Notre Dame Football: Recruit Bernard expected to commit to Irish

By BOB WIENEKE
Tribune Staff Writer

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Notre Dame Football: Recruit Bernard expected to commit to Irish

Giovanni Bernard, a running back for St. Thomas Aquinas of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is expected to verbally commit to the Irish. Bernard, seen here in an August photo, is a Top 100 recruit on Notre Dame's list.
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By WSBT 24/7 News

Story Created: Oct 26, 2009 at 1:05 AM EST

Story Updated: Oct 26, 2009 at 1:05 AM EST

Running back Giovanni Bernard of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is expected to verbally commit to Notre Dame, according to CBS College Sports Network analyst Tom Lemming.

The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Bernard has not officially announced his choice and could not be immediately reached for comment.

"I really like him," said Lemming, who gives Bernard four-plus stars on his five-star scale. "I thought he was one of the better running backs in the country. Even though he's small, he's the kind of small back you like."

Bernard, timed in the 40-yard dash 4.5 seconds, ran for 1,570 yards and 18 touchdowns as a junior at Aquinas, averaging 9.8 yards a carry. He carried 160 times, fumbling only once for the 2008 high school national champions.

"He's got the balance, vision and leg strength that Notre Dame is looking for," Lemming said. "The height doesn't matter. What matters is the leg strength and the ability to break tackles."

Bernard plays at the same high school that produced current Irish players Sam Young, Dan Wenger, Ben Turk and Jordan Cowart.

Bernard is not the only Aquinas player being courted by the Irish. Lemming believes adding Bernard could help the Irish with teammates Brandon Linder, and offensive lineman, and cornerback LaMarcus Joyner. The Irish are also recruiting Aquinas cornerback Cody Riggs. All four visited officially for the Oct. 17 USC game.

Bernard would be the 17th player to commit to Notre Dame's recruiting class of 2010, and the second running back. Cameron Roberson of Newbury Park, Calif., committed last month.

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