Elite 2023 DE Derrick Leblanc Remains Serious About Notre Dame

Since becoming one of the first prospects in the Class of 2023 to receive an offer from Notre Dame, when he did so back in June, Derrick Leblanc‍ has kept in touch with the Irish.

But the Florida defensive end notes it hasn’t been constant contact, which is fine with him.

“I know they’re having a season and I don’t want to bother them,” the 6-foot-5, 245-pounder says.

“I’m having a season too as of right now, so right now, I’m just focusing on the season. When the time comes, I’ll get in contact with them or just talk to them more.”

When the Osceola High School star does speak with Notre Dame, it’s usually with defensive line coach Mike Elston.

“He tells me to stay patient,” Leblanc says of Elston. “They’ll find a time to get me up there. We just talk about life. He doesn’t always talk about football.

“He’s a cool guy. He’s not all about football, football. He’s just trying to get to know you as a person and build a relationship with you, which I like. He’s just a cool guy.”

The Kissimmee, Fla., native hopes to get to South Bend whenever the dead period instituted in response to the COVID-19 crisis is lifted.

“Little things matter to me to be honest,” he says. “I want to see how the coaching staff is, the people are, the environment and all of that.”

Leblanc’s offer sheet already includes schools like Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Ohio State, Auburn, Florida State, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Virginia and Wake Forest among several others. He says pretty much all of the schools are still coming at him now.

Osceola is having a shortened season this year before the playoffs.

Leblanc’s initial individual goal for the season was to get double-digit sacks, but with eight sacks already and two to go, he’s going to need to raise that bar.