There’s a great writeup of Top Prep Recruit Kyle Rudolph in The Cincinnati Enquirer.  This is the type of story that makes you like the type of guy that Charlie recruits.  Great athletes, top recruits, but also good kids.  It’s certainly a trend, and that’s what makes Charlie, and ND, different.

A few highlighted quotes:

 ”Kyle is the total package, something I don’t think we’ve seen since I’ve been here,” said Elder athletic director Dave Dabbelt, who enters his 38th year at the school. “Along with him being such a great kid and a good student, he’s just a rare athlete and works really hard. Little kids love him, and it’s not something he’s phony about. It’s just who he is.”

“You can walk through this whole school,” Ramsey said, “and you’d be hard-pressed to find somebody that would say something bad about him. That’s rare with athletes today. The kid that’s the best athlete in the school, you obviously might find some jealousy. It’s not that way here because he treats people right.”

 ”My son Danny is going into first grade,” said Sarah Ginn, a Rudolph family friend. “He got a No. 9 picture, of course, and he went around the neighborhood shouting, ‘Look! I’m Rudy! I’m Rudy.’ Kyle will stop by the house and throw a football with Danny, and Danny’s just in heaven.”

Another interesting part described how Kyle was offered his scholarship, personally, by Charlie.  Shows a great touch by the big man, though I wouldn’t want those other recruits that were there to be offended.  It’s good to know that Charlie really knows how to get after his top guys:

Last November, Rudolph and his mom and dad (Dan) visited Notre Dame on a football weekend with about 45 other potential recruits. It was early on a game day, and Irish coach Charlie Weis got up in front of the group and made his spiel. He wished he could meet individually with each one of them but time didn’t permit it … you’re all great athletes … thanks again for coming.

The Rudolphs got up to leave with the rest of the group, but then-Notre Dame assistant coach Rick Minter – the former University of Cincinnati head coach – tapped Jamie on the shoulder.

“Can I talk to Kyle a minute?” Minter said.

The Rudolph clan was ushered to Weis’ office. This was shortly before a game, remember. Weis smiled and handed Kyle Rudolph a big, gold envelope.

“It was his offer letter,” Jamie Rudolph said. “I was like, ‘This is not happening.’

Finally, an aww shucks moment.  I think he’ll get his wish:

“Kyle is hoping that when he gets onto the field, that’s what they will chant,” Jamie Rudolph said. “He said, ‘Mom, how cool would that be if they were chanting Rudy, Rudy for me?’ “

No doubt kid, no doubt.

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