2025 RB Daniel Anderson Impressed With Notre Dame Return

It may not have provided the shock and thrill of the first trip, but Daniel Anderson’s return to Notre Dame on Sunday was an informative, exciting visit.

Last month, the 2025 Arkansas running back arrived in South Bend as a little-known prospect whose only offer was from Long Island. He left as the talk of Irish Invasion and with an offer from Notre Dame.

When Anderson returned on Sunday for Notre Dame’s Grill & Chill event, he came back as a prospect with a pair of SEC offers as well in Tennessee and Mississippi State.

“It was very good,” the Bryant High School standout told Irish Sports Daily. “I had a lot of fun.

“It was really well-planned out. They had a lot stuff set out for us to do and we had a lot of connecting activities we got to do with each other.”

The mini-games provided a chance for all the visiting recruits to get acclimated in a competitive atmosphere.

“I didn't really know any of them, so getting to meet them was really nice and good to know who else could be playing with me if I do attend there,” said Anderson.

And he felt those were guys he could fit in with “really well.”

“I liked all those dudes,” he said. “They all had a really nice energy to them and they're all really cool dudes. We all just had a great time playing the games together.”

The Notre Dame coaching staff also made positive impressions.

“They were informative to me and it was great to get to see them again, to get a chance to come back out,” the 6-foot, 195-pounder said. “I really appreciate all the love they showed again, adding on to the last time I was there.

“I learned a lot about the percentages of the grads of the school and how much the players would actually make after school; not just football, but life after school.”

Running backs coach Deland McCullough made sure to explain exactly how he does things.

“It was really good to see him again,” Anderson said of McCullough. “He's a really nice guy and I was really honored to get to meet with him and speak to him again and get to learn a lot about him.

“He brought me out to the side and we got to speak for a little bit about how he structures his running back program and how he would coach us. It was really nice to get to know those types of things to know what I would be getting into.”

Anderson likes McCullough’s philosophy of featuring multiple running backs.

“I think it's actually really good the way he has it structured and set up because he has it where everybody gets to play,” he said. “Everybody has a different position and a role they get to fill with him.

“My family really enjoys him. They all say he has a great vibe and energy. They say they really like his style and the way he would coach.”

Anderson’s family enjoyed the entire trip.

“Overall, they thought it was amazing,” he said. “They just really enjoyed the overall atmosphere that they would bring and the things that they could bring into my life.”

Anderson is planning to return for a game in the fall, but doesn’t know exactly which one yet. 

“They have me feeling really great; the love that all the coaches bring to you makes you really feel at home with everything that they do.”

He’s also planning trips to Tennessee and Ole Miss in the fall.

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