2019 Four-Star LB Keith Maguire Jr. Talks Notre Dame Offer & Junior Day

Friday was a big day for 2019 Malvern Prep (Pa.) linebacker Keith Maguire Jr.‍ as he picked up an offer from Northwestern on his unofficial visit. 

The four-star prospect had another big day on Saturday as Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly gave him an offer at the end of Junior Day. 

“I had a meeting with coach Kelly after the tours and stuff,” Maguire told Irish Sports Daily. “He was the one that offered, so it’s definitely real. Sometimes you’re a little iffy on an offer. It feels good coming from the head coach.” 

The visit to Notre Dame couldn’t have gone better for the 6-foot-2, 215-pounder as he was able to enjoy campus on a 50-degree South Bend day. 

“It was awesome,” stated Maguire. “It was a beautiful school. The new facilities and locker room are awesome. It was great time and experience.” 

Maguire had been invited to Junior Day by defensive coordinator Clark Lea, and the two spent a lot of quality time together on Saturday. 

“I met with him before the Junior Day started,” Maguire said. “We had a positional meeting and it was only me and one other linebacker, so I had some good personal time with him.” 

The need for linebackers was stressed by Lea as the Irish will be extremely thin on bodies heading into the 2019 season. 

“He really stressed the 2019 class was a big recruiting class for them,” explained Maguire. “They aren’t going to have a ton of depth on defense. He loved how I fit into the scheme and excited for the chance to recruit me.” 

Baylor, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, Northwestern, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, Vanderbilt, Virginia and West Virginia are a few programs that have offered Maguire, but most schools are leaving his future position in the air. 

Lea did the same as he told Maguire he was a linebacker. 

“He wants to just recruit me as a linebacker,” said Maguire. “He didn’t really specify where he saw me fitting in.” 

Maguire saw two of the finest academic schools in the Midwest on back-to-back days, and he said both visits were comparable. 

“It was good,” Maguire said of his visit to Northwestern. “It was very similar to the Notre Dame visit. I met with coach Fitzgerald and got a tour of the facilities. 

“Two great schools. Two schools that have a good academic and football reputation. Both schools will be high contenders for me going forward.” 

Notre Dame laid out an extensive academic presentation on Junior Day, and Maguire was impressed with the opportunities he could experience in South Bend. 

“It speaks for itself,” said Maguire. “They really gave a good talk in our academic meeting today. It’s going to be small classes, and no one goes overlooked, so you’re going to get the attention you need. 

“It’s a degree that will carry you for a long time after football.”