Notre Dame Crushes Grill & Chill
The current Notre Dame staff has proven time and time again that it knows how to put on a big recruiting event.
The Irish proved it again this past weekend with Sunday’s Grill & Chill, which focused on the Class of 2025, although several 2024 commits were in attendance to answer questions and provide a glimpse at what future Notre Dame student-athletes look like.
Even with the coaching staff having to juggle the demands of preseason camp and the recruiting staff stretched thin, Notre Dame crushed it by all accounts.
As difficult as it can be to get top prospects to campus during the only open week in all of July, it also can provide an instant comparison for recruits who spent the earlier part of the week checking out other schools.
It’s a small sample size for sure, but the Irish generally stacked up favorably among the recruits we spoke with who visited other schools earlier.
OK, OK, WE GET IT…NOW WHO’S GOING TO COMMIT?: The flurry of predictions tying Justin Thurman to Notre Dame, including one from our own Matt Freeman, are not without merit.
The Irish came into the weekend in a great spot for the 2025 Florida running back, who started his high school career at DeSmet in St. Louis. We’ve said it repeatedly and it’s worth saying again, Thurman is just such an obvious fit for Notre Dame that the idea that he’ll end up playing his college ball in South Bend makes sense.
Notre Dame identified Thurman as a top-of-the-board target early and has made that clear to him. In talking to a source close to Thurman prior to the visit, we were told the visit was to see if there were “any unanswered questions.” Coming out of the visit, we were told it was “amazing” and there did not seem to be any questions left to be answered.
Thurman hasn’t identified a timeline, but after talking with sources, we wouldn’t be surprised to see him do so relatively soon.
Sources also say the Irish appear to be in strong positions with Georgia receiver Jerome Bettis Jr., Connecticut safety Ethan Long and Wisconsin offensive line Owen Strebig. None of the three have announced any pending announcements and they could let the process play out through the fall, but Notre Dame looks to be out in front for each.
O-LINE FOUNDATION COULD FALL INTO PLACE: In addition to Strebig, Notre Dame hosted Connecticut offensive lineman Matty Augustine and New York offensive lineman Rowan Byrne.
It’s easy to imagine the Irish landing all three.
Both Augustine and Byrne have been open about the fact that they see themselves landing somewhere in the Midwest with Notre Dame, Michigan, Ohio State and Wisconsin factors for each along with Strebig.
Augustine and Byrne were in both Columbus and South Bend together and getting the three around each other seems like a good thing for Notre Dame right now.
Byrne grew up a Notre Dame fan and has never been shy about saying that could eventually play a role in his decision. Augustine isn’t focused on a decision timeline, but at the moment, I like Notre Dame’s chances better than anybody else’s.
IMPRESSING TOP TAYLOR TARGETS: Illinois receiver Talyn Taylor and Florida safety Ivan Taylor were both back on campus.
Sources believe the Irish crushed it with both, but both are elite national prospects who have no reason to rush the process.
These recruitments aren’t likely to end anytime soon and could very well last until next summer, but Notre Dame has positioned itself well with each and should be around until the finish.
NOTES ON OTHER VISITORS: We’re told Notre Dame believes it’s in a “great spot” for elite in-state cornerback Mark Zackery IV, who would represent a huge get for the Irish. The Indianapolis native also has offers from schools like Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas A&M and USC among several others.
Illinois defensive linemen Joseph Reiff and Dom Hulak may not have offer sheets that jump out like that, but we’re told both are definite takes for Notre Dame at the moment. Similar to Thurman, Reiff jumps out as an obvious Notre Dame kid off the field and he seems to sense it himself, saying Notre Dame offers what he’s looking for. With Hulak, who could also play linebacker, it may come down to him saying a clear path to getting on the field relatively early in his career.
North Carolina safety JaDon Blair seemed almost shockingly comfortable with everybody during the visit, especially safeties coach Chris O’Leary who he spent most of his time with. Blair came in liking Notre Dame and he and his family left loving it. Look for him to be back for the USC game.
The only time Chris Burgess pulled back a bit on the visit was when pressed if Notre Dame was his clear leader. The 2025 Chicago defensive end wasn’t quite ready to make that declaration, but it’s obvious the Irish are way up his list. He loved the other recruits he met, saying “Notre Dame is recruiting the right people.” He was enthusiastic in his praise of defensive line coach Al Washington and that’s an understatement. He’s already planning to return to South Bend for not one, but two games in the fall.
Notre Dame will still have to beat out Ohio State and others for Burgess, but the Irish are off to a great start.
Daniel Anderson was thrilled to get back to South Bend after unexpectedly landing an offer from Notre Dame at last month’s Irish Invasion. Without the pressure to impress the coaching staff, Anderson and his family had the chance to dive into the University more answer extremely impressed with what they learned. Anderson and his family have a great understanding of what Notre Dame can do for him long-term. So far, he’s looking at attending games at Notre Dame, Tennessee and Ole Miss this fall.
Bettis Jr. isn’t the only legacy prospect the Irish could land this cycle. 2025 Wisconsin athlete James Flanigan also has Notre Dame in his top group along with Wisconsin, Michigan, Penn State and Stanford. He too seems impressed with the quality of the other prospects Notre Dame is targeting.
The only drawback of Jarquez Carter’s visit was the 2025 Florida defensive tackle’s 20-hour drive to South Bend. The people, the coaches, the academics and the University as a whole really hit home with Carter. It’s not clear when he’ll return, but it is clear he’ll be considering Notre Dame seriously moving forward.
Kansas defensive end Juju Marks picked up an offer during the event and was honored to do so. He got a good feel for the coaching staff in South Bend and enjoyed the visit. He expects to be back for a game in the fall, but admitted he doesn’t know exactly what’s next for him and the Irish.
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