Romeo Okwara, OLB, 6-4, 240, Charlotte, NC (Ardrey Kell) – first-team defensive lineman on all-Observer squad by Charlotte Observer for 2011 . . . considered the 13th-best player in North Carolina by 247Sports . . . rated 15th-best player in North Carolina by SuperPrep . . . ranked number-19 player in North Carolina by Rivals.com . . . led team with 76 tackles, 14 sacks and 27 tackles for loss, to go with 18 quarterback pressures, three pass breakups, a forced fumble and a field-goal block . . . two-time all-Mecklenburg select by Charlotte Observer . . . as junior in 2010 recorded 70 tackles, nine sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked field goal . . . an all-league selection on 8-5 Ardrey Kell team as junior . . . chosen to play in North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl . . . from same high school that produced current Irish defender Prince Shembo . . . moved to United States from Nigeria as sixth-grader . . . coached by Adam Hastings at Ardrey Kell High School . . . born June 17, 1995.
Notre Dame football adds 17 players
Mark Harrell, OL, 6-5, 270, Charlotte, NC (Catholic) – Second-team pick on MaxPreps 2011 U.S. Air Force All-American team as offensive lineman . . . second-leading vote-getter among offensive linemen on 2011 Associated Press North Carolinaall-state team . . . first-team offensive lineman on All-Observer squad named by Charlotte Observer in both 2011 and 2010 . . . rated 16th among North Carolina players bySuperPrep . . . ranked 17th-best prospect in North Carolina and 25th-best offensive lineman in the nation by Rivals.com . . . helped Catholic average 333 rushing yards and 43points per game in 2011 to go with 5,197 yards of total offense and also played some at tight end . . . two-time first-team All-Mecklenburg selection by Observer in 2011 and 2010 for players in immediate Charlotte area . . . three-time all-MEGA 7 3A/4A selection . . . helped 2010 Catholic team to 14-1 record in junior campaign that featured 4,904 team rushing yards and included advancement to North Carolina Class 3AA playoff semifinals . . . played in Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Phoenix . . . chosen to play in North Carolina-South Carolina Shrine Bowl . . . also played basketball and throws the shot in track and field . . . coached by Jim Oddo at Charlotte Catholic High School . . . born May 3, 1993.
Justin Ferguson, WR, 6-2, 205, Pembroke Pines, FL (Flanagan) – Rated as number-85 player nationally and 14th-best wide receiver in the country on 2012 ESPNU 150 list . . . listed as 19th-best player in Florida and 41st-ranked prospect in Southeast by ESPNU . . . rated number-127 player nationally and 15th-best wide receiver in his class by MaxPreps and Tom Lemming . . . listed as 41st-best player in Florida by SuperPrep . . . member of the Florida Top 100 as selected by Orlando Sentinel . . . standout wide receiver at Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines, Fla. . . . helped Flanagan to 6-4 record in 2011 while grabbing 29 passes for 527 yards and nine touchdowns . . . made four catches for 213 yards in 33-30 win over Western, including TD receptions for 58 and 99 yards . . . caught 44 passes for 953 yards and 12 TDs as junior in 2010 . . . first-team all-Broward County pick by both Miami Herald and Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel in 2010 . . . selected for USA Football U-19 team that played against Worldteam in Austin, Texas, Feb. 1, 2012 . . . played in Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Phoenix . . . coached by Don Simon at Flanagan High School.
