Notre Dame commit Bo Wallace could help open doors in Louisiana

As important as new football commitment Bo Wallace could prove to be for Notre Dame on the field, Wallace's value could be just as strong on another front in that he comes from a rich recruiting area where ND hasn't had a ton of luck lately.

Wallace, a defensive end/outside linebacker who committed on Sunday while on an official visit, plays at John Curtis Christian High School in the New Orleans suburb of River Ridge. Not far away is Baton Rouge, and if you combine the talent level of the two areas, you've got a lot.

"There's a ton of talent, I mean really a ton of talent, and that could open the door," CBS Sports Network recruiting analyst Tom Lemming said Sunday night. "The key is opening the door."

Credit Irish defensive backs coach Kerry Cooks with kicking down the door on this one. Cooks was the lead recruiter on Wallace, who also, according to Rivals.com, had offers from currently top-ranked Mississippi State, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and UCLA.

Wallace couldn't be reached for comment Sunday night, but wrote on his Twitter account late Sunday afternoon his intentions.

"I guess it's a perfect time to tell everyone that I'm committed to the University of Notre Dame," he wrote, accentuating the commitment with a green shamrock and a #GoIrish.

Wallace is the 19th player to verbally commit to Notre Dame's 2015 class, a group that does not become official until the Feb. 4 national signing day. Irish coach Brian Kelly cannot comment on a prospect until the player has signed a national letter-of-intent.

Wallace comes from the same school as former Irish linebacker Michael Stonebreaker, a member of ND's 1988 national championship team. The school was the 2012 national champion and has won close to 25 state championships.

"They play the best teams in Louisiana," Lemming said. "I thought he was the best outside linebacker in Louisiana and there are some real good ones this year."

Among the things Lemming likes about Wallace are his speed, explosiveness, long arms, leadership, the fact he's well-coached and his ability to move well laterally.

Rivals and 247Sports ank him as a three-star prospect. Rivals ranks him as the No. 27 outside linebacker in this class while 247 pegs him at No. 30.

And, he comes at a position at which this class has been looking for a big name.

"This is one of the biggest gets in this class because it's one of the biggest remaining needs," said 247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong, who offered that while Wallace might be considered a project, he's worth it because his upside is so high.

"He'll be a guy," Wiltfong said, "that can get after the quarterback."

Below are junior highlights of Wallace via Hudl.