Coach: 2021 DB Bryce Steele "One Of Best Young Athletes"
For Erik Nowell, Bryce Steele’s game can be summed it quite easily.
“He finds the ball quickly, he gets to the ball-carrier, the ball-carrier goes to the ground,” the Episcopal (Va.) High School defensive backs coach says of Steele.
Apparently, that’s plenty for Notre Dame as the Irish extended an offer to the 2021 safety on Thursday.
“To me, he’s one of the best young athletes that I’ve ever coached,” Nowell says. “The kid comes in and he’s already mature. Some guys come in and you have to get them out of the wanting to be young and a kid thing. When get him and he gives off the vibe like he’s a senior or junior and he’s just a sophomore this past season.”
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound sophomore also has offers from schools like Michigan, North Carolina, Boston College, Virginia Tech and Pitt among others.
“He’s very coachable, listens to everything you say and does it exactly how you want it,” Nowell continues. “He’s just an overall great athlete.
“Smart, very smart kid. He knows the game. One of those kids whose instincts take over. Of course, there’s X’s and O’s, but when you’re out there on the field, your true instincts as an athlete have to take over. He definitely has that. The kid moves.”
Steele covers ground “very, very quickly.”
“Bryce is on the left, ball goes to the right, the next thing you know Bryce is on the right making the tackle,” Nowell explains. “You can’t ask for much more than that from an athlete.”
Off the field, he checks all of the boxes as well, according to Nowell.
“He’s a smart, smart kid,” his coach says. “We’ve never had a problem out of him, we never have a problem with any of our kids. You don’t hear bad things. You don’t hear about him not doing his work or not getting in for curfew on time. He’s just one of those guys you don’t have to worry about.”
2019 Notre Dame safety signee Litchfield Ajavon comes from the same school and Nowell wouldn’t be surprised if the school appealed to Steele as well.
“I don’t see why not. I think Notre Dame is a school that appeals to everyone.”