Four-star DL Brenan Vernon makes it official with Notre Dame
Loyalty is a word that’s very important to Brenan Vernon. That’s why after giving his pledge to Notre Dame a year and a half ago — despite former defensive line coach Mike Elston leaving for Michigan — the defensive lineman from Mentor (Ohio) High never considered backing off his Fighting Irish pledge.
The University of Notre Dame also fits Vernon perfectly. Many pundits thought the four-star recruit was a heavy Ohio State lean. But Vernon was never one to give out much information about his recruitment and do many interviews, so when he announced his pledge to the Fighting Irish June 29, 2021, it took a lot of the country by surprise.
It didn’t surprise Notre Dame’s staff, though. Led by former defensive coordinator and current head coach Marcus Freeman, the Irish surged in his recruitment in May and June of last year, and in large part because of his relationship with the staff and smaller student population, Notre Dame was where Vernon wanted to be.
And on National Signing Day, Vernon ended his recruitment. He has signed with the Irish and will enroll at Notre Dame next summer.
Vernon was the first player the Irish offered in the 2023 recruiting class. The staff offered Vernon back in January of 2020. And Freeman was a big part of the recruitment.
“He has a great soul,” Vernon previously told Blue & Gold about Freeman. “He’s such a great guy in general, just like the rest of them … There’s nothing else to say about Freeman other than he’s just such a great person.”
According to The News-Herald, Vernon posted 55 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and a sack during his senior season. Local reports suggest that he was double- and triple-teamed all season, making it difficult for him to register more sacks.
The News-Herald named him to its first-team all-area defense. Vernon was also a first-team All-Lake County defensive performer. The 6-5, 280-pounder was a second-team All-Ohio performer.
Vernon ranks as the nation’s No. 141 overall player and No. 15 defensive lineman in the nation per the 2023 On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’s also the No. 3 player from his home state of Ohio.
On3’s own rankings list Vernon as the No. 257 recruit and No. 32 defensive lineman in America, plus the No. 10 prospect from Ohio.
Alabama, Ohio State, Tennessee, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State and Kentucky were among Vernon’s scholarship offers.
