Santana Harvey already had several big-time scholarship offers, but the 2027 Florida defensive lineman was fired up to add another from Notre Dame over the weekend.
“It felt like an honor, to be honest,” the Lakeland High School star told Irish Sports Daily. “Because Notre Dame is a school where you're doing good on the football field, but not only on the football field, also in the classroom.”
The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder learned of the offer from Irish defensive line coach Al Washington on Friday.
“He said I'm very developed for my age,” Harvey said of Washington. “I have good technique, good hands, good burst off the line. He said, I have the potential to be the best in the country.”
Harvey’s initial impressions of Washington are positive.
“I feel like he's a very good guy,” Harvey said. “I see myself playing under him. I feel like he could really, really develop me in a good way and get me to the NFL.
“A visit is in the works. That's the next step, to get up there to South Bend and see a game, see the campus and the facilities and everything.”
Harvey’s offer sheet also includes schools like Florida State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Michigan State, Kansas State and Georgia Tech among others.
He made unofficial visits to Florida and Clemson last month.
“Florida was good as usual,” he said. “Florida, we have a pretty good connection with them. The visit was pretty good up there. The same as how it usually is because I've been up there multiple times, so I know how it is.
“Of all the visits that I've taken so far, the Clemson one is the best visit at the moment.”
Harvey pointed to the Clemson coaching staff as the biggest reason for enjoying his trip to Clemson.
“As soon as we walked through the door, all the coaches, the defensive coordinator, d-line coach, Coach (Chris) Rumph, all the different coaches, they greeted me and my family,” he said. “Also, the facilities at Clemson are really top-notch. I know every school in the country, every Power-4 program has top-notch facilities, but Clemson's facilities, I really like them.
“When we were in the film room talking ball, I really feel like Clemson can develop me as well and get me to the NFL.”
In addition to South Bend, Harvey wants to return to Clemson and Gainesville as well as make a stop at South Carolina.
“Pretty much that's it at the moment because it's still early in my recruitment,” he said. “Throughout my junior year, we'll play it by ear and we'll really see because I know more schools will come in. We'll see which schools come in, then we'll play it from there.”
Harvey outlined a handful of key factors to his ultimate decision.
“Development and education, also relationships and family. The fifth would probably have to be playing time. To be honest, my goal is to play early as a freshman.”
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