4-Star LB Prospect Shayne Simon Commits to Notre Dame over Michigan and More

Outside linebacker Shayne Simon will be playing college football at Notre Damestarting in 2018.Rivals' Adam Friedman firstreported Simon's decision to suit up for the Fighting Irish. "The way [they] carry themselves and how they go about things at Notre Dame is something I really enjoy," Simon said, per Friedman. "Their reputation for being such a great academic institution was also very intriguing to me." A New Jersey native, Simon is regarded as one of the best pure players from the east coast in the 2018 class. He's a 4-star prospect who is the top-ranked outside linebacker from his home state, No. 11 OLB recruit in the nation and the 152nd-ranked player overall, per Scout.com.Brian Dohn of Scout.com had glowing analysis for what Simon is capable of doing at the collegiate level:"Simon is physically gifted and works hard. He comes up in run support and fills the hole well. He is a good tackler and plays physical. When needed, he moves to outside linebacker and can blitz off the edge. In coverage, he has a nice burst and he changes direction well. He is a physical presence and he can cover outside of the numbers when helping over the top."At 6'3" and 215 pounds,Simon is already physically well-developed. It won't be a difficult transition for him to make an impact in college, especially at a position of increasing importance as teams look to find playmakers who can defend the run and pass.Given Simon's extensive credentials, it's hardly a surprise he would be enticed by the thought of playing for Notre Dame and head coach Brian Kelly.Kelly's tenure has been marred by some highs, like playing for a national title in 2012 after going 12-0 in the regular season, but there have also been lows. That 2012-13 teams had to vacate their wins due to academic misconduct and their 4-8 record in 2016 was their worst mark in nine years.Despite those bumps in the road, Notre Dame's recruiting hasn't been greatly impacted. The Fighting Irish finished 14th in the 2017 national rankings, per Scout.com. Simon's commitment to Notre Dame gives the 2018 class a huge boost as Kelly looks to build a roster that will get the team back into the national title conversation.
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