Signed: Nicco Fertitta
Las Vegas Bishop Gorman safety Nicco Fertitta submitted his letter of intent to Notre Dame on Wednesday.
The 5-9, 172-pounder is ranked as a three-star prospect, the No. 4 player in Nevada and the No. 54 safety in the nation by Rivals.
Advertisement
Measurables
• Runs a 4.55 40-yard dash.
• Boasts a 225-pound bench press and 315-pound squat.
Statistics
• Recorded 71 tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries during his senior season, while helping lead Bishop Gorman to a 15-0 record, its sixth straight state title and the top spot in USA Today's final high school team rankings.
• Registered 47 tackles as a junior.
Honors
• Named NevadaPreps.com first-team all-state as a senior.
Recruitment
• Committed to Notre Dame on April 5, 2014.
• Officially visited campus for the Football Awards Show on Dec. 12, 2014, and unofficially visited on April 5, 2014.
• Also received scholarship offers from Arizona, Boston College, Hawaii, San Diego State, UNLV, Utah and Villanova.
• Primarily recruited by Irish running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Tony Alford and secondarily recruited by defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks.
Notable
• Son of Lorenzo Fertitta, the billionaire co-founder of Station Casinos and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
• Teammate and close friend of fellow Irish commit Alize Jones.
• Competed in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
2015 Projection
• Could contribute on special teams, but may be destined for a redshirt season to build strength and muscle in the weight room.
They Said It
Rivals recruiting analyst Rob Cassidy: "He just has no regard for his body and has built this reputation as a big hitter. I would bet that he gets a targeting penalty at some point in his career.
"He probably won't play as a freshman and redshirt. But when he gets on the field, he's exciting to watch. He's undersized but he doesn't play undersized.
"He'll need to put some weight on at Notre Dame. He's got some work to do in different areas. He's got some quickness, but he's not the fastest guy. He breaks on the ball really well, and he's got some good instincts. He's definitely a safety or a nickel."
Prep Football Report's Tom Lemming: "Another big surprise, but when you watch him on film he's not. He's first-team all-state. He is probably the hardest hitter, pound for pound, on the team in Notre Dame's recruiting class.
"He runs a legit 4.5 to 4.55 and he has tremendous instincts when you watch him. He takes great angles to the ball and he loves to hit. Probably working out with MMA guys to be that tough and physical. He uses his hands well and he can blast people.
"[Las Vegas Bishop Gorman] played the best teams in the country this year and that's why they're national champs. They didn't back down from anybody and Nicco had a consistently good game week after week."
Film
Click Here to view this Link.