Notre Dame Weekend Recruiting Preview | 2025 LB, DB Prospects
Saturday’s game against Ohio State isn’t just the biggest game on Notre Dame’s schedule this season, it also represents the biggest recruiting event for the Irish this season.
Notre Dame will be hosting dozens of prospects from across the country in multiple classes for the primetime atmosphere.
Here’s a look at some of the top linebacker and defensive back prospects with Irish offers who are expected to be in attendance.
2025 Nebraska LB Christian Jones
The challenge is clear here. It’s going to be difficult to beat the in-state Huskers, but Notre Dame would seem to be on the list of schools with a shot.
Jones has never visited South Bend, but he’s been recruited by the Irish for a long time and has show interest throughout.
He’s teammates and friends with 2024 Irish linebacker Teddy Rezac. We get the sense Jones is coming into the visit with an open mind, but Notre Dame’s best chance could be impacted by how Nebraska looks the rest of this season.
2025 California LB Marco Jones
Since he was offered back, the Irish have made it clear that Jones is a priority for them.
He’s already formed great relationships with the Notre Dame coaching staff, especially Al Golden, Max Bullough and Caleb Davis.
“Coach Golden, he’s a defensive genius,” Jones told ISD last week. “I’ve talked to him a good amount. It’s the same with Coach Bullough and Coach Caleb Davis.”
Jones has already visited Cal this season and has plans to go to Washington and USC as well.
“I’m just keeping my options open as long as I can,” said Jones. “I’m just trying to see where home is going to be. It’s hard to make decisions when you haven’t really gotten to see places. I really want to make my visits and get this whole experience because you only get it one time.”
2025 Pennsylvania LB/S Anthony Sacca
One of the very first prospects in the Class of 2025 to land on Notre Dame’s radar, Sacca was on campus in April for the Blue-Gold Gam. He’ll be back in town this weekend.
He seems to be a true fit for Notre Dame, but would also be a fit at a lot of places.
His father, Tony, played quarterback at Penn State and the Nittany Lions have long been considered by many to be the favorites here. Of course, Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden and his father were teammates in Happy Valley, so there’s a Notre Dame connection there as well.
Ohio State is also high on the list and is the only visit Sacca made this summer.
Sacca seems very comfortable with the process and doesn’t appear to be in any sort of rush to make a decision or even the need to knock out a ton of quick visits.
2025 Georgia CB Devin Williams
Notre Dame hasn’t had a ton of success recruiting Buford High School since the Irish landed running back Darius Walker 20 years ago, but the school has a ton of respect for the University and anytime Notre Dame offers one of its players, the Buford coaching staff is quick to explain the importance of that offer.
Williams camped at Notre Dame in June and loved everything about it. He called the visit “amazing” and it’s obvious the staff has made strong impressions led by Mike Mickens and Dre Brown.
Williams is an elite-level prospect and landing him will mean beating out schools like Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M among others.
2025 Indiana CB Mark Zackery IV
Zackery exploded on the national radar during the offseason, going from a legit Power Five prospect to elite, top-of-the-board prospect for several high major programs. His interest in the Irish is legit and has been to campus multiple times already, including for last season’s Clemson game.
“I feel like it's going to be great,” Zackery told ISD this week. “The Clemson game was a big game last year, so me being one of the top targets for them and getting an invite to this game means a lot. I feel like the environment is going to be super as well. I know they're wearing the all green Jersey, so it's going to be super hyped.”
Zackery acknowledged that seeing two schools that are going after him go head-to-head will help him with his decision.
“Definitely,” he said. “It shows where the team is against the other big teams in the country, so just evaluating these big-time games. I'm being recruited by Ohio State and Notre Dame, giving me a great feel of what both the schools have to offer and seeing how they play against each other.”
Notre Dame checks a lot of boxes for Zackery, including academics and trust in his potential coaches, Mike Mickens and Marcus Freeman, who he talks with weekly.
Zackery was at Cincinnati last week and Georgia two weeks ago. He’s planning to be at Ohio State, Tennessee, Purdue and Michigan later this season. He’s also receiving serious interest from schools like Florida, Florida State and LSU.
2025 North Carolina S JaDon Blair
After being offered in March, Blair visited Notre Dame in July for the Grill & Chill event. He came into the event with extremely high expectations and those were exceeded.
He is extremely excited about returning for Saturday’s game against Ohio State.
“I just feel like it's going to be electric,” Blair told ISD this week. “It's a Green Out. I've never been to a Green Out. We’ve all seen the white out before, but it's just something new that I want to experience.”
Blair is clearly a priority for Marcus Freeman and Chris O’Leary this cycle.
“The coaches, they've been contacting me every day,” Blair said. “Every day. It's either a text or a call.”
Blair visited Penn State, North Carolina and Virginia Tech already this season.
He’ll see the Irish next weekend as well when he visits Duke.
2025 Connecticut S Ethan Long
Long has visited Notre Dame multiple times dating back to when his cousin, Austin Webster, was a walk-on captain for the Irish six years ago. Long camped in South Bend in June and returned for Grill & Chill.
He’s an obvious fit both on and off the field for Notre Dame and is one prospect we could see pulling the trigger for the Irish relatively soon. Marcus Freeman and Chris O’Leary have done tremendous jobs here.
Long visited Penn State at the start of this month, but doesn’t have anything else scheduled afterward.
Long is close friends with his Brunswick School teammate and Irish offensive line target Matty Augustine who will also be in town this weekend. The two have never been shy in expressing interest in playing together at the next level with Notre Dame seeming to be the school with the most obvious overlap on their current lists.
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