Bryce McFerson

It's the final week of the January evaluation period and Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman will be hitting the road with Chad Bowden on Monday. They two will stop at De Smet (Mo.) to check on 2023 CB Christian Gray. It's important to maintain a presence there as Ohio State, USC and LSU are coming hard after the four-star prospect. The LSU offer probably threw a wrinkle into his recruitment as his former head coach Robert Steeples is now on staff as the cornerbacks coach. Despite another report, we believe Gray will make it to campus this weekend for Junior Day. Freeman and Bowden will also hit Western PA to check on 2023 Laurel Highlands (Pa.) receiver Rodney Gallagher. As previously reported, the Irish are making a big push here and it's being well-received. Gallagher wants to get to Notre Dame for Junior Day, but an away basketball game may push it back. 2023 Brashear (Pa.) LB Ta'Mere Robinson is another name Freeman and Bowden are expected to check on before conducting an in-home visit with 2022 signee Donovan Hinish tonight. Harry Hiestand will hit the road on Monday and he'll check on 2023 Alleman (Ill.) offensive lineman Charles Jagusah, who has been a priority target for the staff. Per a source, new receivers coach Chansi Stuckey will be in familiar territory as he'll check on a couple of Texas receivers. Westlake receiver Jaden Greathouse and Del Valle receiver Braylon James are two prospects Stuckey is expected to check up on during his trip on Monday. Notre Dame was in both high schools last week as well. Cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens is also expected to be on the trip to check on Gray before heading to Cincinnati. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees ended last week in Chicago and will start this week in his old stomping grounds. One name to keep an eye on is 2023 Loyola Academy (Ill.) defensive end Brooks Bahr. The 6-foot-6, 250-pounder has a lot to work with and the staff is high on his potential. Safeties coach Chris O'Leary will be on the West Coast on Monday and he's expected to be at powerhouse St. John Bosco (Calif.). 2024 safety Peyton Woodyard will be on the top of his list as he's visited Notre Dame twice and holds the Irish in high regard. There's a good chance Woodyard will be a top 50 player.According to a source, defensive analyst Mike Moon is expected to be in Alabama to check on 2023 Hewitt-Trussville defensive end Hunter Osborne, who has become one of the hottest names in the country. Special teams coordinator Brian Mason is expected to be in North Carolina to visit with 2022 punter signer Bryce McFerson.

Wanted to wrap up the All-American Bowl with a few coaching notes.A good chunk of the Irish commits in San Antonio will be playing for new position coaches in South Bend - WR Tobias Merriweather, OL Billy Schrauth, Aamil Wagner and Ashton Craig as well as P Bryce McFerson. I can't really go into too much detail here as the bulk of comments from those around the players were off the record.Overall, the majority of the players - and I say "majority" intentionally - were pretty disappointed to see their coaches depart.For the most part, these players truly believed in the coaches who have left and were looking forward to playing for them. But to a man, they're all convinced ND will hire somebody just as good or better than the previous coach, which I think says plenty about the faith they all have in Marcus Freeman.I do think it's also worth reiterating something Mike has mentioned repeatedly before; these kids and their parents and those close to them pay very close attention to what is said on message boards by fans about the coaches.Sometimes it casts the coach in a bad light in the eyes of the prospects and sometimes it casts the fans in a poor light. But they read it all. I was surprised, even the guys who rarely do interviews follow this stuff closely and know what's being said.

A few thoughts for your Sunday.