Class of 2010 Commit #5 - Bennett Jackson

Bennett Jackson became the fifth recruit to commit to Notre Dame's Class of 2010 today, when he announced he would be enrolling at the University.

“I think Notre Dame stood out above everyone else, and I liked the school a lot more than the other colleges I went to,” Jackson said at his press conference Sunday.

Jackson, a 6'1" 165 pound receiver out of Hazlet, New Jersey, was rated a 4-star prospect by Scout and a 3-star prospect by Rivals. He chose the Irish over Boston College, Michigan State, North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, West Virginia, and various other ACC, Big 10, and Big East schools.

Jackson pointed to the positives Notre Dame offered both on and off the field as the reason why he chose the Irish.

Here's a highlight video from Jackson's junior year.

I kind of just sat down with my mom. We talked about which schools she liked, and what I liked, and I guess the life after college, and we both came to the conclusion that Notre Dame was the best fit. I didn’t have any negatives when I went there, and I had some negatives at some of the other schools I visited, and I liked Notre Dame a lot and I just felt comfortable there.

Jackson had 35 catches in his junior season at Raritan High School, totaling 509 yards and three touchdowns. He also had 257 yards rushing and four touchdowns on the ground. His main assest as a receiver is his speed (running a 4.5 40), which also comes in handy on special teams. Jackson saw time as a kick returner in his junior year, and hopes to contribute on special team at the next level. He returned two punts and one kickoff for touchdowns in his junior year.

Jackson joins Daniel Smith as the second receiving prospect to commit to the Irish. He is the fifth commitment in a class that is already stocking up on offensive talent.