Rivals250 Rover Shayne Simon Commits To Notre Dame
Notre Dame’s 2018 recruiting class picked up commitment No. 14 today as the Irish landed one of its top defensive targets in Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter’s Prep rover Shayne Simon.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder was in South Bend the weekend of June 10 for Irish Invasion and selected Notre Dame over Michigan, Ohio State, Stanford, UCLA and Penn State, among others.
“Just the prestige and ability to have great alumni,” Simon told Blue & Gold in May about what stands out about Notre Dame. “They have a great community around Notre Dame that supports them and wants to see the best for them.”
Academics were a major factor in the four-star’s decision and his ultimate interest in Notre Dame.
“Very attractive,” Simon said in the same interview about Notre Dame’s academic prestige. “With a Notre Dame degree, you can get almost anywhere you want to without knowing people in that field of study. It’s a great degree to have.”
The hire of Mike Elko brought in the rover position that Simon was recruited to play. From the moment Notre Dame got involved with the four-star standout he was considered the top target at the position. His ability to play the run on the perimeter, to handle himself in coverage and even to blitz off the edge are all traits that suit that rover position.
Simon joins fellow St. Peter’s Prep teammates Jayson Ademilola and Justin Ademilola in the Irish class. He communicated with Brian Kelly, Elko, defensive line coach Mike Elston and linebackers coach Clark Lea during his recruitment.
Simon ranks as the No. 9 outside linebacker and No. 138 player nationally, according to Rivals. He participated in the Nike Football The Opening Finals in Beaverton from June 28-July 3 and was a standout playing the safety position.
----
• Talk about it inside Rockne’s Roundtable
• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes
• Learn more about our print and digital publication, Blue & Gold Illustrated.
• Follow us on Twitter: @BGINews, @BGI_LouSomogyi, @BGI_CoachD,
@BGI_DMcKinney and @BGI_CoreyBodden.
• Like us on Facebook.