Four-Star 2018 Linebacker Alston Orji 'Fits The Mold' Of Notre Dame

Alston Orji may be one of the best linebackers in the class of 2018, and Notre Dame has made its bid at eventually landing his services.

The four-star out of Rockwall (Texas) High landed an Irish offer on Jan. 17 to go along with the 12 other offers extended to him so far.

Rockwall head coach Rodney Webb said he thinks Notre Dame and Orji would make a perfect match.

“I think so,” Webb said when asked if Notre Dame would be a good fit for Orji. “I think that has a lot do with why Notre Dame was down here. They’re not a program that has recruited a bunch of our kids in the past, but I know he fits the mold of what they look for. There aren’t many kids that have the total package that you’ve got to have going to a place like that.”

Webb added that Notre Dame is exactly the type of school Orji is looking for.

“I think it’s really exciting for him,” Webb stated. “It’s not every day that Notre Dame comes in the door and gives a kid an offer here. He’s looking for a school where there’s value to the degree. He’s intrigued by the schools that have the impressive athletic history and the great value to the degree.”

On the field, Webb said Orji is a punishing linebacker who benefits from his natural athleticism.

“He’s just a tremendously gifted athlete,” Webb said. I’ve been doing this for 26 years, and there haven’t been many kids along the way that have his combination of size and sheer athleticism. That’s the first thing that sticks out, and I think it’s the thing that the recruiters see as well, just the potential he brings.”

That potential, paired with Orji’s efforts in the classroom, are what Webb said make him such a highly sought after prospect.

“The other thing about Alston is he’s also very academically gifted,” Webb explained. “He’s got a full load of honors and AP classes. He doesn’t just take the AP classes and survive in them, he really excels. He’s a really smart kid who comes from a successful, educated family.”

A combination like that, Webb said, is rare.

“The combination of the size, strength and speed physically, along with that the fact that he’s got an impressive academic presence as well, there aren’t many guys like him.”

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