April 05--Notre Dame's first Class of 2017 commitment has secondhand ties to the area.
Dillan Gibbons, a 6-foot-5, 304-pound offensive tackle from Northside Christian in St. Petersburg, Fla., orally committed to play for the Irish on Saturday, according to his tweet and multiple reports. He visited the Notre Dame campus this week.
"There's just something about being up there," Gibbons told the Tribune via text message Saturday. "It wasn't difficult for me. I've been dreaming of playing for ND since I was born."
Gibbons plays for former Joliet Catholic standout Mike Alstott, who has been Northside Christian's head coach for three years.
Alstott, a three-time first-team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl selection, played 11 seasons for the Buccaneers, including a victory in Super Bowl XXXVII. He played college football for Purdue.
Alstott could not be reached for comment Saturday evening.
Gibbons also had offers from Cincinnati, Illinois, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Ohio State, South Carolina and West Virginia, among others.
He said he told his family how he felt Friday when he returned home from South Bend, Ind.
"There was no doubt after I talked to them," Gibbons said.
Notre Dame also has received oral commitments from Nazareth running back Julian Love and Loyola Academy long snapper John Shannon on March 21.
Other Class of 2016 commits are Tommy Kraemer, a 6-5, 305-pound offensive tackle from Elder High School in Cincinnati, and Tony Jones Jr. a running back from IMG Academy in Florida.
pskrbina@tribpub.com
