Earlier this week, and after months of speculation, former Notre Dame commit Eddie Vanderdoes confirmed he would be transferring from the Irish to UCLA, his reported pre-Signing Day favorite, for “very personal reasons.”
Vanderdoes, a five-star defensive lineman in Notre Dame’s 2013 recruiting class from California, said in a statement via the Sacramento Bee that Notre was “very gracious to recognize not only how difficult a decision this was, but also how important it was for me to be near my family at this time. I take my commitments seriously, but as circumstances changed, the most important commitment is the one made to family.”
Now, it’s becoming clearer why Vanderdoes wanted to move closer to home. Bruce Feldman of CBSSports.com that a family illness is the reason behind Vanderdoes’ flip, and Vanderdoes hopes his family situation will allow him to win an appeal that would make him eligible to play immediately
“Earlier this winter, a close relative of the 6-foot-2, 310-pound defensive lineman was diagnosed with a severe illness, the source said. That spurred Vanderdoes, rated the No. 1 defensive tackle from the class of 2013 by 247Sports, to want to remain in California for college,” Feldman reports.
ESPN’s Joe Schad reported earlier this week that Notre Dame did not release Vanderdoes from his National Letter of Intent. Therefore, the incoming freshman would have to sit out the 2013 season and would have four years to use his three remaining seasons of eligibility beginning in 2014. The Bee added that the Irish were concerned Vanderdoes would sign with rival USC.
(Photo credit: U.A. Army All-American Bowl)