Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/311901
BY TOM LOY The Notre Dame coaching staff wanted to bring in three offensive line- men — a tackle, a center and a guard — for the class of 2015. Due to improved depth, the staff is in a position to be se- lective, and it helps when three of their top targets jump on board before the start of their senior seasons. Cary, Ill., three-star offensive guard Trevor Ruhland joined the commitment list with his pledge to the Irish April 23. The 6-4, 270-pounder joins Shreveport, La., four-star tackle Jerry Tillery and Pocatello, Idaho, four-star center Tris- ten Hoge in creating one of the top of- fensive line classes in the country. Ruhland's decision ended up being an easy one. He visited South Bend April 5, added an offer from Notre Dame April 7 and ended his recruit- ment two weeks later. "Everything about Notre Dame was perfect," the Cary-Grove Community High School prospect said. "I feel like it's the best school in the country. It has great academics and great coach- ing, and it's close. I don't have any rea- son to wait around and talk to other schools and coaches, since I already know where I want to be. "My final three were Notre Dame, Northwestern and Minnesota. The dis- tance from home — it's two hours and 15 minutes away — played a big factor. Now my family and friends can come watch my games. That, and the fact that they have such a strong tradition of excellence is great. I've grown up watching them on television and now I can play there. It's just awesome." As is the case with all of Notre Dame's top O-line targets, offensive line coach Harry Hiestand played a major role in securing Ruhland's com- mitment. "Coach Hiestand and I have a re- ally good relationship," Ruhland said. "He's up front and honest with you, and I really believe what he says to me. He's going to get the most out of me as a player and as a person. "When they offered me, they kind of COMMITMENT PROFILE TREVOR RUHLAND Fighting Irish Land Illinois Offensive Lineman 247Sports ranks Ruhland as the No. 49 offensive guard in the country and the No. 12 recruit from the state of Illinois. PHOTO COURTESY 247SPORTS