Notre Dame’s recruiting pipeline to Hawaii struck gold again, with four-star linebacker Jordan Botelho agreeing to join the Fighting Irish’s class of 2020.
Botelho is the top overall prospect in Hawaii and the No. 3 inside linebacker, according to 247Sports. He picked the Irish ahead of scholarship offers from the likes of Washington, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma and in-state Hawaii, among 22 total power programs.
“I went there and just got a great vibe from everything,” Botelho told 247Sports. “Coach Mike Elston is a great coach and I got to sit down with him in the film room. He showed me where I’ll be playing and broke everything down. I really liked what I saw. I feel like I’m in a good position to go there and compete right away. I know I’ll have a chance for playing time from the start.
“Hawaii guys have gone there before and I know they’ve been taken care of. I know I’ll be set up for success there in the future and I’m just super excited to be joining that program in the future.”
Botelho is an All-American Bowl and Polynesian Bowl selection, and he becomes the latest in a long line of Hawaiian stars to chose Notre Dame, dating back to one-time Heisman finalist Manti Te’o, a fellow St. Louis High School (Honolulu, Hi.) linebacker.
That’s clearly a comfort factor for Botelho, as he alluded to, and it’s likely a key part of why he claims to be, “completely locked in,” to South Bend.
“When you leave Hawaii, it’s a long flight anywhere you go so distance from home didn’t mean anything to me,” Botelho. “Right now I’m fully committed and I’m pretty sure I won’t take any other trips. I’m very happy and excited to be a part of Notre Dame’s program. I want to get back there soon, hopefully also make it out for a game this season. I’m completely locked in.”
