Sam Pendleton, who was previously one of the best non-committal attackers in the 2023 enlistment category, made his verbal pledge on Monday on CBS Sports HQ. The four-star offensive lineman from Reagan High School in Pfafftown, North Carolina, chose Notre Dame over an impressive list of finalists that included Michigan, North Carolina and Penn State.
“He does a fantastic job developing players, not only in football but in academics as well,” Pendleton said of Irish fighting coach Marcus Freeman. “I knew [I was going to commit] About three or four days after I came back from my visit there.”
At 6 feet 4 and 305 pounds, the Pendleton has an impressive frame that stands out well to contribute to the next level. The industry standard “Sports Composite Rankings 247” ranked Pendleton 342nd in overall recruit and No. 12 player in North Carolina. Pendleton is ranked as an inside streak man in the 247Sports rankings, although he mainly played the right tackle at Reagan.
Pendleton’s commitment has prompted Notre Dame to move beyond Texas Tech and return to the nation’s number one employment category. Fighting Irish rounds up the elite class, including five players among the top 100 recruits in the country. Pendleton is the first commitment along the offensive line, and has been a position of strength at Notre Dame over the past decade.
“Student. Incurable problem solver. Amateur baconaholic. Introvert. Infuriatingly humble music fanatic.”