St. Joseph by-the-Sea defensive lineman Peter Mokwuah has given a verbal commitment to accept a football scholarship from the University of Notre Dame, Sea coach Rich Clark confirmed Friday.

Players can sign their national letters of intent beginning Feb. 5.

Mokwuah had previously committed to Rutgers University in May, choosing the Scarlet Knights from among a group of mostly Northeast-based suitors that included Connecticut, Syracuse, Penn State and Temple.

But the 6-foot-4, 315-pounder’s profile clearly continued to grow throughout his senior season. Scout.com currently ranks Mokwuah as the No. 66 defensive tackle recruit in the country, with a three-star rating.

Clark regularly took phone calls from coaches checking in to gauge the firmness of Mokwuah’s commitment to Rutgers.

Alabama offensive line coach Mario Cristobal visited Staten Island during the season and met with Mokwuah at the school.

But only the entrance of the Fighting Irish into the chase could bring Mokwuah to reconsider.

“The academic part, getting a degree from Notre Dame would be huge,” said Mokwuah. “I’m a Catholic so that was a big plus. It was an aggregate decision.”

After an early afternoon meeting Friday that included Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, defensive line coach Mike Elston, Sea athletic director Greg Manos, Mokwuah and Clark, the Viking senior told the ND contingent he would be coming to South Bend.

“They offered him,” said Clark. “He was going back and forth on it all week on what to do. I think once he met with coach Kelly, and obviously the school speaks for itself.”

Notre Dame’s interest in Mokwuah heated up recently, according to Clark.

“He’s only really been talking to them for about a week and a half, two weeks,” said Clark. “Definitely not more than two weeks.”

New defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder had his introductory press conference on Jan. 15, and the next day he was on Staten Island to visit Mokwuah. VanGorder spent the 2013 season as the New York Jets’ linebacker coach and was previously defensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons.

“Coach VanGorder met with him for a while and was picking his brain to see him tick,” said Clark. “I guess they like what they heard.”

Mokwuah intends to take his official visit to South Bend next weekend.

He had originally planned to graduate from Sea early in order to enroll at Rutgers beginning in January. When he was unable to do so, it opened up the door for the Irish to swoop in.

“It was pretty much straightforward,” said Mokwuah of Notre Dame’s entrance into the recruiting derby. “I felt like it was a sign because certain things had to have happened for me to have this opportunity. Some things had to fall into place. I planned on enrolling at Rutgers in January but the way that my school curriculum works I wouldn’t have had enough credits senior year so I wasn’t able to go in January.”

Notre Dame is coming off a 9-4 season that included a 29-16 Pinstripe Bowl win over Rutgers at Yankee Stadium. The Irish finished the 2012 season with a 12-1 record after advancing to the BCS National Championship game and suffering a 42-14 loss to Alabama. Kelly has a 37-15 record in four seasons as the Notre Dame coach.

The school’s illustrious football history includes eight national titles as voted on by the Associated Press.

“There’s not much to be said about Notre Dame that’s not already known,” said Mokwuah.

Follow Tom Dowd on Twitter @TomDowd22