3/31/2017 football Edit

Now that Notre Dame has offered, Jibunor will visit the Irish

Chad Simmons • Rivals.com

Recruiting Analyst

Chad Simmons is a Recruiting Analyst for Rivals.com. He was the expert on The Next Class on Fox Sports South from 2011-2015. He currently covers Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.

THE LATEST: Richard Jibunor was hoping Notre Dame would offer. He has had his eye on the Irish for some time and this week, the offer came. Now that he has the offer, the interest is that much high on Jibunor's end. The 6-foot-4, 206 pound athlete out of Athens (Ga.) Athens Christian School has heard a lot about the history in South Bend (Ind.) and he knows about their tradition. He wants to see what it's like there, so expect the new 2018 Irish target to visit soon.

IN HIS OWN WORDS: "Notre Dame is definitely a school that has been recruiting me for a long time and they are one I am still considering," said Jibunor. "They have been sending a lot of mail, they have been checking on me for a while and I am very interested in them.

"I got the offer this week and now I want to get up there to see what it is like. As soon as I got the offer, I knew I wanted to take a visit there and to see how I feel up there.

"I talked to coach Mike Elston (linebackers) when I got the offer and he has liked me for a long time. He liked the way I am growing into the game. He has watched me progress and he loves how I am willing to learn and willing to compete. He sees how I play defense at my high school and he feels I can fit in perfectly in the Notre Dame defense. He really likes my reach, my speed and my bend.

"Notre Dame is definitely not too late. I have been wanting to visit them, but I wanted to wait for the offer first. I have heard about their history and I know they are always on T.V. I just want to check out their campus, their facilities and see how it all it. I feel strong about getting up there."

RIVALS TAKE: Jibunor would like to commit before his senior year. He wants to form his relationship during his senior year, so after he takes another half a dozen visits or so, he hopes to be ready. Auburn may be perceived as the favorite because he has visited there more than anywhere else, but Jibunor is adamant about not having a leader. The Irish just have to get him on campus. It looks like that should happen this spring or summer.