if Notre Dame was the place for him. Sanders woke up May 6 and decided that he was ready to be Irish. "I always said that when I commit, I'll just know it and it'll hit me," Sanders said. "I rolled out of bed today and told my mom that Notre Dame has every- thing that I'm looking for in a school. They have the academics, the greatness on the field — it's just a perfect fit. I called [tight ends coach] Scott Booker and let him know that I wanted to com- mit. "Coach Booker was real influential on my decision. He's been great, and we've been real close over the past few months since they offered. When I was there that weekend, it really felt great being around him and just getting to know him. It showed how genuine and real he is in person, and he's the same person that's been recruiting me since day one. My mom, my stepdad and my sister were with me that weekend, and everyone felt that Notre Dame was the place for me." After hanging up the phone with Booker, Sanders called his future head coach to give him the good news. "I called coach Brian Kelly after that," Sanders said. "He was super excited, as well. I love Coach Kelly. We have a great relationship. He was real excited to have me on board, and I couldn't be happier with my decision." Sanders had done plenty of research on Notre Dame prior to his visit and already had a good feeling about the COMMITMENT PROFILE C.J. SANDERS California Receiver Acts On Feelings About Notre Dame Per 247Sports, Sanders is the No. 40 wide receiver in the country and the No. 37 prospect in California. PHOTO COURTESY 247SPORTS