Every year the state of New Jersey produces a bevy of top end BCS-level talent, and Notre Dame has had good success recruiting in the talent-rich state over the years.
The Irish haven’t landed a player from the Garden State since Bennett Jackson two years ago, but they continue to recruit the area hard.
One of the top prospects in New Jersey for the Class of 2013 is Garrett Sickels of Red Bank Regional High, in Little Silver, NJ.
The 6-foot-4, 235-pound hybrid defender has already received offers from Rutgers, Central Florida, Stanford, Tennessee, Florida and Georgia. Sickels is also receiving heavy interest from Alabama, Notre Dame, Florida State, Miami, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Boston College and Penn State.
The Little Silver native has been in contact with the coaching staffs at Rutgers and Florida the most early on.Irish defensive coordinator Bob Diaco, who recruits New Jersey, has been in contact with the versatile defender.
“I talk with him sometimes, and I get a lot of mail from them as well,” he said. “I know they like me as a hybrid outside linebacker, and I think that position fits me best on the next level. I know Coach Diaco played linebacker in a 3-4, so he has a great knowledge of the position. I really think Notre Dame could offer soon.”
The East Coast product had a busy spring, and summer visiting several schools over the last six months.
“I went to Rutgers Big Man Academy in June, and I visited Penn State, Central Florida, Florida, Miami and Tennessee,” he explained.
Notre Dame is a school Sickels would like to visit in the future.
“I would really like to get up there, but I won’t be taking many visits this fall until my season is over,” he said. “I do think that on my bye week that me and my family will fly out to Tennessee, and see a game. I was thinking of going to Georgia, but my sister is at Tennessee, so we’ll probably go there. Once the season is over, I’ll really get into recruiting.”
Sickels, who carries a 3.6 grade point average, knows what he’s looking for in a school.
“Academics are number one, because you have to get an education,” he explained. “I have to be able to trust the coaching staff, and then the tradition. I know all these schools that have offered me have great programs, but I kind of have to look beyond football, and see if I would want to be there if I wasn’t playing football.”
The Red Bank Regional standout thinks he can help a team on defense with his versatility.
“I think I can come off the edge and get pressure on the quarterback with my hand on the ground, and from the linebacker position,” he said. “I think my athleticism helps me keep contain on the edge, and I feel I’m improving in pass coverage. If you can play multiple positions, you’re going to have a better chance of getting on the field, and helping the team."
No schools are standing out to Sickels at this point, and he doesn’t have a timeline for a decision.
“Since I haven’t really gotten out to all the schools that have offered, and more schools may offer soon, I can’t say any schools are separating themselves,” he explained.
While Sickels puts recruiting on the back burner, he is focusing on his junior season at Red Bank Regional.
“We were 4-6 last year, but we had eight sophomore start last year, and now we have the experience to make a run this season,” he said. “I’m working on becoming a better leader, and my only other goals are to win as many games as possible.”
