Here's the latest from an already successful week on the trail for Notre Dame.
- From Sunday: ESPN 150 running back Elijah Hood (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) is a Notre Dame commit.
- Our Jeremy Crabtree says that the Irish are big winners after landing Hood.
- Notre Dame is currently No. 10 in team recruiting rankings.
- Four-star Quenton Nelson (Red Bank, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) has the Irish atop his top-five, our Jared Shanker writes.
- Four-star wide receiver Saeed Blacknall (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) likes LSU and OSU the most, but he will try to visit Notre Dame around the time he visits OSU, Shanker writes.
- Four-star running back Joe Mixon (Oakley, Calif./Freedom) is still open to everyone, which includes, the Irish, our Erik McKinney writes.
- ESPN 150 running back Nathan Starks (Las Vegas/Bishop Gorman) was dismissed from school Monday, our Erik McKinney writes. He had a Notre Dame offer.
- McKinney says that Sunday's Passing Down Best of the West tournament at Fullerton College allowed cornerback Jonathan Lockett (Santa Ana, Calif./Mater Dei) to show why he has offers from places like Notre Dame.
- Notre Dame visited four-star defensive tackle Josh Frazier (Springdale, Ark./Har-Ber) last Monday, our Damon Sayles writes.
- ESPN150 wide receiver Josh Malone (Gallatin, Tenn./Station Camp) tells our Dave Hooker that he liked Notre Dame's academics and its vertical offense from his visit during Blue-Gold weekend.
Nice to see you, May.
- Forgot to link to this over the weekend, but best wishes to ESPN's Digger Phelps, as the former Irish men's hoops coach has bladder cancer.
- IrishIllustrated.com's Pete Sampson says that Everett Golson is settled at Notre Dame without being comfortable. (Subscription required)
- Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel says that Manti Te'o gets a chance at a fresh start with the Chargers.
- So much for San Diego going easy on Te'o.
- Notre Dame is fifth in the latest Directors' Cup standings.
Punter Ben Turk has been invited to the Houston Texans' rookie minicamp, Notre Dame announced, making him the 14th former Irish player to get a shot at an NFL following last week's draft.
The 5-foot-11, 186-pound Turk played in 45 games during his Notre Dame career, including all 39 in the past three seasons, averaging 39.1 yards per punt on 200 career boots. The Davie, Fla., native had a career-best 40.8 yards-per-punt average in 2012, and his nine punts of 50 or more yards were a career-best as well.
Turk is the eighth former Notre Dame player to hook up with an NFL team after not being selected in the draft, and there is a chance that he could re-unite with former college teammate Cierre Wood.
To recap:
We are pleased to announce that Ben Turk @bturk35 has been invited to the @houstontexans Rookie Mini-Camp! #NDFBFamily #GoIrish
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 30, 2013
The 5-foot-11, 186-pound Turk played in 45 games during his Notre Dame career, including all 39 in the past three seasons, averaging 39.1 yards per punt on 200 career boots. The Davie, Fla., native had a career-best 40.8 yards-per-punt average in 2012, and his nine punts of 50 or more yards were a career-best as well.
Turk is the eighth former Notre Dame player to hook up with an NFL team after not being selected in the draft, and there is a chance that he could re-unite with former college teammate Cierre Wood.
