Top prospect finally signs with Irish

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Updated: March 23, 2012 8:24AM

Davonte Neal, ranked No. 8 overall among high-school senior football players in the nation in the ESPNU 150, ended up committing to Notre Dame over Arizona, Arkansas and North Carolina on Tuesday from his former elementary school, Kyrene de la Esperanza.

However, Neal’s decision came hours after he didn’t show up to his originally-scheduled announcement, which was attended by 600 elementary-school children, friends and family.

After waiting approximately 30 minutes, the morning assembly ended.

Neal, the top-rated athlete in the nation and last unsigned member of the ESPNU 150, will inject another dose of star power into coach Brian Kelly’s third class of recruits.

At 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds, Neal played receiver in the All-America Game, though he was picked for the event as a defensive back. As a senior, the two-time Arizona Player of the Year scored 30 touchdowns on offense, added three on special teams and starred in the secondary with 12 pass breakups.

“Deciding on a college is one of the toughest decisions a young player makes in his life, so we are very pleased with Davonte’s decision to attend Notre Dame,” Irish coach Brian Kelly said in a statement. “Davonte was an electric playmaker in high school and was capable of making the big play any time he had the ball in his hands. He excelled as a receiver, as a running back and as a returner at Chaparral High School. I imagine we’ll use him in a similar fashion here.”

The signing might be bad news for Vernon Hills High School grad Davaris Daniels, who didn’t play last year at a freshman at Notre Dame.

The new recruit plays the exact same positions as does Daniels, who still has four years of eligibility left.

Notre Dame has a hole at wideout with the departure of Michael Floyd to the NFL draft.