2019 California CB Isaiah Rutherford Fired Up For Notre Dame Offer
Notre Dame expanded its class of 2019 cornerback board by one Wednesday night when the coaching staff extended an offer to Carmichael (Calif.) Jesuit product Isaiah Rutherford.
The 6-foot-2, 170-pound Rutherford holds additional offers from Alabama, Colorado and Oregon State, and said adding Notre Dame to that list was a big moment for him.
“I was shocked,” Rutherford said. “I wasn’t thinking they were going to come all the way to Sacramento for me.”
Rutherford, a three-star prospect, said after offering, Notre Dame immediately invited him to visit campus for a game this season.
“They talked to my coach and then contacted me,” Rutherford said. “They said they were going to offer and they’re excited for me to come out and watch some games this season.”
Even though he’s all the way in Northern California, Rutherford said he’s already in the process of making that visit happen.
“I’m going to get there for one game at least, for sure,” Rutherford said. “I don’t know what game yet, but I’m going to come down there for sure.”
Rutherford said he was instantly attracted to Notre Dame for several reasons, namely history and academics.
“I like their tradition and the education there,” Rutherford said. “The coach (recruiting coordinator Brian Polian) was telling me about how they have big-time education.”
Of course, the football factor stood out to Rutherford as well.
“A lot of NFL guys come out of there too,” Rutherford said. “That caught my attention a little bit.”
On top of what he already knew about the program, Rutherford said Polian has told him a lot more about what the Irish have to offer.
“He just told me about all the great things they have there,” Rutherford said. “It’s sold out almost every game and it’s always on TV. That caught my attention too.”
Rutherford is definitely interested in Notre Dame early, but with offers from the Irish and Alabama already in the bag, more big-time opportunities are surely on the way.
The talented defensive back is going to take things slow, and said overall he’s just looking for place that feels like home.
"Somewhere that’s the best fit for me,” Rutherford said. “Somewhere I can play, andI’ll also look at how many people are at my position there. Just things like that.”
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