Notre Dame Sends 262 Letters to 5- Star Recruit Matt Elam

Matt Elam's mailbox has been bombarded by envelopes from recruiting offices across the country for years, but things turned up a notch this week when Notre Dame sent 262 letters his way. The 6'6", 350-pound defensive tackle shared a photo on Twitter Wednesday of the stockpile of Fighting Irish propaganda.

He didn't give any indication about whether the quantity was specifically 262 for a significant reason, but it's fair to say Notre Dame is rather fond of the 5-star prospect. We've seen a large level of recruiting gimmicks in recent years through mail correspondence, as programs aim to stand out in any way possible.

At the very least, it caught Elam's attention. That's probably enough to validate the cost of postage stamps for Brian Kelly.

"They are calling it my pot of gold," Elam said on Twitter.

Notre Dame extended a scholarship offer to the John Hardin High School (Elizabethtown, Ky.) standout in June. The Fighting Irish are among a cluster of teams still clamoring for Elam's affection.

Tennessee, Louisville, Kentucky, Ohio State and Alabama are also under consideration. The powerful run-stuffer is a disruptive force along the interior, commanding double-teams on the field and a substantial volume of mail at home.

Elam is listed as the nation's seventh-best prospect and the top defensive tackle in 247Sports' composite rankings. He spent an official visit in South Bend last month, attended the Nov. 9 matchup between Alabama and LSU in Tuscaloosa and has an official visit scheduled with Kentucky in mid-December.

Elam is expected to announce his decision at the Army All-American Game Jan. 4, according to nationofblue.com. Until then, he can count on a consistent influx of envelopes with his name on them.