2022 Notre Dame QB Commit Steve Angeli Likes Feel Of Freeman Era

Steve Angeli‍ got one final look at Notre Dame before the 2022 New Jersey quarterback signs with the Irish on Wednesday.

The Bergen Catholic standout joined the majority of his fellow 2022 Irish commits in South Bend this past weekend, taking advantage of the extra official visit granted them because of a chance at head coach.

“It was great,” Angeli told Irish Sports Daily. “It was a really great weekend with the commits, the guys and the new type of vibe going on in the program, it was a really great weekend.”

Angeli noted some changes and some similarities within the program with Marcus Freeman at head coach.

“The approach that they take with the work they put into the game and the preparation has definitely not changed one bit,” said Angeli. “I think there still working hard and still living up to the Gold Standard like Coach Freeman says.

“But, I think it's a lot more loose, they're having a lot more fun and the vibe seems a lot more chill. But they're still working hard. It's kind of like a work hard/play hard mentality. That's what I thought. Overall, you could just see the guys a lot more relaxed, very smooth and still working hard.”

Angeli was appreciative of the opportunity to spend a weekend with the players he’ll be arriving with as part of Notre Dame’s 2022 class.

“It really just solidifies how special this class is,” he said, noting he was as impressed with the guys as people as players. “Obviously, they're very talented and there's a lot of great talent coming into this class, but just overall great people, great teammates, guys that I'm fortunate enough to be able to call my teammates and brothers for the next four years.

“It was great to finally meet a couple of the guys that I haven't met yet and spend time with them and their families and just to meet their parents, siblings and people, it really just shows how important the Notre Dame Family is and I can't wait to be fully immersed in it.”

This wasn’t a big sales pitch weekend.

“It was more of just like a hangout,” Angeli explained. “It was a lot more loose. I did go in on the quarterback meeting with Coach (Tommy) Rees and have some time with him in there with the other quarterbacks before they went out to practice on Saturday. So that was really special.

“Overall, it was just a lot more loose and just a big family-type vibe. Everybody was involved, a lot of great conversations, just having fun and spending time with each other, which you know, is really valuable.”

Angeli and the other visitors took in the Irish basketball team’s upset of #10 Kentucky on Saturday evening.

“Seeing them knock them off and storm the court was really special,” he said. “Toward the end of the game, we started to walk down to the student section, like on the court level. So, when it happened, we were all went out. It was cool. We were on the court.

“I know Blake (Wesley) a little bit, so it was cool to see him hit the shot. He's a super talented player, obviously, and he's from South Bend, which is super cool too.”

Angeli will sign his National Letter of Intent with Notre Dame first thing Wednesday morning.