2024 Notre Dame DL Commit Owen Wafle Enjoys Second Summer Trip to South Bend
2024 Notre Dame defensive line commit Owen Wafle has been a consistent visitor to South Bend since making his verbal pledge for the Irish in May.
The Hun School (N.J.) star camped at Notre Dame earlier this summer and then returned earlier this week for the BBQ, which was an important visit for him to make as he wanted to meet his future teammates.
“It was really cool to be able to meet some guys from different states and pick their brains,” Wafle told ISD. “They’re all good - they’re really good. I think CJ Carr is the real deal.
“I feel like a couple of guys since they’ve been on visits together knew each other more and I was like the new guy coming in. They were super welcoming. I felt that’s why I committed to Notre Dame. Everyone there has the same goals and the same mission.”
When Wafle arrived on campus, Notre Dame surprised him and the other recruits as they were broken off into teams to compete in a series of backyard games.
“I felt it was the greatest thing ever,” laughed Wafle. “It shows who wants to compete. I thought it was awesome being on Coach Golden’s team because he pushes you. He won most of our competitions for us.”
The Notre Dame coaches didn’t really need to push any recruit to compete as it happened naturally and Wafle believe that’s a great thing.
“Personally, I expected everybody to get really competitive,” stated Wafle. “We’re all athletes and trying to win everything. I think the competitiveness comes out even when we’re not trying to be competitive. You think you’re going to chill for the day, but end up drenched in sweat because you don’t want to lose playing dodgeball.”
Wafle clearly is big on competition, so it won’t come as a shock that the four-star prospect loved his experience at camp with defensive line coach Al Washington.
“It was one of the coolest experiences,” Wafle explained. “I’m still learning the defensive line position because I haven’t really played it. Last year, I was kind of like a linebacker and moved to defensive end at the end of the year. This year, I made the complete witch to strictly defensive end and defensive tackle.
“I’m still working on my moves and getting used to how the position fits me. Working out with Coach Washington was very eye-opening because I’m new to the position. I still need to do a lot of work, which I’m excited to do. He’s a great coach and he taught me so many new things I’m still working on right now. He made it so I could remember those drills and work on them now.”
Washington made a positive impression with his genuine nature during the spring, but Wafle was also blown away by his coaching style.
“It’s exactly how I thought he was going to coach,” Wafle said. “It pushes you because he knows you can be better. He’s always in the drill too. He’s not telling you to do a drill, but he’s showing you how to do it. It’s helpful considering sometimes when you go to camp, the coaches tell you to do something and you mess it up before you get it. He shows and you get it the first time. It’s awesome. He gets a workout when he’s teaching.”
As for his next trip to Notre Dame, Wafle is figuring it out, but hopes to make it to South Bend this fall.
“All of our games are on Saturday,” said Wafle. “I’m really trying to get to the Clemson game or the BYU game in Las Vegas. I’m still trying to figure out which one I can make, but both games would be cool to watch.”
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