Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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2015 RECRUITING ISSUE BY RYAN TICE The decision Brandon Tiassum made after his freshman year was not an easy one. Looking back, he knows that transferring from Indianapolis football powerhouse Ben Davis High School to more academically oriented Park Tu- dor, where he wrapped up his prep career as a two-time all-state selec- tion and Semper Fidelis All-American, was the right call. "It was a big adjust- ment at first," he remem- bered. "At Ben Davis, I didn't have to do that much because academ- ics came very easily to me. Park Tudor was a big challenge. "I did go to a lower level [of football], but I still competed well and won a few MVP awards at camps. I just had to work that much harder at my craft and also on my grades, but it was a good move." Tiassum noted that after the change, there was at least an hour of homework to do every school night. The fun-filled times of playing Xbox from the time he got home to when he went to bed vanished, but the move paid off when he landed on the honor roll. It will con- tinue to pay dividends after he enrolls at Notre Dame, where he will still be challenged intellectually. "It prepared me for going to a great academic school like Notre Dame," he explained. "Going from a football pow- erhouse to an academic powerhouse prepared me for college, and I'm thank- ful for it." The 6-4, 296-pounder thinks that being used to a rigorous academic en- vironment will help ease the transition to college, which will be huge as he tries to soak up every- thing possible from his coaches and fellow India- napolis native Sheldon Day. The senior defensive tackle currently plays the position that coaches see Tiassum eventually set- tling into as a run-stuffing three-technique. "It's a big task, but I'm ready for it," he said. "I'm going to work hard every day and learn from Coach [Mike] Elston, embrace his coaching and also the teach- ings from guys like Sheldon. I'm going to try to be the best player I can be. "The whole recruiting class brings a lot more size to the defensive line." The 2015 group of signees also brings in a trio of Indianapolis natives — which excites Tiassum, who played a role in recruiting his fellow Hoosier State prod- ucts. He was teammates with four-star Brandon Tiassum is PrePared For irish on and oFF The Field Tiassum amassed 91 total stops, 18 tackles for a loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles and two blocked field goals during his senior campaign. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM