Notre Dame Coaches Hitting the Recruiting Trail | 1.16
Notre Dame welcomed its early enrollees and transfers over the weekend, but now it’s time for the Irish staff to hit the recruiting grind.
On Tuesday, Notre Dame’s staff will truly be coast to coast as they look to evaluate prospects in the 2025 and 2026 classes.
One notable change for this recruiting period is coaches can now meet with 2025 prospects as the NCAA made a change to the recruiting calendar. This recruiting period is now a contact period for juniors at their respective high schools.
Head Coach Marcus Freeman, Receivers Coach Mike Brown & Cornerbacks Coach Mike Mickens
It’s a big day for this trio as they’ll make stops at several California powerhouses. 2026 Folsom (Calif.) quarterback Ryder Lyons will have the staff check on him. Notre Dame offered Lyons at the end of August and it appears to be a smart move. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder threw for 3,578 yards and 38 touchdowns while rushing for 929 yards and 23 more scores as a sophomore. And yes, Lyons attends the same high school as former Notre Dame receiver Rico Flores Jr.
St. John Bosco, Mater Dei and JSerra Catholic will get visits from Freeman, Brown and Mickens on Tuesday.
As you’d expect, Bosco is loaded with underclassmen, but expect Notre Dame to get a good feel for 2025 receiver Kamryn Jones. The 6-foot-3, 180-pounder isn’t the highest-ranked receiver in the class, yet he has one of the better offer lists. Notre Dame hasn’t offered, but it wouldn’t come as a surprise to see the Irish join the mix at some point. Jones also impressed at the National Combine last week.
Offers: Boston College, Cal, Cincinnati, Colorado State, Georgia, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oregon, San Diego State, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech and Washington
Notre Dame has already offered 2026 St. John Bosco receiver Madden Williams, so expected the Irish to check on him. Williams was named All-Trinity League as a sophomore after making 42 receptions for 496 yards and five touchdowns. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder holds offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Cali, Campbell, Charlotte, Colorado State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Oregon, San Diego State, Stanford, Texas, UNLV and Washington
Sophomore Highlights
A couple other names to Notre Dame will likely check on: 2025 Arizona State offensive line commit Matai Jefferson, 2025 defensive end Epi Sitanilei, 2026 defensive end Dutch Horisk and 2026 Arkansas athlete commit Tay Lockett, who holds over 40 offers.
Surprise, surprise, Mater Dei is also stacked with talent. The Irish have already offered elite 2025 edge rusher Nasir Wyatt, 2025 cornerback Daryus Dixson, 2025 running back Jordon Davison, 2025 linebacker Abduall Sanders Jr. and 2025 cornerback Chuck McDonald III.
2025 receiver Marcus Harris doesn’t hold an offer from the Irish, but he’s another one to watch as Mike Brown makes his evaluations. He holds close to 30 offers, which include Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Miami, Michigan, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Utah and Washington.
In the class of 2026, Kayden Dixon-Wyatt has a chance to be a big-time prospect while 2026 defensive lineman Tomuhini Topui already holds a big-time offer list.
Harris Junior Highlights
Dixon-Wyatt Sophomore Highlights
J Serra Catholic is home to 2025 linebacker Madden Faraimo, who was offered last winter and made a stop in South Bend over the summer. Faraimo gave the visit rave reviews, so it’s likely the staff makes a push to get him back on campus sooner rather than later.
Offers: Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Cal, Colorado, Miami, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, San Diego State, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, USC, Utah and Washington
Junior Mid-Season Highlights
Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock & Quarterbacks Coach Gino Guidugli
Denbrock and Guidugli will also be at Folsom High School to check on Lyons, but they’ll make a stop at Mission Hills (Calif.) to watch 2026 quarterback Troy Huhn throw. The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder holds early offers from Arizona, Cal, Central Florida, Nebraska, Penn State, San Diego State, Texas A&M and Virginia Tech. Huhn threw for 1,623 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2023.
Huhn Sophomore Highlights
Running Backs Coach Deland McCullough
McCullough will be back in the familiar grounds of St. Louis to do some area recruiting. One of the top running backs in the area is 2025 Cardinal Ritter (Mo.) star Jamarion Parker, who committed to Arkansas in September.
Another visit McCullough will likely make is to Eureka High School to see 2025 offensive lineman Jack Lange, who will be back at Notre Dame this weekend for Junior Day.
Lange Offers: Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Washington and Wisconsin
Lange Junior Highlights
Offensive Line Coach Joe Rudolph
The Northeast will host Rudolph and you guessed it, he’ll make a stop to see 2025 offensive line commit Will Black. He’ll make a stop at the Brunswick School (Conn.) to visit with 2025 safety commit Ethan Long and his teammate 2025 offensive lineman Matty Augustine, who is a priority for the Irish.
Augustine still holds a three-star ranking, but it’s clear colleges think much higher of him than the national recruiting services.
Offers: Alabama, Boston College, UConn, Duke, Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Liberty, Maryland, UMass, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn, Penn State, Pitt, South Carolina, Syracuse, Temple, Tennessee, Texas A&M, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Wisconsin
Augustine Junior Highlights
Rudolph will also make a stop at St. Sebastian's (Mass.) to check on rising 2026 offensive lineman Marky Walbridge. The 6-foot-6, 270-pounder holds offers from Boston College, UConn, UMass, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Temple, Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin. It wouldn’t be a shocker to see Notre Dame get involved here.
Sophomore Highlights
Defensive Coordinator Al Golden
Golden will be in New Jersey on Tuesday to do some area recruiting.
Defensive Line Coach Al Washington
Washington will be in Indianapolis to visit with 2025 Warren Central (Ind.) defensive end Damien Shanklin, who is a big-time priority. The four-star edge rusher will be back on campus this weekend for Junior Day, so it’s telling Washington is also making sure he sees Shanklin the same week.
Shanklin has started to approach the freaky category as he’s put on good weight and really grown into his frame over the last few months.
Offers: Ball State, Cincinnati, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Jackson State, Kansas, Louisville, Marshall, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Missouri, Notre Dame, Purdue, Rutgers, Tennessee, Texas, Toledo, USC, West Virginia and Western Michigan
Junior Highlights
Safeties Coach Chris O’Leary
Winter Garden High School (Fla.) will host O’Leary on Tuesday as he’ll visit with 2025 Notre Dame safety commit Ivan Taylor. The four-star prospect will then return the favor by attending Junior Day this weekend.
Junior Highlights
Special Teams Coordinator Marty Biagi
New Jersey will also host Biagi for several Tuesday visits. One stop we expect Biagi to make is by Donovan Catholic to see 2025 receiver Michael Thomas III. The 6-foot, 190-pounder is quietly racking up the offers. Thomas caught 38 passes for 458 yards and five touchdowns, while also rushing for 341 yards and four scores in 2023.
Offers: Boston College, UConn, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Junior Highlights
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