2023 Notre Dame TE Commit Impressed With Parker, Others During Return Visit

Cooper Flanagan‍ returned to Notre Dame this past weekend to get a look at the newest iteration of the Irish football program and the 2023 tight end commit was impressed.

“It was awesome,” Flanagan told Irish Sports Daily. “I had a great time.”

The California native had the chance to meet new tight ends coach Gerad Parker in person.

“He was an awesome guy, great coach,” said Flanagan. “His family was awesome too. I got to meet some of the tight ends, which was pretty cool.

“I got to watch the scrimmage, which was awesome.”

The De La Salle High School standout has been in touch with Parker since Parker’s hiring back in February, but getting to meet him in person was especially helpful.

“He's just a cool guy all around,” Flanagan said of Parker. “He's super smart. He's a pretty down to earth guy. You can talk to him just like man to man, but he's also a great coach, which is pretty cool.

“Watching him coach the tight ends there now, I'm just excited for our future.”

Flanagan also enjoyed the opportunity to see the position group get after it.

“It was just pretty cool to see the boys compete,” he said. “It was pretty cool to see the atmosphere of Notre Dame and a practice.

“During the walkthrough, I got to be on the field next to all the kids, which was pretty cool. I also got to sit in the tight end meeting and that was awesome as well.”

The 6-foot-5, 240-pounder already has plans to get back to South Bend again, but not this month.

“Not for the spring game, but I know I'll be back June 10th for my official,” he said.

Flanagan remains firmly committed to the Irish, but that isn’t going to stop schools like Cal, LSU and Alabama from continuing to test the strength of that pledge.

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