When Notre Dame came to town for the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium in December, head coach Brian Kelly talked at length about the game’s significance aside from the financial gains and playing in front of its large alumni base.
“That New Jersey, New York recruiting area is very important for us,” Kelly said.
The Metropolitan area represents a major chunk of the Fighting Irish’s sixth-ranked recruiting class, according to Scout.com. Of the 25 players who inked national letters of intent with Notre Dame on Wednesday, four come from New York and New Jersey, including the lone five-star prospect, offensive lineman Quenton Nelson of Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic, and four-star defensive tackle Jay Hayes of Poly Prep.
“Life after football, the opportunity there academically and athletically, it’s two deals in one,” said the 6-foot-5, 270-pound Hayes, who signed while in Texas preparing for Friday’s U.S. Under-19 National Team game against Team Canada. “If you really think about it, you’re getting a great degree, you’re getting a great education and you’re getting exposure and great coaches that prepare you for the next level.
“I’m really excited. It’s a big challenge. It’s Notre Dame.”
The Irish recently flipped St. Joseph by the Sea defensive tackle Peter Mokwuah, who was initially committed to Rutgers, and also nabbed defensive end Andrew Trumbetti of Northern Valley Regional High School in Demarest, N.J.
Notre Dame has frequently come to the area for players, landing Lincoln All-American defensive end Ishaq Williams three years ago. It had eight players from New York or New Jersey on its roster this past season, a number which will increase next fall.
As expected, five-star defensive back Jabrill Peppers of Paramus (N.J.) Catholic signed with Michigan. There was some doubt Peppers, the third overall prospect in the country according to Rivals.com, would stick with Michigan after the Wolverines’ poor finish to last season — he tweeted in November he would take visits to other schools — but the elite playmaker never followed through on any visits. He was one of 12 players from the Paramus school to sign a letter of intent, along with offensive lineman Billy-Ray Mitchell (Virginia Tech) and defensive lineman Terrance Harris (Iowa).
Fifteen months after playing his first high school football game, Lincoln All-American defensive tackle Thomas Holley signed with Florida. The 6-foot-4, 300-pound lineman, a basketball player growing up before turning his attention to football last year, initially committed to Penn State, but flipped his commitment to the Gators when head coach Bill O’Brien left State College for the NFL’s Texans and lead recruiter Larry Johnson went to Ohio State.
Other notable city signees included Erasmus Hall All-American running back Curtis Samuel (Ohio State), lineman Jose Duncan (Rhode Island) and defensive back Darin Peart (Stony Brook); Tottenville wide receiver/safety James Munson (Navy) and linebacker Anthony Coyle (Fordham); Fordham Prep running back Malik Crossdale (Army) and quarterback James McHale (Holy Cross); Lincoln cornerback Khendell Puryear (Central Connecticut State); Holy Cross defensive back Brandon Jackson (Army); and Cardinal Hayes defensive back Shawn Antoine (Rhode Island).