Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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appreciated the candor of the always entertaining Nix, who let it be known that he would have to earn everything on the field and in the classroom. "He told me what he liked and didn't like and was real honest," Vanderdoes said. "He didn't like his first year because he's a Florida guy, and adjusting to South Bend was hard because it was way different from where he came." As for the inclement weather … "That's overblown," Vanderdoes said, "especially when you come from Northern California. It gets cold up here, too — not as cold as South Bend, but it does go down. I don't mind the cold at all and don't have an issue with it." Alabama, on the threshold of another No. 1 recruiting class replete with future top NFL picks, received the last at-bat — but the Notre Dame "pitch" remained powerful. "I decided about 10 o'clock the night before signing day," Vanderdoes said. "I talked to my parents a lot because when I got back from my Alabama visit, my head was spinning. I almost committed there. "When I talked to my parents, it was about bigger goals and the 40-year education you get from Notre Dame. I just felt that Notre Dame is the right place for me." On the field, the firstteam 247Sports AllAmerican defensive lineman said he will be receive an initial look at the '4' technique vacated by graduated senior Kapron Lewis-Moore, but can be moved around in the flexible alignments. Vanderdoes is described by defensive line coach Mike Elston as someone DL Eddie Vanderdoes who could play any of the three positions on any of the three downs. Current freshman Sheldon Day might be the front-runner for that starting spot to join Nix and sophomore AllAmerican Stephon Tuitt on what promises to be another imposing Irish front wall that also will include sophomores Tony Springmann and Chase Hounshell, freshman Jones and junior Kona Schwenke, among others. "I'm looking to come in and compete right away because I know I'm not a recruit anymore," Vanderdoes said. "I'm part of it there, and I have to work my way up from last string. I haven't been on a college football field yet. Right now, it's just about working my way up." Just like Notre Dame did since last fall with Vanderdoes. ✦ 6-3 ✦ 285 ✦ Placer H.S. ✦ Auburn, Calif. Notable: Born on Oct. 13, 1994 … Has self-reported 5.0 time in the 40-yard dash, 405-pound bench press, 24 reps of 225 pounds and 32-inch vertical jump. Rankings: Rated as a five-star prospect, the No. 1 player in California, the No. 1 defensive tackle in the country and the No. 6 overall recruit nationally by 247Sports … Listed as a five-star recruit, the No. 2 defensive tackle in the nation and the No. 9 overall player in the land by Scout.com … Classified as a