Feb. 18, 2015
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Avery Sebastian will attend graduate school at the University of Notre Dame and play football for Fighting Irish this fall, Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly announced today.
Sebastian graduated with a degree in sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, this past December and will join the Notre Dame program in June.
“Avery Sebastian is an experienced and versatile player,” said Kelly. “He played safety and contributed on every special teams unit over his career at California. Avery gives us some additional depth in the secondary and also brings a work ethic and excitement to compete that will build throughout the team.
“Avery will help our football team right away, but more important, he is the type of young man that we want in this program. Avery carries himself in a first-class manner, on and off the field. He’s also committed to his academics, graduating from both high school and college in three and a half years, respectively.”
“I’m very thankful to head coach Brian Kelly and the rest of the coaching staff and administration for giving me the opportunity to come play at the University of Notre Dame,” said Sebastian. “I think academically, spiritually and athletically will make Notre Dame a perfect fit. I’ve got one year to make an impact and I plan on making the most of this opportunity. I look forward to joining the Notre Dame family.
“I’m eager to meet my teammates. Like the coaching staff and players alike, our objective is to field a better product than the year before. My hope is that we field one of college football’s best teams this upcoming year. I’ve got veteran experience in the secondary, and familiarity with multiple defenses and opposing offenses.”
Sebastian played in 33 career games for the Golden Bears and made six starts at safety. He recorded 96 career tackles, including 51 solo stops, three passes defended, two interceptions, two tackles for loss and one forced fumble.
Sebastian led California in tackles three times over his career, including a career-best 14 stops against Arizona State as a sophomore in 2012. He registered 10 tackles and an interception in the first half alone of the 2013 season opener versus Northwestern before an injury sidelined him the rest of the ’13 campaign. Sebastian had 10 stops and a tackle for loss in a ’12 meeting at Utah.
A 2011 graduate of Eagle’s Landing Christian Academy in McDonough, Georgia, Sebastian was listed among the nation’s top safeties by ESPN (No. 6) and Rivals (No. 8), as well as the nation’s best defensive backs according to SuperPrep (No. 46). He ranked among the nation’s top players overall according to ESPN (No. 68), Tom Lemming (No. 141) and Rivals (No. 159). Sebastian was rated as Georgia’s No. 14 player overall according to Rivals and checked in at No. 16 on the SuperPrep list.
Sebastian, who graduated from the same high school as current Irish defensive lineman Isaac Rochell, picked up All-America honors from both SuperPrep and PrepStar as a senior at Eagle’s Landing Christian in 2010. He registered 55 tackles and intercepted three passes, while also rushing for 434 yards and seven touchdowns on 49 carries. Sebastian helped the Chargers to an 11-1 record and Region 5 South title.
Sebastian played in the 2011 U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He was named to the U.S. Under-19 National Team by USA Football and played in the International Bowl in February 2011. As a junior in 2009 at Union Grove High School, Sebastian registered 104 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
— ND —