Rivals250 RB C.J. Holmes announces Notre Dame commitment

In what could be the beginning of a run of commitments for Notre Dame, Rivals250 prospect C.J. Holmes announced his commitment to the Fighting Irish on Friday. The Hamden (Conn.) Cheshire Academy running back chose Notre Dame over schools like Michigan, Syracuse, Alabama, and Penn State.

IN HIS OWN WORDS...

"I committed to Notre Dame two days after Irish invasion," Holmes said. "I went off of my gut feeling. It was the first time that I went to a school and was infatuated with everything about the institution. I just had that feeling walking away that I knew that was the place I was supposed to be. It was actually kind of scary and it took me a little while to pick up the phone and call the coaches. I couldn't have made a better decision.

"The coaches see me as a running back but like my versatility and think I could he used the same way they used CJ Prosise," he said. "I can be a threat out of the backfield and I could line up in the slot as a receiver. They seemed pretty amped up about being able to put me in a lot of different situations to cause a lot of difficulties for the defense."

On who he is recruiting: "Every time I see (my teammate Rivals250 wide receiver) Tarik (Black) I tell him to think Irish," said Holmes. "Ever since we were kids it's been our dream to play on the same college team and finish out this journey together. I'm recruiting him hard but I'm also telling him to make the decision that's best for him."

RIVALS' REACTION

Notre Dame is hitting on all cylinders on the recruiting trail right now and it should be fun to watch this recruiting class grow. Holmes is a dynamic three-down back that can be used in a number of ways. That versatility, the ability to effectively run inside the tackle, outside, and make plays as a receiver, makes him so valuable and should have defenses game planning to stop him.