Despite the success in recruiting offensive linemen, Notre Dame continues to expand the o-line board, particularly at offensive tackle.
The third tackle offer over the last month, Carlsbad (N.M.) three-star recruit Taylor Miterko announced an offer from the Irish on Monday – his seventh offer over the six weeks with Arizona State, Baylor, Ole Miss, Oregon, TCU, and Washington adding to his list.
After liking what they saw in the 6-foot-5 ½, 270-pound prospect’s film, Notre Dame sent quarterback coach Tom Rees to New Mexico to evaluate Miterko during a workout.
Rees and Miterko touched base after his stop at Carlsbad High School.
This paved the way for coach Jeff Quinn’s offer, which came during a phone conversation on June 4.
“Coach Quinn, he gave me his background and talked about his history,” Miterko said. “He seemed like a really humble guy and I liked talking to him. What he spoke about and what I took from what they know about me, I think they’re both really good guys and really good coaches.
“I think that (Notre Dame) is recruiting me mainly as an offensive tackle because I have the build for it and the length.”
For Miterko, the University and education in a private Catholic school is appealing.
“With Notre Dame, they are definitely a good school academic-wise and that definitely plays a role, because I definitely want to go to a school that has really good or really strong academics and Notre Dame kind of fits that,” Miterko said. “That’s a pretty big role and that’s an impressive school to say the least.
“I’m actually Catholic, I was raised Catholic, and both my parents are Catholic so it being a Catholic school definitely plays a role. I definitely think that it’s in the discussion. It’s a very great school academic-wise, so I’d definitely say it’s in the picture.”
With an offer on the table, as always, setting up a visit will be the next step.
“With how busy my schedule is and with other visits and whatnot, and the dead period that’s in the middle, it kind of makes it tough,” Miterko said. “But, I’ll see what I can do to hopefully make it up there because Notre Dame is definitely a school that’s worth seeing and worth my time. I definitely would like to get up there, but we’ll just have to see how things go throughout the summer.
“I’m not too sure yet, but hopefully I’ll make it up before the dead period. I’ll have to see. I might have to make it after. Football is starting for us at Carlsbad on the 18th, but hopefully I can make it there before (the dead period), if not, after.”
Aside from his recent offers, Colorado, Boise State, Cal, Colorado State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Oklahoma State, Rice, Texas Tech, Texas State, Texas Tech, Vanderbilt, Virginia, and Washington State have also offered.
Currently, two programs stand out.
“Definitely Texas Tech and Oklahoma State – those are two schools that I’ve been in contact with for a while and been trying to visit,” Miterko said. “Other than that, I’m still trying to figure out which are my top schools but those are definitely the main ones.
“Ideally, I’d like to make (my decision) before the summer is over, but I’m going to take as long as it takes to figure out which one is right for me.”
