Auburn (Calif.) Placer defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes set the stage for his college announcement and had five teams all hopeful of landing his pledge after he opted to virtually shut down his communication with the media following an official visit to USC on Jan. 18.

Eddie Vanderdoes is the 24th member of Notre Dame's 2013 recruiting class.

The other programs in play were Alabama, Notre Dame, Washington and UCLA, which all received an official visit from the touted lineman as well.

One thing was for certain. The Irish were able to make a strong impression on Vanderdoes, particularly his mother, during his dime in South Bend, and rose the charts from a school testing the waters at the start of the contact period in late November to the rumored favored heading into his National Signing Day decision.

The 6-2, 310-pound five-star player chose MaxPreps as the platform to make his choice known, although the live feed was suffering technical difficulties, and despite the lure of playing for an SEC traditional powerhouse like the Crimson or staying in-state to play for the Bruins, he will be taking his talents to South Bend to suit up for the Irish.

247Sports national writer Steve Wiltfong later learned that Vanderdoes told the Notre Dame coaching staff he was coming after Midnight on National Signing Day.

Vanderdoes, who is the top player in California, the No. 1 defensive tackle in the land and the No. 6 overall prospect nationally, is a major coup for the Irish to add talent along the defense front.

In his senior season, he compiled 72 tackles, nine sacks, two forced fumbles and a fumble recover.

Check back with BlueandGold.com for more on Vanderdoes' decision to sign with the Irish.