Notre Dame QB Commit Drew Pyne Breaks Down "Fantastic" In-Home Visit

Drew Pyne‍ is officially counting the days.

“A month from today, I’ll be moving in,” the 2020 Notre Dame quarterback commit told Irish Sports Daily on Thursday.

Pyne has been committed to the Irish since April of 2018, so it’s no surprise that the early enrollee is itching to get on campus.

On Wednesday, he was able to host Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly and quarterbacks coach Tom Rees at his house in Connecticut.

“It was fantastic,” said Pyne. “Obviously Coach Kelly and Coach Rees are always good to be around.”

Pyne was grateful for the chance to get his future coaches in his home and around his family.

“Having Coach see where I come from and my home, it’s a really cool atmosphere and being able to share the experience for a couple hours is always really fun,” he said. “He’ll be coaching me in a month, so I’m excited.”

While Pyne is fired up about starting a new chapter, he acknowledged there are some mixed emotions.

“Football-wise, obviously I’m very excited,” he said. “It’s like football heaven for me. I’m extremely excited to be able to go transform my body and really see the transition from being there right when I get there and in the next few months. Football-wise, I just can’t wait to go there and make my game better.

“Academically, it’s also very exciting too. It’s the best academics in the country. I’m very excited to be there and have that mixed with football. I’m also very excited to be in my dorm. Every dorm has a chapel in it, so going to church. The whole feel for Notre Dame, it’s an amazing place. I’m very excited to be there.

“The only downside of it all is leaving my family. My family and I are very, very close. All of my siblings are my best friends and my parents are role models. Having to leave them is going to be really tough, but it’s got to happen some day and they’ll be very supportive of me. Overall, I’m very excited.”

And he’s convinced he’s making the right decision by enrolling early.

“First off, academically, it puts you in a good academic position,” he said. “It puts you ahead a semester in academics and football. Going there in January and getting acclimated with the whole lifting schedule and practice schedule and meeting all of the guys, it’ll be a very good atmosphere.

“Coach Kelly explained how all of the midyear guys live together and do a lot of things together, which I think is very beneficial…Overall, academically and athletically, it’s the best decision I could possibly make. I’m very excited about it and don’t regret making that decision at all.”

Pyne may have been disappointed to learn former offensive coordinator Chip Long would be moving on from Notre Dame, but it didn’t dent the strength of his pledge to the Irish.

“I love Coach Long,” he said. “I hope the best for him. I’ll always be thankful for him recruiting me and taking a chance on me. I can’t thank Coach Long enough. I loved him as a coach, but at the same time, Notre Dame is Notre Dame. Coach Kelly is there and he’s an unbelievable coach. He was a big reason for why I made my decision and also Coach Rees being the quarterback coach.”

Pyne will obviously be interested in who is named new offensive coordinator, but he also has a tremendous amount of faith in Kelly to choose.

“Whatever Coach Kelly decides will be the right choice. As long as Coach Kelly is there, I feel very comfortable and Notre Dame is Notre Dame. I chose Notre Dame for many other reasons other than Coach Long.

“Like I said, I still love Coach Long, but I chose Notre Dame for Notre Dame and Coach Kelly and Coach Rees.”