Darnell Ewell to Notre Dame: Fighting Irish Land 4-Star DT Prospect

Darnell Ewell rose to prominence at the high school level as a two-way lineman, and his intriguing football journey will continue at Notre Dame after the 4-star recruit made his collegiate intentions official Friday. 

BlueandGold.com first relayed news of Ewell's decision. 

757Teamz subsequently tweeted out a photo of Ewell making his choice:

Following the announcement, Ewell explained the reasoning behind choosing ND, according to Steve Hare of Scout:

"

It really means a lot to be given an opportunity to go there, just the opportunity itself means a lot. Notre Dame is really, really different from all the other schools I went to I've got to say. There's just something about there. It's not like any other school does the same stuff. Notre Dame does things a little differently.

"

Ewell fielded over 30 offers over the course of the recruitment process, with the Alabama Crimson Tide, Auburn Tigers, Clemson Tigers, Michigan Wolverines and Fighting Irish all vying for his attention. 

And based on his raw physical tools, it's not hard to see why so many schools pursued the 6'3'', 298-pounder. Not only did Ewell flash promise as an offensive guard during his time at Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, Virginia, but he throttled up lists of can't-miss prospects thanks to his play at defensive tackle.

Per Tyler James of ND Insider, Tom Lemming of CBS Sports Network had high praise for Ewell:

According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Ewell ranked 149th among all players in the class of 2017 and No. 10 overall at defensive tackle. And among players in the state of Virginia, Ewell graded out fifth overall. 

For a player who is considered "very flexible and extremely athletic for a prospect his size" and "has all the tools to become a dominant player at the collegiate level," per Scout, Ewell should be on national radars as a potential breakout star. 

And with the spotlight ready to shine on Ewell as he transitions to life as a key cog on one of the nation's premier squads, it should be fascinating to watch his development from a coveted high school prospect into a foundational talent.

The Fighting Irish ranked 45th in total defense and 39th in points allowed last season. While Ewell may not step into a big role right away, he should be able to help improve those numbers if he can at least work his way into the rotation as a freshman in 2017.

Recruit rankings courtesy of 247Sports.