'12 NC DE Romeo Okwara (Notre Dame Signed LOI)

[aubeirish]

Absolutely. There must be a reason everybody around this kid has offered.

 

[IrishLax]

Any guesses on the other 2?

Perkins. I don't know if we do end up getting another one but you have to think our main push will be on Odenigbo.

 

[GBdomer]

David Perkins. Okwara and i think the staff really wants Ifeadi. Best thing about Okwara too is he is only 16. 16 year old monster.

 

[aubeirish]

Perkins. I don't know if we do end up getting another one but you have to think our main push will be on Odenigbo.

What about Noah Spence. Is he n this conversation as well? I know he has been quiet about recruiting so far, but everybody still think we are still in it? Or perhaps he's a pure DE.

 

[NDPhilly]

Wow had a mental lapse and forgot about Perkins. Thanks guys. I agree that our main target is Odenigbo but him and Noah Spence seem like real reaches at the moment. I would have loved to of had Wynn with his athleticism too. Can't really think of any others off the top of my head that have/had interest in us.

 

[GBdomer]

What about Noah Spence. Is he n this conversation as well? I know he has been quiet about recruiting so far, but everybody still think we are still in it? Or perhaps he's a pure DE.

We need to get Spence on campus first. he seems to like Penn State, Maryland, NC State, Florida and Alabama.

 

[Ben E.]

Congrats Romeo!

 

[Chicago Irish Fan]

I love all of the length and athleticism we're getting on defense.

 

[Ricochet]

Wow had a mental lapse and forgot about Perkins. Thanks guys. I agree that our main target is Odenigbo but him and Noah Spence seem like real reaches at the moment. I would have loved to of had Wynn with his athleticism too. Can't really think of any others off the top of my head that have/had interest in us.

ND is recruiting Spence as a DE not as I and many others thought as a OLB.

 

[johnnykillz]

Welcome!

Great news!

 

[BeauBenken]

Nice pick Romeo! Good news to hear after a long day.

And you guys want to talk about great upside and untapped potential? That's this kid in a nutshell.

 

[GainesvilleIrish]

Welcome to the ND family, Romeo. Glad to have you aboard.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

We are doing well in the Carolinas. Welcome!

 

[Who'saWildManNow]

Wow, I can honestly say this is the first I've read about this kid. Impressive offer list, good size for a 16yr old and will have great competition to learn from. Congrats!

 

[BGIF]

"Committed to Notre Dame!"

"Committed to Notre Dame!"

IrishIllustrated.com - Post up: Okwara commits

Pete Sampson IrishIllustrated.com Editor
7/10

Romeo Okwara held an anti-press conference to announce his college decision on Sunday. Instead of playing the hat game, Okwara posted his Notre Dame commitment on his Facebook page.

The three-star defender posted "Committed to Notre Dame!" on his wall, in effect breaking his own news.

Okwara confirmed the commitment with Irish Illustrated via text message as he became the 12th verbal pledge in Notre Dame's '12 recruiting class and the second outside linebacker.

Okwara's father Julius also confirmed the commitment late Sunday night.

"We wanted to make sure to get that done," said Julius Okwara. "You go to so many schools that the more you go to you get confused. Notre Dame was a beautiful school. They have a good business school. That impressed me too."

Okwara visited Notre Dame on July 7 alongside his father for a first look at the Irish program, which includes former Ardrey Kell teammate Prince Shembo at a similar position the latest standout from the Charlotte program would play in South Bend. Okwara left campus with Notre Dame firmly among his leaders alongside North Carolina, Clemson and Virginia Tech, with plans to return to the Irish for an official visit.

"It was good, I really liked it," Okwara told Irish Illustrated less than 48 hours before making his commitment. "I had fun with the players and they seem like really good guys. They told me they liked to be there and to play for their coaches. I really liked that a lot."

Okwara said Note Dame told him the target was three outside linebackers in this class with one commitment already on board in Perkins. He said he planned to wait on making a commitment until during his senior season.

Still, the Irish made a strong impression on Okwara before he heading back to North Carolina on Friday night.

"I knew (Notre Dame) was a great academic school and I was expecting to hear a lot about that," Okwara said. "The more I found out about it, I really liked it a lot. Mostly I'll remember the atmosphere and what the players were like."

And now Okwara will be one of them.

