Rivals250 DE commits to Notre Dame
Notre Dame's class of 2017 got a major boost on Sunday night when Norcross, Ga. defensive end Robert Beal made his commitment to the Irish. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Beal chose the Irish over offers from Alabama, Georgia and several other programs.
"I just committed to Notre Dame," Beal said. "I felt like it was the best school that fit everything me and my parents were looking for."
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The commitment comes as somewhat of a surprise, but Beal's family ties to the school combined with his love for the program made him feel like the timing was right.
"I went up there in the summer time and I just got that feeling like it was the place for me," Beal said. "I was in the recruiting center and they were showing me the graduation rates and what guys have gone on to do outside of football and I was really impressed."
Beal's grandmother worked on campus at Notre Dame and mother grew up in the South Bend area. Beal said he considers Indiana to be like his second home and is excited to play for the Irish.
"I didn't really become a fan until my first trip up there my freshman year," Beal said. "On that trip I met the coaches and our relationship has grown ever since until now and now I'm a Notre Dame commit."
Beal fits the bill of the new breed of hybrid defensive end/linebacker and as he continues to grow and develop and Irish defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder has told Beal he has plans to use him in several different ways.
"They told me my role will be doing a lot of things," Beal said. "They said one play I could be outside cover the wide receiver one-on-one or the next play I could be blitzing and the next lined up getting after the passer."
Last month VanGorder and Irish assistant Scott Booker were in the Atlanta area to watch Beal play, something he said played a factor into his decision to announce now.
"That made me feel great that they came down here to see me," Beal said. "Our relationship just keeps betting better and better."
Beal said he's a regular view of Notre Dame's weekly show on Showtime and he has become impressed with the type of player already on the Irish roster. That, combined with the school's history also weighed heavily on his mind.
"Their history of putting guys in the league at my position and having them last once they get there is one of the reasons I made my choice," he said. "Seeing them on TV, too, I feel like I would fit in great with their team."
Beal's decision came after a long talk with his parents and the group came to a consensus, why wait when now feels like the right time?
"We thought it was best for me to go ahead and commit now," Beal said. "I've felt like it's the right place for a while."
Beal hasn't been on campus in South Bend since the summer, but said he will be back in Indiana later this month.
"I'm going to try to make it for a game but I will be up there for Thanksgiving with my family so hopefully I can visit then," Beal said. "I haven't talked to Coach Kelly yet but when I told the other coaches they were very excited and they can't wait to see me up there."
Beal is commitment No. 5 for the Irish in the Class of 2017, but the first defensive player in the class.