Notre Dame's recruiting class for 2011 continues to swell after the Irish's Blue-Gold Game on Saturday.
Tight end Ben Koyack of Oil City (Pa.) High School orally committed to the Irish, according to multiple reports.
Koyack is the eighth commitment from the 2011 class, which can sign on Feb. 2.
The 6-foot-5, 230-pounder, who is the No. 2 tight end in the nation in Scout.com's rankings, is the fourth player who attended the Blue-Gold Game to commit.
Bishop Dwenger's Tony Springmann, a defensive lineman, along with linebacker Jarrett Grace of Colerain in Cincinnati and offensive tackle Conor Hanratty of New Canaan High in New Canaan, Conn., committed Saturday.
As a junior Koyack had 35 catches for 743 yards and six touchdowns, playing in just seven games because of injury.
The next four weeks could produce more names wanting to join the Irish as the coaching staff can visit prospects at their high schools, talk to high school coaches and watch spring practices or workouts during this period.
"We look at this thing in a 365‑day cycle, the May recruiting is absolutely crucial to us," coach Brian Kelly said after the Blue-Gold Game. "That's where you get those relationships and find out more about the character of the kids. You get to evaluate his transcripts and learn more about him from teachers and the people inside. So this is a huge month for us in terms of that recruiting process.
"So we're doing pretty well in it right now. I'm very, very encouraged. But our guys know May is very, very important, not from the Xs and the Os and the players from this fall, but as we move this program forward."
Commitments
Kyle Brindza, K, 6-2, 195, Plymouth, Canton, Mich.
Brad Carrico, DE, 6-6, 255, Coffman, Dublin, Ohio
Matthias Farley, Ath, 6-1, 185, Christian, Charlotte, N.C.
Jarrett Grace, LB, 6-4, 235, Colerain, Cincinnati
Connor Hanratty, OL, 6-4, 305, New Canaan, New Canaan Conn.
Ben Koyack, TE, 6-5, 230, Oil City, Oil City, Pa.
Jordan Prestwood, OL, 6-6, 265, Plant City, Plant City, Fla.
Tony Springmann, DE, 6-6, 257, Bishop Dwenger
