SIGNED: S Isaiah Robertson
Naperville (Ill.) Neuqua Valley athlete Isaiah Robertson is an early enrollee and started classes at Notre Dame on Jan. 17.
The 6-2, 185-pounder is listed by Rivals as a four-star talent, the No. 4 prospect in Illinois, and the No. 18 athlete and No. 202 overall player in the nation.
Measurables
• Per his high school coach, Bill Ellinghaus, he runs a 4.5 40-yard dash.
Statistics
• Was held back by a hamstring injury during his senior campaign, but managed to record 50 tackles, three passes broken up, two fumble recoveries and an interception on defense for Neuqua Valley. Also caught 29 passes for 380 yards and four touchdowns as a wide receiver.
• As a junior, recorded 50 catches for 803 yards and nine scores.
• Burst on the scene as a sophomore, catching 30 passes for 721 yards and five touchdowns.
Honors
• Named first-team defense ALL-USA Illinois by USA Today as both a junior and senior.
• Earned a spot on the 2016 EdgyTim.com All-State team as a defensive back, and was identified as one of Illinois’ “best two-way players.”
• Tabbed as a DuPage Valley All-Conference performer as a senior.
• Selected to the Illinois Football Coaches Association Class 8A All-State team as a junior.
All-Star Games And Camps
• Participated in a Rivals Camp Series event May 3, 2015, held at O’Fallon High School in St. Louis.
Recruitment
• Committed to Notre Dame on April 15, 2016, and is an early enrollee.
• Also held offers from Penn State, Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin and Vanderbilt, among others.
• Visited campus unofficially for the Stanford game (Oct. 15) during the season and took his official visit over the weekend of Notre Dame’s Echoes Awards banquet (Dec. 9-11).
• Also visited South Bend for a Junior Day last February and in early April, when he received an offer from the staff.
• Primarily recruited by former associate head coach and wide receivers coach Mike Denbrock.
Notable
• Born March 29, 1999.
• Plans to major in communications with a minor in theater.
• Has played the piano since fifth grade and loves acting.
• Loves to play R&B songs on piano and participated in a Black History Month play as Muhammad Ali.
2017 Projection
• Notre Dame lacks ideal depth at safety, which puts Robertson in position to compete for early playing time.
BGI football analyst Bryan Driskell: “Robertson is a high IQ football player with good speed and range. Notre Dame needs safeties that can come into the box and handle the run game just as effectively as they can cover and make plays in the pass game. He might need a year to fill out and add enough strength to be a factor at safety, but the skills are there for him to be that kind of player.
“Enrolling early will help him get a jump on that physical development, and once it happens he has the dual-threat skills to be a productive safety in the Irish defense.”
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