"I could really see myself going there” - 2019 OL Walter Rouse

2019 Sidwell Friends (Md.) offensive lineman Walter Rouse‍ didn’t hide his excitement when he picked up his offer from Notre Dame in May as he and his mother had a quick dance in the car. 

The 6-foot-6, 280-pounder and his mother made the trip to South Bend this week, and Rouse left knowing Notre Dame could be the place for him.

“It was amazing to get up there for the first time,” Rouse told Irish Sports Daily as he was leaving Vanderbilt on Wednesday afternoon. “The campus was beautiful. Talking with the players and coaches was awesome. I really had a good time. I don’t say that lightly. I would say I had a good time at other places, but I really did feel something special at Notre Dame.

“I could really see myself going there.” 

Jeff Quinn has made a significant impression on Rouse over the last few months, but his honesty and personality shined during the visit.

“Coach Quinn said they are invested in me, and they want me,” explained Rouse. “The thing that stuck out to me was they took their fourth offensive line commit, Zeke Correll, a couple days ago and he told me they were only taking four linemen previously. 

“He told me they want me so bad and if I decided to commit, they would find a spot for me. He explained my offer was still committable and that’s how bad they want me.” 

The message hit home with Rouse and his mother as Quinn took the time to explain why they wanted him in the program.

“I took that to heart because he saw that much potential in me,” said Rouse. “My mother and I really liked that, but he was honest with me too. He said I was great, but not a finished product and I had a lot of work to do. 

“He showed me plays from my highlight tape and then showed me plays from Mike McGlinchey.”

Rouse admitted it was hard to impress his mother because she has always kept his best interest in mind, but Notre Dame and Quinn left a lasting impression. 

“My mother drilled him with some questions, and he answered those professionally,” laughed Rouse. "He did great.” 

“She’s tough to impress because she wants the best for me. We got so much done that day. We were supposed to be there for two days, but we were stranded at the airport for 12 hours because our flight kept getting delayed. Notre Dame had to press two days into one. They did a great job. They wanted to be there.

“She walked away saying it was a good visit and she liked the college for me. She felt the emphasis on family and the academics.” 

When it comes to academics, Rouse attends one of the top academic schools in the country, and his future education will play a crucial role in his final decision. 

Rouse was able to see what Notre Dame had to offer academically, and a Business school meeting highlighted the trip.

“I was into academics before I got into football and they are important to me,” Rouse explained. “I loved talking with Mr. Stevens at the Business School. The way he gave his presentation was my favorite part of the trip. 

“He had a presentation, and when we walked in, the first slide said ‘Welcome Walter Rouse and Hilary Lucas.’ It was personal. He took the time to create that slide. He knew all my interests and how I wanted to get into medicine. He had all my grades and pictures of me as a baby, so he definitely did his research.

“He spoke to me about the academic aspect of Notre Dame and how they had one of the top Business schools in the country. I was glad I was able to see it all for myself.”

Notre Dame will host Rouse again in a few months for an official visit, which he set up before he left campus because he was so impressed with what he saw on Tuesday. 

“I will be going back for an official visit because that’s how much I liked it,” said Rouse. “I’ll be back for the Michigan game. 

“The two things I really wanted to see the atmosphere for a game. I heard it was live and crazy walking through the tunnel. The other part is I want to see if I can talk to a doctor in my field or maybe speak to a cardiologist or a neurosurgeon, which is what I want to do. Maybe I could take a tour of the hospital or Engineering building.”