When Paul Johnson was hired at Georgia Tech, he promised to bring the option attack that he had so much success with at Navy. Many experts said he wouldn't be able to attract top-level quarterbacks running that system in the ACC.

Those experts were wrong.

Georgia Tech has secured a significant commitment from Greenwood (Ind.) Center Grove star quarterback Jordan Luallen.

The 6-3, 195-pound dual-threat passer is one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. He threw for 916 yards and 13 touchdowns and rushed for an additional 546 yards and 12 scores in 2007.

"I've known … for a while what I wanted to do," Luallen said. "But I was holding off because I wanted to help my teammates get some further looks. I actually committed to Georgia Tech about a month ago, but I've decided to go ahead and go public with it now."

Luallen, who turned down offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, Maryland and Stanford, said he feels he's a great fit at Georgia Tech.

"To be honest, I said from Day One that that thing I was looking for most was how comfortable I was with the coaches and if he was a good Christian guy," Luallen said. "Coach Johnson and Brian Bohannon were those types of guys. When I received the offer from Georgia Tech, I knew that it was God's plan for me and that's where he wanted me at."

Luallen said the Tech offense is a perfect fit for his dual-threat abilities.

"I definitely think their style of play was a big factor in my decision," he said. "A lot of people are going to say that I'm limiting myself, but I don't feel that way at all. I think it's going to bring out my skills better. My running game is probably the strongest part of my game, but I feel like I can pass the ball with the best of them.

"Coach Bohannon talked at length how I could pass the ball. When I'm going down the line on the read option, I can make the easier throw down the field because I'm 6-3. It's a really good fit for me offensively."

Luallen said Cincinnati and Indiana were the runners-up for his pledge, but in the end there was really no comparison to Tech in his mind.

"Cincinnati and Indiana have great coaches and great programs," he said. "They're both programs on the rise, and I felt I could have been a good fit there. But God really wanted me to be at Georgia Tech. Atlanta is a great situation for me, too. It's a great fit for job opportunities after I graduate, and a Tech education is top-notch. The rising market in Atlanta is going to be huge for me after college when I graduate with a great degree."

Playing time is always key in a player's decision, and Luallen thinks he's got a shot to see the field early in Atlanta.

"They're trying to find the guys that fit their offense," he said. "It's going to be open to everybody. Jaybo Shaw is a good fit for the offense as well. He's a real fast guy. He'll be a great guy to compete with. They also have Josh Nesbitt and Calvin Booker, too. Josh is a good fit for this offense as well.

"They think I have a chance to compete and told me time and time again, it's up to me what I do with that chance."

MORE FROM NOTRE DAME CENTRAL

Notre Dame Central Section Front

Hansen: ND at crossroads with Weis Weis keeps working awaiting word on his fate No. 5 Trojans whip Irish; Weis pressure mounts Walters: Once prominent, Notre Dame is now pitied Conflicting reports on size of Weis' contract buyout Hansen: Questions swirl around the Irish Hansen: Weis’ recruiting could save his job Wieneke: Ways the Irish can remain strong recruiters Walters: After Syracuse debacle, is Weis fit to coach ND? Syracuse rallies to demoralize Notre Dame Notre Dame Central Section Front   Add Notre Dame Central headlines to your news reader: