This is a big one... excerpted from BGI For Zeke Motta, the recruiting process was relatively long, but in the end, the decision was not all that difficult. “My official visit to Notre Dame was just great. The academics are so good, the football program is great and the fan base had so much to do with my trip being so pleasurable for my Dad and me,” Motta said. “I am going to Notre Dame,” he told BGI on Monday night, following his visit for the Stanford game in which the Irish defeated another school that was high on his list. “I liked Stanford and with all of the schools that were high on my list would have been excellent choices. I wanted an opportunity to excel in the classroom and on the football field and to grow as a person, and so in the end, Notre Dame is just the best place for me to do that,” Motta explained. He enjoyed every aspect of his visit, and has been impressed by the Irish coaching staff and the genuine approach it took with him and his family during the recruiting process. “Coach Weis and Notre Dame have always been clear with me about where I stand. I was told that when I attended camp in the summer if I had a good camp, I would come away with an offer. That is what happened. They told me the positives about Notre Dame and were up front about some of the challenges. “In the end, some of the challenges they presented to me were positives for me. I like to be challenged academically and athletically, and I can’t wait to be just another member of the student body,” Motta said. Motta will get right to those challenges after his final year of playing football in high school, where his father is an assistant coach. “I will be an early enrollee, so I will be there in January, and I couldn’t be more excited about coming there,” he said with conviction. Motta has enjoyed an excellent senior campaign to date. He is a tackling machine similar to current Irish safety Kyle McCarthy. He has also helped out on special teams and, in fact, has kicked off a few times, so maybe that is a skill he could further develop at the college level. For now, he will continue to prepare his mind and body to be among the last to commit to the Irish’ Class of 2009, but among the first to arrive on campus.
Gotta love those early enrollees. It sort of negates that last minute poacher who make a living out lying to kids to get them to change just before LOI day.
recruiting <r>Gipper,<br/> <br/> You are right about the poaching, especially on this one. As you can see our old friend Urban would like to have this kid also, and we know how he is. <E>8)</E></r>
Terry, I read a little more and Motta was on our list and the recruitniks at GatorCountry like this guy. Good catch.
Catch... <t>The film on him on Rivals. Can he run. Great pickup and a January guy after the US Army game.<br/> <br/> The basketball program lost Ryan Kelly to Duke but get Motta the same day.</t>
Zeke <r>Looks like Zeke Motta is the Irish fold for for sure dispite rumors that Urban is coming after him hard. Maybe we won't lose this one to the gators. He will also enroll early:<br/> <QUOTE><s> </e></QUOTE></r>
Charlie at a meeting of the Jersey Shore Notre Dame Club. A few beers, some laughs, target practice, some calzones, just another night with the boyz.
CW <r>Terry,<br/> <br/> I thought that was a picture of Charlies' latest technique of insuring other coaches stay away from his recruits. <E></E></r>
What you don't see in that photo is JIF, standing off camera to the right, holding a burning holy card in in palms, taking the oath.