Four-star DT Darnell Ewell 'pretty much good' with Notre Dame commitment

Darnell Ewell admitted the coaching changes in the Notre Dame football program have been a little hard to keep up with. He’s still trying to learn the names of his new future coaches.

But the four-star defensive tackle commit expects to receive a visit from some of the Irish coaches soon. He said Thursday night that he believed the new defensive coordinator and/or the new defensive line coach would be visiting him on Saturday. That would be Mike Elko and Mike Elston.

Easy to understand the confusion.

“I try to bond with everybody, but it’s kind of difficult when everybody’s transitioning,” Ewell said. “So many things are happening, but at the same time it’s not about that. It’s about me getting what I need to get.”

The Notre Dame coach whom Ewell knew best, former defensive line coach Keith Gilmore, has not been retained in the postseason coaching staff shuffle. Former tight ends coach Scott Booker was also Notre Dame’s lead recruiter in Ewell’s home state of Virginia.

Have the changes made Ewell reconsider his verbal commitment?

“No. I’m pretty much good where I’m at,” Ewell said. “I got the best education in the world. I’m going away from home. It’s free. I get to wear gold every game. Plus it’s my choice. It’s what makes me happy. Screw anybody else.”

Ewell is arguably Notre Dame’s most important commitment on defense. Depending on his final ranking, the 6-foot-4, 300-pound senior from Norfolk (Va.) Lake Taylor could be the best defensive tackle recruit to join the Irish since Louis Nix in 2010.

247Sports slates Ewell as the No. 14 defensive tackle in the 2017 class. Rivals ranks him No. 8 at the position.