'08 IL LB Steven Filer (Notre Dame Signee)

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South Bend Tribune: Improved effort aside, ND numbers numbing

Speaking of changes, how will quarterback Demetrius Jones’ transfer affect Notre Dame?

Well, he may have company. Rumblings that sophomore tight end Konrad Reuland is leaving the program should be cleared up today. When reached via cell phone Sunday night, Reuland deferred to speaking until today, saying “I’ve still got a lot to think about.”

Jones, a sophomore from Chicago, has done his thinking and his talking and walked away in classy fashion Saturday, showing up and supporting his former teammates in their 31-14 loss to Michigan State and also making sure to mend fences with Weis. He also took time to allay any concerns Chicago-area linebacker recruits Steve Filer and Darius Fleming may have had about the reasons for his exodus.

In the end, it was a happy ending for everyone, and ideally that’s the way it should be. To this day, Jake Kelchner talks about Lou Holtz’s help in his transfer to West Virginia, not only resurrecting his football career but changing for the better the pitch of his life.

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SI.com - More Sports - Chicago linebacker Filer strings together on-field hits - Monday November 26, 2007 5:16PM

Cut from the same padding as Chicago linebackers past, Filer will carry his hit man reputation to Notre Dame next fall.

By Jon Mahoney, Special to SI.com, RISE

Nothing puts Mount Carmel's (Chicago, Ill.) Steve Filer more at ease than the relaxing sounds of classical music, particularly Mozart. It's been that way since fifth grade, when a teacher played it during a test.

It's a fitting music choice for Filer, an old-school senior linebacker who creates a symphony every time he steps on the gridiron. However, instead of melodious sounds, the 6-foot-4, 225-pounder puts together a collection of bone-crushing hits that are anything but pleasing to his opponents' ears.

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