The commitments for 2010 may have spaced out a bit since the early summer surge, but the momentum has remained consistent.
The Irish were able to add No. 14 in Charlotte (N.C.) Ardrey Kell’s Prince Shembo.
With his Tuesday announcement, Shembo became the 14th verbal commitment of the 2010 class.
“I’m going to Notre Dame,” the 6-foot-2, 225-pound outside linebacker reported to BlueandGold.com on Monday prior to his live Tuesday announcement on IrishSportsDaily.com. “The main thing was academics. The facilities are beautiful and my mom loved it there.”
Shembo visited campus on June 26 and he was pleasantly surprised with what he saw.
“I thought it was in the middle of nowhere,” he said of his expectations. “It was great seeing everything that they have to offer. I didn’t expect it to be as good as it was. It was a lot of fun.”
In addition to the school’s prestige and his experience on his visit having an impact on his decision, his recruiter and a future teammate also made a tremendous impression.
“Coach (Corwin) Brown is a good recruiter,” he said. “He came to my school consistently and emails me all the time. He said I’m a good fit for their defense.
“I hung out with (freshman linebacker) Manti (Te’o) a lot. He told me about the process and we got along really well. Talking to him was very helpful.
“I felt like I was really comfortable around him and the other guys. They’re just like me because they work hard, but they’re building strong relationships and having fun.”
In 2008, Shembo recorded 86 tackles, nine sacks, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries. He carries a 3.7 GPA. He’s ranked by Rivals.com as a four-star prospect and the No. 16 weakside defensive end in the country. On Scout.com, he’s listed as a three-star recruit and the No. 68 defensive end.
He chose the Irish over North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
He’ll be trekking back to Notre Dame on an official visit for the USC game on October 17. He’s fully aware that he has five officials available, but he only plans on using one.
“I’m only taking one to Notre Dame,” he said of his intentions to attend the game against rival Southern Cal. “I’m staying solid. It’s like a marriage. I’m fully committed to them. Decommitting says a lot about someone’s character, and I’m a man of my word.”
