7/18/2016 football Edit

2017 DT Donovan Jeter Talks Interest In Notre Dame

Beaver Falls (Pa.) recently announced his top nine which included the Irish. Notre Dame will battle tough competition to land in the four-star's top five and land an official this fall. (Rivals)

Corey Bodden • InsideNDSports

Staff Writer

Notre Dame has had just a great deal of success in the state of Pennsylvania in the 2017 cycle. The Irish have four prospects committed from the Keystone State: Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic defenders Kurt Hinish and David Adams, Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny Joshua Lugg, and recent commit Robert Hainsey, who plays at Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy but is originally from Monroeville near Pittsburgh.

The Irish may not be done in Pennsylvania. Beaver Falls (Pa.) defensive tackle Donovan Jeter recently released his top nine schools which was made up of Notre Dame, Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Tennessee, Ole Miss, Penn State and Pittsburgh.

The next step for the 6-foot-5, 255-pound Jeter is to release his top five in August and those five schools will be where he takes his officials.

Even though the four-star hasn’t visited South Bend the Irish are certainly in the mix as all nine of his schools are “on the same level right now.”

“They’re just a great school academically and they always have a great football team,” Jeter said. “Just in case my career doesn’t work out…it’s always a (good) fallback plan with a degree from Notre Dame. It’s going to get you a good job.”

“They almost compete for a national championship every year. They’re always a top ten team.”

Defensive line coach Keith Gilmore is heading Jeter’s recruitment for the Irish. The two remain in constant communication.

“He’s a good guy,” Jeter said. “I talk to him about once a week. He’s just a good person.”

Jeter didn’t show his hand when asked what the likelihood Notre Dame could get an official this fall. But, said he would like to visit.

With the start of his final high school camp looming in two weeks, Jeter said it would be tough for him to try and make any visits the rest of this summer.

Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Pittsburgh and Tennessee are currently recruiting him the hardest.

Jeter is ranked as the 12th overall defensive tackle in the 2017 cycle.

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