Notre Dame football recruiting: Irish land another top running back

Tarean Folston had planned on announcing his college decision duringFriday night's Under Armour All-America Game on ESPN.

But midway through the week of preparation in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.,Folston decided to make his decision known instead of waiting for theweekend and a national audience.

Folston, a 5-9, 190-pound senior running back from Cocoa, Fla., sharedthe news of his pledge to Notre Dame with reporters at practiceWednesday and later tweeted about his commitment.

"Finally made a decision and im proud of myself and ready to take onthe challenge! #ND," Folston tweeted. "Go Irish!"

Notre Dame earned Folston's commitment over Oregon, Florida State anda bevy of other offers. He spoke with ESPN.com about his decision.

"I went on a visit there and when I went there I just felt like Icould do this for four years," Folston told ESPN. "The coaches weregreat, the players were great. There was a lot of energy around there,and there is a lot of people wanting to get the same goal to get tothe BCS championship. They are on their way now. We are going to pullthis thing out."

Folston visited Notre Dame for its game against BYU on Oct. 20. Hejoins fellow Florida native Greg Bryant as the two running backs inNotre Dame's 2013 class that now holds 22 verbal commitments. Katy,Texas running back Jamel James decommitted from the Irish programearlier in December.

Folston and Bryant played against each other in a preseason nationallytelevised game on ESPN in August with Folston's Cocoa team winning bya 25-7 score over Bryant's American Heritage team from Delray Beach.

Both players are considered top 15 running backs by Rivals.com and247Sports.com, with Bryant ranked as high as No. 2 by Rivals andFolston ranked as high as No. 9 by 247Sports. When asked what NotreDame fans can expect from him, Folston said to only expect himself.

"They can expect Tarean Folston," he told ESPN. "I can't be nobodyelse. I'm just going to go there and play my game and stay in school,do all the right things, hang with the right people and show out whenI get there."

As a senior, Folston tallied 1,722 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns andmade 25 tackles and four interceptions on defense. Folston will beplaying mostly defensive back in Friday's game, though he projects asa running back first at Notre Dame

Folston is joined in the Under Armour Game by three Notre Dame verbalcommitments: linebacker Alex Anzalone and offensive linemen HunterBivin and Colin McGovern. All four players are a part of TeamHighlight, which will be wearing black jerseys during the game.

McGovern is sitting out the week with a minor knee injury suffered this fall.

More good news from the Under Armour Game could be coming for NotreDame on Friday when safety prospect Max Redfield announces hisdecision during the game, which will be televised on ESPN at 5 p.m.EST.

Staff writer Tyler James:

tjames1@sbtinfo.com