Giovanni Bernard was feeling a little under the weather Monday, so he wasn’t answering his phone.

But he must have felt good about one call he made.

St. Thomas Aquinas High School coach George Smith confirmed Monday evening that Bernard, a running back for Aquinas, had committed to Notre Dame.

Bernard, rated the No. 50 player nationally by CBS College Sports Network analyst Tom Lemming on his list of 100 top players, is the 17th recruit to commit to Notre Dame’s recruiting class of 2010.

“He’s a very, very smart kid and football player,” said Smith, coach of the defending state and national champs from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “He’s had tremendous numbers. He is as good as we have had.”

Smith called Bernard a combination of “power, speed and elusiveness.

“He’s got great hands coming out of the backfield,” he added.

His older brother Yvenson Bernard, played tailback at Oregon State from 2004 to 2007.

Smith said it was his understanding Giovanni Bernard’s visit to Notre Dame, the weekend of the USC game, went very well.

Bernard has been battling hamstring issues this season and has missed four of the Raiders seven games, greatly reducing his numbers compared to a year ago.

The 5-foot-9, 195-pound Bernard, rushed for 1,579 yards as a junior with 18 touchdowns while averaging 9.6 yards a carry. He fumbled only once as a junior in 160 carries.

This season he has been limited to 30 carries, rushing for 182 yards and two touchdowns.

Smith indicated his hamstring problem was coming around.

Bernard is the second running back to commit to Notre Dame’s recruiting class of 2010. Cameron Roberson of Newbury Park, Calif., committed last month.

Bernard plays for the same high school as current Notre Dame players Sam Young, Dan Wenger, Ben Turk and Jordan Cowart.

The Irish are also recruiting his current teammates Brandon Linder, an offensive lineman, and cornerbacks LeMarcus Joyner and Cody Riggs.

All four visited officially for the Oct. 17 USC game.