BREAKING | 2022 Four-Star TE Holden Staes Commits to Notre Dame

Notre Dame has always recruited the tight end position well and the Fighting Irish have put a significant stamp on the 2022 class.

Westminster (Ga.) four-star tight end Holden Staes‍ has gone public with his commitment to Notre Dame six days after fellow tight end Eli Raridon‍ made his decision.

Fun Fact: Notre Dame wasn't even in the picture three months ago when Staes decommitted from Penn State, but that changed in a hurry. 

"After my decommitment, Notre Dame was one of the first schools that came really hard after me," Staes told ISD. "It all picked up quickly with them after the offer. We were doing almost two Zooms a week. I was talking to (John) McNulty and (Tommy) Rees every day on the phone." 

While the Irish were aggressive, McNulty and Rees didn't push the 6-foot-5, 230-pounder. Staes already knew about the program and simply just needed time to learn more and gain comfort with Notre Dame. 

"I already knew about Notre Dame's history at the position, everything offered from an academic standpoint and what they've been doing lately with the football program," explained Staes. "As soon as I got the offer and learned more about the coaches and program, I was starting to get really excited about it. 

"As we kept going in the recruiting process, I was talking to other schools and Notre Dame started to make more and more sense after I got done with every week. I thought back each week on every call I had with all the coaches and it made sense for me." 

Perhaps the turning point in his recruitment came in April when the Atlanta native made a secret visit to Notre Dame. 

It wasn't the first time Staes had seen the campus, but he was able to look at the University in a different light during the trip. 

"I went up probably two months ago," Staes said. "It was the first week of April. I kept it pretty quiet because I didn't want anyone knowing I was up there. The coaches knew I was up there, but in terms of the public, they didn't know I was up there. 

"It was the second time I had been up there. I went to a camp two years ago. I saw nothing but good things and that was reassuring for me as well." 

Staes also looked at his recruitment differently over the last three months. 

The Westminster star learned a lot about himself and the recruiting process and was able to apply his knowledge to find the best fit.

"It was definitely a different situation," Staes stated. "I feel I looked at the recruiting process through a different lens this time. After the decommitment, a lot of things come to the top where you can really see the truth in people and how people really feel. 

"It wasn't any easier because you have to make a tough decision. There are so many good schools and options, but it was just a different situation." 

Name, Image and Likeness (NIL) is becoming very important for schools, and Notre Dame rolled out a national billboard campaign this week. 

Staes is one of many recruits that took notice and was blown away by what he saw. 

"That definitely matters," Staes explained. "Part of playing college football at such a huge program, you want to build your brand. You want to take the success you have on the field and take it off the field to allow people to see who you are off the field and build your brand as big as possible. 

"What they're doing with the billboards, I thought that was super cool. Seeing Kyle Hamilton in Atlanta and the other guys around the country was super cool. You can tell they take the Name, Image and Likeness seriously." 

In addition to the billboards, Staes also spoke with Notre Dame about NIL this week.

"I did a Zoom earlier this week with my parents and the whole recruiting staff," Staes said. "We went through a Powerpoint with what they have planned with Name, Image and Likeness. 

"It kind of just speaks for itself. Notre Dame is such a recognizable brand. If you have success there, only good things are going to happen off the field in terms of people wanting to get in contact and work with you. They take it seriously and I'm glad they're doing that." 

And yes, Staes has already become good friends with 2022 quarterback Steve Angeli, who has been recruiting him for months. 

"Steve and I have been really cool since I decommitted," stated Staes. "He hit me up right away because I think Rees reached out to him and told him to hit me up. We have been talking back and forth since then. We're super close and we've talked almost every day."

Staes is also more than happy to be part of a two tight end class in 2022. In fact, Staes and Raridon have already joked about who committed to Notre Dame first. 

"Eli and I got to talking last week when I found out he was committing," laughed Staes. "I committed before Eli. Eli committed and then went public the couple days after he committed. 

"I've been committed for a few weeks, but I had to put a few things in motion before I went public." 

Rankings
ISD: 91 (Four-star)
247: 90 (Four-star)
Rivals: 5.8 (Four-star) 
ESPN: 81 (Four-star) 

Film Don’t Lie | TE Holden Staes

Junior Highlights