2025 DE Israel Oladipupo Enjoys Notre Dame Return

After impressing at Notre Dame’s camp in June, Israel Oladipupo‍ was invited back for the Irish’s Grill & Chill last month.

“Everything went perfect,” the 2025 Indiana defensive end told Irish Sports Daily. “The visit was fun.”

The Noblesville High School standout enjoyed the fun, but competitive games, set up for the recruits at the start of the day.

“We were able to all partner up together and then talk to each other, figure out where everybody else is from and all that,” he said. “We were basically able to interact with each other. Everybody in my group, we got our socials together, we got each other's Instagram and all that.

“After that, we did a little tour off the campus. They took us to the Basilica and all that and then we went back to the stadium where we had a little grilling challenge.”

Oladipupo was proud of the meal his group prepared even if they didn’t win.

“Personally, I feel like my team got snubbed, but hey, it is what it is,” he laughed.

He also had the chance to team up with Notre Dame defensive line assistant Nick Sebastian during the Water Balloon Toss Challenge.

“We made a pretty good duo,” Oladipupo said.

His family was very impressed with the tour.

“They were all fascinated,” he said. “When we walked into the Basilica, they were just like, 'Wow!' They didn't expect that.

“If you look at the Basilica from the outside, you can't really guess what is on the inside, so when we walked in, they were just caught off-guard. They were just amazed.”

Irish head coach Marcus Freeman focused on academics during his address to the entire group.

“He was talking about what a Notre Dame degree can actually do for somebody,” Oladipupo said. “Basically, a Notre Dame degree can set somebody up for life.

“I took it as basically you spending four years at Notre Dame and that diploma, that degree can set you up for 40 years-plus.”

Oladipupo has offers from Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Ball State and Bowling Green and didn’t feel out of place among the group with dozens of Power-Five offers.

“They're all like four-stars, three-stars and I'm a no-star, but they felt like people I can be around with,” he said.

He also appreciated the chance to reconnect with Irish defensive line coach Al Washington.

“He talked with me and my family,” Oladipupo said. “He was able to tell my dad how well I did at the camp earlier in June and that's why I got back over there.

“He told me to just keep working, that my grades are good, just keep working.”

The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder has already started preseason camp and Washington encouraged him to do his best this season.

“He just told me to keep grinding,” Oladipupo said. “He's going to try to get me back on campus, so I'm looking forward to getting back to Notre Dame for a game day.

“He just told me to go out there, do my thing. He knows I can ball, so I'm pretty sure that's the only thing they're looking for now.”

Oladipupo is looking forward to hitting games at Notre Dame, Purdue, Indiana, Miami-Ohio and “any other school that wants me to come to a game.”

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