Matt James

Roughly two months before Matt James was set to enroll at the University of Notre Dame and chase a dream, an unfathomable nightmare has taken the life of the Irish football recruit. James died Friday night in Panama City, Fla., after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony, one week shy of his 18th birthday. He was vacationing in Florida for spring break. The 6-foot-6, 291-pound offensive tackle from Cincinnati’s St. Xavier High School had chosen ND over home-state power Ohio State and was a big part of first-year ND head coach Brian Kelly’s blueprint for a quick turnaround for the Irish.

Future University of Notre Dame student-athlete Matt James died Friday evening after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Panama City, Fla. James, a 17-year-old senior at Cincinnati¹s St. Xavier High School, signed a letter of intent on Feb. 3 to join the Fighting Irish football team. He was on spring break with friends when the accident occurred. "The Notre Dame football program is in a state of disbelief and incredible sadness with the news of this tragic event," Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly said.

Funeral plans for St. Xavier High School senior Matt James have been made. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at St. Xavier High School, 600 W. North Bend Rd., in Cincinnati. A closing prayer service begins at 8 p.m. "We are united in our grief over Matt," said Fr. Tim Howe S.J., St. X president. "Our community is strong, and I know that the strength we receive from our faith in Jesus’ resurrection will help get us through this difficult time. Our love and prayers are for Matt and his family as we accompany them in the coming days of shared mourning.

The morning after, Sam Young still couldn't shake the thought of how hard it will be to pick up the pieces for anyone whose life was touched by Notre Dame football recruit Matt James. The 17-year-old Cincinnati St. Xavier High senior died Friday evening, almost instantly, police say, after the 6-foot-6, 291-pounder lost his balance while leaning against a hotel balcony railing at a Days Inn in Panama City Beach, Fla. "I talked to my buddy, (ND offensive tackle) Taylor Dever," said Young, a four-year Irish starter at offensive tackle who is in South Bend to prepare for the NFL Draft this month and to finish his final class.

SOUTH BEND -- Notre Dame landed its second verbal commitment for the recruiting class of 2011 today when Plant City, Fla., offensive tackle Jordan Prestwood picked the Irish. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Prestwood had more than 20 offers, including Southern California, Alabama, Florida and Auburn. "When it was all said and done, one school stood out above the rest," Prestwood said in a statement. "One school really made me feel comfortable. " The Irish landed their first commit last month when Dublin, Ohio, defensive end Brad Carrico picked the Irish while making an unofficial visit to campus.

Notre Dame's recruiting got a huge boost Wednesday morning when Matt James of St. Xavier High School Cincinnati faxed in his letter of intent to the Notre Dame football offices. The 6-foot-6, 291-pound offensive tackle picked the Irish over Ohio State. James made an official visit to ND last weekend. "I think absolutely it came down to the visit," said St. Xavier coach Steve Specht this morning. "He had a real good visit. " Because James has known new Irish coach Brian Kelly for some time, Specht said that was not that big of a factor.

SOUTH BEND — Saturday's scrimmage was hardly an insanely early dress rehearsal for what the Notre Dame football team might look like in its 2010 season opener Sept. 4 against Purdue. It's still about first-year head coach Brian Kelly tweaking — both personnel and attitudes. Junior-to-be Trevor Robinson is Kelly's most notable guinea pig of late. The standout right guard, arguably the team's most accomplished offensive lineman, popped out to offensive tackle earlier this week and has remained there.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. -- Even before a Notre Dame football recruit died in a drunken fall from a hotel balcony, extra alcohol enforcement agents were on duty in this Panhandle town, just as they are every year for spring break, officials said Monday. Matt James, 17, of Cincinnati, was the second teenager in two weeks to die. Police say the 6-foot-6, 290-pound offensive lineman was drunk and acting belligerent when he fell Friday night as he leaned over a fifth-floor railing to shake his finger at people in an adjoining room.

Notre Dame recruit Derek Roback first heard the news around 10 p.m. Friday, just a few hours after future football teammate Matt James had fallen to his death while on spring break in Panama City, Fla. More than 12 hours later, Roback was struggling to find words to describe his feelings about someone he had only met a couple of times, but was looking forward to knowing over the next four or five years of his life. "You can tell I can’t really … it’s weird … it’s not supposed to happen," Roback said early Saturday afternoon via cell phone.

Luke Massa has dreamed of playing for Notre Dame for a long time. That’s why the Cincinnati St. Xavier quarterback will officially visit Notre Dame this weekend as a prospect for the recruiting class of 2010. Massa, 6-foot-5, 205-pound three-star recruit, will be visiting Notre Dame along with three other uncommitted recruits. They include his teammate, offensive lineman Matt James, plus Jeremy Ioane, a safety from Honolulu, and athlete Danny Spond of Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo.

