Ruhland next in line for Irish

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It took four visits before Trevor Ruhland landed a scholarship offer from Notre Dame. When he returns for a fifth look at the Irish program he'll be able to count himself as a commitment.

The 6-foot-4, 270-pound offensive lineman committed to Notre Dame on Wednesday as the Irish coaching staff rolled into Chicagoland during its opening week of the spring evaluation period. The product of Cary Grove High School in Cary, Ill., becomes the seventh pledge in Notre Dame's class and third offensive lineman.

Ruhland last saw Notre Dame in person during a spring practice visit, which followed a junior day stop in early March. He also attended the BYU game last season, which wasn't his first look at campus.

"What kid grew up not wanting to play for Notre Dame if they love football?" Ruhland told Irish Illustrated earlier in the process. "They're always on TV, always competing for championships, with a great history with NFL guys. There's really nothing more you could ask for, right? It's a pretty special place."

Ruhland held offers from California, Connecticut, Duke, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue and Syracuse. He's also a legacy at Iowa, where his father Matt played defensive tackle for the Hawkeyes.

Despite a recruiting profile that was more regional than national, Notre Dame offensive line coach Harry Hiestand pressed forward with the offer coming out of that spring practice visit. Ruhland liked what he heard from the Irish assistant both as a recruiter and a future teacher.

"Coach Hiestand really likes tough guys," Ruhland said. "I think I can provide that. I think he likes that I'm a smart player too and can read defenses. I'm an interior guy for them and I can come out of both stances. I could play center, wherever they'd need me and wherever I could get on the field the fastest."

Ruhland, who plays both guard and tackle at the high school level, projects on the interior in college.