BREAKING | Brandyn Hillman Commits To Notre Dame
He may not have had any doubts, but Brandyn Hillman still wanted to be sure.
The 2023 Virginia athlete is now certain Notre Dame is the school for him and he announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Wednesday.
The Churchland High School star gives the Irish 27 verbal commitments in the Class of 2023.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder was recruited as a true athlete with the potential of helping at a variety of spots, including safety, receiver, running back, Wildcat quarterback or cornerback.
Hillman made the announcement on Wednesday as a way to honor his mother on her birthday.
Understanding that fact helps understand why Hillman came to the decision he ultimately did, choosing the Irish over offers from schools like Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Oklahoma and USC among several others.
“Family,” he said of Notre Dame. “It solidifies family.
“You have people all around the nation, all around the country who come to Notre Dame. It's a great place to be around.”
Academics is something Hillman’s mother, Shawn, has preached to him for years and that also played a major role in his selection.
“It's one of the top schools in the nation, so that pretty much speaks for itself,” said Hillman. “They hold themselves accountable in the classroom, so I love that.”
Hillman saw a blitz of scholarship offers come his way at the end of September, when Notre Dame offered along with schools like Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Boston College, Tennessee and Kentucky.
North Carolina, Oklahoma and USC would eventually follow suit.
Hillman took an official to South Bend in October, at which point it was obvious the Irish held an edge. But he resisted the urge to make a quick decision and made trips to North Carolina, Virginia Tech and Kentucky only solidified his choice.
Earlier in the process, Hillman put himself on track to graduate early so he could enroll at the school of his choice in January. That was before Notre Dame came into the picture and didn’t know what would be required in terms of classes to be an early enrollee in South Bend.
Hillman will finish those requirements in Virginia this spring, sacrificing that opportunity to pick the Irish.
“It says a lot,” he said of what that says about his feelings regarding Notre Dame.
“It says that I really trust in the process, trusting what the school is bringing forth.”
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