'Fun' Notre Dame visit impresses OL Tyler Beach
Tyler Beach wanted to impress Notre Dame. The Irish wanted to impress the four-star offensive lineman.
After a two-day visit, both were accomplished.
Beach, a 6-foot-6, 280-pound 2017 target, arrived at Notre Dame on Friday to learn about the school and meet some of the players. Saturday morning he received an offer from head coach Brian Kelly. He spent more time later in the day watching the Irish practice.
“I did not know if I was going to get an offer or not,” Beach said. “I guess it would be a surprise. It was fun.”
Beach’s résumé on the field and in the classroom at Port Washington (Wisc.) High landed him on Notre Dame’s radar in the fall. Now the Irish have joined Beach’s offer list which includes Wisconsin, Michigan and Arkansas. College offenses that like to run the ball want Beach on their offensive line.
Rivals ranks Beach as the No. 28 offensive tackle in the 2017 class. 247Sports slates him as the No. 32 offensive tackle.
Beach spent most of Saturday’s practice watching how offensive line coach Harry Hiestand led his group.
“It was really cool how he ran practice,” Beach said. “He was really up-tempo and hard on the guys, but it was a tough love thing. He’s looking for perfection, but he knows they’re not going to get it. But he’s still looking for it.”
Notre Dame was Beach’s third visit in the last month. Syracuse and Michigan also received unofficial visits.
The Wolverines also made an impression on Beach.
“It was cool. All the media attention, it doesn’t show how hard they’re working there and all the great things that are happening there,” Beach said. “Coach (Jim) Harbaugh, he’s a normal guy. He’s not a crazy dude or trying to give me money every time I see him. He’s not doing anything like that. He’s a cool guy. The whole coaching staff there was great.”
Now that Michigan and Notre Dame are in pursuit of Beach, more offers may start to come his way. But schools may not have much more time to make an impact in his recruitment. He hopes to make a decision before summer starts.
“I’d like to do it by early May/late April,” Beach said. “If I end up not finding a place that I feel comfortable with or I don’t see it as the place I want to be, I’ll stretch it out.”
Wisconsin will likely receive Beach’s next visit. He’s also trying to find a time to visit Northern Illinois. Trips to Northwestern (April 8-9) and Michigan State (April 16) are also on his calendar.
The Irish and others won’t have to wait long to learn their fate with Beach after that.
tjames@ndinsider.com
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Twitter: @TJamesNDI
