Ewell Chooses Door #2

“We have a principle in our house,” the 2017 Virginia defensive lineman explains.

“Either for one, you can take bullets and go into the military. Two, you can take hits on the football field at any college you want. Or three, bending over, getting down and dirty fixing a sink.”

Ewell is selecting option number two.

“Definitely,” he laughs. “Come on now.”

Ewell’s parents aren’t overly concerned with the college he chooses.

“My parents don’t care as long as I get out the house,” he says. “They truly do not care; they just do not want me sitting in the house.”

Still, they accompanied the 6-foot-3, 300-pounder to the Midwest last week so he could get looks at Notre Dame, Michigan and Ohio State.

“It was a really good trip,” Ewell said. “I really can’t complain.

“Notre Dame is Notre Dame. It speaks loudly for itself. Ohio speaks loudly and Michigan too. Michigan was really, really great and Ohio. I spoke to all of their staffs and everything.”

The Lake Taylor High School standout got a better understanding of what it means to be a student-athlete in South Bend.

“Notre Dame has a lot of tradition and stuff I didn’t really know about, so I learned a lot,” said Ewell, who learned about how the helmets are painted with gold.

“That was really, really interesting to me. I knew it was a Catholic school, but I didn’t really understand you didn’t have to be Catholic to go to the school.”

The coaching staff had an opportunity to sit down and speak with Ewell and his parents.

“They were really able to step it up another notch, especially with (defensive line coach Keith) Gilmore,” Ewell said. “He kept it real with me. He didn’t spare anything. I really appreciated that and the defensive coordinator (Brian VanGorder).

“Everything is really, really good.”

After visiting the three schools, Ewell said he wanted some time to take everything in, but apparently has had enough to do just that. He told Irish Sports Daily he’ll make his college announcement on Friday, July 15th.

“I want to be a part of something great,” he said. “There’s a difference in playing for a school that doesn’t really want you. When they want you, they’ll do anything possible to make sure you’re right.

“Am I going to succeed? Am I going to have the best opportunity there?”

The Notre Dame staff hopes it was able to answer those questions in the affirmative.