To recap:
- Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati Bengals (first round, 21st overall)
- Manti Te'o, LB, San Diego Chargers (second round, 38th overall)
- Jamoris Slaughter, S, Cleveland Browns (sixth round, 175h overall)
- Theo Riddick, RB, Detroit Lions (sixth round, 199th overall)
- Kapron Lewis-Moore, DE, Baltimore Ravens (sixth round, 200th overall)
- Zeke Motta, S, Atlanta Falcons (seventh round, 224th overall)
- Cierre Wood, RB, Houston Texans (as undrafted free agent)
- Mike Golic Jr., OL, Pittsburgh Steelers (as undrafted free agent)
- Braxston Cave, C, Cleveland Browns (as undrafted free agent)
- John Goodman, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (as undrafted free agent)
- Jordan Cowart, LS, Washington Redskins (as undrafted free agent)
- Robby Toma, WR, Baltimore Ravens (as undrafted free agent)
- Dayne Crist, QB, Kansas City Chiefs (as undrafted free agent)
- Ben Turk, P, Houston Texans (as undrafted free agent)
Between Manti Te'o's 2012 run and Jadaveon Clowney's 2013 promise, so much of the conversation surrounding the Heisman Trophy has been the seemingly inevitable moment when a pure defensive player will capture the trophy. Te'o was the closest to ever do it, gaining 321 first-place votes and 1,706 points in losing to Johnny Manziel in 2012. And Clowney's monstrous hit of Michigan's Vincent Smith in the Outback Bowl has set the stage for a season in which Clowney will likely have the opportunity to play himself into serious Heisman contention.
But the award has still belonged to players on the other side of the ball, and a recent well-regarded preseason watch lists only re-affirms that.
The Heisman Pundit, Chris Huston, has released his initial 30-man watch list for the 2013 award, and Notre Dame has one representative on it: Everett Golson.
Golson enters his third year at the school and second year as the starter, this after a 12-1 season that saw him amass 2,703 yards of offense, score 18 total touchdowns, complete 58.8 percent of his passes and turn the ball over 10 times.
The Irish return eight starters from what was the nation's second-best scoring defense in 2012, including potential first-round picks Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt, but the quarterback is the man that has the chance for the biggest spotlight.
In fact, Clowney is the only defensive player among the 30 listed on the watch list, as there are 19 quarterbacks, eight running backs and two wide receivers.
Video had surfaced this offseason of Clowney sacking Golson on the first play of the 2010 South Carolina High School League AAA title game, a game that Golson's Myrtle Beach team ended up winning. Golson, much more comfortable entering his second season in the spotlight, gave a confident and complimentary answer when asked early this spring if he was quietly rooting for the fellow Palmetto State native to win the Heisman in 2013.
As for other familiar names on Huston's list? Oklahoma's Blake Bell, Michigan's Devin Gardner, Stanford's Kevin Hogan and USC's Marqise Lee are all players Notre Dame will face this year. Miami's Duke Johnson, Alabama's A.J. McCarron and T.J. Yeldon, meanwhile, all played against the Irish last season.
But the award has still belonged to players on the other side of the ball, and a recent well-regarded preseason watch lists only re-affirms that.
The Heisman Pundit, Chris Huston, has released his initial 30-man watch list for the 2013 award, and Notre Dame has one representative on it: Everett Golson.
Golson enters his third year at the school and second year as the starter, this after a 12-1 season that saw him amass 2,703 yards of offense, score 18 total touchdowns, complete 58.8 percent of his passes and turn the ball over 10 times.
The Irish return eight starters from what was the nation's second-best scoring defense in 2012, including potential first-round picks Louis Nix and Stephon Tuitt, but the quarterback is the man that has the chance for the biggest spotlight.
In fact, Clowney is the only defensive player among the 30 listed on the watch list, as there are 19 quarterbacks, eight running backs and two wide receivers.
Video had surfaced this offseason of Clowney sacking Golson on the first play of the 2010 South Carolina High School League AAA title game, a game that Golson's Myrtle Beach team ended up winning. Golson, much more comfortable entering his second season in the spotlight, gave a confident and complimentary answer when asked early this spring if he was quietly rooting for the fellow Palmetto State native to win the Heisman in 2013.
"I hope he does, but at the same time, I think I'm pushing for the same thing," Golson said. "I know it's maybe a goal some may say is a little bit far-fetched, but I want to be the best competitor I can be. So I want to see him do great, but I also want to be there at the same time."
As for other familiar names on Huston's list? Oklahoma's Blake Bell, Michigan's Devin Gardner, Stanford's Kevin Hogan and USC's Marqise Lee are all players Notre Dame will face this year. Miami's Duke Johnson, Alabama's A.J. McCarron and T.J. Yeldon, meanwhile, all played against the Irish last season.
