Carlo Calabrese is Irish. The linebacker from Verona (NJ) High School ended his recruitment rather abruptly, but his reason for doing so is as simple as it is obvious. He knows where he wants to spend the four years of college following his graduation next May.
Tonight, he committed to Notre Dame after having informed Charlie Weis and the Irish staff of his choice.
“I thought it was the best fit for me. I kept using the word ‘great’ when I was describing Notre Dame. The coaches are great. The academics are great. The facilities are great and the players are great,” he told BGI.
Calabrese is not the type of player to draw attention to himself. He noted that he did not hold a press conference because he doesn’t need the show around it. He said that “hat tricks are for hockey,” referring to picking a hat from among three or four, the made-for TV stunt many highly regarded prospects choose to use on decision day.
If he had hats, there would have been ones from Notre Dame, Boston College, Rutgers and Miami. However, he has known for a little while where he was going to go.
“In my mind, I chose Notre Dame a few weeks ago, but I wanted to keep it to myself and make sure that the feeling stayed the same. It did, and if anything, it got stronger. I am so excited to play for Coach Weis and the rest of the coaches,” Calabrese explained.
Did the oft-discussed New Jersey connection play a role in his decision?
“Honestly, it really did. I felt like Coach Weis is a guy who understands what I am about and who speaks my language,” he chuckled in his thick Jersey accent.
Calabrese becomes the fifth highly-regarded prospect to commit to Notre Dame’s 2009 recruiting class. He has become a fan favorite among many who follow Notre Dame recruiting closely, even in its infant stages.
It is easy to understand why Carlo could become an instant hit among all Irish fans. He looks like the type of hard-nosed football players in the mold of gridiron legends Mike Ditka, Dick Butkus and in more recent Notre Dame history, Chris Zorich.
He more than looks the part; he has been an ultra-productive linebacker at the high school level. As a sophomore and after missing the first four games due to an injury, he recorded 53 tackles with 2.5 sacks and he recovered four fumbles. He stepped it up even more as a junior, accumulating 104 tackles with six sacks.
In-state emerging power Rutgers came after Calabrese hard, but in the end, fell out of contention. Ultimately, Calabrese had Notre Dame and Boston College on his short list and obviously decided that Notre Dame is the best place for him.
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Calabrese has quieted critics recently with excellent performances in showcase events. His speed was thought to be sub-par in some circles, but he has displayed excellent quickness in small spaces, and when he gets to the ball carrier, he lays a vicious hit.
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