Notre Dame football recruiting: LB Yeargin gives Irish another commitment from Florida

On the day head coach Brian Kelly started the 2013 football camp with his season-opening press conference, Notre Dame ended its day with a verbal commitment to the 2014 recruiting class.

Linebacker Richard Yeargin III, a four-star prospect from Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., committed to the program and shared the news on Twitter Friday night.

“I am officially committed to the University of Notre Dame #GoIrish #GoldenArmy14,” he wrote.

The Irish once again found luck in Florida behind the lead of recruiting coordinator Tony Alford, who heads the efforts in the Sunshine State.

Yeargin, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound recruit, projects as a pass-rushing “Cat” linebacker.

“He can run, has great length and brings a lot of flexibility to Notre Dame's defense,” said 247Sports national recruiting writer Steve Wiltfong. "A nice get for Notre Dame at that Cat linebacker position. They had to beat out a lot of good schools to get him."

Florida, Florida State, Stanford and USC were among the schools courting him.

Yeargin becomes the 16th verbal commitment to Notre Dame’s 2014 class. The senior at University School joins three other commitments with linebacker capabilities. Greer Martini projects as in inside linebacker, while Grant Blankenship and Jonathan Bonner project as hybrid outside linebackers or defensive ends.

CBS Sports Network national recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said the Irish filled a position of need with Yeargin. With linebacker possibilities dwindling, securing a commitment from a strong candidate was crucial.

“He's one of the good ones. He's a major catch for them and a guy that can contribute as a true freshman because he's got the speed, the athletic ability and the production to do that,” Lemming said. “He was All-Broward County last year and made a lot of plays from sideline to sideline.”

Yeargin competed in Nike’s national invite camp, The Opening, in July and posted a 4.98-second time in the 40-yard dash and a 4.44 in the 20-yard shuttle.

Rivals ranks Yeargin as the No. 17 outside linebacker in the 2014 class and the No. 38 overall player in the talent-heavy state of Florida. 247Sports slates him as the No. 33 outside linebacker and No. 37 in Florida.

The last two commitments for the Irish have come from Florida with wide receiver Corey Holmes of Fort Lauderdale committing in July. This winter, the Irish signed four recruits from the state, where Alford has found consistent success recruiting.

“At this point, you're already saying he's one of the best in the country at recruiting that state,” Wiltfong said. “I don't think anyone would argue with that. He's got so many connections in the state of Florida and he's really worked it.”

Yeargin could not be reached for comment late Friday night. Watch highlights of Yeargin here.