Hawaii 5-0. Why not?
- Neat reaction here on Mike and Mike to Mike Golic Jr. signing with the Steelers after the draft.
- Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay discuss their winners and losers from the draft.
- ESPN Insider's Brad Edwards looks at six remaining questions surrounding college football's playoff.
- BlueandGold.com's Lou Somogyi looks at 10 of Notre Dame's biggest surprises in the NFL.
- There was a parade in Hawaii this weekend for Manti Te'o and Robby Toma, per TV station KHON2.
Notre Dame is what we thought it was. Well, at least based on pre- and post-spring evaluations.
Colleague Mark Schlabach has released his latest version of too-early Top 25 rankings for the 2013 season, and the Irish check in at No. 10 following a spring that saw three players transfer, a second-year starting quarterback continue his growth and a defense plug in newcomers and develop depth at key positions following the graduation of three starters.
From Schlabach's story:
The formula for these rankings actually takes into account who has the easiest path to run the table in 2013. And the Irish certainly have their challenges, though not unlike the ones they faced in running the regular-season table last season. (Despite hearing about their perceived 2012 slate, rightly or wrongly, after the Alabama game.)
Speaking of the Crimson Tide, there is a new No. 1 in Schlabach's rankings: Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have yet to lose a game in the Urban Meyer era, will likely be only better in Year 2 and play in a Big Ten conference that does not seem to have a legitimate No. 2 to pose as a threat to the Bucks. OSU avoids Nebraska and Michigan State in 2013, and the nonconference schedule consists of Buffalo, San Diego State, California and Florida A&M.
Irish rivals Stanford and Michigan come in near the top of Schlabach's rankings, at Nos. 5 and 9, respectively. Oklahoma and USC, other 2013 opponents, are at Nos. 17 and 23, respectively.
Colleague Mark Schlabach has released his latest version of too-early Top 25 rankings for the 2013 season, and the Irish check in at No. 10 following a spring that saw three players transfer, a second-year starting quarterback continue his growth and a defense plug in newcomers and develop depth at key positions following the graduation of three starters.
From Schlabach's story:
Previous rank: 9
The Fighting Irish went into spring practice looking for more offensive playmakers, after they averaged only 25.8 points during their 12-1 season in 2012. Quarterback Everett Golson made some strides as a passer, but the Irish are still looking for a dependable tailback and still haven't shored up the middle of their offensive line. Notre Dame lost starting center Braxston Cave and right guard Mike Golic Jr.; Conor Hanratty and Mark Harrell are battling for the guard spot, while Nick Martin and Matt Hegarty are competing at center. George Atkinson III left spring as the No. 1 tailback, but he'll be pushed in the fall by incoming freshmen Greg Bryant and Tarean Folston. The Irish will probably again be carried by their defense, so it had to be promising to see junior Jarrett Grace step into the inside linebacker spot vacated by All-American Manti Te'o.
The formula for these rankings actually takes into account who has the easiest path to run the table in 2013. And the Irish certainly have their challenges, though not unlike the ones they faced in running the regular-season table last season. (Despite hearing about their perceived 2012 slate, rightly or wrongly, after the Alabama game.)
Speaking of the Crimson Tide, there is a new No. 1 in Schlabach's rankings: Ohio State.
The Buckeyes have yet to lose a game in the Urban Meyer era, will likely be only better in Year 2 and play in a Big Ten conference that does not seem to have a legitimate No. 2 to pose as a threat to the Bucks. OSU avoids Nebraska and Michigan State in 2013, and the nonconference schedule consists of Buffalo, San Diego State, California and Florida A&M.
Irish rivals Stanford and Michigan come in near the top of Schlabach's rankings, at Nos. 5 and 9, respectively. Oklahoma and USC, other 2013 opponents, are at Nos. 17 and 23, respectively.
Games at Michigan, Purdue to kick at night
April, 29, 2013
Apr 29
4:00
PM ET
By
Matt Fortuna | ESPN.com
All four of Notre Dame's true road games in 2012 kicked off in prime time. Two of the first three announced kicks for 2013 will start under the lights as well.
