Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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PREP PROFILES Notre Dame was one of the first schools to offer Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) High rising junior safety Devin Studstill. He now also holds offers from Florida Atlantic, Florida S t a t e , M i c h i g a n State and West Vir- ginia, with Miami, Central Florida and Georgia Tech show- ing interest, but his Fighting Irish offer was one of surprise and excitement. "It's a great, prestigious school for aca- demics, and that is what it is all about," the 6-1, 175-pound recruit said of Notre Dame. "And on top of that, it's a great football school. I follow all of the players like [sophomore running back and fellow Floridian] Greg Bryant, and I want to be a part of that." The biggest influence in his football ca- reer has been his father Darren Studstill, a former West Virginia quarterback that helped lead the Mountaineers to a perfect regular-season record in 1993. "I've idolized my father since I was a little kid, but he has raised me to be my own man," the younger Studstill said. "He is letting me make my own deci- sions, so don't think that I'm locked into West Virginia." Studstill is looking for a program with great coaches, a family atmosphere and an excellent business school — three re- quirements that Notre Dame strongly possesses. "Coach [Tony] Al- ford is a great guy," Studstill said. "He asks about my fam- ily, I feel I can ask him anything, and he is a man of his word. That's what really matters. "If you are going to make promises, you have to keep them, and he does that." Studstill also stated that everyone knows how tight-knit the Irish com- munity is and that he is aware of how distinguished the Mendoza College of Business is. "I know I can fit in real well at Notre Dame," he said. "They have what I'm looking for in academics and for football. I know they like big, strong safeties, and that's what I am. I pride myself on my strong tackles." When not playing football, Studstill plays basketball and runs the 200 meters and high jumps for his track and field team, but it's all in the name of football. "Track helps me with my speed, and basketball works on my footwork like defensive sliding," he said. Studstill plans on visiting Notre Dame along with the other programs that have extended offers during his junior year. — Staci Gasser Irish Are One Of First To Offer Sunshine State Safety DEVIN STUDSTILL Palm Beach Gardens High School Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Status: Offered Class: 2016 Position: Safety Ht.: 6-1 • Wt.: 175 40-Yard Dash: 4.50 247Sports Rankings: Currently unrated