Keith Sampson Jr.

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman is in the ATL and will check on several high-priority prospects on Tuesday. Blessed Trinity (Ga.) has been a hot spot for the Irish as it's the home of 2023 running back Justice Haynes. Freeman will make a stop there after Dre Brown showed up last week. Haynes is just the latest player to come out of the school as it's the same program that produced LB JD Bertrand. Mill Creek (Ga.) will also host Freeman as he'll check on 2023 safety Caleb Downs, a five-star talent. Downs has made the trip to South Bend twice and Notre Dame should be considered a major player here. That said, there is work to be done and he'll be a tough pull from the South. Safeties coach Chris O'Leary will join Freeman at Mill Creek and Blessed Trinity. Freeman is expected to conduct his in-home visit with 2022 tight end signee Holden Staes tonight as well. Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees is expected to be in Birmingham (Ala.) on Tuesday to check on 2023 quarterback Christopher Vizzina. With Jackson Arnold committing to Oklahoma, Vizzina will be a name to watch. The Irish have recruited him hard and that will only continue as there is some ground to make up on Clemson. Tight ends coach John McNulty is expected to join Freeman on Staes in-home visit, but he'll also hit up Norcross (Ga.) to check on 2023 tight end Lawson Luckie. Luckie is committed to Georgia, but when you recruit for TE U, then you take a swing. McNulty is also expected to check on 2024 Colquitt County (Ga.) tight end Landen Thomas, who already holds an impressive offer list. Receivers coach Chansi Stuckey will be in Georgia as well on Tuesday. 2023 Kennesaw Mountain (Ga.) receiver Cayden Lee is a name we expect Stuckey to evaluate today. Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand is expected to be in the NE to check on 2023 Thayer Academy (Mass.) OL Samson Okunlola as the Irish hope to get him on campus soon. Hiestand is also expected to visit with 2022 OL signee Ty Chan. Cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens will make a stop at Lake Stevens (Wash.) to get the latest on 2023 four-star running back Jayden Limar, who was on campus over the summer. Notre Dame is a school Limar holds in high regard, but the Irish also need to get a RB coach in the fold. Mickens will also check on 2023 Rainier Beach (Wash.) cornerback Caleb Presley, who has also visited. The Irish should be in his top group, but there also might be a couple of schools ahead of Notre Dame at this stage. Lincoln (Wash.) defensive end Jayden Wayne is also a guy Mickens is expected to check on. Wayne has been to campus, but it feels the Irish are somewhat of a long shot at this point.Chad Bowden will be in North Carolina to check on newly offered 2023 defensive tackle Keith Sampson Jr.. The four-star prospect currently has a top 5 of Clemson, Georgia, NC State, Ohio State and South Carolina. Notre Dame will push here. Special teams coordinator Brian Mason will be in Ohio on Tuesday. Sources in Columbus have told me 2022 Upper Arlington (Ohio) kicker Zac Yoakum for a couple years. He's got a couple offers from D1AA programs and I believe Ivy Schools, so he could be a PWO guy for Notre Dame. I'm not sure Mason will see him specifically, but it wouldn't be a shock.