Despite already receiving 17 verbal commitment in the 2013 class, Notre Dame was still searching for its first running back commit. That wait came to an end when Jamel James made his pledge to the Fighting Irish and became the 18th commit in the class. James had previously been committed to Arkansas, but opened up his recruitment after the firing of Bobby Petrino.
James is a native of Katy, Texas and also had reported scholarship offers from schools like LSU, Florida St., Arkansas, Houston and West Virginia. James committed to the Fighting Irish despite never having visited the campus. However, James will take an official visit to Notre Dame in the Fall.
According to Rivals.com, James is a three-star prospect and is the 83rd ranked prospect in the state of Texas.
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