Coach | Tenacity Jumps Out With 2023 Notre Dame OL Target Joshua Padilla

It remains to be seen whether Marcus Freeman and Mike Mickens’ connections to Wayne High School in Ohio will help Notre Dame close the door on any top recruiting targets, but they’re certainly opening some doors.

The Irish defensive assistants played together at Wayne High School and are now recruiting the school along with other Notre Dame assistants.

2023 offensive lineman Joshua Padilla‍ is the latest Wayne Warrior to receive an offer from the Irish.

Wayne head coach Roosevelt Mukes spoke with Freeman before the Irish delivered the offer.

“It's a blessing,” said Mukes. “It's a blessing.”

In addition to Notre Dame, the 6-foot-4, 265-pound Padilla has added offers from Miami, Penn State, Ohio State, Oregon and Cincinnati in just the past few weeks.

Mukes coaches multiple other D-I prospects, including 2022 Notre Dame offensive line target Aamil Wagner‍.

“One of the things that I would try to tell (Padilla) is that everybody's time is different, so you've just got to continue to work hard and trust the process and continue to control the things that you can control,” said Mukes. “That's taking care of the classroom and just being a great student-athlete.”

Mukes isn’t surprised to see all of the attention that’s come Padilla’s way recently.

“You turn on his film and you can just see the tenacity and the things he's able to do on the football field, movement-wise, able to bend,” the coach said. “He's been working hard. He has a tremendous work ethic. The offensive line coach that we have played in college, so he's able to help him out and teach him some things. It's just a good fit.”

It’s early, but Mukes said he’s “certain” Padilla will give the Irish a serious look.

“He's only a sophomore in high school, so I think right now, all of it is just a blessing to be in a situation to have options. I think that's something that he'll sit down with his family and discuss when that time draws closer.

“But right now, it's just one of those things where you just have to continue to work and give your best effort. Where much is given much is required, right? So, you just have to continue to be a leader and work hard.”