'12 OH OT Taylor Decker (Ohio State Verbal)

rtrn2glory

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Thanks for the read!!

Gotta love a big guy that can move around like that
 
Ironman8

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Freebie from Blue and Gold:

Following an offer from Notre Dame, it was just a matter of time before Vandalia, Ohio, offensive tackle Taylor Decker gave his pledge to the Irish.


Prior to making a commitment on March 4 he had scheduled a series of visits, one of which was set for Notre Dame for today with his parents, and he followed through with the trip. As expected, the Irish didn't disappoint.

"It just further reinforced why I chose Notre Dame," the 6-8, 285-pound Butler High player told BlueandGold.com while driving home from South Bend. "I enjoyed everything."

Decker had already began establishing a relationship with his recruiter Tim Hinton and offensive line coach Ed Warinner, but his Wednesday visit to campus was the first time he got to meet Irish head coach Brian Kelly.

"He was a really down to earth person," he shared of his meeting. "I was nervous at first, but once we started talking it was great. He is a great coach and he does it for the right reasons."

In addition to meeting the man at the helm, Decker was also looking forward to the overall community on campus. He had already felt a connection during his first visit to the school for the Michigan game Sept. 11, and now meeting more people involved with the program has left an even stronger impact.

"Well, first all the people in general that I had contact with were awesome," he said. "The players were all really cool to meet and I look forward to being part of that in the future."

Decker will be returning to campus for a fourth time on March 23 for the opening spring practice, and he'd also like to make it out for the Blue-Gold game on April 16.

He was the second verbal commitment of the 2012 recruiting class.
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Ironman8

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Set up another visit for April 9th, and should be on campus for the Blue and Gold game. Can't get enough of South Bend.
 
rtrn2glory

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Upgraded from his last ranking, guys a huge prospect with a lot of potential.
 
Ironman8

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From Scout's Ohio Road Trip:

When we stopped at Vandalia Butler to meet with several of their prospects, I expected to see more of a tight end looking kid when I saw Taylor Decker. Little did I know, the 6'8 Decker had grown to 297-lbs.
While I was there, I got to see Decker open fan mail from Fighting Irish faithful asking for autographs and the like. Don't think it's all gone to his head though, he's a great young man who will represent the Irish well on and off the field. Here's what the four-star prospect had to say about various subjects.

Major at Notre Dame: At first I was thinking something in Zoology, but now I'm leaning kind of towards sports medicine. I don't know if I want to be a physical trainer or an athletic trainer, but I know I want to do something sports slash workout wise with my career.

Favorite Pro Team: Not really, I'm more of a college sports guy. I watch pro football, but I'm more of a college fan.

Favorite Offensive Lineman: One of my favorite players I saw coming out of college was Bruce Campebll from Maryland. He's got a six pack and he's a freak athlete, but he's an offensive lineman and I've watched some of his highlight tapes and stuff and I really like him.

Favorite Overall Player: Growing up, Warren Sapp was my favorite player, especially when I was little, because I was number 99 and my favorite color was red, so the Buccaneers and Warren Sapp, it came together like that.

Year began playing football: 1st Grade. I wasn't on the team at the beginning of the year, because I wasn't sure about it, but my brothers played football, so they kind of talked me into it. I joined the team a week late and I loved it ever since.

Always an Offensive Lineman? I was always an offensive lineman. I was a guard because I was a little chubby, but on defense, I was actually a linebacker in 5th or 6th grade. Up until 8th grade, I was a linebacker.

Best Football Moment: We won the pee wee championship. They call it the Super Bowl and everything. We got to play down at Welcome Stadium against Wayne actually and just playing with all my friends, we were in the newspaper and everything. 2nd grade. It was a huge deal to me then. We got trophies and everything. It was awesome.

WORD ASSOCIATION
Notre Dame football: Tradition
Coach Kelly: Undefeated season at Cincinnati
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Scout.com: Ohio Road Trip: Taylor Decker
 
Rack Em

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We don't have Zoology or Sports Med. He could do "Science Pre-Professional" and tailor it towards Athletic Training...well to an extent. That would tough though since essentially that's ND's equivalent of being "pre-med."

I was an AT major before transferring here, so I inquired about it as a major at ND. To be a serious trainer he would need to get a masters degree from an accredited university, which ND is not. He could also take some nursing classes at St. Mary's that would be helpful too and probably could count toward a modified degree program. But Zoology would definitely not be an option.

FWIW.
 
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When we stopped at Vandalia Butler to meet with several of their prospects, I expected to see more of a tight end looking kid when I saw Taylor Decker. Little did I know, the 6'8 Decker had grown to 297-lbs.
From the article on Scout- 297 lbs and hasn't spent any time w Longo yet. He's going to be a monster.
 
BeauBenken

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I think he may be looking for a field like Excercise Science. Or so it sounds to me.
 
Ironman8

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Per Taylor on ISD's Power Hour, he is now up to 305, and he still is relatively "skinny". He is going to be a MONSTER.

Note: He also plans on coming to 5 of the 6 home games this year. ND kid through and through.
 
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TerryTate

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Ironman8 said:
Per Taylor on ISD's Power Hour, he is now up to 305, and he still is relatively "skinny". He is going to be a MONSTER.

Note: He also plans on coming to 5 of the 6 home games this year. ND kid through and through.
Click to expand...

Tate Nichols #2 anyone?
 
BeauBenken

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I really, really like this kid. He's gold and blue, through and through and I love it!

He won't be Tate Nichols #2...He'll make his own name and place in Notre Dame history. I just know it.
 
Ironman8

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BeauBenken said:
I really, really like this kid. He's gold and blue, through and through and I love it!

He won't be Tate Nichols #2...He'll make his own name and place in Notre Dame history. I just know it.
Click to expand...

All TT meant was they are both 6'8+ monster tackles. Not too many of them around.
 
rtrn2glory

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Ironman8 said:
Per Taylor on ISD's Power Hour, he is now up to 305, and he still is relatively "skinny". He is going to be a MONSTER.

Note: He also plans on coming to 5 of the 6 home games this year. ND kid through and through.
Click to expand...


Wish i had that option.
 
Irish Man3

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This young man has the frame to be around 320 before he plays a snap at ND. Im guessing he will "redshirt" his freshman year and be in Longo's system. He is tall enough, and athletic enough to carry 320 without a problem. We may land Andrus Peat or Zach Banner or another stud OL this year, but stay excited about this kid because he has the ability and body frame to be special.
 
Ironman8

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Irish Man3 said:
This young man has the frame to be around 320 before he plays a snap at ND. Im guessing he will "redshirt" his freshman year and be in Longo's system. He is tall enough, and athletic enough to carry 320 without a problem. We may land Andrus Peat or Zach Banner or another stud OL this year, but stay excited about this kid because he has the ability and body frame to be special.
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I agree completely. The only reason he is a low 4 star and not higher is because he is a "project". I will take high upside prospects like Taylor every time as long as we have depth to have him develop with Longo and Warinner until he is ready for Saturdays, which we do right now. It is the reason why Watt, Lombard and Nichols have the same opportunity to first play when they are truly ready, as opposed to the early Weis years when kids such as Sam Young were thrown into the fire before they were really ready.
 
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