Georgia DE headed west

One of the top defensive ends in the Peach State is back from a visit to Notre Dame and says he has a leader. Did the Irish gain the upper hand in the recruiting battle for him?

"Well, when I first stepped onto the campus it was snowing," laughed defensive end Emmanuel Awofadeju of Roswell, Ga. "That's just something that doesn't happen down here. I was prepared for it and we didn't stay out in the weather too long, so it wasn't that bad. But it could be a little problem if I was there all the time.

"I was struck by how pretty the campus was. A lot of the architecture is gothic and it feels like a church all around. The campus is really nice and beautiful. Coach Willingham is a really good guy and a great coach. My host was Justin Tuck and he's from Alabama so we had a lot in common. They want me as a defensive end and he said the coaches worked with the line well."

While it sounded like a nice visit, how strongly is the 6-foot-5, 220-pound weakside defensive end considering the Irish?

"Well, Notre Dame, Maryland, and Virginia have been great all along, but I'm not sure I'm really considering them much right now. Stanford is at the front of my mind," said Awofadeju. "I'm taking a trip to Tulane next weekend, but I'm thinking I might just commit on Monday, right when I get back home. I can't say right now that it's definitely going to be someone, but Stanford is number one for sure, and they're in a great position."