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Notre Dame Football Recruiting

Ewell Explains Commitment

July 15, 2016
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Quality defensive linemen are hard to come by, but Notre Dame has landed 2017 four-star Darnell Ewell to bolster the interior of the defensive line. The 6-foot-4, 295-pounder chose the Irish over Alabama, Clemson, Michigan and Ohio State on Friday afternoon.

“There is a sense of relief,” Ewell told Irish Sports Daily. “A relief that I know where I am going and everything is set in place. I am really, really grateful that I have this opportunity.”

The Lake Taylor (Va.) star took a visit in June to South Bend and found a fit with the team, but most importantly the school itself.

“I wanted to find where I fit at,” stated Ewell. “I tried to find my niche and where I could truly blossom I guess. It sounds kind of sensitive, but that’s how I felt.”

Ewell also looked at the big picture when he was seeing where he could blossom. Notre Dame can offer on and off the field opportunities that he can use to succeed for the rest of his life.

“I am not only seeing myself four years from now, but I am trying to see the rest of my life,” he explained. “I see the opportunities at Notre Dame. I can truly enjoy myself and the whole process at Notre Dame.”

For Ewell, the recruiting process was overwhelming at times, as he held 32 offers and that sense of relief went into effect when he committed to the Notre Dame staff.

“It was stressful,” Ewell said of the process. “It seems like something everyone wants, but truly it’s really, really not what it appears as. It’s not really what it looks like. Every kid and athlete wants that, but you really don’t.

“You want to have a nice set of options to choose from and nothing stressful so you can do what you do. When you have every school coming at you, it’s a hard choice and hard to manage.”

Defensive line coach Keith Gilmore was also a major part of Ewell’s decision to choose the Irish. The two are both laid back guys and will absolutely connect well when Ewell arrives in South Bend.

“I have now seen Coach Gilmore face to face,” said Ewell. “We are really, really close. I guess our personalities match up well too.”

Ewell will now turn his attention to his senior year and embracing his role as a Notre Dame commit.

“I am definitely going to try to come up for some games,” stated Ewell. “I am not trying to relax my senior year either. I am going to try to get the most out of it I can.”

Now that Ewell has a sense of relief with the process over, we did ask if he planned on recruiting for the Irish and the answer matched in line with the easy going personality.

“That is not my business,” laughed Ewell. “I am just going to worry about myself.”

 
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