2022 Punter Bryce McFerson Explains Notre Dame Commitment

The die may have already been cast and things probably would have played out exactly how they did in the end anyway, but there was a singular moment that stuck out to Bryce McFerson‍ during his visit to Notre Dame.

His first visit to Notre Dame that it is...an unreported trip the 2022 North Carolina punter made during the Irish’s bye week back in October.

McFerson, who was still committed to Wake Forest at the time, was touring campus with Director of Recruiting Aaryn Kearney when they went inside Notre Dame Stadium.

“Even though it was on a bye week and nobody was around, there were still people outside the Stadium, looking inside, trying to see if they could get in,” McFerson recalls. “I was intrigued by that.

“I really liked it. I didn't get to meet all of the people at that point, but I got to see the campus and a lot of the history.”

Notre Dame reached out to McFerson shortly before that trip, letting him know a spot could be opening up at the position soon. A couple weeks later, that spot did come open and special teams coordinator Brian Polian officially extended a scholarship offer.

That’s when McFerson officially made the flip from the Demon Deacons to the Irish.

“It was a tough decision to change after all that because I'd already developed relationships at Wake Forest,” he says. “Wake Forest is obviously a great place too.”

But he felt South Bend was the best place for him in the end.

“Obviously, the fact that it's Notre Dame Football and it's world-renowned, but I can also tell it's a special place,” he says. “It's not just a factory.”

Polian made an extremely strong impression as well.

“He's a very, very good man, which cannot be said about all college coaches,” says McFerson. “He's very determined and focused about special teams because that's all he does. So, he's going to be really passionate about it, which is obviously a good thing for a player.

“He has taken the time to learn a lot of the technique, which is very helpful for a punter because he's actually going to be able to coach me instead of just being able to tell me where he wants the ball.”

McFerson is looking forward to the opportunity to come in and compete immediately for a Playoff-caliber program.

“It's going to be exciting to say the least. The first game next year's at Ohio State. I'm excited about it; being able to just go out there on the field and punt in front of however many people Ohio State has, a lot and obviously in a really big, important game.

“I'm really excited about it.”