Notre Dame’s recruiting in the trenches will get a boost on Monday when four-star Sam Taimani visits for a two-day look at the Irish. The Utah athlete could help on either line.
Notre Dame's recruiting department will get a late boost before training camp.
Early next week four-star athlete Sam Taimani from Salt Lake City, Utah will visit Notre Dame, making good on plans to see the Irish before his senior season at East High School. Taimani had already postponed that look at Notre Dame and at The Opening earlier this month he admitted that seeing South Bend might have to wait for an official visit.
Now, Taimani will see the Irish on Monday and Tuesday. He will be joined by his older sister on the visit. Taimani informed Irish Illustrated of those visits plans via text.
At The Opening, Taimani had no trouble picking out reasons why he wanted to check out Notre Dame. He called seeing the Irish a "big one" in his recruitment, which is focused on seven schools: Notre Dame, Alabama, Washington, Utah, Oregon, Tennessee and UCLA.
""How it was made, how the program was built, it wasn't easy for Notre Dame back then," Taimani said. "But what it's built over the years, it's an amazing program."
Taimani could develop at offensive guard or defensive tackle for Notre Dame, with the Irish staff open to either position. Notre Dame has John Dirksen committed at guard, with Jayson Ademilola and Ja'mion Franklin on board at defensive tackle. While Taimani hinted that he prefers defensive tackle long term, he said position fit would not make or break his recruitment.
"Honestly, it's wherever they need me," Taimani said. "As of right now in high school I think I'm better at guard, but I'm starting to go into the phase of being a defensive player because I want to play defense in college. If you need me at guard, I'll play guard."
Brian Polian has led Notre Dame's recruitment of Taimani, with Mike Elston also making a spring visit to Utah.
The Irish have worked other angles with Taimani as well, inviting his high school coach, Brandon Matich, to speak at the Coaches Clinic during spring practice. Matich, who's a Notre Dame fan, had a pre-existing relationship with Polian when the Irish special teams coordinator was the head coach at Nevada and recruited East High School.
Taimani likes what he hears from Polian.
"He came out during spring ball and recorded me, he was pushing for me to be offered from them," Taimani said. "He pulled through. That man is a great man. He just told me, 'Be patient,' and I just listened to him. It paid off."
Now Taimani will get to know Polian even better, this time sitting down with the Irish assistant on Notre Dame's home turf.
