Feel Will Be Important For 2024 Notre Dame RB Target Xavier Robinson

Xavier Robinson‍ will get an in-depth look at Notre Dame when the 2024 Oklahoma running back takes an official visit to South Bend next week and his head coach at Carl Albert High School expects him to be impressed.

“I've never been there myself, but I know the history of that place and being there I think is a pretty cool deal,” says Mike Dunn.

“I don't know Coach (Marcus) Freeman personally, but I'm sure he's a very dynamic person, seems like a really good person - just getting to be around who your head coach would be and all the other coaches and seeing the facilities and things like that obviously gives you a better feel for a program, for a university.”

And that’s what Robinson will be looking for as he embarks on the final stages of the process, which will see him take official visits to Notre Dame (June 6th), Iowa State (June 9th) and Oklahoma (June 15th).

“Xavier's the type of guy, he's really going to feel, really be attuned to the whole feel, culture and climate of the place and all that stuff,” says Dunn. “He's the type of kid kid who is really looking for a home and somewhere he can definitely call home. I think all that's going to be really big for him.

He planned to take an official to Oklahoma State as well, but that may be up in the air. Miami could try to get into the mix late as well, but while they’ve expressed serious interest, they’ve yet to extend an offer.

Meanwhile, running backs coach Deland McCullough has made it tremendously clear the Irish are beyond interested.

“It's been really good,” Dunn says of the contact between Robinson and Notre Dame.

“He's talked with Coach McCullough quite a bit and obviously Coach McCullough was at our practice (recently).”

The 6-foot-2, 230-pound Robinson certainly qualifies as the kind of “big back” Notre Dame is looking for to pair with longtime running back commit Aneyas Williams. The Irish didn’t offer Robinson until the beginning of May, but McCullough has worked feverishly – and effectively – to build a relationship and explain what Notre Dame can offer Robinson on and off the field.

In addition to everything that typically attracts recruits to Notre Dame – the football and academic traditions – McCullough lets his targets know about his history coaching in the NFL and sells them on his ability to prepare them to play on the game’s highest level.

Dunn expects Robinson to make a final decision shortly after he completes his official visits this month – however many that may end up being.

“That's what I think will happen,” the coach says. “I think he wants to be done by July. I think he wants to be done with all of it and have a place set and know what he's doing before he goes into actual senior season.”

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