Notre Dame OC Tommy Rees Ascending on the Recruiting Trail

Recruiting is the lifeblood of any college football program and Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has made it a significant point of emphasis during his first two months on the job. 

Freeman didn't hide the fact he wanted 10 relentless recruiters and he's well on his way as he put the finishing touches on his first staff this week.

Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees has hit the ground running as he’s found a new level of aggression over the last year and there is no better example than his relationship with 2023 five-star quarterback Dante Moore‍. 

"Coach Rees, he's really young," stated Moore. "We both are mature, but overall, we love joking around, telling each other's jokes. But when it comes to talking about football, he's real smart, a great offensive coordinator, a caller of plays.

"Overall, we love talking to each other, texting each other, calling each other, you know, just doing meetings and everything."

Boston College offensive coordinator John McNulty observed Rees in college and NFL environments and learned from Rees. 

McNulty saw firsthand he didn't have to wait to tell kids how or what he felt as Rees held those conversations in the moment with Notre Dame's players, which also easily translates to recruiting. 

"I really liked the way he handled the players - a lot more relatability and conversations on the side," McNulty said. "I just liked the way he handled his business. Sometimes those things get lost in translation and everything happens too fast." 

It shouldn't be a surprise a former quarterback finds strength in communication and recruits have come to appreciate the honesty and substance behind the conversations. 

“In my conversations with him, he's always been honest and real with me," explained Notre Dame early enrollee quarterback Steve Angeli. "Even if there was tough stuff he needed to tell me, I trusted him so much knowing we had such a good relationship and him telling me the real stuff - he never lied or sugar-coated anything. I really respected him for that." 

Rees will now have the chance to establish himself among the top recruiters in college football with the 2023 recruiting cycle. 

Moore and Birmingham (Ala.) quarterback Christopher Vizzina‍ hear from Rees daily, but the efforts go much further. Rees has been aggressive and taken the lead with 2023 receivers Carnell Tate‍, Rodney Gallagher‍ and Jaden Greathouse‍ along with the rest of Notre Dame’s offensive board, but also 2024 prospects, including quarterback CJ Carr‍. 

The expectation in The Gug is to recruit and there is no better person to sell Notre Dame than someone who lived it. Notre Dame’s players change each year, but Rees knows which recruits will find success in South Bend as he sees over 100 players succeed every day. 

“They're not the same kids, but the intentionality of which they approach everything they do, offseason program, workouts, the mental side of it, the academics, those guys are incredible,” said Rees. “I don't think they get enough credit or appreciation for what they're asked to do and with the intensity with which they approach their things.

"A lot has changed from the naked eye, but when you really dive into it. The character of what makes the Notre Dame football program, I think that's stayed pretty consistent."