Hinish Picks ND
Kurt Hinish knew he wanted to get the recruiting process over soon, but not this soon.
At least not until the 2017 Pittsburgh defensive tackle took a trip to South Bend this past weekend for the Irish’s Junior Day.
That’s when the 6-foot-3, 285-pounder realized he’d found his future.
Hinish just announced his verbal commitment to Notre Dame live on KDKA-CBS in Pittsburgh.
“It’s an opportunity I can’t really pass up,” Hinish told Irish Sports Daily of his decision on Sunday. “Everything about the school, you can’t really pass it up.”
Hinish chose the Irish over in-state schools Penn State and Pittsburgh along with offers from programs like Boston College, Rutgers, Syracuse, West Virginia, Vanderbilt and Baylor among others.
He had planned to make several visits this spring with the idea of making a decision before the start of his senior season, but this weekend’s visit accelerated that timetable.
“It’s a relief,” Hinish told ISD. “I’m real excited to commit, especially since I know where I’m going. I don’t have to worry about going out on visits anymore. It’s just exciting.”
Hinish’s commitment comes a day after his Central Catholic High School teammate and good friend, linebacker David Adams, gave the Irish his pledge. The two had talked about wanting to play together in college and now they’ll get the chance.
Texas quarterback Avery Davis got the commitments rolling when he announced his pledge on Saturday afternoon. The Irish currently have seven verbal pledges in the Class of 2017 with Hinish, Adams, Avery along with offensive linemen Dillan Gibbons and Joshua Lugg along with tight ends Brock Wright and Cole Kmet.
Hinish plans to do whatever the Irish coaching staff wants to continue building the class while also respecting the fact others need to go through the process for themselves.
“I’ll do as much as I can, but honestly, it’s a decision that’s up to them and they’ll have to do what’s best for them,” he said. “I’m not going to tell them, ‘Hey, go to Notre Dame…’ It’s going to be a decision they have to make, but whatever they think.”
Hinish believes he’ll add to Notre Dame on and off the field.
“On the field, I just think the players around me, I think they’ll up their game once they see me play,” he said. “Off the field, I think I can just be a natural leader in the classroom and in the environment.”
Central Catholic head coach Terry Totten agrees.
“He’s outstanding on both ends,” Totten said. “He’s the whole package.”
“He’s a big, strong kid with a great motor…He’s a good student and a hard-working kid. He’s a strong, physical good kid.”