REPORT: On300 four-star OL Gregory Patrick commits to to Notre Dame…..

Patrick, also the On3 Industry Ranking’s No. 2 player in the Great Lake State, chose Notre Dame after visiting Michigan and Michigan State earlier this spring. He held scholarship offers from 16 other Power Four programs, including Penn State, which also finished as a finalist in his recruitment.

However, Patrick’s first trip to South Bend this year sealed the deal. He had reported six other unofficial visits to Notre Dame since emerging on Joe Rudolph’s radar two years ago. The third-year Irish offensive line coach’s pedigree and persistence since then eventually paid off with Patrick’s pledge. He will start his career as an offensive tackle when he arrives on campus next year.

“(Rudolph) talks about how he has never taken a guy out of the (transfer) portal in his whole career, ” Patrick said. “That’s not something you really think about at first. But then you think about it more and realize that is the ultimate trust level. Programs say they only like to supplement from the portal by using it when they need it.

“That goes to show how much Coach Rudolph trusts his guys. He’s never going to take one and never has. That shows how much he trusts in himself to develop his own players. He takes that upon himself.”