Five-Star Athlete Demetris Robertson Ready To Make A 'Difficult' Decision
The final piece to Notre Dame's 2016 recruiting class could fall into place this weekend.
It could also dissipate.
Savannah (Ga.) Christian School five-star wide receiver Demetris Robertson is set to end his recruitment around 1 p.m. ET on Sunday when he announces a decision at the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
It's a decision that his brother and legal guardian, Carlos Robertson, says won't be easy.
"It has been difficult," Carlos Robertson said late Thursday. "But I think he pretty much has his mind made up."
Whether difficult means that Robertson will spurn the in-state Georgia Bulldogs for Notre Dame, California or even Georgia Tech remains to be seen.
Robertson, who is ranked by Rivals.com as the nation's No. 1 overall athlete, was planning to make a commitment around Feb. 3's National Signing Day, but he elected to delay the choice in hopes of gaining admission into Stanford. That never happened, but the delay in turn allowed for the recruiting process to play out some more. The family took official visits to both Alabama and Georgia and signed non-binding financial aid agreements with Georgia, Georgia Tech and California. Notre Dame remained in the conversation, but it was from a distance. That left many in the recruiting industry thinking that the Irish were a long shot to land Robertson, but Carlos Robertson claims that's not exactly the case.
"Nothing has ever really changed with Notre Dame," he said when asked if the Irish should be considered a contender in advance of the announcement. "We know what Notre Dame is all about. We know what they have done and what the school is all about. It's good stuff and it would be good for Demetris if he chooses them."
But the question is ... Will he?
Robertson told Blue & Gold Illustrated back in January during preparation for the U.S. Army All-American Game that Notre Dame and Stanford were the two schools he was favoring because of academics. He backed those words up when he retook the SAT in January and then again in February in hopes of scoring higher on the test, but once it became clear that Stanford wasn't going to be an option, he didn't jump to secure a spot in South Bend. He instead took visits to both Georgia and Alabama — a pair of SEC schools that aren't exactly known for academics.
Carlos Robertson says that it was always part of the plan to visit both SEC schools, and while one could argue that past comments suggest otherwise, Notre Dame appears to have not forgotten about Robertson's initial desire to go to a school that provides a total package for student-athletes both on and off the field.
Irish associate head coach Mike Denbrock had an extended conversation with the family on Monday in a final pitch of sorts. His message to Robertson was the same one that the Irish having been saying since last spring when they first offered the 6-0, 180-pound wideout with 4.3 speed.
"It wasn't really anything different," Carlos Robertson said. "It was just the education background of the school and ways in which they could maximize his potential on the field."
Robertson will compete at a state track meet outside of Athens on Saturday. Rumors have spread online that Robertson might get one final look at Georgia before he picks the school of his choice, but Carlos Robertson was quick to shoot down that tale.
"The track meet is going to go from 9 in the morning to 9 at night, so there's no way to make that possible to happen," he said with a laugh.
What will happen Sunday however is a commitment and one that will end a recruitment that has seen more than its fair share of twists and turns.