The Irish's Sept. 7 and Sept. 14 games at Big Ten rivals Michigan and Purdue will both kick at 8 p.m. ET and air on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, ESPN announced Monday.
The Mountain West Conference had announced Friday that Air Force's Oct. 26 home game against Notre Dame will kick off at 3 p.m. Mountain Time (5 ET).
The Irish played night games at both Michigan and Purdue during the 2011 season, losing the memorable first night contest in the history of the Big House and routing the Boilermakers three weeks later, 38-10.
As colleague Adam Rittenberg notes, 2013 will mark the fifth straight season that the Irish play a night contest at a Big Ten venue.
Notre Dame's Nov. 9 and Nov. 30 games at Pitt and at Stanford are the only two without announced start times.
Here is the Irish's 2013 schedule with networks and start times.
The Irish's Sept. 7 and Sept. 14 games at Big Ten rivals Michigan and Purdue will both kick at 8 p.m. ET and air on ABC/ESPN/ESPN2, ESPN announced Monday.
The Mountain West Conference had announced Friday that Air Force's Oct. 26 home game against Notre Dame will kick off at 3 p.m. Mountain Time (5 ET).
The Irish played night games at both Michigan and Purdue during the 2011 season, losing the memorable first night contest in the history of the Big House and routing the Boilermakers three weeks later, 38-10.
As colleague Adam Rittenberg notes, 2013 will mark the fifth straight season that the Irish play a night contest at a Big Ten venue.
Notre Dame's Nov. 9 and Nov. 30 games at Pitt and at Stanford are the only two without announced start times.
Here is the Irish's 2013 schedule with networks and start times.
- Aug. 31: Temple, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC
- Sept. 7: at Michigan, 8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2
- Sept. 14: at Purdue, 8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2
- Sept. 21: Michigan State, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC
- Sept. 28: Oklahoma, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC
- Oct. 5: Arizona State in Arlington, Texas, 6:30 p.m. CT, NBC
- Oct. 19: USC, 7:30 p.m. ET, NBC
- Oct. 26: at Air Force, 3 p.m. MT, CBS Sports Network
- Nov. 2: Navy, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC
- Nov. 9: at Pitt, TBD, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2
- Nov. 23: BYU, 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC
- Nov. 30: at Stanford, TBD, Fox
The NFL does not wait for everyone, and so what was an otherwise 10 a.m. ET call out of Baltimore turned into an early-morning wake-up for the latest former Notre Dame player to take his talents to the next level.
Toma will join fellow Irish player Kapron Lewis-Moore with the Ravens. The often-overlooked 5-foot-9, 185-pound receiver is now the 13th former Irish player who will get a shot at the NFL in one form or another.
The official Notre Dame football page has a nice graphic of most of the players here.
To recap:
Blessed to get a wake up call at 4 am from the Ravens. Got a lot to prove this weekend!! Thank you Lord for this opportunity!
— Robby Toma (@RobJob293) April 29, 2013
Toma will join fellow Irish player Kapron Lewis-Moore with the Ravens. The often-overlooked 5-foot-9, 185-pound receiver is now the 13th former Irish player who will get a shot at the NFL in one form or another.
The official Notre Dame football page has a nice graphic of most of the players here.
To recap:
- Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati Bengals (first round, 21st overall)
- Manti Te'o, LB, San Diego Chargers (second round, 38th overall)
- Jamoris Slaughter, S, Cleveland Browns (sixth round, 175h overall)
- Theo Riddick, RB, Detroit Lions (sixth round, 199th overall)
- Kapron Lewis-Moore, DE, Baltimore Ravens (sixth round, 200th overall)
- Zeke Motta, S, Atlanta Falcons (seventh round, 224th overall)
- Cierre Wood, RB, Houston Texans (as undrafted free agent)
- Mike Golic Jr., OL, Pittsburgh Steelers (as undrafted free agent)
- Braxston Cave, C, Cleveland Browns (as undrafted free agent)
- John Goodman, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (as undrafted free agent)
- Jordan Cowart, LS, Washington Redskins (as undrafted free agent)
- Robby Toma, WR, Baltimore Ravens (as undrafted free agent)
- Dayne Crist, QB, Kansas City Chiefs (as undrafted free agent)
Finish 'em, NYK.
