Football runs through Trevor Ruhland’s veins. The Cary-Grove junior offensive lineman’s dad played at Iowa. Wednesday, Ruhland verbally committed to Notre Dame.
The Irish extended an offer to the 6-4, 270 pound prospect while he was on campus earlier in April to meet with to meet with head coach Brian Kelly. Ruhland was shoping for an offer, but he wasn’t expecting it.
“I’m pretty sure Dad was sweating more than I was. I was nervous,” Ruhland told Scout.com. “It was nerve-wracking sitting down with one of the best coaches in the country. He told us about the situation with the last lineman spot and he offered me. I sat there with the biggest smile on my face. It was a great feeling.”
It took Ruhland two weeks to decide that Notre Dame was where he wanted to play his college ball, picking the Irish over offers from Nebraska, Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota and Northwestern among others. In the end, family was the biggest reason why the Irish were on top for Ruhland.
“It was honestly everything. It’s one of the best schools in the country, but a big thing was how close it was to home. Being able to have family who are all Notre Dame fans come down to watch me play on Saturdays was pretty important.
“The tradition of winning and success, competing for national championships, is not something you can find anywhere else. I’m excited to put the gold helmet on.”
Scout.com national recruiting analyst Allen Trieu sees the three-star lineman as a versatile prospect who can play several positions at the D-I level.
“Ruhland is a blue-collar type offensive lineman who fits best as a center, or possibly a guard in college,” Trieu said. “He gets off the ball well, has good natural strength and finishes his blocks strong. Another strength is that he plays the game with intensity and motor. He must continue to work in pass protection because his team does not throw a ton. Ruhland is a very smart kid who will handle making calls well.”
