Northwestern football recruit Tommy Carnifax will enroll for classes Winter Quarter after signing a Big Ten Tender of Financial Aid with the University, the athletic department announced Tuesday.

“We’re thrilled to add a young man of Tommy’s caliber to our program,” coach Pat Fitzgerald said in a news release. “Tommy is the first member of an exciting recruiting class that we look forward to introducing in full on National Signing Day.”

Carnifax, from Warren, Ohio, is listed at 6 feet 5 inches, 245 pounds and was rated as a consensus 3-star recruit, according to 247sports’ composite rating. The defensive end is ranked 31st in his position and the 26th-best recruit in Ohio. He chose Northwestern over Duke and several Big Ten schools.

Early enrollment enables Carnifax to participate in the football team’s spring practices. The process has been rare under Fitzgerald, with just one other recruit, redshirt freshman cornerback Parrker Westphal, electing to enter school early during the coach’s tenure.

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