SIGNED: LB Bo Bauer

Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep linebacker Matthew “Bo” Bauer has submitted his National Letter of Intent to Notre Dame on Wednesday.

Rivals: 4-star (No. 5 player in Pennsylvania, and No. 5 inside linebackerNo. 142 overall prospect nationally)

BGI Grade: 4.0-star

Upside Grade: 4.5-star

Bauer is the second Pennsylvania linebacker to sign with Notre Dame during the Brian Kelly, area joining 2017 signee David Adams. Before the 2018 class, Notre Dame had landed seven Rivals250 linebackers under Kelly.

The 2018 class has three with Bauer, Jack Lamb and Shayne Simon.

Bauer recorded a 4.85 40-yard dash, 4.78 shuttle, 39-foot power ball toss and 37.2-inch vertical at The Opening Cleveland Regional. He checked in at 6-2½ and 217 pounds at the event.

SENIOR SEASON: Recorded 106 tackles, 20.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks.

JUNIOR SEASON: Registered 114 stops, 22 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.

SOPHOMORE SEASON: Totaled 104 tackles, 11 stops for loss and 3.5 sacks.

SENIOR SEASON (2017)

Butkus Award Finalist (nation's top prep linebacker)
Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 4A All-State selection
Tom Lemming’s Senior All-America team selection

JUNIOR SEASON (2016)

Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 4A Defensive Player of the Year
Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 4A All-State selection
American Family Insurance ALL-USA Pennsylvania first-team defense (USA Today High School Sports)

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2015)

Pennsylvania Football Writers Class 3A All-State selection

POWER FIVE OFFERS: Iowa State, Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Virginia and West Virginia.

Bauer took an unofficial visit to Notre Dame on Aug. 3, 2016, where he landed an offer and committed the same day. The Rivals250 linebacker was recruited initially by linebackers coach Mike Elston. Current linebackers coach Clark Lea took over once he arrived last winter.

The linebacker took multiple game visits to Notre Dame in 2016 and 2017, and never wavered from his commitment to the Irish.

• Born Dec. 11, 1999.
• Won back-to-back state championships with Cathedral Prep, winning 28 straight games.
• Finished high school career with 52-3 record.
• Was the only sophomore in the state of Pennsylvania to be named to the first-team defense in 2015.
• Will enroll early at Notre Dame.

Bauer is a highly instinctive and physical football player that comes from a championship program. With Notre Dame having depth issues on the current roster, Bauer and the rest of the freshmen linebackers will have plenty of opportunities to make a charge up the depth chart.

“Bauer isn’t going to blow you away with elite athletic skills, which is why some services knock him as a prospect. He isn’t all that fast, he is a bit stiff in his hips and he isn’t ever going to blow you away at a non-padded camp. If you are looking for measurables then you likely aren’t going to fall in love with Bauer. If you can look past that and focus on his skills as a football player, you’ll be far more impressed.

“The Cathedral Prep standout is a highly instinctive football player, one that shows an elite level of instincts and anticipation. He plays faster than he might test largely due to this ability. He quickly picks up his read key, he makes fast decisions and then explodes downhill towards the football. Despite his lack of pure speed, he shows good short-area quickness, and he shows good lateral speed when pursuing the ball carrier.

“Bauer is an extremely physical football player, one that delivers major punishment when he arrives at the football. At times he doesn’t wrap up the way he needs to, but overall he’s an effective and powerful tackler. He has a great frame for a Mike linebacker and he’s got tremendous intangibles. Bauer has been an all-state performer since his sophomore year and has gone 52-3 during his career, including back-to-back state titles.” — BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell

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