- Scouts Inc. analyzes every draft pick from this past weekend
. - Our John Clayton calls the Chargers big draft winners with their selection of Manti Te'o.
- Our Jeffri Chadiha, meanwhile, says that Te'o and the Chargers are among the worst matches of the draft.
- The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer's Branson Wright has a transcript of Jamoris Slaughter's conference call with the media.
- DarkSideofGreen.com looks back at the draft case of Raghib Ismail.
Spartans, Boilers in talks with Notre Dame
April, 29, 2013
Apr 29
10:30
AM ET
By
Brian Bennett | ESPN.com
The Big Ten's move to a nine-game conference schedule has all kinds of ramifications. One that must be figured out quickly, at both Michigan State and Purdue, is how it will affect those schools' annual rivalry with Notre Dame.
Both the Spartans and the Boilermakers really want to keep playing the Irish every year (remember, Notre Dame and Michigan will officially change their relationship status to "on a break" after this season). But there are some issues to resolve.
Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis told the Detroit Free Press that he's been in talks with Notre Dame counterpart Jack Swarbrick the past couple of weeks. Meanwhile, Purdue AD Morgan Burke told the Lafayette Journal and Courier that he plans to meet with Swarbrick soon to discuss the future of that series.
Both the Spartans and Boilermakers need seven home games each year to make their budget. When the nine-league game schedule begins in 2016, teams in the East -- that includes Michigan State -- will play five conference home games. Teams in the West -- which includes Purdue -- will play four that year and five in 2017.
Purdue is scheduled to go to Notre Dame in 2016 and other even years when it has five Big Ten road games. That means Purdue could only play six home games in those years.
"I cannot balance the budget on six home games. Can’t do it. It doesn’t work," Burke told the Journal and Courier. "That’s the cold-hearted realities of the business we run. Our business model is built on seven home games. Everybody’s. Notre Dame’s too."
Michigan State is scheduled to host Notre Dame in 2016 and go to South Bend in 2017. So can't the Spartans and Boilermakers just flip? That would seem to make sense, if all parties are on board and can work it out. But Michigan State already has a road trip at Alabama on the schedule in 2016, and playing both the Irish and Crimson Tide on the road in the same season can't sound too appealing to Mark Dantonio. Notre Dame has its own obligations, including its new five-games-per-year deal with the ACC.
Michigan State and Notre Dame are scheduled to meet through 2032 in installments of four straight games followed by two-year breaks. The 2016 game is the first of a new four consecutive game streak. The two could switch up years if 2016 can't be worked out, but Hollis is confident the teams will keep playing.
"You’ll see a high degree of cooperation," Hollis said. "We’re both interested in keeping this series intact."
Purdue, meanwhile, has played Notre Dame every year since 1946 and has a contract to do so through 2021. The Boilers put a ton of value on their annual game against the Irish.
"I don’t think either one of us is eager to lose the rivalry," Burke said. "If it turns out we have to have a short break, we’ll have a short break in order to get on the right rotation. I don’t think we’re in a situation where Notre Dame and Purdue will never play. The issue is whether we can come up with a rotation that works for both sides."
And it's just one major ramification from the new Big Ten nine-game conference schedule.
Both the Spartans and the Boilermakers really want to keep playing the Irish every year (remember, Notre Dame and Michigan will officially change their relationship status to "on a break" after this season). But there are some issues to resolve.
Michigan State athletic director Mark Hollis told the Detroit Free Press that he's been in talks with Notre Dame counterpart Jack Swarbrick the past couple of weeks. Meanwhile, Purdue AD Morgan Burke told the Lafayette Journal and Courier that he plans to meet with Swarbrick soon to discuss the future of that series.
