2025 Vyper Target Dom Hulak Recaps Notre Dame Stop

Dom Hulak‍ had visited Notre Dame multiple times this year, but the 2025 Illinois defender’s trip back to South Bend earlier this month was his first gameday visit.

“Everything went awesome,” Hulak told Irish Sports Daily. “I loved it. It was awesome.

“Just being able to see the energy and stadium and all the coaches and how they coach their players during warmups and seeing how they have developed them. And then, to be able to stop that Top 10 team, USC, really just stopping their offense was amazing.

Hulak had opportunities to speak with several Irish staffers, including Marcus Freeman, Al Washington and Chad Bowden both before and after the game.

“All of them are pushing for me to commit,” Hulak said. “I talked to Chad (last week) and he wants me. I talked to Coach Washington. I'm close with pretty much everybody there. I know they want me there. And I know based off what I heard, my parents want me there too. I know it's going to be a hard decision.”

He’s just OK with the pressure being applied on him to pull the trigger. In fact, he’s flattered by it.

“It shows that they really have interest in me,” he said. “I don't want to say no, but at the same time, I can't say yes just because of other schools too.”

The Irish are recruiting the 6-foot-3, 235-pounder as a Vyper candidate. His offer sheet also includes schools like Wisconsin, Purdue, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Louisville among others.

He’s already made trips to Illinois and Iowa this fall. He’ll hit Wisconsin later this week and Purdue next month. 

After that, Hulak isn’t really sure.

“I have slowly narrowed down what I'm looking at,” he acknowledged. “Hopefully, I'll have a timeline by the end of the season.”

Either way, the Irish remain toward the top of his list.

“I love Notre Dame, especially having that close connection with all those coaches. It's definitely something special that I have built with them. It's just a way that I see them and not everybody else that I've talked to, other colleges and other coaches, which really is just special and the place is awesome.”

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