Three-star TE Tommy Tremble continues Notre Dame's commitment streak
Notre Dame’s football staff may never want this week to end.
The Irish added their third verbal commitment of the week Thursday morning when three-star tight end Tommy Tremble, a Georgia product, announced his pledge.
Tremble followed a string of additions that started late Sunday night with cornerback Tariq Bracy and continued Tuesday with defensive back Houston Griffith.
“The education, the coaching staff, everything,” Tremble said of his reasons for committing to Notre Dame. “You couldn't beat it. To go there for free, it's dumb not to choose it.”
The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Tremble gives Notre Dame its second tight end in the 2018 class. He joins George Takacs, who will enroll in January, at the position and pushes Notre Dame’s commitment total to 20 with the early signing period less than a week away.
With his commitment coming so close to the new early signing period, which runs Wednesday through Friday of next week, Tremble said he plans to wait until National Signing Day in February. All the other Irish commits are expected to sign next week, so Tremble could be swayed in the coming days.
“I didn't really think about signing next Wednesday that much,” Tremble said. “I haven't put that much thought into it."
Notre Dame's class moved up to No. 5 nationally, according to Rivals, with the addition of Tremble. Only Ohio State, Miami, Georgia and Texas sit ahead of the Irish on the Rivals list. 247Sports pegs the ND class at No. 7.
A day before his announcement, Tremble wasn’t sure about his decision. A parade of coaches had visited Tremble at his home in the last few weeks to make their final pitches. Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh visited on Nov. 29. UCLA head coach Chip Kelly visited on Wednesday. Later Wednesday night, Notre Dame brought head coach Brian Kelly, offensive coordinator Chip Long and running backs coach Autry Denson for one last push.
“I didn't know if I wanted to go to Michigan, Notre Dame or UCLA,” Tremble said. “Then I came to the agreement.”
The Irish contingent left Tremble’s home without an answer. He called the coaching staff Thursday morning to give them the good news.
“They were with me before I got hurt and after,” Tremble said. “They treated me the exact same way. It's been good. They had a great connection with me. They never tried to pressure me to do anything."
A broken left ankle wiped out Tremble’s senior season at Norcross (Ga.) Wesleyan just two games into it, but that didn’t prevent Tremble from making his way around Notre Dame’s campus in October on crutches during his official visit for the USC game. It was the second of his three trips to campus. He also made an unofficial visit in June and returned in November for the Navy game.
Tremble fell in love with what he saw at Notre Dame.
“The campus looks brand new. It looks like someone just made it up like a dream,” Tremble said. “It's a beautiful place especially during the winter. Everyone there was super nice. The players and recruits, I felt like I would fit in with them too."
But Notre Dame wasn’t the only school to impress. On official visits to Michigan in November and UCLA last weekend, Tremble considering committing to each school.
"When I went to Michigan, it was fun. I wanted to commit. Then I decided to wait it out,” Tremble said. “Then I went to UCLA. It was fun. I wanted to commit. I had to wait it out.
“I really thought it over for a long time until the last minute. Notre Dame ended up being the best option."
Early in Tremble’s recruitment, he seemed destined to end up at Georgia. His father, Greg, played defensive back for the Bulldogs. But Tommy Tremble’s focus ended up elsewhere in the final weeks.
“It was hard. I grew up a Georgia fan. I've been wanting to go there since I was born,” Tremble said. “The advantages to going to Notre Dame, comparing them, no question it's way better.
“I know (Georgia’s) a great football team and a great coaching staff. I really appreciate (tight ends) coach (Shane) Beamer and (head) coach Kirby (Smart), they were awesome to me. It just wasn't the best fit for me."
Georgia’s loss was Notre Dame’s gain. 247Sports slates Tremble as the No. 17 tight end in the 2018 class. Rivals ranks him No. 18 at the position.
"He's a sure-handed receiver who can run," said CBS Sports Network recruiting analyst Tom Lemming. "You can put the weight and strength on them. You just can't put the speed on them normally. He's an athlete."
At the Atlanta regional for The Opening, a Nike-sponsored camp, Tremble ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds.
Long extended a scholarship to Tremble in May and worked to pair him with Takacs in the class. The two should fit as complementary pieces in Notre Dame’s offense. The 6-6, 235-pound Takacs plays as a traditional tight end where Tremble has shown to be a more dynamic receiver. The Irish coaching staff has compared Tremble to junior tight end Alizé Mack.
Mack came to the Irish ranked as the No. 1 tight end in the 2015 class by 247Sports. But like Tremble, Mack picked Notre Dame ahead of a number of schools, including UCLA.
With senior Nic Weishar expressing his plan to return to Notre Dame as a fifth-year senior, the Irish should have six scholarship tight ends in 2018. Signing Tremble and Takacs a year after adding Brock Wright and Cole Kmet, both ranked as top six tight ends in the 2017 class, would appear to put the future of “Tight End U” in good hands.
tjames@ndinsider.com | 574-235-6214 | Twitter: @TJamesNDI
Below are junior highlights of Tremble via Hudl.
Blessed to be committed ☘️ #GoIrishpic.twitter.com/OIVdS30H5g
— Tommy Tremble™ (@TommyTrem) December 14, 2017
Congrats to the newest member of the Fighting Irish Football Family @TommyTrem!! So proud of you ☘️#GoWolvespic.twitter.com/qWoALK5xTI
— Wesleyan Football (@WesleyanFB97) December 14, 2017
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) December 14, 2017
Welcome to the family! ☘️#IrishBouND18pic.twitter.com/efY8FNBPdM
— Aaryn Kearney - AK (@aarynkearney) December 14, 2017
