Now, college coaches use the period to check on many junior prospects who already hold scholarship offers and to extend offers to some players who have only finished two years of high school football. Camp Hill, Pa., tight end Adam Breneman of Cedar Cliff High School is one of those players who will be entering his junior year of high school this fall and on Tuesday, Notre Dame offered him a scholarship.
The Irish join Boston College and Temple on Breneman’s early offer list, which could double very soon. Florida, Rutgers and North Carolina have had heavy contact with either him or his head coach of late.
“They told me that all three are probably coming soon,” said Breneman.
Notre Dame offensive coordinator Charley Molnar delivered the Irish offer to the Cedar Hill star during a school visit.
“He stopped by school,” the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Breneman said.
Breneman wasn't able to speak directly with Molnar, but his coach was able to relay the offensive coordinator's message afterward.
“I hadn’t really heard from Notre Dame before this, so it was kind of a surprise…It’s definitely very exciting. Notre Dame is definitely a school I was hoping to hear from because I really like the way they use their tight ends and allow their tight ends to be playmakers and have the ball in their hands.”
After watching film of Breneman, who caught 60 passes for 863 yards and eight touchdowns as a sophomore, the Irish would like to use him in that way.
“I’m the type of tight end that they want to have in their offense, the kind that can catch the ball and be a vertical threat down the field,” said Breneman, who earned all-league and all-state honors. “I have a frame to be a tight end - I can block - but I also have the skills of a wide receiver. I’ve actually played wide receiver my last two years in high school, but I’m being recruited to play tight end.
“I’m 6-5, 220, kind of big for a wideout. I have room to put a lot of weight on my frame. I’m going to be playing tight end this year in high school, my junior year. I’m working on blocking and becoming a complete tight end that can pretty much do it all.”
Breneman added more than 10 pounds of muscle since last season, but won’t try to bulk up too much more.
“I’ve been working out, lifting a lot,” he said. “A lot of schools have told me, ‘Don’t worry about your weight right now. When you get to college, putting on weight is no problem. 220 is a good size.’ I tacked on the pounds recently. I’m just going to keep working out, but I’m not going to go hardcore trying to get to 240 or anything. I’m just going to let it come on naturally from now on.”
The Irish made it clear, through Breneman's coach, they are not going to get him to South Bend to use him as a sixth offensive lineman, but they didn’t have to.
“Kyle Rudolph was a guy I liked to watch on film a lot to see how he does things,” said Breneman. “He’s a guy I definitely look up to. Watching their games and the way they use their tight ends, they put them in the tight end position then they let them be a wideout, put them in the slot to put the ball in their hands. That is definitely something I’m looking for.”
Breneman is also aware Notre Dame is bringing in another Pennsylvania tight end this coming season in Ben Koyack.
“I don’t know him personally, but I’ve heard about him and he’s a pretty good ballplayer,” Breneman said of Koyack.
Breneman is looking for a school that will benefit him academically and a coaching staff he can have a great relationship with, but Notre Dame might have to overcome at least one hurdle.
“Ideally, I would like to stay somewhere semi-close to home, but if the situation is right, I’d be willing to travel pretty much anywhere if I find a great fit for me,” said Breneman. “Indiana is not terribly far, but it’s pushing it a little bit. If I find the right fit, I wouldn’t let proximity to home get in the way of that.”
He’s already taken unofficial visits to Boston College and Rutgers and plans on getting out to see more schools this summer.
“I’m going to sit back until May’s over to see how the spring recruiting keeps going,” he said. “After that, depending on what happens, if there’s some schools I’d like to hear from that I haven’t, I may make it up to some camps this summer.
“I’m definitely going to try to visit some schools. I know Notre Dame and Florida are ones we’re likely to visit right now.”
It’s obviously still very early in Breneman’s recruitment, but he already has a loose timetable for his decision.
“I’d definitely like to make a decision, if I can make a decision, before my senior year,” he said. “If it’s not possible, it’s not possible, but ideally, I’d like to decide before my senior year.”
