Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/79477
Texas Safety Nick Baratti Dreamed Of Playing For Irish FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY JASON SAPP some of the first names mentioned when talking Fighting Irish greats, Nick Baratti's recollection of the pro- gram is a bit more recent. His interest W hile Joe Montana, Tim Brown and Rahgib "Rocket" Ismail are in the program started when he at- tended a game at Notre Dame against Navy as a sixth grader in 2005. "Watching Brady Quinn, Jeff Sa- mardzija and Darius Walker is some- thing I'll always remember," the 6-2, 200-pound Tomball (Texas) Klein Oak player said of Notre Dame. "My DB NICK BARATTI land … Listed by Rivals.com as a three-star player, the country's No. 29 athlete and the No. 57 recruit in Texas … Ranked as a three-star recruit, the No. 35 athlete nationally and the No. 76 player in Texas by 247Sports … Rated by ESPNU as a three-star prospect, the No. 88 athlete in the land, the No. 136 recruit in Texas and the No. 176 recruit in the Midland Region … Selected as the No. 71 player in Texas by SuperPrep. Statistics: While at quarterback prior to suffering a concussion midway through senior season, com- and a squat max of 410 pounds, has a 29-inch vertical jump, clocks in with a 4.34 in the 20-yard shuttle and has a power throw of 34 feet … Played as many as five positions in one game as a senior, including quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end and safety, and also punted … Will run the 110-me- ter hurdles, 4x200-meter relay and 4x100-meter relay in track as a senior … Finished second in the district in the hurdles and qualified for the regional meet as a junior … Received academic all-district honors and plans on entering the Mendoza College of Business at Notre Dame. Rankings: Tabbed by Scout.com as a three-star prospect and the No. 17 middle linebacker in the 6-2 · 200 · Klein Oak H.S. · Tomball, Texas Notable: Born on Nov. 13, 1993 … Runs a 4.48-second 40-yard dash, has a bench max of 285 pounds ing recognized in a manner that he should be [as an all-state selection in Texas]. … He's a guy that we get really excited about." Klein Oak Head Coach David Smith's Comments: "He's a great competitor, and he has unlimited abil- first-team all-district as a tight end following his senior campaign. All-Star Games And Camps: Invited to the International Bowl, which is the Team USA vs. The World Under-19 game in Austin, Texas, but chose not to participate because it was on National Signing Day (Feb. 1) and his family couldn't attend to watch him sign his National Letter of Intent … Did not attend any camps. Brian Kelly's Comments: "I love the athleticism of Nick Baratti. He's a football player. … He's now be- ity. … Players in the secondary in the NFL aren't as big and fast as him. … I'm really excited for him, and he'll be ready to compete as a true freshman." Tom Lemming Of Prep Football Report: "Good athlete. I watched him at quarterback, and if that means he'll be a good safety, then he should be a great fit. … Within a year or two you'll see him playing a role similar to Jamoris Slaughter." Recruitment: Notre Dame was deemed the early favorite after he scheduled a return trip to campus for the Blue-Gold Game April 16 while still on campus for junior day Feb. 26 of his junior year … Pro- grams like Arizona State, Louisville, Mississippi State, Northwestern, Texas Tech and West Virginia had all offered, but he felt a special bond to his recruiter, Kerry Cooks, and is looking forward to working with him and newly appointed safeties coach Bob Elliott after reporting to campus in June. Favorite Part Of Notre Dame Visit: "Seeing the whole atmosphere on game day [Michigan State game pleted 13 of 33 passes for 214 yards and had 59 carries for 338 yards … As a tight end, he caught 48 balls for 570 yards and four touchdowns … Completed 136 of 237 passes for 1,873 yards with 13 touchdowns and five interceptions, and rushed 188 times for 1,267 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior … Notched 21 tackles and rushed for 754 yards and eight touchdowns on 102 carries as a sophomore. Honors: Named first-team Class 5A all-state by Texas Sportswriters Association in 2011 … Also earned Baratti earned first-team all-state and first-team all-district honors as a tight end after starting his senior season at quarterback. PHOTO COURTESY BARATTI FAMILY dad [Clarke] was always a fan and I come from an Irish Catholic family. That's when things really got started for me." Baratti dreamed of eventually be- ing able to don the Blue and Gold and was elated when the opportu- nity presented itself. "My sophomore year was when I started getting offers, and I never thought I'd have a chance to play at Notre Dame," he recalled. "It was a life-changing experience. Your mind goes over the process and you evalu- ate each school individually, but ev- ery sign kept pointing towards Notre Dame." Baratti offered his pledge to the Sept. 17 for official visit] and how everybody was into it around campus was pretty amazing. It really came through sitting in the stands, and it was just crazy in there. I knew I wanted to be a part of that." Why He Chose Notre Dame: "The No. 1 factor is life after football. Anything else that comes after man to how I should raise my own children someday." Scouting Report: Experience playing the quarterback position should help his coverage ability at safety … Runs smooth and is able to get in and out of his cuts well … Brings good size to the table, pos- sess closing speed and isn't afraid to come up and hit the ball carrier. 2012 Projection: A role similar to fifth-year-senior Jamoris Slaughter could be in the cards upon his arrival on campus, and he'll likely need a year or two to learn the position and acquire a contributing role … His athleticism, however, could create an early opportunity for special teams. 24 MARCH 2012 Irish before the start of the 2011 spring game April 16. One of Baratti's traits that im- that is great. You'll still have to work, but you're in good hands and you're in a good position to be suc- cessful after you graduate." Person He Admires Most And Why: "My dad. He has taught me everything I know from being a young pressed Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly was the Texas native's willingness to play anywhere on the field to help his team. "Here's a kid who goes into his coach's office and says coach I'll play tight end, I'll play quarterback. Let me help the team win," Kelly said during the National Signing Day press conference. "Those are great stories." ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED