ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The recruiting process was a long one and an interesting one for Max Redfield, but it just ended as the California safety prospect announced his commitment to Notre Dame during the Under Armour All-America Game.
The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder from Mission Viejo, Calif., chose the Irish over USC, a school he was once committed to.
Redfield gives the Irish 23 verbal commitments in the Class of 2013 and Notre Dame’s second from the Under Armour Game this week as running back Tarean Folston announced for the Irish on Wednesday. Redfield is Notre Dame’s first safety commit and he joins cornerback pledges Cole Luke, Devin Butler and Rashad Kinlaw in the secondary.
“All around, it came down to an emotional feeling,” Redfield told ISD of his decision earlier in the week. “I felt like it was the place for me. I felt like I fit in with the players when I was there and really liked the coaches and the whole campus as well.”
Redfield committed to USC during the summer, but an official visit to Notre Dame in October opened his eyes and led to his decommitment.
“It was really hectic and tough for me,” Redfield admitted. “Calling the coaches and telling them I was decommitting was really tough.”
He never eliminated the Trojans and they actually made a surge when he took an official visit early last month, but it didn’t take long for Redfield to remember the things he saw at Notre Dame.
Irish head coach Brian Kelly, West Coast recruiter Mike Denbrock and the rest of the Notre Dame staff made a huge impression on Redfield.
“I felt like they were really genuine guys and I could trust them and that they were being 100 percent truthful with me with whatever they were telling me,” said Redfield. “They were just really great guys.”
The current players and commits he met during his trip to South Bend also played a major role.
“They were really open with me when I came there,” said Redfield. “They treated me like I was a part of team already. There are a lot of great guys there and I had a lot of fun when I was up there.”
With the 23 commits in the Class of 2013, the Irish figure to have room for at least one more prospect and possibly two.
