Irish Add #5 Quickly
Frank Vitovitch
December 15, 1999

Notre Dame, Ind - Notre Dame added to their commitment list today with their 5th verbal this time from the speedy Garron Bible.  Bible, a 5-11 cornerback out of Klingwood, Texas, committed to Notre Dame early Wednesday morning.   He gives the Irish something they have been lacking and something the fans have been wanting - speed.  Bible runs a 4.4 40.

He is not ranked very high, but has the physical tools to become a very good cornerback in college.  At 5-11 he has decent height and at 4.4 he has very good speed.  He has also been described by some scouts as one of the best cover CB's coming out of Texas - that combined with the fact that he runs a 4.4 makes it surprising that he isn't ranked higher.

The Irish secondary took a lot of heat this season for getting beat over and over, so hopefully Garron will provide the type of speed that the corners need so they don't get burned by fast wide receivers.  Jason Beckstrom and Albert Poree, two sophomores for next season, are supposedly the best cover guys on the team and both possess good speed, so hopefully things will change.  Clifford Jefferson, however, is still young and has plenty of time to improve on his sub par 99 season.

Garron is the first real speed guy Notre Dame has gotten this year, but there are still more than a few prospects looking at Notre Dame yet that have great speed.  Vontez Duff, Ronnie Rodamer, Jason Sapp, Michael Jenkins, Nate Curry, and Bobby Williams all possess very good speed for their positions and all are still looking at Notre Dame closely. 

Notre Dame is going to have to sign at least three defensive backs this year with the graduations of Deke Cooper, A'jani Sanders, and Deveron Harper - three starters from the 99 season.  Gerome Sapp will get his chance next season to show why he was the consensus #1 safety prospect last season, but the Irish are still going to need depth.

Some other defensive backs currently looking at Notre Dame include the previously mentioned Nate Curry who reportedly runs a 4.3 40, Abram Elam who Notre Dame has a very good chance at getting who is also listed as the #12 defensive back in the country by Tom Lemming, and Tre Orr who runs a 4.4 while being 6-2.  Orr is a must get for the Irish this year and he has said Notre Dame leads at this point.  He suffered an ACL injury this year, but he is one hell of a prospect and someone who ND needs to land.  If Notre Dame were t sign Orr, Elam, Curry, and Bible this season, they would be in FINE shape!