On the eve of the Irish’s biggest recruiting weekend of the year, Notre Dame received a commitment from their smallest recruit on the board. That’s not to say South Florida’s Isaiah McKenzie isn’t a recruit to get excited about. In fact, one look at his highlight tape and you see a playmaker that will likely do big things from the moment he steps on campus.
McKenzie made official a commitment many thought was just a formality when this Tweet came from American Heritage High School’s Athletics Twitter page:
Surprise! Isaiah McKenzie just committed to Notre Dame!
— American Heritage (@AH__Athletics) October 18, 2013
The 5-foot-8, 165-pound McKenzie looks like a prototype slot receiver, a position the Irish have looked near and far to fill. While size is an obvious concern, it’s not hard to think of former West Virginia star and Rams first round draft pick Tavon Austin and think of ways the Irish could use McKenzie.
One concern that many are reporting is a qualified test score that allows McKenzie to officially have a commitable offer to Notre Dame. Multiple premium recruiting websites have talked about the delay in McKenzie’s official visit is because he’s waiting to hear back on a test he took in early October. The tweet coming from American Heritage’s Twitter account was reportedly because McKenzie announced his intention to come to Notre Dame during the pregame Senior Night presentation.
If the commitment becomes official, which most expect it to be, McKenzie becomes the third wide receiver in the recruiting class, joining Justin Brent and Corey Holmes. McKenzie had offers from Michigan, South Florida, Cincinnati, and West Virginia among others, but the Irish were always the front runners.