Head coach Jason Strunk has seen Jordan Prestwood (Plant City, Fla./Plant City) come a long way.

In a year and a half, the ESPN 150 Watch List offensive tackle prospect has gone from a 6-foot-4, 180-pound sophomore, to a 6-foot-6, 273-pound Notre Dame verbal commit.

At a Monday afternoon press conference, Prestwood publicly announced his college decision, choosing the Irish over scholarship offers from the likes of Florida, Florida State, Alabama, USC, Auburn, Tennessee, South Carolina, Purdue and Central Florida.

“It was an easy decision definitely,” Prestwood told Irish Sports Daily on Saturday afternoon. He becomes the second player in the class-of-2011 to commit to head coach Brian Kelly, joining defensive end Brad Carrico (Dublin, Ohio/Coffman).

“Everything about it, either you fit in there or you don’t. I felt like I fit in their perfectly. Just the people there, the coaches, the players and what the program was all about, really stood out and it was what I feel apart of.”

Prestwood has been a big part of Strunk’s rebuilding process at Plant City.

“First and foremost, when I got here two years ago, I saw Jordan and he was a rail,” Strunk laughed.

“Once the 2008 season ended, we got in the weight room on Dec. 1st, and from that point till May of 2009, the spring game, Jordan got up to 6-foot-5 ½, 245 pounds. He gained about 50 to 60 pounds by coming in and dedicating himself to the weight room and the team. Without him getting in the weight room, this day wouldn’t be possible.”

Prestwood played offensive tackle his first two years of high school, but moved to receiver and tight end in Strunk’s offense. As a junior, he caught 28 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns, and also added a rushing score.

“He’s always been an athlete,” Strunk stated. “From day one he was an athlete. He’s grown into his body now. The way I use him in the offense here, he is such a weapon. About 95 percent of the time, he’s split out wide and then sometimes moves to tight end.

“He runs bubble screens, he runs hitches, he runs verticals, he runs fades. He does everything the small skill guy can do. It’s incredible to watch. I’ve repeatedly said he’s the best recruit in Florida because there is no 6-6, 273-pound kids running bubble screens, blocking kids half his size in space and all those other things. No other kid in the state of Florida is doing that other than Jordan.”

Prestwood’s first-ever visit to Notre Dame, he camped in South Bend and worked out with the tight ends. He’s been back twice since, for a game last fall, and a three-day trip the weekend of March 27th, to observe a spring practice and meet the new coaching staff.  

“Out of all the schools I’ve visited, no other place could compare,” Prestwood said just after his trip.

Strunk says Prestwood will play the same role for his team this fall, and they’ve even added some new wrinkles, including using him to run the option. As far as moving over to offensive tackle in an Irish uniform, Strunk thinks it will be a smooth transition.

“Here is what people don’t know yet,” Strunk began. “We run the same exact offense coach Kelly is running at Notre Dame. We’ve moved to the spread no-huddle offense. Jordan is going to have a full year under his belt running that tempo. Jordan is going to be used to that tempo and pace. He’s going to be conditioned and ready for it.”

To read Prestwood's opening statement, click here.