Both the Spartans and Boilermakers need seven home games each year to make their budget. When the nine-league game schedule begins in 2016, teams in the East -- that includes Michigan State -- will play five conference home games. Teams in the West -- which includes Purdue -- will play four that year and five in 2017.
Purdue is scheduled to go to Notre Dame in 2016 and other even years when it has five Big Ten road games. That means Purdue could only play six home games in those years.
"I cannot balance the budget on six home games. Can’t do it. It doesn’t work," Burke told the Journal and Courier. "That’s the cold-hearted realities of the business we run. Our business model is built on seven home games. Everybody’s. Notre Dame’s too."
Michigan State is scheduled to host Notre Dame in 2016 and go to South Bend in 2017. So can't the Spartans and Boilermakers just flip? That would seem to make sense, if all parties are on board and can work it out. But Michigan State already has a road trip at Alabama on the schedule in 2016, and playing both the Irish and Crimson Tide on the road in the same season can't sound too appealing to Mark Dantonio. Notre Dame has its own obligations, including its new five-games-per-year deal with the ACC.
Michigan State and Notre Dame are scheduled to meet through 2032 in installments of four straight games followed by two-year breaks. The 2016 game is the first of a new four consecutive game streak. The two could switch up years if 2016 can't be worked out, but Hollis is confident the teams will keep playing.
"You’ll see a high degree of cooperation," Hollis said. "We’re both interested in keeping this series intact."
Purdue, meanwhile, has played Notre Dame every year since 1946 and has a contract to do so through 2021. The Boilers put a ton of value on their annual game against the Irish.
"I don’t think either one of us is eager to lose the rivalry," Burke said. "If it turns out we have to have a short break, we’ll have a short break in order to get on the right rotation. I don’t think we’re in a situation where Notre Dame and Purdue will never play. The issue is whether we can come up with a rotation that works for both sides."
And it's just one major ramification from the new Big Ten nine-game conference schedule.
The long wait for Manti Te'o officially concluded around 7 p.m. Friday, with former San Diego Chargers cornerback Jim Hill announcing that the Chargers had taken the former Notre Dame linebacker with the 38th overall pick.
"It’s great motivation for me to go out there and just get better, and that’s what I intend to do," Te'o told Chargers.com of falling out of the first round.
But Te'o was hardly the only surprise among former Irish players this past weekend.
For one, Cierre Wood, who passed up a potential fifth year of college ball to jump to the NFL, went undrafted. The running back was one of six former Irish players to post on Twitter that he signed or received an invite from an NFL team, as the Oxnard, Calif., native said he was picked up by the Houston Texans.
Mike Golic Jr. said he is heading to Pittsburgh, Braxston Cave to Cleveland, Dayne Crist to Kansas City, John Goodman to Cincinnati and Jordan Cowart to Washington.
Goodman will be joining fellow Fort Wayne, Ind., native and college teammate Tyler Eifert with the Bengals.
As for the rest of the Notre Dame contingent, Jamoris Slaughter was the first Irish player to get drafted Saturday, going in the sixth round (175th overall) to the Browns. Theo Riddick and Kapron Lewis-Moore were the next former Irish players off the board, going back to back to Detroit and Baltimore at Nos. 199 and 200, respectively.
Zeke Motta was the final player of the group to get drafted, going 224th overall to Atlanta in the seventh round, giving Notre Dame six draftees overall.
"It’s great motivation for me to go out there and just get better, and that’s what I intend to do," Te'o told Chargers.com of falling out of the first round.
But Te'o was hardly the only surprise among former Irish players this past weekend.
For one, Cierre Wood, who passed up a potential fifth year of college ball to jump to the NFL, went undrafted. The running back was one of six former Irish players to post on Twitter that he signed or received an invite from an NFL team, as the Oxnard, Calif., native said he was picked up by the Houston Texans.
Mike Golic Jr. said he is heading to Pittsburgh, Braxston Cave to Cleveland, Dayne Crist to Kansas City, John Goodman to Cincinnati and Jordan Cowart to Washington.
