Notre Dame Early Enrollee Blake Fisher: 'Greatness is the standard'
Blake Fisher has been a polarizing figure in the Notre Dame recruiting world over the last two years.
The Avon (Ind.) star embraced being the face of the 2021 recruiting class and took it on himself to help recruit for the Irish.
Fisher will now put recruiting on the backburner as he heads to Notre Dame this weekend to start the next chapter of his life.
"I'm pretty low key right now," Fisher told ISD. "I'm ready to meet everyone, make new relationships with people I've never met before and interact with different personalities. I want to get to know people around the school and in the community."
While Fisher made sure to inject himself into multiple recruitments, the 2020 year made it unique as he hasn't met a large majority of the class face-to-face. Move-in day will be the first chance to meet many of his future teammates for the first time and the outgoing Fisher couldn't be more excited.
"It's going to be great," stated Fisher. "We FaceTime a lot and stuff, but seeing the guys in person is going to bring us to a higher level of joy. The whole group is goofy, so it's going to be a great time to meet everyone and have some good times before we start classes.
"It'll be fun to have some laughs and make fun of each other. It'll be an exciting moment when we finally get to connect at Notre Dame."
Fisher, like most offensive linemen, is well-aware of Notre Dame's long history of offensive linemen. It's why he committed to Jeff Quinn and joining the brotherhood has been something Fisher has looked forward to for a long time.
"They are high character guys," explained Fisher. "Everyone looks out for each other and wants the best for each other. Everyone is trying to be great in that room. Greatness is the standard and that's the standard as always had on the offensive line.
"It starts with Coach Quinn leading that room and the leadership in that room trickles down from the old guys to the young guys. I'm excited to add my personality and my playing style. I can't wait to gel with those guys and I've talked to most of them already."
Matt Balis will be a large part of the early enrollees daily routine for the next few months and Fisher made sure to prepare as much as possible for the legendary workouts.
Fisher has cut weight and will arrive at Notre Dame measuring in around 6-foot-6, 332 pounds.
"I've been training Monday-Saturday," Fisher said. "Some Wednesdays, I've taken off, but I'm trying to eat right and making sure I'm putting the right stuff in my body. Cutting weight has been something I've worked on. I've wanted to lean out because those guys weigh more, but they look extremely lean. I've got compliments saying I've lost weight.
"It's really just dedication in the weight room. I want to make sure I move fluidly, can bend and be mobile at the tackle and guard positions."
Notre Dame lost four starters from a year ago and there will be an opportunity for early playing time. Fisher figures to factor into the mix as he can play tackle or guard.
"He said I'd start off at left tackle, but he's also said wherever I feel comfortable to get on the field early," Fisher said of Quinn's message to him. "He doesn't want to have me on the sidelines because that's not something he recruited me for. He wants me to come in and learn the playbook.
"He said I have the physical ability and it's now about the knowledge and technique of the game. It's about the grit and the grind to be able to play on Saturday. I feel I determine my own destiny and I have all the resources in the world, so it's all on me to determine the next steps."
Fisher is excited for the next step in his life, but he also is aware it's going to be different as he'll be alone for the first time in his life.
"I'm going to miss my family and friends - my mom and dad," said Fisher. "Growing up an only child, I lost my sister at the age of seven, so it's going to be kind of weird getting used to a roommate, which is Rocco Spindler.
"I'll probably be a little homesick because we've been through a lot together. My parents are my rocks. I'm only about 2.5 hours from home, so it's all good. My cousin is in South Bend. I'm excited and a little nervous, but once I get rocking and rolling, I'll be pretty good."
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