Notre Dame football got one present a little early on Thursday.
Greer standout Troy Pride, Jr. announced his verbal commitment to attend and play for Notre Dame via Twitter on Christmas Eve.
"I would publicly like to announce my commitment and end of recruitment to the University of Notre Dame #GoIrish," Pride wrote on Twitter. "Once again, I am extremely blessed to be in the position I am in to further my education and football career at so many great institutions but, Notre Dame, I'm coming home."
Pride visited the South Bend, Ind., campus during the football season. one of several visits taken in September and October as the list of offers to Pride grew to 13 -- a list that would eventually include South Carolina, Clemson, North Carolina, Duke, Georgia Tech, Marshall, Tennessee and Virginia Tech.
"If there were 13 Troy Pride Jr.'s that would be great, but sadly there's only one," Pride tweeted Thursday afternoon.
Pride visited Notre Dame on Oct. 17, a 41-31 Irish win over Southern California.
Virginia Tech had been the presumed landing spot for Pride until the retirement of long-time head coach Frank Beamer. Soon after Beamer announced his retirement, Pride, who had committed early to the Hokies, de-committed on Nov. 11 but Virginia Tech remained in the mix.
New South Carolina Head Coach Will Muschamp made a visit to Greer in an effort to land the state's sixth-rated player for the Gamecocks as did Beamer's successor, Justin Fuente.
Pride thanked his family, friends coaches and teammates as well as the coaches who recruited him. He was reportedly recruited heavily by former Irish stars and current assistants Autry Denson (running backs) and Todd Lyght (defensive backs).
After starting at cornerback for South Carolina in this past weekend's Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, Pride is set to participate in one final high school all-star game, the Blue-Grey All-American Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 9.
Pride is projected as a cornerback for the Irish but was also one of Greer's top offensive players.
As a senior, Pride led the team in scoring with 20 total touchdowns. He was second on the team in receiving behind Dorian Lindsey with 41 catches for 848 yards and 13 touchdowns and gained 183 yards on 14 rushing attempts -- most coming when filling in for an injured Adrian McGee at running back during a regular-season win at Travelers Rest – and three touchdowns. He also returned three punts for touchdowns.
Pride is expected to officially sign his National Letter of Intent to play for the Irish on National Signing Day, Feb. 3.