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WR George West is Irish
By Steve Frost
(This story originally appeared in Irish Today)
George West wanted to keep his oral commitment to Notre Dame secret until his parents had a chance to see the campus for themselves on their planned visit with him for the game against USC.
But make no mistake about it. The lightning quick receiver from Oklahoma City is Irish, becoming the third wide receiver and 16th commitment to Notre Dame’s 2006 recruiting class. After conducting an interview with Irish Today in which he indicated that he favored Notre Dame but wanted his parents to see the campus first before he officially committed, West called back to say he was Notre Dame all the way.
“I just wanted to let you know I am committed to Notre Dame, I’m solid Notre Dame,” said West. “I just talked with my parents and Coach [Mike] Haywood and you can go ahead and write that. I’ve committed to Notre Dame.”
West explained that he wanted his parents to see the campus first before he went public with his decision but he had already told Irish head coach Charlie Weis and Haywood that he was coming to South Bend.
“I had already talked to Coach Weis about the situation,” explained West. “As far as the way I feel about it I can say that right now. I was just really trying to consider my parents’ feelings and let them see the place before I committed. As far as seeing the actual campus, from what I have been hearing, I’m pretty confident that things will go well and I’m already a solid commitment to Notre Dame.”
“That was one of the last things I had to do [talk with parents]. I feel confident to say I’m a solid commit,” he continued. “Coach Weis pretty much understood as far as what my parents were feeling and me considering their feelings.”
In his initial interview with Irish Today, West explained that he had privately committed but he had yet to discuss the decision with his parents, wanting to get their feedback on the USC visit first. He called back a short time later to say that he had talked about his decision with his parents and he was ready to make it public. He indicated he had called Notre Dame offensive coordinator and running backs coach Mike Haywood with the news that his secret was out.
“I guess I kept letting [the decision] pass by and wasn’t really worrying about the situation. [After you called] I finally talked to my parents about it to make sure they thought it was okay because I never really asked them. But we figured it all out and we are on the same terms.
“My friend [Dominique Franks of Tulsa, Oklahoma who plays at Union High School] was going to announce it at the same time [as me] and he’s taking a visit this weekend,” said West.
“We were talking about doing it together but I will probably go ahead and announce it down here [in Oklahoma] because I don’t want to rush him.”
In George West, Notre Dame is getting a phenomenal athlete with excellent speed, quickness and hands. “He never comes off the field,” said Northeast Academy head coach Ron Kroeger. “He’s in phenomenal condition and he’s just one of those special athletes.”
As a junior, West led the state in punt and kick returns, returning six punts and four kick-offs for touchdowns. He led Oklahoma Class 4A in receptions and receiving yards and recorded three touchdowns off of 12 interceptions. Last week West caught touchdown passes of 49 and 23 yards, returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown and returned a kick-off 94 yards for another score as Northeast Academy defeated U.S. Grant 52-0.
West also plays basketball and baseball. Kroeger said West can dunk a basketball with either hand. He has been clocked in the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds. He bench presses 275-pounds.
Weis and Haywood indicated they see the 5-foot-10 and 185-pound West playing receiver and special teams for the Irish.
“Notre Dame fits me academically so I was pretty much waiting to see how the season would go and Coach Weis talked to me about how I would fit in with the offense, how they ran the offense and things like which positions I could play,” said West, who visualized himself running routes while watching games on television.
West said he has even started studying the Notre Dame offense.
“Throwing 60 times in a game is very appealing,” he said, referring to the MSU game.
West joins two other receivers who committed previously in the Class of 2006, 5-foot-11, 175 pound Barry Gallup of Wellesley, Mass, and 6-foot-4, 185 pound Rob Parris of Cleveland. Several other receivers still hold offers, including Richard Jackson of Clermont, Fla. and Terrence Austin of Long Beach, Calif., who will both be visiting South Bend for the USC game.
“Ever since I got the Notre Dame offer I have always felt that’s where I wanted to be already,” said West. “I made this decision feeling confident that that is where I want to be.”
