updated 2:35 a.m. ET Feb. 22, 2007

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Mike Golic Jr., whose father and two uncles played football at Notre Dame, plans to follow in their footsteps and play for the Fighting Irish in 2008.

The 6-foot-4, 260-pound offensive lineman who plays at Northwest Catholic High in West Hartford, Conn., became the first high school junior to verbally commit to Notre Dame in 2008.

Mike Golic Sr. of ESPN’s “Mike & Mike in the Morning” said he called his son Monday who is in Italy and told him to call Irish coach Charlie Weis and tell him of his plans.

“I can’t even begin to express how proud I am,” Mike Sr. said. “He had said if Notre Dame ever offered, that’s the one he’d take.”

Golic is projected as an offensive lineman, although his father said he also could play defense. Mike Golic said his son, a center, plays with a defensive mentality and a bit of a mean streak.

“And I kind of like that,” he said.

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