BREAKING | 2021 CB Philip Riley Commits to Notre Dame
Recruiting hasn’t been ideal for prospects in 2020 as the NCAA has mandated a dead period since March, which means no in-person contact between coaches and recruits.
2021 Bloomingdale (Fla.) cornerback Philip Riley committed to Notre Dame in May without ever visiting and then backed away from his pledge in September. Three days later, Riley made a verbal commitment to USC.
“First, I just wanted to say thank you so much to the USC coaching staff and fanbase for welcoming me into their amazing family and giving me an opportunity to play at the next level,” Riley said in a statement.
“But after thinking it through, I believe it is in my best interest to decommit from USC. With that being said, I will be committing to The University of Notre Dame. A big thank you to Coach Kelly, Coach Lea, Coach Mickens and Coach Polian for accepting me back with big open arms and allowing me to continue my athletic and academic journey at Notre Dame.”
Riley is back in the Notre Dame class as he has recommitted to the Fighting Irish and he’ll join Ryan Barnes, Justin Walters and Chance Tucker in the Irish secondary.
A quiet trip to South Bend while the Irish were in Pittsburgh last month could have very well been the turning point in his recruitment.
New cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens led this recruitment and the two have developed a special relationship.
"I've gotten to know him on a deeper level and some personal things in his life," Riley told Irish Sports Daily in May. "I've gotten to know his wife and his daughter. We're still working to build the relationship even more than that."
Mickens played for Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly at Cincinnati and has a unique perspective, which allowed Riley to be comfortable in making a commitment.
"It's amazing because he played for Coach Kelly at Cincinnati," said Riley. "He already knows how Coach Kelly is and the way he coaches and runs the program."
Kelly also was a significant piece to landing Riley's commitment the first time around as a Zoom with the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder and his family left an impression in the spring.
"I love Coach Kelly," explained Riley. "I love his energy. He was telling us about the program and what he's done with the program, but also what the program can do for me after and during football.
"He told me what he, Coach Lea and Coach Mickens expect out of the whole program and the players that go in there. He explained the type of players they recruit have the same mindset."
Riley is expected to be an early enrollee in January.