Coach | Loghan Thomas Will Be "Special" & Is a "Fit" For Notre Dame

David Hicks Sr., said it before and he’s saying it again.

Loghan Thomas‍ fits Notre Dame.

And the 2024 Texas defensive end proves he understands that as well, announcing his commitment to the Irish on Wednesday evening.

“I just think with the academic part, it'll be a great fit,” says Hicks, Thomas’ head coach at Paetow High School in Katy, Texas.

“I think it'll be a great fit.”

After taking an unofficial visit earlier in the spring, Thomas was back in South Bend this past weekend and will return again for an official in a couple weeks.

“I think he fit in great with the culture,” says Hicks.

Hicks’ relationships with Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman and defensive line coach Al Washington stretch back to Hicks’ son’s recruitment.

“I know Coach Freeman really well as far as a great defensive mind,” the coach says. “Coach Washington's an awesome relationship-builder. He recruits very, very hard. He's a great recruiter as well. I don't think he can go wrong with that at all.”

Thomas chose the Irish over offers from schools like Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, LSU, Georgia, USC and several others. Still, Hicks isn’t sure people realize how good the 6-foot-4, 210-pounder can be.

“I truly think he's a diamond in the rough,” he says. “The sky's the limit for him as long as he's getting pushed and as long as he's around the right people and a real crowd that he would fit in. I think he'll be awesome.”

Hicks believes Thomas fits into how the Irish plan to use him in their scheme.

“Because he's able to rush the passer,” he says. “A lot of teams wanted to play him as a standup guy and make him drop and all that type stuff, which he can do. But I think his strength is being able to rush the passer and getting after them.

“If you look at the lineage of Notre Dame defensive linemen coming out every year, they always have a big-time guy. I think that plays into his strengths. I think he's going up there and I think their strength and conditioning is some of the top bar none. I think that he's going to go up there and be able to make his real name for himself for sure.

Thomas didn’t need to make a decision so soon, but decided now was the time.

“I think he wants to concentrate on his senior year,” Hicks says. “I think he wanted to go ahead and get committed and get it done.

“I think he's going to be really special. I think he's going to do a great job.”

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