2024 ATH Peyton Woodyard Fired Up Following First Look at Notre Dame

Notre Dame is once again having a busy weekend with recruits invading campus all weekend. 

2024 St. John Bosco (Calif.) athlete Peyton Woodyard‍ made the trip to South Bend with his father on Friday and both left impressed with Notre Dame's program. 

"It's a really beautiful campus," Woodyard told ISD. "Everything is really green out here. The academics are an area you don't have to worry about. You're going to have a great education and graduate from here." 

The Irish have offered nine 2024 prospects and the staff is hosting several official visitors, but there was a big-time effort made to make sure Woodyard felt wanted.

"I got to meet with everyone I need to know," said Woodyard. "I spoke with Coach (Marcus) Freeman, Coach (Mike) Mickens and I met with Coach (Chris) O'Leary. I also spoke with Coach (Brian) Kelly in his office. 

"I talked with Coach (Tommy) Rees, the offensive coordinator and Del Alexander because he recruits California." 

Woodyard enjoyed his time with Freeman and hearing Alexander explain that Notre Dame doesn't offer many California kids each year.

"He said he's been at Notre Dame for five months, but it's different," Woodyard said of his conversation with Freeman. "He was trying to explain that it's different over here.

"Coach Del was really explaining that Notre Dame doesn't go out of the way to get a lot of people from California." 

The 6-foot-1, 175-pounder came away impressed with his conversation with Kelly. 

"Coach Kelly was real cool," explained Woodyard. "He said I'll always have an offer as long as I take care of the school side of things. That's not going to be a problem for me. He said keep doing what I'm doing on the football field." 

Notre Dame's facilities and program to help student-athletes in the classroom was also something that stuck with Woodyard.

"The stadium and the facilities were really nice and second to none," stated Woodyard. "They have all the resources and people you need to allow you to be successful." 

Woodyard will be back on campus later tonight for a BBQ and will likely get to connect with Kyle Hamilton, who is his cousin. 

"I haven't yet," Woodyard said when asked if he met up with Hamilton. "I think I will tonight at the Grill and Chill." 

It's clear Notre Dame made a great first impression and Woodyard can't wait to make another trip to South Bend.

"I'll definitely be back," said Woodyard. "I'm going to come up here with my whole family - my mom, brother and sister."