Click Here to view this video.

Asmar Bilal decided today to put the finishing touches on his recruitment. Four-star linebackerdecided today to put the finishing touches on his recruitment.

Bilal had narrowed to Notre Dame and Michigan months ago. Rather than ponder the choices any longer, the product of Ben Davis High School in Indianapolis chose to give the Irish a verbal commitment.

Ben Davis head coach Mike Kirschner told Irish Illustrated early Thursday afternoon that the commitment was official and Bilal had contacted the Notre Dame coaching staff to make his pledge.

Other scholarship offers on the table included Cincinnati, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, N.C. State, Northwestern, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.

Bilal first visited Notre Dame in the spring. Back then he watched practice and connected with first year defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder, who extended the scholarship offer.

VanGorder made a pitch that stuck with Bilal even as the recruiting process stretched into fall even without a game day visit.

"He was talking about Notre Dame itself and how it speaks for itself," Bilal told Irish Illustrated in April. "The academics and how having that degree just means so much. Just how Notre Dame is like no other and that he wanted to come back from his NFL coaching for college coaching and that's what he decided upon. He said it's a great school."

Bilal is commitment No. 20 for Notre Dame in the Class of 2015 and the second linebacker, joining fellow in-state four-star prospect Josh Barajas. Both are slated to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl this winter.

Four-star linebacker Tevon Coney - down to Florida, Miami and Notre Dame - is expected to make a decision next week and could possibly round out the recruiting haul at that position.

Bilal represents Notre Dame's second defensive commitment this week, following defensive end Bo Wallace of River Ridge, La., who chose the Irish following an official visit to the North Carolina game. Bilal hasn't taken his official to Notre Dame to date, although he debated a trip to South Bend for the Stanford game earlier this month.

The Bilal commitment will move Notre Dame to No. 8 in the Rivals.com Team Rankings, one spot behind this weekend's opponent, Florida State. The Irish will jump Penn State and USC thanks to the linebacker's pledge.



