Feb. 2, 2000

? Archived Press Conference Audio
? Conference Transcript

2000 University of Notre Dame Football
Letter-of-Intent Signees

* Bible, Garron, RB, 5-10, 185, Kingwood, TX (Kingwood)
Davie on Bible
Rated one of top 100 players in state by Dallas Morning News (one of 20 running backs) and Houston Chronicle ( one of 18 running backs) . . . Texas District 22-5A offensive MVP in ’99 – and also earned first-team all-district running back honors . . . rushed 220 times for 1,516 yards and 18 TDs in nine games as senior in ’99 . . . caught 10 passes for 145 yards and one TD in ’99 . . . helped Kingwood to eight victories in ’99 . . . first-team all-district pick at cornerback as junior in ’98 . . . lived in Denver before moving to Texas in 1998.

* Budinscak, Kyle, DL, 6-5, 250, Bridgewater, NJ (Raritan)
Davie on Budinscak
Somerset County defensive player of the year for ’99 by Newark Star-Ledger . . . first-team all-Somerset County and second-team pick as defensive lineman on Group 4 team by Star-Ledger . . . made 69 tackles, 10 sacks, seven hurries, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick as senior in ’99 . . . caught 11 passes for 185 and one touchdown as tight end in ’99.

* Clark, Jared, QB, 6-4, 220, Sarasota, FL (Cardinal Mooney)
Davie on Clark
62nd on Chicago Sun-Times list of top 100 national prospects in ’99 . . . one of nine quarterbacks named to Super Southern 100 squad by Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . completed 89 of 151 passes for 1,372 yards and 17 touchdowns as senior in ’99 . . . rushed 109 times for 741 yards and 10 TDs in ’99 . . . accounted for 2,113 yards and 27 TDs overall in ’99, despite missing two and a half games due to pneumonia . . . helped his team to third round of ’99 Florida state playoffs . . . helped Cardinal Mooney to 10-3 record in ’99, also making 10 tackles, three sacks, forcing one fumble and recovering another as defensive end in second-round playoff contest . . . accounted for 1,451 total yards as junior in ’98, with three-to-one TD-to-interception ratio . . . 74 of 126 passing in ’98 as junior produced 710 yards and eight TDs and he also rushed for 649 yards and 11 TDs . . . starter at quarterback since seventh game of freshman season . . . defensive coordinator at Cardinal Mooney is David Rosenberg, former Notre Dame linebacker from Sarasota who enrolled in ’87 . . . attended Notre Dame football camp in summer of ’99.

* Collins, Jerome, WR, 6-4, 200, Warrenville, IL (Wheaton-Warrenville South)
Davie on Collins
94th on Chicago Sun-Times list of top 100 national prospects in ’99 . . . rated 11th on Best of the Midwest team by Detroit Free-Press . . . selected one of top 25 players in Illinois for ’99 by Chicago Sun-Times . . . received special mention on Champaign News-Gazette all-state team . . . named to all-league team in ’99 in DuPage Valley Conference . . . three-year starter who helped team to state titles as sophomore and junior followed by 8-3 mark in ’99 . . . caught 35 passes for 450 yards and five touchdowns as senior in ’99 . . . averaged 10 yards on 16 reverses and also returned a kickoff 93 yards for a score and did the same on a 63-yard punt return . . . made more than 40 tackles, four sacks and six tackles for losses while playing last four games of ’99 at outside linebacker as well . . . played wide receiver, tight end and linebacker as junior . . . made 31 catches for 702 yards and eight TDs as junior in ’98 . . . ran second leg on school’s ’99 state championship 4×100 relay . . . has run a 10.9 100 meters and 22.8 200 meters.

