E.J. is headed to N.D.

Montour High School senior quarterback/defensive back E.J. Banks yesterday made a verbal commitment to Notre Dame.

Offered scholarships by over 35 major college programs across the country, Banks -- 6 feet, 180 pounds -- pared his list to Notre Dame and Ohio State in recent days and selected the Irish, who plan to use him at cornerback.

"It means a lot to me to be going to Notre Dame," Banks said. "I know that, when I graduate from there, a lot of doors will be opened for me that wouldn't have been opened if I had chosen to go somewhere else. For football, it is a great place, but it is a lot more than that, and all of that weighed into my decision."

Banks threw for over 1,200 yards, rushed for over 900, scored 10 touchdowns and was a Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 selection last year.

He also helped to fuel a resurgence for the once-powerful Montour program, which, after falling on recent hard times, reached the WPIAL Class AAA championship game last season. Banks sees a parallel with Notre Dame's recent tough times.

"Every program has its ups and downs, and some could say that Notre Dame has been down," he said. "But, if you look at the people the program has coming in, they are going to be back on top, very soon. A big part of me going there is that I wanted to be there for when Notre Dame is back on top, and I think that will happen in my time there."