Coach | 2022 DT & Notre Dame Target Kaleb Artis Competes On, Off Field

Notre Dame has a bit of history with St. Francis Prep School in Queens, N.Y.

“Gerry DiNardo and Larry DiNardo, guys from the 70s, Frank Pomarico, all St. Francis Prep High School guys,” current St. Francis Prep head football coach Rich Carroll says, referring to a trio of former Irish offensive linemen who earned multiple All-American honors and a couple of national championships between them.

The Irish are hoping to recapture some of that history and extended a scholarship offer to one of the school’s contemporary standouts, 2022 defensive tackle Kaleb Artis‍.

“The first thing that stands out is that he’s 6-5, about 265 and he’s 16 years old,” Carroll says of Artis. “His physicality is obviously there. He checks those boxes.

“As a sophomore, he was a true leader in our program. He led from the front. He worked his tail off. He’s really a special kid. He understands that you’re going to work for everything you get.”

Carroll is also impressed with the fact that Artis embraces challenges in the classroom as well.

“He could very easily go to a school with lesser academics,” the coach says. “At St. Francis Prep, 75 is passing. Rather than going to a school that might not be as academically rigorous, he dug his feet in.

“He’s an all-around special kid. He not only works with the A players and B players, he’s a guy who will make C players better. He works with everybody. He takes that low man under his wing and really pumps kids up. He’s just a special kid.”

Artis also has offers from schools like Rutgers, Syracuse, Boston College, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia among others.

Carroll says the Irish offer was “a big one for him.”

“He really got taken aback,” the coach says. “I feel like he’s really in awe to be considered a prospect for Notre Dame. I said, ‘Kaleb, you go to an office at Notre Dame and guess what? You’re name’s on the board.’

“For him, that meant a lot to be considered by Notre Dame.”

Carroll says Artis will “without a doubt” get out to South Bend for a visit.

“We’re in New York and it’s kind of the worst spot to be in for thinking about moving forward, but we’re anticipating starting up in August and having our regular season,” says Carroll.

“I’m sure at some point, Kaleb will make his way out to South Bend. I’m sure it’s a dream of his to get out there as well.”