BREAKING | 2023 OL Elijah Page Commits To Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s first official visit of the 2023 recruiting cycle certainly went well.
“It was great,” Elijah Paige said. “It's definitely the place for me. I had a great time.”
Indeed, the 2023 Arizona offensive lineman just announced his commitment to the Irish one week after taking that official visit.
“It's just the opportunity,” the 6-foot-7, 290-pounder said of his decision. “There's nowhere else that you can go where you get that great of an education and that that high-caliber of football. They compete for a national championship every year and you get to get one of the best degrees there is.”
Paige chose the Irish over offers from schools like USC, UCLA, Washington and Michigan State among others.
Marcus Freeman, Harry Hiestand and Tommy Rees were fired up when Paige called them after returning to Arizona after the trip to tell them he was cancelling his other visits and committing to the Irish.
“They were so hyped,” he said. “They were all on the phone. I could hear them clapping. It was great. They were super excited.”
Hiestand obviously played a crucial role in Paige’s decision.
“You see the guys he's put in The League, it's insane,” Paige said of Hiestand. “Some of the best offensive linemen in the NFL were coached by Coach Hiestand. You see that and you see what he can do.
“He's a great guy, great person to talk to, always has great energy. I think I'm going to succeed by being coached by him.”
The Pinnacle High School standout gives the Irish 15 commitments in the Class of 2023 and has already been in touch with fellow offensive line pledges Sam Pendelton, Sullivan Absher and Joe Otting.
“We're just talking about what we're going to do with this class,” Paige said. “It's special. Not everyone can say they join the #1 2023 recruiting class. It's special.
“I think we're going to do some great things. I think we're going to win a national championship.”
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