2026 RB Messiah Mickens Enjoys Notre Dame Visit

Messiah Mickens‍ got a look at Notre Dame as part of the 2026 Pennsylvania running back’s Midwestern tour.

“It went well,” the 5-foot-10, 192-pounder from Camp Hill, Pa., told Irish Sports Daily afterward. “It went really good actually.

“We got to tour campus, really see all the history behind it, not just as football and see what really makes Notre Dame Notre Dame.”

The Trinity High School star pointed to the people behind the school for making it what it is.

“Just all the people who built it, certain sites that you can go to on the campus or you can light a candle, say a prayer, things like that,” he described. “It being a Catholic school, what they went through.”

Mickens had the chance to speak with Irish running backs coach Deland McCullough during the visit.

“I had a couple conversations with him,” said Mickens. “He was telling me about himself and who he coached and who he produced, and also the head coach.”

He also had an opportunity to watch McCullough and the current Irish backs in action during Saturday’s practice.

“It was good,” said Mickens. “I like the things he does with his running backs.

Mickens was also able to speak with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman for a bit.

“He was just telling me to keep working because everything's coming so fast at me,” he said.

Mickens has early offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Texas A&M and Duke among others.

“It's a blessing, but I can understand how everything can go away so fast, so just to stay focused and staying humble,” he said.

“I like the (Notre Dame) coaching staff. They're different. They all have different things about them that I didn't know.”

Mickens said he’d probably return to South Bend for a visit and is hoping to receive an offer from the Irish, which seems likely at some point.

Mickens also enjoyed trips to Ohio State, Michigan and Purdue. Next week, he goes to North Carolina.

It’s early, but he has an idea of what he’s looking for in a college.

“I would say the coaching staff and the strength conditioning coach because I'll be spending most of my time with them, so them letting me know that they can develop me as a player and as a young man.”

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