Notre Dame has been rolling when it comes to recruiting on offense when it comes to the 2020 class, but the Irish defense got back on the board in a big way when Honolulu (Ha.) Saint Louis four-star linebacker Jordan Botelho committed to Notre Dame.
Botelho is listed as an outside linebacker, but the Irish are recruiting the 6-3, 230-pound athlete as a Drop End. During his junior season he racked up 13.5 sacks, forced four fumbles, recovered three fumbles and registered over 20 tackles for loss.
Botelho and 2019 Notre Dame signee Marist Liufau were named first-team All-Hawai’i linebackers by USA Today, while Rivals250 linebacker Maninoa Tufono was named to the second team. After his junior season he was named the Cover2 Manti Te’o Award Defensive Player of the Year winner. Of course, Manti Te’o was a star linebacker for the Irish (2009-2012).
Botelho earned offers from Ohio State, Georgia, Oklahoma, USC, LSU, Washington, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Washington State, Utah, UCLA, Nebraska, Oregon, Ole Miss, Arizona State, California, Colorado, Kansas State and Oregon State.
CLASS IMPACT
Botelho is the third defensive recruit to commit to the Fighting Irish in the 2020 class, joining Brighton (Colo.) Mullen four-star defensive tackle Aidan Keanaaina and Dusseldorf (Germany) Fryeburg Academy three-star end Alexander Ehrensberger.
A drop end candidate, Botelho gives Notre Dame a third player that projects up front, with Ehrenberger destined for the strongside end spot and Keanaaina projecting to play the nose tackle spot with a chance to be a swing player inside.
