Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com MARCH 2018 63 2018 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY COREY BODDEN Tommy Tremble transferred to Norcross (Ga.) Wesleyan from Al- pharetta (Ga.) Johns Creek for his senior year. With a new school and some pre- season hype from the outside, Trem- ble was eager to get on the field and showcase what all the fuss was about. The opportunity was short lived. In the second game of the season, Tremble was tackled from behind and heard a "little pop." When he turned over, he knew his ankle was not right. His senior season was over. "I saw my ankle backwards, it was messed up," Tremble told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "I wasn't scream- ing or anything. I was trying to fig- ure out what it was to make sure it wasn't too bad … I was sort of in shock I guess you could say." Like most big-time athletes who suffer injuries in high school, what would happen with colleges entered Tremble's mind. Academics were part of the equation in his decision, but it was amplified after the injury. "My parents told me about it and I thought about what college would do for me after football," Tremble ex- plained. "I was kind of like 'whatever' and I wasn't thinking too much about it. When I really thought about it af- ter I broke my ankle, I thought about what if I tore my ACL in my junior year or senior year? Or got hurt all three years and couldn't play again? "If I went to Alabama, what would I do? What would that degree and connections do for me? So, that re- ally opened my eyes especially with some coaches stopping connection with me." That eventually led Tremble to pick Notre Dame over his father 's alma mater Georgia, as well as Michigan and UCLA. He will enter Notre Dame with much more of an appre- ciation for the game. "That and more," Tremble said of Notre Dame's academic influence on his decision. "I really can't wait. Not being able to play was pretty bad to watch. It made me feel what people take for granted, it is something spe- cial. "I'm blessed enough to play at the next level and use as much passion as I did in high school at Notre Dame." Tremble stated his upper body and core strength both rapidly pro- gressed due to not being able to do lower-body workouts. The Peach State product was cleared in early February to start running. "I'm trying to go in there, act like I've been there the entire time and have no trouble fitting in with the guys that have been there for three or four years," Tremble said. "I'm really just trying to show what hard work and a little speed can do at tight end …" ✦ TOMMY TREMBLE TIGHT END 6-3 · 224 WESLEYAN H.S. JOHNS CREEK, GA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE ✪ ✪ ✪ — 20 50 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 10 59 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 20 39 STATISTICS • Notched four receptions for 39 yards and a touchdown in two games. Also had nine tackles and two sacks on defense. Missed the remainder of his senior season due to an ankle injury. • Caught 15 passes for 298 yards (19.9 yards per reception) and two touchdowns as a junior. ALL-STAR GAMES AND CAMPS • Participated in Nike Football's The Opening Atlanta Regional on March 26, 2017. Recorded a 4.63 40-yard dash, a 4.20 shuttle and a 35.8-inch vertical. His 40-yard dash time was the best of any tight end in the country at a The Opening Event. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Notre Dame on Dec. 14, 2017, over Michigan, UCLA and Georgia. Also held of- fers from Auburn, California, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and West Virginia. Also had Ivy League offers from Columbia, Dartmouth, Pennsylvania, Princeton and Yale. • Recruited primarily by offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Chip Long. • First visited over the summer before taking his official for the USC game on Oct. 21, 2017, and followed it with an unofficial for the Navy contest on Nov. 18, 2017. NOTABLE • Born on June 2, 2000. • Wants to major in history or political science, and hopes to go to law school someday. • Transferred to Wesleyan from Alpharetta (Ga.) Johns Creek for his senior season. • His father, Greg Tremble, played defensive back at Georgia and in the NFL. • His older sister Isabella is a freshman at Mar- shall for track. 2018 PROJECTION • If he can get back to full health, Tremble's elite speed could make it hard to keep him on the sidelines. THEY SAID IT Head coach Brian Kelly: "The tight end posi- tion, we're losing Durham [Smythe] for sure, so we needed to replace that and then add into this cycle. George [Takacs] and Tommy are terrific ath- letes that can be in-line or they can spread out. "They keep fitting the exact profile that we've been recruiting over the last few years at that position." Offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Chip Long: "One thing I always like to do with the tight end group, I like to have size and athleticism. … Tommy's been more of a skill wideout coming in. "… Tommy is probably a bit more explosive [than George Takacs]. One thing that caught my eye is he played defense for them. … I want to see de- fensive film and see if you're able to put your face on something and strike. He did that exceptionally with his explosiveness." BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: "Tremble is one of the most underrated players in the coun- try, something that won't change after he missed almost all of his senior season with an ankle injury. He is just scratching the surface of his ability. The 6-3, 224-pound tight end is an elite athlete for the position. "Tremble's testing numbers translate onto the field. He is a true vertical threat and a matchup nightmare for safeties and linebackers. He is a good route runner and his ball skills are quite good, showing naturally strong hands, although I'd like to see him attack the ball a bit more ag- gressively at times. "He is undersized at this point in time, but as a junior he showed the physicality and effort needed to be a good run blocker." Tommy Tremble Entering Notre Dame With Renewed Passion For Football Despite an ankle injury that forced him to miss most of his senior year, Tremble was rated a top-20 tight end in the class of 2018 by all three major recruiting services. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM