The weekend continues to be kind to Notre Dame. In a matter of 24 hours, a linebacking corps that looked thin continues to be bolstered.
A big part of that is the commitment of Texas linebacker Kolin Hill, who returned home from his official visit Sunday and called the Irish coaching staff to commit, joining Nile Sykes in choosing the Irish this afternoon.
Hill is another newcomer to the recruiting scene, picking the Irish over Boise State, Colorado and Texas Tech. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder brings speed and quickness to a position that the Irish are looking to upgrade athletically. Hill would certainly do that, with impressive top-end speed and edge rush moves that pop off his highlight tape.
“We just sat down and talked,” Hill said. “I told you (Texas) Tech and ND were interests of mine.? We talked about the pros of cons of going to both schools. Definitely Notre Dame was the best choice for me academically and from a football standpoint. You’ve gotta think about your future.
“Texas Tech, you could go there for four years and you might not even know what your job is gonna be. Notre Dame, you go there and you’re set for life.”
While Hill’s offers aren’t as impressive as some other Irish recruits, he’s received a lot more attention as his senior tape circulates, with Texas the latest to kick the tires on him. And while he and his twin brother just returned from Colorado, where they both hold scholarship offers, Hill decided Notre Dame is the place for him.
Next up for Hill is his position. He’ll come to South Bend with the ability to play multiple spots, either as a traditional (but undersized) Cat linebacker or fill out and grow into an inside linebacker. With the addition of Drue Tranquill, Sykes, and Hill, it appears the staff has slightly tweaked the formula it uses to evaluate inside linebacker prospects, with athleticism and speed a bigger priority.
Hill is recruit No. 21 for the Irish. That number could climb tomorrow as well, with blue-chip tight end Tyler Luatua announcing his college choice tomorrow.
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