Notre Dame added a second offensive lineman to its recruiting class during the weekend as Eric Olsen became the 17th verbal commitment for the Irish this year.
A 6-foot-5, 298-pound lineman from Poly Prep School in Brooklyn, New York, Olsen will play offensive guard for Notre Dame, according to Mike Frank of Irisheyes.com.
"He's a good pickup," Frank said. "He comes from a good program. He's a big kid who likes to smack people around a little bit."
Most of the schools he looked at were similar, but Notre Dame stood out for Olsen because of its tradition.
"I was looking for the complete package," Olsen said. "I felt that it was everything I was looking for from the academic standpoint, the coaches and the environment. Plus, it had that mystique and tradition there. It was just awesome."
Frank said Olsen is in the "second wave" of offensive line recruits offered by the Irish coaching staff.
"He's not one of the top five or six guys they offered," Frank said. "He was with the next group of guys that got offered. But he's hardly a second-tier type of guy."
Boston College, North Carolina, Miami, Maryland and Virginia were among the schools that also offered Olsen a scholarship, according to Irisheyes.com.
"Growing up I pulled for Notre Dame and also Miami and Boston College," Olsen said. "When it came down to it those were all in my top five. But Boston College was probably second."
Olsen made an unofficial visit to campus this summer when he attended the Notre Dame football camp. Irish coaches, players and the campus itself made a good impression on the lineman during his visit of "four or five days," he said.
Offensive tackle Bartley Webb of Springdale, Ark. is the other line prospect to verbal to the Irish so far. He received four stars out of a possible five from Scout.com. Olsen received three stars.
Olsen reports a 350-pound bench press and a 520-pound squat along with a 5.2 second time in the 40-yard dash.