* Crawford, Lorenzo, WR, 5-11, 175, Prospect Park, NJ (Paterson Catholic)
Davie on Crawford
Honorable mention pick on USA Today prep All-America squad . . . rated 15th on Newark Star-Ledger list of top players in New Jersey . . . named ’99 Passaic County offensive player of the year by Newark Star-Ledger . . . caught 37 passes for 858 yards and 14 touchdowns as senior in 1999, also rushing for 362 yards and six more scores . . . returned four kicks for TDs (three kickoffs and a punt) as senior in ’99 . . . first-team New Jersey all-state pick in football in ’99 by Associated Press . . . led county with 25 total TDs . . . ’99 first-team all-Passaic County selection as kick returner . . . also played safety on defense . . . scored four TDs (on 63- and 22-yard receptions, a three-yard run and a 50-yard onside kick return) in Paterson Catholic’s 34-8 victory over Gloucester Catholic in NJSIAA Parochial Group 2 championship game . . . helped team to 10-1 record in ’99, including six wins over teams that eventually made the playoffs . . . caught 33 passes for 945 yards and 11 TDs as first-team all-state pick as junior in ’98 . . . also participates in basketball, track and swimming . . . three-year starter as point guard in basketball . . . ran 22.6 in 200 meters and 10.2 in 100 meters as junior.

* Curry, Derek, LB, 6-4, Sealy, TX (Sealy)
Davie on Curry
Honorable mention pick on USA Today prep All-America team . . . rated one of top 100 players in state by Fort Worth Star-Telegram (one of 12 linebackers), Dallas Morning News (one of 11 linebackers) and Houston Chronicle (one of 13 linebackers) . . . first-team pick as linebacker on Texas District 25-3A team – and also won district defensive MVP award . . . helped Sealy to state title game as senior in ’99 . . . recorded 143 tackles, four sacks, eight tackles for losses and three interceptions as senior in ’99 . . . three-year starter who had started 26 straight games heading into his senior season, including all 16 in ’97 state championship season . . . had 80 tackles, four interceptions, eight tackles for loss and four caused fumbles as junior in ’98, winning him all-state honors . . . averaged 40 yards as punter in ’98 and ’99 and also played on offense . . . also played baseball (winning all-district honors) and basketball.

* Duff, Vontez, RB, 6-1, 175, Copperas Cove, TX (Copperas Cove)
Davie on Duff
Rated 12th on The Sporting News list of top 101 prospects . . . 61st on Chicago Sun-Times list of top 100 prospects . . . named to list of top 100 national prospects by Fort Worth Star-Telegram (one of 15 running backs) and Dallas Morning News (one of 12 running backs) . . . rated one of top 100 players in Texas by Houston Chronicle (one of 18 running backs) . . . carried 194 times for 1,145 yards and 12 touchdowns as senior in ’99, also catching two passes for six yards . . . two of his eight punt returns went for scores and he also threw for two TDs out of the backfield (he threw for three as junior) . . . helped team to 9-2 mark in ’99, including district title and first-round state playoff loss . . . rushed for 2,256 yards and scored 26 TDs as junior in ’98 . . . helped Bulldogs to Texas Class 5-A state playoffs in ’98 for first time in 37 years . . . played free safety on defense . . . also a standout in basketball and track . . . has run a 10.5 100 meters and long-jumped 23 feet.

* Elam, Abram, QB/DB, 6-1, 190, Riviera Beach, FL (Cardinal Newman)
Davie on Elam
Played quarterback as well as defense in ’99, making 18 tackles on defensive side . . . threw for 900 yards and 13 touchdowns as senior in ’99, while also rushing for 500 yards and 12 TDs . . . headed into senior campaign having rushed for 1,427 yards and 21 TDs while throwing for 1,438 yards and 15 TDs and also making 100 tackles and five interceptions . . . also plays basketball . . . attended Notre Dame football camp in summer of ’99 . . . high school coach Sam Budnyk is a ’55 Notre Dame graduate . . . attended same high school as former Irish standouts John Carney and Alonzo Jefferson.

