Notre Dame recruit Matt James dead after falling from hotel balcony

Offensive lineman Matt James, one of the top prospects in new Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly’s first recruiting class, died Friday in Panama City, Fla., after falling from a third-floor hotel balcony, according to WKRC-TV in Cincinnati and the South Bend (Ind.) Tribune.

James, who was won one week shy of his 18th birthday, was vacationing in Florida for spring break.

The 6-foot-6, 291-pound offensive tackle from Cincinnati’s St. Xavier High School had chosen Notre Dame over home-state power Ohio State.