2024 LB Chris Cole Sets Notre Dame Official Visit
2024 Salem (Va.) linebacker Chris Cole was patient and it paid off over the last three months. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder held a solid offer list entering February, but then Cole’s recruitment took off overnight.
Auburn, Cincinnati, Florida, Florida A&M, Florida State, Georgia, Liberty, Louisville, Marshall, Maryland, Miami, Nebraska, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Penn State, Stanford, Syracuse, Texas A&M and USC have offered since the end of February, which has significantly changed Cole’s process.
“It’s been pretty crazy, Cole told ISD. “It’s really picked up over the last month. I was able to visit a ton of schools this spring and racked up a lot of offers.
“It changed my recruitment a lot. I had a few schools before, but when it picked up this spring, I started getting offers from all around the country.”
Notre Dame isn’t a school new to the race despite the recent offer as the Virginia native made the trip to South Bend last summer for camp.
Cole returned to South Bend for the spring game in April and left wanting to know more about the program. The three-star prospect will get another opportunity to dive deep into Notre Dame as he’ll return on June 9th for his official visit.
“I went there not too long ago and I really enjoyed it,” explained Cole. “I really liked the head coach and Coach (Al) Golden. I saw how he could develop me on and off the field. I wanted to come back and learn more about Notre Dame.”
Golden, who visited Cole’s high school earlier this week, was able to show the Salem star how he’d be used in the defense on the last trip to Notre Dame. It’s a role that would be cater to Cole’s strengths and physical development as he has the ability to play inside or outside.
“They see me fitting in as a Will and I could also play on the edge and space,” said Cole. “I could play all around the field as a linebacker.”
Another name around the Notre Dame program that has made an impact on Cole is analyst Caleb Davis. The two hit it off during Cole’s first visit and now have a tradition of taking a photo every time the Virginia native visits.
“The first time I met him was at camp and he gave me a campus tour,” Cole said. “After that, we stayed in touch and when I got my offer this spring, he was super pumped up because we had been talking to each other about it the whole time.
“We have a great relationship dating back to last summer. We’re going to get a picture every time I visit, so we’ll keep it going.”
Notre Dame isn’t the only program in the mix for Cole as he’s set three other official visits in June.
“On June 2nd-4th I’ll be at Penn State, June 16th I’ll be at Georgia and on June 23rd, I have my Miami official visit,” stated Cole. “I’ve thought about maybe committing early in the fall.”
With a potential fall commitment, Cole has given some thought on the new NCAA rules that allow prospects to take unlimited official visits after July 1st.
Cole saw Alabama, Auburn, Duke, Maryland, Miami, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Penn State, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia this spring, but the ability to spend 48 hours at a few more schools could give him the insight he needs to make a better decision for his future.
“I have thought about it,” said Cole. “I was thinking about all the schools I couldn’t visit in June, but still interested in and want to go see after July 1st.”
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