Mathis lands another big offer
Joe Mathis had not been talking with Notre Dame much so when the Irish offered on Tuesday the Upland, Calif., four-star defensive end was surprised.
The 6-foot-4, 254-pound prospect said he knows the basics on Notre Dame but he has a lot of time to make his decision so over the coming months he'll learn much more about the program.
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"They just hit me up and they said they want to offer me," Mathis said. "I wasn't even talking to them before.
"It's a cool offer. Notre Dame is a great school. I don't really know too much about them really but I'm definitely going to consider them. I'm interested in everybody right now. I don't have a top five so I'm definitely looking at them."
Notre Dame is the latest offer for Mathis, rated as the eighth-best strong-side defensive end and No. 93 prospect in the early 2013 rankings by Rivals.com.
Mathis, a former Washington commit, had a top five early on and was thinking about making another pledge but has decided to slow things way down. Now he doesn't plan to narrow his list until his senior season and then make a decision at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
The four-star said it's nice to take it easy and to analyze each school to make sure he's doing the right thing. With so many major offers - and now Notre Dame in the fold - Mathis will have a lot to think about.
"It is nice sitting back," Mathis said.
"This way I could focus on school and getting better. It's easy to say I don't have a top five and I really don't. I'm going to give every school an equal chance until September. That makes it easier on me."
Mathis could be close to another offer. He said Alabama has been in serious contact with the Upland coaches and something might happen soon.
"They've been calling every day," Mathis said. "That one is to be continued."