Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Durham Smythe Goes With Childhood Favorite the four official visitors from the Durham Smythe weekend, the othof Belton, Texas, ers being UCLA thought the prosignees Kylie Fitts cess was complete. and Deon Hollins, He committed to and eventual felthe in-state Longlow Notre Dame horns early and signee Eddie Vanput recruiting on derdoes. the backburner. Even though it But as time turned out that passed, those way, he didn't feelings for Texas necessarily have a changed, presentplan in place to do ing an opporso beforehand. tunity for other "Initially my programs to get plan was to see involved — par- Smythe, who was originally committed to Texas, all three finalists ticularly Notre started leaning more toward Notre Dame after [Michigan, Notre D a m e , w h i c h being re-offered by the Irish in January. Dame and StanPHOTOs courtesy 247spports ford] before maklanded his pledge just over a week before experienced it first-hand ing a decision, but Notre National Signing Day yet," the 6-5, 230-pound Dame exceeded my exFeb. 6. four-star player said. pectations," he said. "I He grew up an Irish "Getting to talk to all the loved Stanford, but I was fan and knew about the players and coaches, as really blown away by program, but seeing well as some of the aca- Notre Dame. Notre Dame in person demic staff, was when "I realized there was for the first time when he things really got going nowhere else I wanted took his official visit to on my visit. It was great to be." campus Jan. 25 really put just getting a chance to Smythe met with things into perspective meet everyone." Chuck Martin on Sunfor him. Smythe was consid- day morning, and the "Going into it I had a ered to be the best shot offensive coordinator lot of knowledge about at the Irish landing a began giving his pitch. Notre Dame, but I hadn't verbal commitment from However, all that needed By Jason Sapp