Here is a transcript of Brian Kelly’s post-game  press conference.   COACH KELLY:  Obviously a very difficult loss for our football team.  Certain pales in comparison to the unimaginable sorrow we had this week in the loss of Declan Sullivan.  As a father of three, I can only imagine the sorrow that accompanies the loss of your son.  So it's been a very difficult time for me and everybody within our football family.             I didn't think we were going to have to go through something like this so close to the tragedy we had with Matt James.

SOUTH BEND — Saturday's scrimmage was hardly an insanely early dress rehearsal for what the Notre Dame football team might look like in its 2010 season opener Sept. 4 against Purdue. It's still about first-year head coach Brian Kelly tweaking — both personnel and attitudes. Junior-to-be Trevor Robinson is Kelly's most notable guinea pig of late. The standout right guard, arguably the team's most accomplished offensive lineman, popped out to offensive tackle earlier this week and has remained there.

Funeral plans for St. Xavier High School senior Matt James have been made. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at St. Xavier High School, 600 W. North Bend Rd., in Cincinnati. A closing prayer service begins at 8 p.m. "We are united in our grief over Matt," said Fr. Tim Howe S.J., St. X president. "Our community is strong, and I know that the strength we receive from our faith in Jesus’ resurrection will help get us through this difficult time. Our love and prayers are for Matt and his family as we accompany them in the coming days of shared mourning.

SOUTH BEND -- Notre Dame landed its second verbal commitment for the recruiting class of 2011 today when Plant City, Fla., offensive tackle Jordan Prestwood picked the Irish. The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Prestwood had more than 20 offers, including Southern California, Alabama, Florida and Auburn. "When it was all said and done, one school stood out above the rest," Prestwood said in a statement. "One school really made me feel comfortable. " The Irish landed their first commit last month when Dublin, Ohio, defensive end Brad Carrico picked the Irish while making an unofficial visit to campus.

PANAMA CITY, Fla. -- Even before a Notre Dame football recruit died in a drunken fall from a hotel balcony, extra alcohol enforcement agents were on duty in this Panhandle town, just as they are every year for spring break, officials said Monday. Matt James, 17, of Cincinnati, was the second teenager in two weeks to die. Police say the 6-foot-6, 290-pound offensive lineman was drunk and acting belligerent when he fell Friday night as he leaned over a fifth-floor railing to shake his finger at people in an adjoining room.

The morning after, Sam Young still couldn't shake the thought of how hard it will be to pick up the pieces for anyone whose life was touched by Notre Dame football recruit Matt James. The 17-year-old Cincinnati St. Xavier High senior died Friday evening, almost instantly, police say, after the 6-foot-6, 291-pounder lost his balance while leaning against a hotel balcony railing at a Days Inn in Panama City Beach, Fla. "I talked to my buddy, (ND offensive tackle) Taylor Dever," said Young, a four-year Irish starter at offensive tackle who is in South Bend to prepare for the NFL Draft this month and to finish his final class.

Future University of Notre Dame student-athlete Matt James died Friday evening after falling from a third-floor balcony at a hotel in Panama City, Fla. James, a 17-year-old senior at Cincinnati¹s St. Xavier High School, signed a letter of intent on Feb. 3 to join the Fighting Irish football team. He was on spring break with friends when the accident occurred. "The Notre Dame football program is in a state of disbelief and incredible sadness with the news of this tragic event," Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly said.

Notre Dame recruit Derek Roback first heard the news around 10 p.m. Friday, just a few hours after future football teammate Matt James had fallen to his death while on spring break in Panama City, Fla. More than 12 hours later, Roback was struggling to find words to describe his feelings about someone he had only met a couple of times, but was looking forward to knowing over the next four or five years of his life. "You can tell I can’t really … it’s weird … it’s not supposed to happen," Roback said early Saturday afternoon via cell phone.

Roughly two months before Matt James was set to enroll at the University of Notre Dame and chase a dream, an unfathomable nightmare has taken the life of the Irish football recruit. James died Friday night in Panama City, Fla., after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony, one week shy of his 18th birthday. He was vacationing in Florida for spring break. The 6-foot-6, 291-pound offensive tackle from Cincinnati’s St. Xavier High School had chosen ND over home-state power Ohio State and was a big part of first-year ND head coach Brian Kelly’s blueprint for a quick turnaround for the Irish.

Notre Dame's recruiting got a huge boost Wednesday morning when Matt James of St. Xavier High School Cincinnati faxed in his letter of intent to the Notre Dame football offices. The 6-foot-6, 291-pound offensive tackle picked the Irish over Ohio State. James made an official visit to ND last weekend. "I think absolutely it came down to the visit," said St. Xavier coach Steve Specht this morning. "He had a real good visit. " Because James has known new Irish coach Brian Kelly for some time, Specht said that was not that big of a factor.