BREAKING: Notre Dame Lands Lacey

Earlier this year after yet another visit to South Bend, Jacob Lacey said there was just something about Notre Dame that kept him coming back.

Now, the 2019 Kentucky defensive lineman will have plenty of reasons to continue returning to Notre Dame as he’s the Irish newest commit and first on the defensive side of the ball for the Class of 2019.

“I told the coaches last night,” the 6-foot-2, 294-pounder from Bowling Green, Ky., said. “I had to call them because they can’t call me. They were actually at a get-together with all of the coaches.

“When I called Coach (Mike) Elston, I told him. Coach (Brian) Kelly and them were all there and were all excited, so it was a great reaction.”

Earlier this week, Lacey narrowed a list of dozens of offers down to Notre Dame, Clemson, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State and Tennessee.

Lacey, whose cousin is the late former Notre Dame standout Dave Duerson, always had Notre Dame very high on the list and has no doubts about his decision.

“I was very, very happy,” he said. “That’s most definitely the right school for me, so I was very, very excited.

“I have family that went there. They’re always on the national level. The coaches are great. They have a great education. It’s the whole package.”

Lacey says he’ll look to bring leadership to the program.

“Not necessarily with my words, but definitely with my actions,” he said. “I’m not one who says a lot, but I love to give 110 percent and help out other people. In college, a lot of people think it’s about you and trying to get to the NFL, but I like to do what’s best for everybody.

On the field, he expects to have a major impact as well.

“I’m not going to lose to anybody,” he said. “That’s not in my DNA, so nothing’s going to stop me.”

Lacey expects to make more returns to South Bend this fall for some games.