* Goolsby, Mike, LB, 6-4, 225, Joliet, IL (Catholic)
Davie on Goolsby
Parade prep All-America pick . . . second-team selection on USA Today prep All-America team . . . 20th on Chicago Sun-Times list of top 100 prospects . . . named to list of top 100 national prospects by Fort Worth Star-Telegram (one of 13 linebackers) and Dallas Morning News (one of 13 linebackers) . . . rated ninth on Best of the Midwest listing by Detroit Free-Press . . . selected as Gatorade player of the year for ’99 in Illinois . . . made 74 tackles, 64 solos as senior in ’99, to go with 13 sacks, 22 tackles for losses, eight forced fumbles and four recoveries . . . helped team to 14-0 record and Illinois Class 4A state title in ’99 . . . captain of team as senior in ’99 . . . two-time all-state pick who was named on ’99 teams by Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times and Champaign News-Gazette . . . named to all-league team in ’99 in Catholic Metropolitan White Division . . . played inside linebacker as a junior, outside as a senior . . . made more than 100 tackles as junior in ’98, with nine sacks and four fumble recoveries . . . first three seasons produced 210 tackles, nine sacks, nine tackles for loss, six caused fumbles, four fumble recoveries, three interceptions . . . all-state and all-conference pick as junior . . . caught two passes for 45 yards as a tight end in ’99 . . . has been times in 10.8 in 100 meters and 23.2 in 200 meters . . . from same high school as former Irish and Chicago Bear standout offensive lineman Tom Thayer.

* Holiday, Carlyle, QB, 6-2, 190, San Antonio, TX (Roosevelt)
Davie on Holiday
Rated 48th on Chicago Sun-Times list of top 100 players nationally . . . one of nine quarterbacks on Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram lists of top 100 players in Texas . . . one of 11 quarterbacks on similar list by Houston Chronicle . . . threw for 719 yards as senior in ’99 on 48 completions among 105 passes . . . rushed 100 times for 876 yards and 13 scores in ’99 while helping team to 9-2 record . . . has high-jumped 6-6 . . . had 1,243 yards of total offense and scored eight touchdowns as junior in ’98 . . . headed into senior campaign with 1,011 rushing yards, 1,749 passing yards and 10 receiving TDs . . . four-sport letterwinner.

* Jackson, Preston, DB, 5-10, 172, Brandon, FL (Tampa Hillsborough)
Davie on Jackson
Finished with 57 tackles and five interceptions as senior cornerback in ’99 . . . helped team to region final before being eliminated by eventual Florida Class 5A state champion Lakeland . . . returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns in ’99 . . . played on talented ’99 secondary for Hillsborough team that also included strong safety J.R. Reed (committed to South Florida) and free safety Cedric Edmonds (committed to Syracuse) . . . made 41 tackles, seven interceptions and 15 pass breakups as junior in ’98 . . . multi-purpose player who worked at both corner and safety on defense, as well as serving as receiver, punter and holder . . . caught six passes for 80 yards as junior . . . also played basketball, starting at point guard.

* Jenkins, Omar, WR, 6-2, 180, Dallas, TX (Jesuit)
Davie on Jenkins
Earned Texas all-state honors as senior in ’99, winning league MVP honors . . . rated one of top 100 players in state by Fort Worth Star-Telegram (one of 13 wide receivers) . . . listed as one of top 100 players in area by Dallas Morning News (one of 12 wide receivers) . . . caught 45 passes for 811 yards and nine touchdowns in ’99 . . . as junior in ’98 caught 33 passes for 543 yards and five TDs.