Goodman will be joining fellow Fort Wayne, Ind., native and college teammate Tyler Eifert with the Bengals.
As for the rest of the Notre Dame contingent, Jamoris Slaughter was the first Irish player to get drafted Saturday, going in the sixth round (175th overall) to the Browns. Theo Riddick and Kapron Lewis-Moore were the next former Irish players off the board, going back to back to Detroit and Baltimore at Nos. 199 and 200, respectively.
Zeke Motta was the final player of the group to get drafted, going 224th overall to Atlanta in the seventh round, giving Notre Dame six draftees overall.
ESPN 150 running back Elijah Hood (Charlotte, N.C./Charlotte Catholic) took a visit this weekend, and that was all it took.
"Officially committing to The University of Notre Dame!" the nation's No. 8 running back wrote Sunday on Twitter after visiting South Bend, Ind.
To read Kipp Adams' full story, click here.
"Officially committing to The University of Notre Dame!" the nation's No. 8 running back wrote Sunday on Twitter after visiting South Bend, Ind.
To read Kipp Adams' full story, click here.
Notre Dame's Oct. 26 game at Air Force will kick off at 3 p.m. MDT (5 p.m. EDT), the Mountain West Conference announced Friday.
The game will be played at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo. CBS Sports Network will broadcast the contest.
The Irish now have start times for eight of their 12 contests, as the program announced earlier this week that its Oct. 19 home game against USC will start at 7:30 p.m. EDT, while its other five games at Notre Dame Stadium will air at 3:30 p.m. EDT.
The Oct. 5 Shamrock Series tilt with Arizona State at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT.
That contest, and all six Notre Dame home games, will air on NBC. Start times have yet to be announced for Irish road dates at Michigan, Purdue, Pitt and Stanford. The Stanford game will air on Fox, while the other three will air on an ABC or ESPN affiliate.
The game will be played at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo. CBS Sports Network will broadcast the contest.
The Irish now have start times for eight of their 12 contests, as the program announced earlier this week that its Oct. 19 home game against USC will start at 7:30 p.m. EDT, while its other five games at Notre Dame Stadium will air at 3:30 p.m. EDT.
The Oct. 5 Shamrock Series tilt with Arizona State at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas will kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT.
That contest, and all six Notre Dame home games, will air on NBC. Start times have yet to be announced for Irish road dates at Michigan, Purdue, Pitt and Stanford. The Stanford game will air on Fox, while the other three will air on an ABC or ESPN affiliate.
Where do y'all think Manti ends up?
- Our AFC North blogger Jamison Hensley says the Bengals surprised some by taking Tyler Eifert.
- Eifert waited, but not as long as Te'o, Brian Hamilton writes in the Chicago Tribune.
- Tyler Stockton has stuck around, Dan Murphy writes on BlueandGold.com.
- Bennett Jackson has overcome last season's shoulder pain, Tim Prister writes on IrishIllustrated.com.
Notre Dame did not duplicate last year's feat of getting two players selected in the first round, but Tyler Eifert did give the Irish their highest tight end selection in 20 years.
Eifert went to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 21, becoming the first Notre Dame tight end to be taken in the first round since Irv Smith went to the New Orleans Saints at No. 20 overall in 1993.
"This is such an exciting time for Tyler and his family," Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said in a statement. "He was faced with a difficult decision following his junior season whether or not to return to school. Tyler returned for his senior season and that decision was rewarded today. He proved to be the best tight end in college football, solidified himself as a first-round draft pick and, most importantly, earned his degree from the University of Notre Dame."
Eifert was the first tight end to be drafted in the first round since 2011, when the Bengals took Oklahoma's Jermaine Gresham 21st overall. He became the 64th Notre Dame first-round selection of all-time.
Then again, inside linebackers are not the hottest of commodities in the NFL, leaving the most-honored player in college football history still on the board going into Day 2, making him a virtual steal for anyone that late in the draft.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Matt Fortuna
Fortuna joined ESPN.com in 2011 after working for MLB.com and the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, where he covered college sports. He grew up in New York and is a Penn State graduate.
