2006 Offensive Signees

Notre Dame signed an impressive group of offensive players in the 2006 recruiting season. We spoke with most of them to get their final thoughts before they signed with Notre Dame today. We were unable to speak with running back James Aldridge, offensive lineman Chris Stewart and wide receiver George West because all three are currently enrolled in school at Notre Dame and were unavailable to the media for comment. Here's a look at Notre Dame's offensive signees for 2006.

		QB -  ZACH FRAZER Ht: 6-4 Wt: 209 40: 4.8 Position Expected to Play: QB Season Stats: Still awaiting final season stats from Zach Awards: Army All-American Bowl Selection AAA Player of the Year Platinum 33 Team Most passing in a single season in Pennsylvania (3,684 yards as a Junior) 1st Team Quarterback 2 League MVP Awards Schools Turned Down: Penn. St, Michigan, Ga. Tech, Tennessee, Florida, and Iowa Why He Chose ND: “New coaching staff…and Notre Dame is full of tradition…the student body, the Grotto, the Golden Dome, and just playing at Notre Dame” are all large reasons for his commitment.  The religious aspect of Notre Dame also played a key role in his commitment. What Irish Fans Can Expect:  100% committed to ND. Zach is planning on attending the Spring Game and possibly some of the practices that are leading up to the game.
		QB -  DEMETRIUS JONES Ht: 6-3 Wt: 203 40: 4.7 Position Expected to Play: QB Season Stats: 3200 yds passing/31 td/5int 600 yds rushing/7 td Awards: Team MVP Prep Bowl MVP Parade All American                       Gatorade Player of the Year for Illinois                       All State                       All Area                        Chris Zorich Award                       AA award Finalist for Walter Payton award Schools Turned Down: Tennessee, Penn St., Louisville, Ohio St., Georgia, VT, and Purdue Why He Chose ND: “Education was the main reason, you are surrounded with superior people on the field and off. I have a year to learn from a future Heisman winner and get a great coaching staff.” What Irish Fans Can Expect:  100% committed to ND. “Someone who is passionate about the game, well mannered, and a die hard domer. A guy that won’t lie down and someone that is respectable” What are your goals you have set for yourself when you report to ND? “My education….to make sure I am stable grade wise. I want to be Brady’s backup and come in on mop up time for some game experience. I want to win”
		RB -  LUKE SCHMIDT Ht: 6-4 Wt: 235 40: 4.7 Position Expected to Play: FB Season Stats: 2200 yds rushing/ 30td Awards: Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year Schools Turned Down: Oklahoma, Louisville, Purdue and Michigan Why He Chose ND: “The tradition and the coaches. I wanted to be apart of getting Notre Dame back to the top again. I think that would be fun” What Irish Fans Can Expect:  100% committed to ND. A powerful back with decent speed...kind of like Rashon Powers-Neal. What are your goals you have set for yourself when you report to ND? “Just to work as hard as I can.”
		RB -  MUNIR PRINCE Ht: 5-9.5 Wt: 164 40: 4.55 Position Expected to Play: RB/CB Season Stats: 1300 yds rushing/26 td/7 receptions for 130 yds  2 td-- Defense    70 tackles   3int Awards: Gatorade Player of the Year Missouri                       All Metro Defensive Back                       NCC Player of the year Schools Turned Down: Northwestern, Stanford, Iowa, Nebraska, and Missouri Why He Chose ND: “It was the academic side mixed with the football side. It was the best of both worlds.” What Irish Fans Can Expect:  “They should expect someone who is dedicated and hard working, someone who is ready to play ball.” What are your goals you have set for yourself when you report to ND? “Just to be able to be a positive impact on the team.”
		TE -  KONRAD REULAND Ht: 6-6 Wt: 245 40: 4.7 Position Expected to Play: TE Season Stats: 23 rcpt/400 yds/ 4td--Basically playing only in the first half of games Awards: 1st team Parade AA Army AA All League All CIS All County Schools Turned Down: USC, UCLA, Florida State, Nebraska, Miami, Oklahoma, Ohio State Why He Chose ND: "I fell in love with the place. I can't pinpoint any one thing. It just feels like everything about it is for me." What Irish Fans Can Expect:  100% committed to ND. What are your goals you have set for yourself when you report to ND? "I plan to work really hard and contribute as much as I can when the opportunities arise. I want to play and make an impact this year."
