Notre Dame Coaches Hitting the Recruiting Trail | 1.17
Notre Dame’s coaching staff will continue an aggressive push this week as the Irish staff will once again be coast-to-coast on Wednesday.
Head coach Marcus Freeman and Cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens
Freeman and Mickens will remain in California on Wednesday as both will attend the funeral of Nilka Mickey, the mother of Notre Dame cornerback Jaden Mickey.
They will also do some recruiting on Wednesday and one stop will be at Bonita High School to visit with 2025 linebacker Noah Mikhail. Irish defensive coordinator Al Golden was at the high school late last week, so it’s clear Notre Dame is making a push for the four-star linebacker.
Mikhail has visited Notre Dame a couple times now and is very familiar with what the Irish have to offer at this point.
Offers: Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Boise State, Boston College, Cal, Colorado, Colorado State, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Houston Christian, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Nevada, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, San Diego State, San Jose State, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, UNLV, USC, Utah, Washington and Washington State
Junior Highlights
Both coaches will also make a stop by Newbury Park High School to watch 2026 quarterback Brady Smigiel throw. The 6-foot-5, 205-pounder will visit Notre Dame this weekend for the first time and it’s a visit he’s been looking forward to since being offered last spring.
Smigiel threw for 4,235 yards and 52 touchdowns in 2023.
Offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Boston College, Colorado, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Pitt, San Diego State, San Jose State, UCLA, UNLV, Utah and Virginia Tech
Sophomore Highlights
Freeman and Mickens will end the day in Las Vegas to do some area recruiting.
Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock, Quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli & Receivers coach Mike Brown
Denbrock and Guidguli will also be at Smiegel’s throwing session a day after they watched 2026 quarterbacks Ryder Lyons and Troy Huhn throw.
They will also make a stop to check in with 2025 Oaks Christian defensive end Hayden Lowe, who added an offer from the Irish in May.
Offers: Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Boston College, Cal, Louisville, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oregon State, Pitt, San Diego State, Syracuse, Texas, Utah and Washington
Junior Highlights
Running backs coach Deland McCullough
McCullough will remain in St. Louis to continue his area recruiting on Wednesday.
Offensive Line coach Joe Rudolph
Rudolph will be in Eastern Pennsylvania on Wednesday to check on a few 2026 prospects. One prospect to watch will be Harrisburg offensive lineman Kevin Brown. The 6-foot-5, 265-pounder holds six early Power Five offers.
Offers: Boston College, Iowa State, Kent State, Penn State, Pitt, Syracuse, Temple, UNLV and West Virginia
Sophomore Highlights
It also wouldn’t be a shock to see Rudolph make a stop at Trinity High School as it's the home of 2026 Penn State running back commit Messiah Mickens.
Defensive Coordinator Al Golden
Golden will have a busy day on the East Coast as he’ll make several key stops to see top 2025 targets.
Bergen Catholic (N.J.) has been kind to the Notre Dame program throughout the years and Golden will stop in on Wednesday. 2025 receiver Quincy Porter has been a long-time target for the Irish and made a visit last spring for practice. Look for Notre Dame to try to get him back on campus sooner than later.
Offers: Akron, Alabama, Boston College, Charlotte, Duke, East Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Marshall, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Junior Highlights
Two other names to watch at Bergen Catholic are 2026 athlete Jordan Thomas and 2026 defensive lineman Jermaine Kinsler.
Thomas Offers: Akron, Boston College, Central Michigan, Duke, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Penn State, Pitt, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee and Virginia Tech
Kinsler Offers: Boston College, Central Michigan, Florida, Florida A&M, Marshall, Maryland, Miami, Michigan State, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, South Florida, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Western Kentucky
Thomas Sophomore Highlights
Kinsler Sophomore Highlights
2025 St. Joseph Regional (N.J.) cornerback Jahmir Joseph was offered back on Pot of Gold Day, but he hasn’t shown up in South Bend yet. Golden is also expected to drop by to check on him.
We expect Golden to swing by St. Joseph’s Prep (Pa.) to visit with 2025 linebacker Anthony Sacca. The Irish appear to be very much in the race to land the four-star prospect at this point in his recruitment.
Offers: UConn, Florida State, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, south Carolina, Syracuse, Temple, Tennessee, Texas A&M, USC, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Junior Highlights
Golden will also see 2025 Cheltenham (Pa.) defensive lineman Sharlandiin Strange on Wednesday. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder was offered last spring and has spoken highly of the Irish program, but has not made it to campus.
Defensive Line Coach Al Washington
It’s a big day for Washington as he’ll make a stop by Maury High School (Va.) to visit with one of the nation’s top edge rushers in Ari Watford. The Irish offered early, but Watford has not visited to date. The four-star prospect currently holds a top six of Clemson, Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina, Syracuse and Virginia Tech. Watford is expected to make visits to Clemson and Penn State in the coming weeks.
Junior Highlights
Washington is also expected to swing by Warwick High School (Va.), which is the home of 2025 safety Messiah Delhomme. Notre Dame hasn’t offered, but if an offer goes at some point, it wouldn’t be a surprise as he’s a top prospect.
Offers: Alabama, Auburn, Boston College, Charlotte, Duke, East Carolina, Florida State, James Madison, Kentucky, Liberty, Maryland, Michigan, NC State, Ohio State, Old Dominion, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia
Huguenot High School (Va.) will also host Washington. 2025 defensive end Samuel Cohen was offered early by the Irish and 2026 athlete Markel Dabney is quietly building an impressive offer list.
Safeties Coach Chris O’Leary
O’Leary will be in Tampa to do some area recruiting on Wednesday. One stop will be to Berkeley Prep to check in with 2025 athlete Dallas Golden. Golden is a top priority for the Irish and he’ll be back on campus this weekend for Junior Day.
Offers: Alabama, Auburn, Boston College, Central Florida, Cincinnati, Clemson, Colorado, Duke, Florida, Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic, Florida State, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Middle Tennessee State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, South Florida, Tennessee, Tennessee Martin, Texas A&M, USC, West Virginia, Western Michigan and Wisconsin
Junior Highlights
Special Teams Coordinator Marty Biagi
Biagi will continue to do area recruiting in New Jersey and Delaware on Wednesday.
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