Be sure to watch UND.com and WatchND throughout Signing Day for real-time official announcements of national letters of intent and a live signing day show.
CHASE CLAYPOOL
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Measurables: 6'4", 215 lbs.
Accolades: 4-star consensus, played for 2015 B.C. high school football AA Championship, participated in The Opening, 2016 Blue-Grey All-American Bowl.
Impressive Offers: Michigan, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah.
Projected Position: Wide Receiver
Quick Take: Notre Dame went across the border to pull out one of this cycle’s most intriguing prospects. Claypool looks like an immediate contender for playing time at wide receiver. He also looks like a guy who could grow into an edge rusher. Not too many guys could play wide receiver or defensive end in college.
After dropping 51 points in a high school basketball game on Tuesday night, it’s clear that Claypool’s athleticism puts him atop the prep scene in British Columbia. Whether that lessens the considerable adjustment period he’ll face once he starts playing college football at an elite level remains to be seen.
What he means to the Irish: If this were a signing day victory, Claypool would be among the best stories of the recruiting cycle. He still should be, especially after seeing his performance at The Opening—where Claypool showed great speed and athleticism to go along with elite size and length.
A recruitment that took a lot of time and resources, landing Claypool was just the beginning. Developing him into the football player we see on film is the next step, and that process will begin this June.
Obligatory YouTube clip: