2023 S Ben Minich Planning Another Notre Dame Visit in July
It’s been quite the two-month stretch for 2023 Lakota West (Ohio) athlete Benjamin Minich.
The four-star prospect held offers, but another wave came through following a 10.4 100m time in Districts. Cincinnati, Indiana, Jackson State, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Stanford joined the mix, which quickly changed Minich’s recruitment and has led to more motivation in offseason workouts.
"I think my track times really helped cement my position and actually getting to a few camps to show coaches I could play was really good for me,” Minich told ISD. “I took a few official visits in June and I've gotten more offers. It's been good football-wise too. I've gotten bigger and stronger."
The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder has also focused on improving the small details of his game while getting up to speed in his playbook.
"We're learning a new defense, so I'm spending time on that right now,” said Minich. “Personally, I'm trying to get a little more fluid in my backpedal and tweaking little things I can work on."
Minich’s ability to play all over the secondary is an interesting quality. Most programs see him as a safety, but others see him fitting in at cornerback or nickel.
"I'm mostly getting recruited as a safety,” explained Minich. “A few schools have talked to me about cornerback and pretty much every school says I could play a nickel or dime because of my speed and coverage skills.
"I feel I'm versatile, but they say coming in, I would mostly be a field safety because I can run. As I develop, I could definitely play either spot - nickel, strong or free safety."
Notre Dame hasn’t offered yet, but safeties coach Chris O’Leary and defensive coordinator Al Golden have made sure to stay in contact with Minich following his camp performance in June.
"I've talked with Coach O'Leary and Coach Golden on the phone, but it was my first time getting up there and getting to meet the guys,” Minish stated. “It was really good seeing how they coach. They stay on you, but they develop you and teach you a bunch of things. It was a good experience seeing how they coach and how it would be on a daily basis. I think it was a good thing going up there."
The Ohio native did take official visits to Cincinnati, Duke and Wake Forest, but the camp visits were also impactful as he got a true feel for each staff.
"It's definitely different than going up on a visit,” Minich explained. “You get to see how they truly are and how they coach. It helps my decision because it gives me more insight and answers on how they'll actually be."
Minich will also soon be back at Notre Dame as he plans to return at the end of the month with the dead period ends.
"I've been talking with Notre Dame and I think the 26th is when I'm going to come back up there,” Minich said. “I've talked to Oklahoma about visiting on the 29th. That's really all I have planned for the rest of the summer."
As for a timeline for a commitment, Minich hopes to make a decision sooner than later, but he’s also staying patient to make the best decision.
"I definitely would like to get it over with before the season so I can get the distractions out of the way,” said Minich. “If I'm not ready to commit, I'll wait, but I'll definitely like to get it done before the season.
"I'm looking for a place that will develop me on and off the field - academically and with football. I want to go to a place that sends guys to the league and a system I feel comfortable in, so I'm looking at a lot of things."
Offers: Akron, Army, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Charlotte, Cincinnati, UConn, Duke, Harvard, Indiana, Iowa State, Kent State, Kentucky, Miami (OH), Navy, Ohio, Oklahoma, Princeton, Stanford, Toledo, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and Yale.
Ranking
ISD: 91 (four-star)
247: 90 (four-star)
Rivals: 5.6 (three-star)
ESPN: N/R
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