According to Andrew Ivins of BlueandGold.com Notre Dame has landed one of the elite defensive ends in the nation in Khalid Kareem...
Notre Dame has landed a top-ranked rushing defensive end.
Farmington Hills (Mich.) Harrison four-star defensive end Khalid Kareem committed to Notre Dame on Friday, just a week after he took an official visit to South Bend.
Kareem, who is ranked as the No. 19 strongside defensive end in the country, was previously committed to Alabama but he decided to back off that pledge on Oct. 14, citing a desire to explore other options.
It didn't take him long to find the school that he wants to call home.
Kareem was on campus for the USC game last weekend, and left with the Irish at the top of his list.
"It exceeded (expectations)," Kareem told Rivals.com. "It was great, it really was."
"I just really needed to see some of the dorms and if I did decide to go there, where I would be staying," he added. "I wanted to sit down with the academic support just to see where I fit into the scheme of things."
Kareem's parents approved, as well.
"It's pretty much family oriented and it's not just focused around football. It's about the academics as well, which is the main part for me. They treat you like a student," his mother Phillicia Kareem said.
Kareem is slated to enroll early at Notre Dame where he'll learn from Irish defensive line coach Keith Gilmore, who had spent the past two years recruiting the defensive end.
"My relationship with Coach Gilmore is good," Kareem said back April. "He recruited me when he was at North Carolina and he carried that relationship over when he got to Notre Dame. So it's a real good relationship with him."
"It's a huge point," Kareem he added. "Having a good relationship with your coach is going to make a huge difference where you go."
Kareem becomes commit No. 17 in the class of 2016 for Notre Dame and the fifth prospect to pledge to the Irish that was at one time committed to another school joining quarterback Ian Book (Washington State), safety D.J. Morgan (Arizona State), defensive end Ade Ogundeji (Western Michigan) and safety Spencer Perry (Florida). The 6-4, 257-pound Kareem has 15 sacks this season for Harrison team that is 7-1 season. He's ranked as the No. 9 prospect in the state of Michigan. He also held offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Louisville, Tennessee, Ohio State, Yale and Oregon. -
As you know the defensive line, especially pass rushing ends, have been hard to find for Notre Dame with the exception of the 2011 class (Aaron Lynch, Stephon Tuitt, Ishaq Williams, etc.). Getting a one time Bama commit in Kareem should keep the recruiting momentum going for the Fighting Irish. Look for one time USC commit LB Daelin Hayes to be next on board after he officially visited Notre Dame for the USC game last week.
Also highly regarded DE Wole Betiku officially decommitted from UCLA today and has scheduled a visit to ND on November 13th. Assistant head coach Mike Denbrock visited Betiku yesterday at his high school and shortly after convinced the 4-star Nigerian transplant to open up his recruitment. Don't be surprised to see Betiku commit soon since ND spots are closing up fast.
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