By Steve Frost
(This story originally appeared in Irish Today)
George West wanted to keep his oral commitment to Notre Dame secret until his parents had a chance to see the campus for themselves on their planned visit with him for the game against USC.
But make no mistake about it. The lightning quick receiver from Oklahoma City is Irish, becoming the third wide receiver and 16th commitment to Notre Dame’s 2006 recruiting class. After conducting an interview with Irish Today in which he indicated that he favored Notre Dame but wanted his parents to see the campus first before he officially committed, West called back to say he was Notre Dame all the way.
“I just wanted to let you know I am committed to Notre Dame, I’m solid Notre Dame,” said West. “I just talked with my parents and Coach [Mike] Haywood and you can go ahead and write that. I’ve committed to Notre Dame.”
West explained that he wanted his parents to see the campus first before he went public with his decision but he had already told Irish head coach Charlie Weis and Haywood that he was coming to South Bend.
“I had already talked to Coach Weis about the situation,” explained West. “As far as the way I feel about it I can say that right now. I was just really trying to consider my parents’ feelings and let them see the place before I committed. As far as seeing the actual campus, from what I have been hearing, I’m pretty confident that things will go well and I’m already a solid commitment to Notre Dame.”
“That was one of the last things I had to do [talk with parents]. I feel confident to say I’m a solid commit,” he continued. “Coach Weis pretty much understood as far as what my parents were feeling and me considering their feelings.”
In his initial interview with Irish Today, West explained that he had privately committed but he had yet to discuss the decision with his parents, wanting to get their feedback on the USC visit first. He called back a short time later to say that he had talked about his decision with his parents and he was ready to make it public. He indicated he had called Notre Dame offensive coordinator and running backs coach Mike Haywood with the news that his secret was out.
“I guess I kept letting [the decision] pass by and wasn’t really worrying about the situation. [After you called] I finally talked to my parents about it to make sure they thought it was okay because I never really asked them. But we figured it all out and we are on the same terms.
“My friend [Dominique Franks of Tulsa, Oklahoma who plays at Union High School] was going to announce it at the same time [as me] and he’s taking a visit this weekend,” said West.
“We were talking about doing it together but I will probably go ahead and announce it down here [in Oklahoma] because I don’t want to rush him.”
In George West, Notre Dame is getting a phenomenal athlete with excellent speed, quickness and hands. “He never comes off the field,” said Northeast Academy head coach Ron Kroeger. “He’s in phenomenal condition and he’s just one of those special athletes.”
As a junior, West led the state in punt and kick returns, returning six punts and four kick-offs for touchdowns. He led Oklahoma Class 4A in receptions and receiving yards and recorded three touchdowns off of 12 interceptions. Last week West caught touchdown passes of 49 and 23 yards, returned a punt 54 yards for a touchdown and returned a kick-off 94 yards for another score as Northeast Academy defeated U.S. Grant 52-0.
West also plays basketball and baseball. Kroeger said West can dunk a basketball with either hand. He has been clocked in the 40-yard dash in 4.41 seconds. He bench presses 275-pounds.
Weis and Haywood indicated they see the 5-foot-10 and 185-pound West playing receiver and special teams for the Irish.
“Notre Dame fits me academically so I was pretty much waiting to see how the season would go and Coach Weis talked to me about how I would fit in with the offense, how they ran the offense and things like which positions I could play,” said West, who visualized himself running routes while watching games on television.
West said he has even started studying the Notre Dame offense.
“Throwing 60 times in a game is very appealing,” he said, referring to the MSU game.
West joins two other receivers who committed previously in the Class of 2006, 5-foot-11, 175 pound Barry Gallup of Wellesley, Mass, and 6-foot-4, 185 pound Rob Parris of Cleveland. Several other receivers still hold offers, including Richard Jackson of Clermont, Fla. and Terrence Austin of Long Beach, Calif., who will both be visiting South Bend for the USC game.
“Ever since I got the Notre Dame offer I have always felt that’s where I wanted to be already,” said West. “I made this decision feeling confident that that is where I want to be.”