 

[NCDomer]

Glad to see ND cleaning up in NC. ND could use a bigger presence in the Southeast (though it does have a decent presence in FL). It's probably the area ND has the smallest presence. Recruiting players from the area and winning will certainly turn that around.

Just imagine ND getting the Mario Williams of the future...

 

[Rocket89]

Welcome Romeo.

NCDomer,

We do alright in the southeast for sure. We usually snag some guys from Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas every year. Texas is our weakest area.

 

[hrc08]

The most interesting comment in the II article for me was that ND isn't done at OLB.

Any guesses who the 3rd OLB will be? or is this a "incase Noor Davis wants to come" sort of teaser?

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

Welcome Romeo to the Notre Dame family.

 

[rtrn2glory]

it sounds to me like the II article had him kind of scared into the commitment being told we were going to take three olb and perkins already committed. i really hope he stays aboard, but his tone didn't exactly make me feel 100% confident, but then again who is 100% committed before february nowadays.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Welcome young man; yours will be a great career and and great decision for you lifelong.

The comment about ND wanting three OLBs this cycle: my five-year position-spread indicated to my foggy reasoning that if we had 20 scholarships available, we probably would go for two linebackers. [we are currently almost full on four-deep but will lose four soon]. Given fill-up needs at DB particularly, plus four OTs and maybe four WRs, plus a specialist taken, the slots are tight. But the spreadsheet said that three linebackers would be better. This makes me wonder if Kelly feels that 21 is the more likely number this cycle.

For Romeo's benefit, two of those LBs leaving will be Fleming and Filer. So, he can look forward to good chances of literally "fitting in". With Rabasa possibly being used "elsewhere" [we're still looking for the Te'o stud replacement or the other ILB to step up], Romeo could have lots of opportunity quickly.

 

[rtrn2glory]

it's looking more and more like we're going to skip on QB this year.

3 OLB
4 OL
3-4 WR
6-7 DB
2 RB
2 DL
and a specialist

that puts us at 21-23, idk how we could fit a QB, but if the right one comes along i'm sure that coach will find room.

 

[bpoluka]

I really like the early foot speed. His first two steps separate him from alot of the OL he is facing.

Great pick up for ND and the future. Welcome

 

[ndcoltsfan2010]

it's looking more and more like we're going to skip on QB this year.

3 OLB
4 OL
3-4 WR
6-7 DB
2 RB
2 DL
and a specialist

that puts us at 21-23, idk how we could fit a QB, but if the right one comes along i'm sure that coach will find room.

Agreed. Quarterback is not a necessity this time around and we missed on Maulk and will not get Kiel. We have a full cupboard and we have other areas that are in more need. In my opinion, picking up a couple of quality running backs is what I am hoping for right now.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

The most interesting comment in the II article for me was that ND isn't done at OLB.

Any guesses who the 3rd OLB will be? or is this a "incase Noor Davis wants to come" sort of teaser?

Ifeadi would be my guess. I think Noor is pretty solid with Stanford. Odenigbo is scheduled to visit again in two weeks. That visit will be crucial for us to get back in it with him.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

it's looking more and more like we're going to skip on QB this year.

3 OLB
4 OL
3-4 WR
6-7 DB
2 RB
2 DL
and a specialist

that puts us at 21-23, idk how we could fit a QB, but if the right one comes along i'm sure that coach will find room.

Some of the RB recruits have been told by the staff that they are looking at taking 3 RBs this cycle.

 

[rtrn2glory]

wouldn't surprise me at all if that's the case. we definitely need the depth

 

[Rack Em]

If he seriously squats 600 lbs it'll be like offensive linemen trying to move an oak tree...

 

[Irish Man3]

Good pickup for the Irish. Puts ND at a solid number going into the second half of the recruiting cycle.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

If he seriously squats 600 lbs it'll be like offensive linemen trying to move an oak tree...

Congratulations Romeo!

I have watched your film. I believe your squat is incredible. There are a couple of points in your film where it looks like you knocked the opposing offensive lineman out with a shiver. A couple of times it looked like you used hand play to totally dominate your opposing offensive lineman. Once you made your man spin like a top. But the thing I liked best about your film is you stayed home. Never once did I see you run around a block. You have the potential to be an incredible beast. And you have a whole lot of similar teammates this year.

Good luck,

The old Bogtrotter