Mike Heuerman had an idea Notre Dame was going to come through with an offer, but the junior tight end from Naples, Fla., (Barron Collier) was still excited when Tony Alford stopped by his school and made it official.
“I was pumped,” the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder said. “I had a few other smaller offers, but you’ve always got to set your goals and Notre Dame is as high as you get. So I was real pumped.”
The 2013 prospect already had offers from Florida International and Appalachian State, but the offer from the Irish made a huge impression. One of Heuerman’s first calls after receiving the offer was to his older brother Jeff, who just finished his freshman year as a tight end at Ohio State.
“He was telling me his first big-time offer didn’t come until the beginning of February,” Heuerman said of his brother. “I give him a lot of credit for everything I will receive in this process. Without him, I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in. He’s put the head I have on my shoulders there. He’s been through the recruiting process.
“I’ve never met someone that will work harder than him, so he drives me. He taught me how to lift. He taught me how to run and exercise in proper ways. He always showed me what you do and what you don’t do when it comes to football and when it comes to life in general. He keeps me away from making bad decisions and, like I said, he keeps my head on straight.”
Heuerman, who runs about a 4.75, likes to catch the football, but spends a great deal of his time in high school blocking, which is certainly a strength of his.
“With our high school offense, you block 80, 85 percent of the time,” he said. “I’m real strong at blocking, I always have been, so was Jeff. I love running routes. I only played five games this year and had 400 yards receiving and 24 catches or something.”
Heuerman is also receiving interest from schools like Ohio State, Florida, Miami and LSU.
“Whether they all end up giving me scholarships or not really isn’t my decision,” he said “I know they’re still trying to pull in their 2012 commits and they’re all focused on bowl games, so I’m not really bothering them.”
Heuerman would consider Ohio State along with any other program that could offer and would like to have his decision made relatively soon.
“I’m going to visit all of my schools some time here in the winter,” he said. “I’ll probably make my decision just before spring football, if not that, during spring football.”
Heuerman expects to have his decision made by May with the intention of enrolling early at the school of his choice. He’s already highlighted a few factors that will play major roles in his decision.
“Mainly their offense and the way they use their tight ends and how I would be used if I was there,” he said. “Also, the coaching staff. You want to have a good bond with the coaching staff. I know they’re never promised to be there tomorrow, but that’s important. And just some of the players you get along with.”
The Irish have a couple of things going for themselves already as Heuerman is friends with a current Irish freshman.
“I’m real close with Aaron Lynch,” he said. “I talk to him on a weekly basis. It’s always good to have someone up there to get some good inside information on what’s going on. Everything he tells me is positive.”
Heuerman, who expects to talk to Lynch about his new offer soon, also loves the way Notre Dame uses its tight ends.
“I definitely see myself in that offense,” he said. “That will definitely play a very big impact in my decision-making when it comes time.”
Heuerman is also aware of the strengths of the Notre Dame package outside of the athletic department.
“I know that it has one of the strongest alumni bases,” he said. “The alumni is very supportive. Once you’re at Notre Dame, you’re at Notre Dame for life.
“I know it’s a beautiful campus. It’s a Catholic school. It’s a great school from what I hear. You get a little bit more one-on-one attention when it comes to academics.”
Heureman intends to make a visit to South Bend at some point over the next few months. “I’ll probably end up there either in late-February or early-March,” he said.
