National Signing Day has gone very well for Notre Dame so far, as the Irish have added another commitment from defensive end Kofi Wardlow out of Washington, DC. Kofi had been a Maryland commit for about a month before adding his Notre Dame offer just a few weeks ago. He immediately expressed interest, calling it a “dream offer” and quickly setting up an official visit. He came out of that visit extremely impressed, but still wanted to take an OV to Virginia Tech before making up his mind. Ultimately, Notre Dame won out, and the Irish have added their first rush end to the class at the last minute.

Recruiting Service Rankings

247 — 3 star (82 rating), #1598 overall, #78 WDE, #12 in DC

Rivals — 3 star (5.6 rating), NR overall, #47 WDE, #7 in DC

Scout — 3 star, NR overall, #87 DE, #8 in DC

ESPN — 3 star (76 rating), NR overall, #82 DE, #11 in DC

247 Composite — 3 star (.8427), #1029 overall, #56 WDE, #8 in DC

Cohort

Kofi chose the Irish over other offers from Maryland, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, Michigan State, Boston College, Rutgers, and others.

Highlights


It’s pretty obvious watching Kofi’s film that the Irish are getting a raw prospect here. He doesn’t have much in the way of technique. The physical tools are there, though. He’s athletic and hits like a truck when he gets the chance. Not just that, though. He shows good awareness on the field, and has the presence of mind to get his hands up when he knows he won’t be able to reach the quarterback. He’s also pretty well-built already as well, so he doesn’t need to pack on too much weight in order to be ready to contribute (meaning he should keep his athleticism). This is a solid developmental pick-up for the Irish.

Impact

Kofi definitely looks like a guy that will need a couple of years of development before he can make an impact. But the Irish have the numbers and (hopefully) the talent already on campus to take a guy like this. Expect him to redshirt this year, during which he can learn the finer points of the position. The good news is this is exactly the kind of player that has made a nice living in Mike Elko defenses. He has the potential, now it’s all about bringing that potential up to the surface.

Welcome to the Irish family, Kofi!