Price Gets ND Offer
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Bryan Driskell
The Notre Dame football staff continues to multi-task on the recruiting trail. While working hard to put together the Class of 2012, the Irish coaches continue to target the nation’s top rising juniors. Notre Dame recently hosted Class of 2012 running back Will Mahone, one of the top rising senior backs in the country. While scouting Mahone the Irish coaches came across one of the top rising juniors in his Class of 2013 teammate Billy Price (Austintown, Ohio/Fitch). Price is one of the top junior linemen in the country and is interested in Notre Dame.
“My coach told me today that they offered,” Price said of when he learned of the Notre Dame offer. “I’m definitely interested, oh yeah. They are a great university so of course I’m going to be interested in them.”
Price is a two-way standout for Fitch, and different schools are recruiting him for different positions. Just where Notre Dame sees Price remains to be seen. Where he is going to play at the next level is secondary to the academic opportunities his future school will offer him.
“Actually, the academic standpoint and where I’m going to fit best for my degree,” Price said of what factor will matter the most in his decision making process. “Academics are definitely number one. I’m slowly going through which school is best for this.”
“I want to major in financing and maybe something in communications too,” said the Fitch lineman. “I enjoy talking to people, so I would like to do something there as well.”
The Notre Dame offer is the fourth early offer for the Fitch standout, who also plays basketball and competes in track. He has also been offered a scholarship by Ohio State, UCLA, and SMU. Already he is getting offers from all over the country, and his offer list is sure to expand moving forward.
“One of the assistant principles here (at Fitch) is good friends with a guy at UCLA, so maybe that is where that one came from,” said Price with a laugh. “As far as SMU I have no idea where that one came from.”
Although he is open to playing offensive or defensive line at the next level, Price has an idea of what he would like to play at the next level.
“I play offensive tackle in high school, although I’m being recruited by some schools to play guard,” Price said. “I do play defensive end also. At Ohio State I’m listed as a guard prospect. I prefer to play tackle. I really like punishing people.”
“I’d like to play in an offense close to my high school offense,” Price said of the system he’d like to play in at the next level. “I want to be a spread offense kind of person because of the tempo and I’m used to it. But if the school that is good for the academic side of it does something different I might be an I-formation or pro style guy or whatever. It doesn’t really matter.”
Price is going to factor football into his decision, but as mentioned above academics is far and away the top factor in his decision. This makes Price open to playing whatever position his future school wants him to play.
“Either way you gotta play what you gotta play,” continued the 290-pound lineman. “If I go for defense somewhere I’ll play that.”
The recruiting process is sure to be a fun experience for the Fitch standout. Although he grew up rooting for Texas, despite living in Northeast Ohio, Price considers himself more of a fan of college football than he does a particular school.
“Living in Ohio I’ve rooted for Ohio State, Notre Dame, but I’m more of a college football fan than any particular team.” Price said of his love for college football. “I don’t have a definite, positive favorite college football team. You just cheer and support sort of a regional thing.”
“When you see stuff on ESPN it’s always about Notre Dame’s tradition,” continued Price. “When you think of college football you think of Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, schools like that. I went to an Ohio State game, it was unreal. Plus the fact I’m a recruit so they are all telling me I have to go there and it will make my life, it was great. There’s nothing like 108,000 people screaming O-H-I-O.”
Despite being in the heart of Buckeye country, Price is hearing plenty about Notre Dame.
“A lot of my family are supporters of Notre Dame,” Price said with a laugh. “My mom works with somebody that went to Notre Dame and got their degree from there. Some friends of mine have parents that are big Notre Dame fans and are always asking me when I’m going to get an Notre Dame offer.”
Now Price can finally answer that question, as the Notre Dame offer finally came.
Track season kept Price from making any trips this summer, so making it out to college campuses will likely have to wait until the fall. Being able to attend games at Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan State, and other schools is something Price is very much looking forward too. It should come as no surprise coming from a young man who loves college football as much as Price.
