Brian Kelly Drops In On 2020 WR Commit Jay Brunelle

As Brian Kelly made his way through the Northeast this week, the Notre Dame head coach made sure to stop in to check in on 2020 Irish wide receiver commit Jay Brunelle‍. 

Kelly dropped by St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury along with assistants Brian Polian and Del Alexander on Thursday before the group headed out to lunch. 

“Everything went really well,” Brunelle told Irish Sports Daily afterward. “It was a great visit. I’m feeling good. We talked about a lot of things.

“It’s a pretty surreal experience to have him walk through the halls, especially at a Catholic school like St. John’s with the values that are there, which are pretty similar to Notre Dame. There was a buzz around school and teachers trying to say hi. It was a cool experience.”

Looking back on how Brunelle’s recruitment was a little different than most was one of the highlights of the visit. 

Brunelle earned his offer at June’s Irish Invasion and then had the heat truly turned up by the Notre Dame staff a few weeks later, which resulted in his commitment. 

“They were very happy that I was patient with them throughout this whole process, but I knew I wanted to be at Notre Dame in the end and if I had to be patient with them I had to be,” Brunelle said.

“I really appreciate how genuine they were through the entire process and how honest they were. They told me where I stood the entire time and I am grateful for that.”

On Thursday, Kelly made it clear how much it meant to the Irish that Brunelle was a member of the class and it meant a lot to Brunelle that they made the effort to come see him a week before Signing Day. 

“It really confirmed a lot of things for me, just like my official visit,” said Brunelle, who was in South Bend last month. 

“I am really excited to sign on the 18th.”

Brunelle is as fired up as ever about getting to Notre Dame for good and as an early enrollee, that will come next month. 

“Just getting a jump,” Brunelle said of what he’ll get out of enrolling early. 

“What Coach Kelly said today was just being ready for the challenge. I’m looking forward to it. I think it’s time and I am ready to move ahead.”