* LoVecchio, Matt, QB, 6-3, 200, Franklin Lakes, NJ (Bergen Catholic)
Davie on LoVecchio
Honorable mention pick on USA Today prep All-America team . . . named to list of top 100 national prospects by Fort Worth Star-Telegram (one of 10 quarterbacks) and Dallas Morning News (one of 11 quarterbacks) . . . rated second best player in New Jersey in ’99 by Newark Star-Ledger . . . helped Bergen Catholic to 10-1 record and New Jersey state title (Parochial Group 4) in ’99, completing 94 of 160 passes for 1,503 yards and 17 touchdowns . . . also rushed for 302 yards and a pair of scores as senior . . . career totals featured 3,400 passing yards and 48 TDs . . . Associated Press first-team all-state quarterback in New Jersey as senior . . . helped team to 12-0 record and state championship as junior in ’98 . . . started at defensive back as sophomore free safety . . . first-team all-state as junior while throwing for 1,750 yards (92 of 149) and 29 TDs . . . completed eight of 16 passes for 117 yards and two TDs in 35-9 ’98 state title win over three-time defending state champion St. Joseph . . . also a starter in basketball . . . attended Notre Dame summer football camp in ’99.

* Palmer, Billy, TE, 6-3, 250, Wyntree Heathrow, FL (Lake Highland Prep)
Davie on Palmer
Helped Lake Highland Prep to 9-2 mark in ’99 as senior, catching eight passes, one for a touchdown . . . made more than 50 tackles as a defensive end in ’99 . . . brother Jesse is junior quarterback at Florida . . . grew up in Canada where his father Bill played in Canadian Football League (linebacker and punter for four different teams) with current Irish athletic director Mike Wadsworth . . . played with current Irish freshman Jeff Faine in 1998 at Seminole (Fla.) High School before transferring to Lake Highland Prep for senior season . . . a standout rugby player.

* Pauly, Greg, DL, 6-6, 275, Waukesha, WI (South)
Davie on Pauly
Parade prep All-America pick . . . first-team pick on USA Today prep All-America team . . . one of 34 players on Reebok ESPN prep All-America team . . . 17th on Chicago Sun-Times list of top 100 prospects . . . rated 69th on The Sporting News list of top 101 prospects . . . named to list of top 100 players nationally by Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Dallas Morning News (one of 17 defensive linemen on each team) . . . rated 12th on Best of the Midwest team by Detroit Free-Press . . . selected Wisconsin prep defensive player of the year for ’99 by Associated Press . . . two-time first-team Wisconsin all-state selection . . . made 40 solo tackles and 65 assists as senior in ’99, with 17 sacks, 20 tackles for losses, two interceptions and two fumble recoveries . . . set school records for single-season sacks (17 in ’99), career sacks (31), career solo tackles (142) and career assists (226) . . . had seven sacks in one games as senior in ’99 . . . starter on both sides of the ball since his freshman season . . . first freshman starter at South since John Anderson, who did it in 1970 and went on to play for Michigan and Green Bay Packers . . . three-year starter in basketball his first three seasons but opted not to play as senior . . . brother Eric played football at Wisconsin.

* Rodamer, Ronnie, WR, 6-4, 185, Morgantown, WV (Morgantown)
Davie on Rodamer
Gatorade player of the year for ’99 in West Virginia . . . honorable mention pick on USA Today prep All-America squad . . . caught 35 passes for 660 yards and 15 touchdowns as senior in 1999 despite missing three games with separated shoulder . . . first-team West Virginia all-state pick as senior in ’99 after winning second-team honors as defensive back as junior in ’98 . . . had 30 tackles and three interceptions as free safety in ’99 . . . caught 38 passes for 961 yards and nine TDs as junior in ’98, winning first-team all-state honors . . . high school teammate of current Irish freshman defensive back Chris Yura . . . attended Notre Dame football camp in summer of ’99.

* Sapp, Jason, LB, 6-3, 230, Bridgeport, CT (Notre Dame)
Davie on Sapp
Honorable mention selection on USA Today prep All-America team . . . first-team Connecticut all-state pick as a senior in ’99 after helping Notre Dame to 5-5 record . . . selected as defensive lineman to all-Courant high school team for ’99 by Hartford Courant . . . made 92 tackles, eight sacks and three interceptions as linebacker in ’99 . . . caught 28 passes for 389 yards and three touchdowns as tight end during senior campaign . . . second cousin of Tampa Bay Bucs standout Warren Sapp, a former Miami Hurricane star.

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