When Morrice Richardson made an unofficial visit to South Bend for Notre Dame's classic showdown with No. 1 Southern California, the 6-foot-2, 228-pound linebacker from Atlanta, Ga., was awed by what the Irish did on the field and what they had to offer off of the gridiron.
This weekend Richardson made his official visit to Notre Dame and despite not seeing a top-ranked opponent, the Irish still impressed the standout linebacker. The four-star prospect gave both Irish visits a 10.
"It was just as good," Richardson said when asked to compare his two visits to Notre Dame. "I got in on Saturday morning and went to the game. After that I got to hang out with (current Irish linebacker) Maurice Crum, Jr. and took a tour; it was a nice visit."
The only difference between his unofficial and official visits to Notre Dame was the opportunity to meet with the coaching staff on Sunday.
"I met with coach (Bill) Lewis and coach (Charlie Weis) this time," he said. "They told me things about the school and how I would fit in. It was a solid weekend."
Richardson's next official visit is a Nov. 25 stop in Gainesville when Florida hosts Florida State. But, that visit apparently won't be a factor in determining which school he'll attend as he has indicated that his choice has already been made.
"I made my decision," he said. "But, I'm not ready to announce it yet. I don't like the spotlight so I don't think I'll have a press conference."
When Richardson does make his decision public he'll choose from among Florida, Notre Dame and Virginia Tech.