2025 Prospect James Flanigan Enjoys Notre Dame Return

James Flanigan‍ has plenty of time before he needs to make a decision, but with his own season approaching, the 2025 Wisconsin tight end used last week to really dive into some of the programs he’s most serious about.

Flanigan made trips to Penn State, Michigan, Stanford and Notre Dame. He’s also seriously considering the in-state Badgers.

He’d already been to South Bend multiple times this year and once again enjoyed himself during Sunday’s Grill & Chill event.

“It went pretty good,” Flanigan told Irish Sports Daily. “It was fun. I met a lot of other recruits this time and we just all pretty much hung out and had a good time.

“I feel like I fit in good. I met another recruit from Wisconsin, Owen Strebig. It was our first time talking today. I talked with Jerome Bettis Jr. a little bit too, and then a couple other guys. It was fun.”

Like Bettis Jr., Flanigan is the son of an Irish great, former linebacker Jim Flanigan.

“It definitely means a lot because you grow up, you always hear about how he played there and went to school there,” Flanigan said of having an offer from his father’s alma mater.

“To be able to have that opportunity as well goes a long way.”

Flanigan had the opportunity to eat lunch with Irish tight ends coach/offensive coordinator Gerad Parker as well as quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli on Sunday. 

“It was good,” he said. “We talked and caught up and everything.

“They said they really want me to go there because I'm that person that fits as a player and student at Notre Dame.”

Flanigan also enjoyed the other visits he made last week.

“I was pretty much the only one there, so I got a good look at all the places, meeting some of the coaches for the first time,” he said.

“I got around pretty much everywhere this week that I wanted to go to. Now, it's just focusing on my high school season and not worrying about too much until after the season if possible.”

He does intend to make game visits this fall and is already eyeing the Ohio State and USC games as potential dates to return to South Bend. He also expects to hit games at Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan and Stanford.

Notre Dame is certainly a school he’ll be considering seriously when decision time comes.

“It's a great school with great tradition, so it's definitely going to be hard when it comes down to it picking between anywhere. So I'm just going to give it some more time. I think I'm in a good spot right now.”

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