		TE -  PADDY MULLEN Ht: 6-5 Wt: 257 40: 4.9 Position Expected to Play: TE Season Stats: Defense:8 sacks/35 tackles  1 int/3 fumble recoveries/15 tackles for loss Offense:15 catches for 200 yds        Awards: 1ST Team All State 2ND Team All Metro| 1ST Team All Conference Schools Turned Down: LSU, Michigan St.,Nebraska,Ole Miss, Missouri, Illinois Why He Chose ND: “I loved Notre Dame growing up it was a dream of mine to go here. The academics are top notch…..it wasn’t a 4 year decision it was a 40 year decision. They have a great coach and a wonderful staff.” What Irish Fans Can Expect:  “They should expect a player that works 110 % all the time. Someone who will be a leader on and off the field.” What are your goals you have set for yourself when you report to ND?  “I just want to keep my conditioning up….I want to maintain my speed, power, and agility……I want to be quick”
		WR -  ROB PARRIS Ht: 6-4 Wt: 195 40: 4.5 Position Expected to Play: WR Season Stats: 34 rcpt/675 yds/ 12td Awards: 1st Team All-District Schools Turned Down: Michigan, Boston College, Louisville, Iowa Why He Chose ND: “Great program that’s on the rise and a great institution for academics” What Irish Fans Can Expect:  100% committed to ND. “Someone who’s ready for the challenge and to give it my all” What are your goals you have set for yourself when you report to ND? “Nothing specific just trying to adapt to the college atmosphere”
		WR -  BARRY GALLUP Ht: 5-11.5 Wt: 180 40: 4.5 Position Expected to Play: WR Season Stats: 1700 yds rushing /500 yds rec/26 td (only played 9 games)Career-14 int/70 td Awards: Gatorade Player of the Year for Mass.                        New England Prep player of the year                        1St Team All Region                        1ST Team New England                         Army All American Bowl Invite Schools Turned Down: B.C., Harvard, Wisconsin, Syracuse, North Carolina, Virginia Why He Chose ND: “I wanted something new…I wanted to make my own name for myself. I fell in love with Notre Dame the first 10 minutes I was there. I am a religious guy. They have great academics and a great football program.” What Irish Fans Can Expect:  “Tenacious, aggressive…someone who will give there best effort and make the fans proud.” What are your goals you have set for yourself when you report to ND?  “I try not to make personal goals. I want to help the team out in any way….I want to help the team purse a National Championship.”
		OL -  SAM YOUNG Ht: 6-7 Wt: 303 40: 5.25 Position Expected to Play: Tackle Awards: All County Broward County player of the year All State Parade All American Army AA Reebok AA Schools Turned Down: USC, Michigan, Penn State Why He Chose ND: "When I had it narrowed down to USC and ND, what really sold me was my time at the Army All-American game. I just really had a comfort level with the guys going to Notre Dame." What Irish Fans Can Expect:  "Someone who is willing to work, get in the rotation, and hopefully start." What are your goals you have set for yourself when you report to ND? "My goal is to start."
		OL -  MATT CARUFEL Ht: 6-5 Wt: 299 40: 5.30 Position Expected to Play: Guard Awards: All Conference All State Army AA Schools Turned Down: Minnesota, Iowa Why He Chose ND: "Lots of reasons" What Irish Fans Can Expect:  "Someone who is willing to work, get in the rotation, and hopefully start." What are your goals you have set for yourself when you report to ND? Bench 360, squat 415 (4 sets, 12), weight at 290, 15% body fat, start a game by end of the year…
		OL -  ERIC OLSEN Ht: 6-5 Wt: 315 40: 5.20 Position Expected to Play: Guard Awards: 1st Team All-Brooklyn 1st Team all NYC 1st Team All State Gatorade NY State Player of the Year Pre-Season Reebok AA SuperPrep AA Schools Turned Down: Boston College, Miami, Virginia, Tennessee, UNC Why He Chose ND: "Best fit for me, my family. Can't go wrong with a place like that. Tradition, mystique, special time…" What Irish Fans Can Expect:  "Hard-nosed kid from Brooklyn" What are your goals you have set for yourself when you report to ND? "Be in the best shape I can be in and as strong as possible. Be ready to compete…
		OL -  BARTLEY WEBB Ht: 6-7 Wt: 290 40: 5.40 Position Expected to Play: Tackle Awards: 1st team all-conference (2nd year in row) US Army AA Arkansas AP Superteam numerous newspaper selections   Schools Turned Down: Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, Oklahoma, Michigan, LSU Why He Chose ND: "Notre Dame started rising to the top when I really broke down my top 5. That's when I knew that was the place I was supposed to go." What Irish Fans Can Expect:  "Dedicated, hard-working, knowing we're going to play our final game in Tempe, AZ and make that our final goal. Everything we do on and off the field has to be focused around getting there and winning." What are your goals you have set for yourself when you report to ND? "Be in the best shape of my life physically, mentally, and emotionally. Be ready to experience the best and worst of times, but hopefully a lot more of the best."
		OL -  DAN WENGER Ht: 6-4 Wt: 285 40: 5.30 Position Expected to Play: Center Awards: 1st team all-county Army AA   Schools Turned Down: Penn State, Purdue, Florida Why He Chose ND: "Notre Dame is the right place for me. It has the best combination of athletics and academics and I can't pass that up." What Irish Fans Can Expect:  "I'm a hard-working, hard-nosed type of player. I'll do whatever the coaches want me to do so I can fulfill their expectations."  Ankle has been diagnosed as a really bad sprain, but it's getting better through rehab. Hopes to be fully recovered and ready to go for fall practice. What are your goals you have set for yourself when you report to ND? "I want to make a name for myself and show coaches what I can do physically and mentally. I want to always be prepared for any opportunities that come my way."
		K -  RYAN BURKHART Ht: 5-11 Wt: 185 Position Expected to Play: Kicker Season Stats: FGM10/FGA20. More than half of those over 40 yds and only missed 1 inside the 40 yd line.   Made a 53 yd field goal in a game and that is his career long Awards: All State All Conference Schools Turned Down: None reported Why He Chose ND: “Because of the tradition and the great education you receive” What Irish Fans Can Expect:  100% committed to ND. “Someone who gives everything they got every day”   What are your goals you have set for yourself when you report to ND? “Yes I have, I want to execute my kickoffs and get them in the end zone”.