2021 Notre Dame DE Commit Jason Onye Gets First Look At Future Home

Jason Onye‍ had seen enough without actually ever seeing Notre Dame for himself, which is why the 2021 Rhode Island defensive end felt comfortable announcing a commitment to the Irish back in May.

Earlier this week, Onye was able to visit South Bend for the first time and left impressed.

He was in town on Tuesday and Wednesday and was able to walk around campus and check out some of the buildings. Although some COVID-19 restrictions remain in place, he still got a strong sense of campus and the community.

“It was crazy,” Onye said. “It exceeded my expectations.

“I saw it on a virtual tour, but that wasn’t anything compared to what I saw in person.”

As impressed as he was with the beauty of campus, it was the people he interacted with who may have made the strongest impressions.

“I felt like everybody had the same vision to be successful, especially the students on campus,” said Onye. “I felt like they knew what they were there for, business, but they also have plenty of time to have fun. It just seemed intertwined with the same goals and ideas of school.”

He also got a chance to check out the areas surrounding campus.

“It was a pretty good visit,” the Bishop Hendricken High School star added. “I got to see the whole town of South Bend, outside of Notre Dame, as well.

“People were really nice and friendly. It was a good feeling.”

Onye said he was “100 percent” with his decision prior to the trip, but feels “even higher about Notre Dame. It was great.”

Onye made the trip with his father and sister – “My dad loved it,” he said – but his mother couldn’t make it. He’s holding out that the NCAA will allow visits later this fall and he can return with his mother for a game.

Onye had been optimistic about the opportunity to play his senior season at Bishop Hendricken this fall, but on Friday, the state announced that football wouldn’t be allowed this fall. The state hasn’t ruled out trying to play in the spring.