Notre Dame is officially one for two on National Signing Day 2017. The Irish added defensive lineman Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa Wednesday afternoon when the Hawaiian native signed with Notre Dame. The Irish lost out on cornerback Russ Yeast earlier in the day when he stuck with his commitment to Louisville. Tagovalia, on the other hand, signed with Notre Dame and bolstered the defensive line haul for the Irish.
Notre Dame was a late player in the recruitment of Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa – just as they were with Yeast – but in this case they were not battling for a recruit who was previously committed elsewhere. Luckily for Notre Dame they were able to make up a lot of ground in a hurry – thanks in large part to new special teams coordinator Brian Polian.
At the beginning of January, USC looked like the favorite for Tagovailoa, but throughout the course of the month, Notre Dame made up ground and then pulled ahead last week when he visited campus for a mid-week visit. They were able to maintain that lead despite a weekend visit to Vanderbilt.
Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa is big defensive end prospect – literally. At 6’4″, 270 lbs, he is listed as a strong-side defensive end by most recruiting services, but given his size it is very easy to envision him having a future on the interior of the Notre Dame defensive line. Should he eventually play inside, he would give Notre Dame a disruptive pass rusher on the interior of the line. As a senior, Tagovailoa racked up 18 quarterback sacks for Kapolei High School.
247Sports thinks the most highly of Notre Dame’s newest defensive linemen rating him as a 4-star prospect and the #247 overall prospect in the country. Other services have rated him as a 3-star prospect.
In addition to his offers from USC and Vanderbilt, Tagovailoa held offers from Washington, Oregon, Virginia, and Georgia Tech.
I am a firm believer that you can’t have enough defensive linemen – especially big and strong linemen like Tagovailoa – so there is a lot to be happy about with this addition for Notre Dame. He joins a defensive line class that includes headliner Darnell Ewell, Kurt Hinish, and Jonathon MacCollister. It would have been ideal if the Irish were able to add Halen Harris as a weak-side pass rusher as well, but he stuck with his Arizona commitment last night. The Irish do still have a great chance of adding a weak-side defensive end later today with Kofi Wardlow selecting between Notre Dame, Maryland, and Virginia Tech.
Brian Polian Strikes Again
Is anyone surprised that Brian Polian was able to work some magic on a recruit from Hawaii on Signing Day? Polian’s back and forth to the island in 2008 and 2009 were a major reason that a linebacker by the name of Manti Te’o surprised the entire recruiting world on Signing Day eight years ago by selecting Notre Dame. Even playing behind Polian made the familiar trip to Hawaii to build a relationship in short order with the Tagovailoa-Amosa family.
Polian has his work cut out for him with the Notre Dame special teams units, but it’s pretty clear that the man has not lost his recruiting touch in his years way from the program. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for Polian at Notre Dame.
We should set up ‘training facilities’ in the Hawaiian islands. They grow some big boys out there.
Wadda ya know, the coaching staff is listening to us. This guy’s video is awesome! Sheds blockers, already has a nice spin move, enough speed to catch QB’s from behind and when he grabs you, you’re done. What else is there to teach him.
We had NO RUSH last year…Play him PLEASE.
Also like the fact that he was recruited by sound academic schools, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Georgia Tecj. yet also schools that love, athletes USC and Oregon.
Cat and mouse game, this Pacific Islander will make sure there are no mutinys aboard the Fightin’Irish.
Is it just me or does this guy look like the real deal. He is fast and strong and looks like he could get stronger. Seems intense too. Love it.
I’m with you Ray. Seems to have a real nose for the ball – great instinct. I’d love to see him on the field this year. Early prediction – at some point he racks up an interception or two during his career with ND.