Notre Dame Football on the Recruiting Trail | 1.23
Notre Dame’s coaching staff will continue its recruiting push as they’ll focus on hitting the South hard on Tuesday.
All stops should be considered tentative as winter weather hits different areas of the country.
Head Coach Marcus Freeman, Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock and Running Backs Coach Deland McCullough
The trio, along with Al Washington, will make a stop at St. Paul’s High School (Ala.) to check on 2026 linebacker Anthony Jones, who is a complete freak show. The 6-foot-2, 220-pounder was one of Notre Dame’s first offers in 2026, as he was offered last May.
Offers: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Central Florida, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Liberty, LSU, Marshall, Miami, Mississippi State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oregon, South Alabama, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UAB and Vanderbilt
Sophomore Highlights
Freeman and company will end the day at George County High School (Miss.) to watch 2025 quarterback commit Deuce Knight on the hardwood. Knight was in South Bend over the weekend.
Junior Highlights
Quarterbacks Coach Gino Guidugli
As you’d expect, Guidugli will also be at Knight’s hoops game on Tuesday, but he’ll make an important stop before he gets to Mississippi. Guidugli will head to Thompson (Ala.) to check on 2027 quarterback Trent Seaborn.
The 6-foot, 180-pounder made national news as an eighth grader in 2022 as he led Thompson to its fourth straight 7A state title. In the state title game, Seaborn threw for 207 yards and five touchdowns.
As a freshman, Seaborn competed 72 percent of his passes for 2,590 yards and 27 touchdowns.
Offers: Alabama, Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Hawaii, Marshall, Maryland, Nebraska, North Carolina, Northern Colorado, Ole Miss, Oregon, Samford, Troy, UAB and Wisconsin
Freshman Highlights
Wide Receivers Coach Mike Brown
Brown may have the biggest stop of the day as he’ll be at Mandarin High School in Jacksonville to visit 2025 receiver Jaime Ffrench. The composite five-star decommitted from Alabama earlier this month and was at Florida State last weekend. Ffrench did visit Notre Dame last spring and enjoyed his time, but the staff needs to get him back to campus before it’s too late. Prior to his commitment to Alabama, Ffrench did include Notre Dame in his top five with Florida State, Ohio State and Penn State.
Offers: Everyone
Junior Highlights
St. Augustine High School (Fla.) is also expected to have Brown stop by on Tuesday. 2025 receiver Carl Jenkins Jr. has gained some momentum on the recruiting trail after making 60 catches for 1,172 yards and 15 touchdowns in the fall.
Offers: Arkansas, Bethune-Cookman, Bowling Green, Central Florida, UConn, East Carolina, Florida A&M, Indiana, Iowa State, Louisville, Mississippi State, South Florida, Syracuse, Texas A&M, West Virginia, Western Kentucky and Wisconsin
Junior Highlights
Offensive Line Coach Joe Rudolph
Rudolph is expected to do some area recruiting in Virginia.
Defensive Line Coach Al Washington
In addition to checking on Jones, Washington will head to Opelika (Ala.) to visit with 2025 Auburn defensive line commit Malik Autry. The 6-foot-6, 300-pounder has been committed to the Tigers since February, but has taken trips to Florida, Georgia, LSU and Syracuse.
Offers: Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Texas A&M and USC
Junior Highlights
Washington will also head to powerhouse Saraland (Ala.) to spend time with another 2025 Auburn defensive line commit in Antonio Coleman. The four-star prospect committed to Alabama in September, but then flipped his commitment to Auburn in December. Notre Dame offered the 6-foot-2, 280-pounder in May.
Offers: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Austin Peay, Clemson, Florida, Liberty, Marshall, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, NC State, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UAB and USC
Junior Highlights
Cornerbacks Coach Mike Mickens
Mickens will head to Northeast Ohio to see 2025 Shaker Heights cornerback Trey McNutt III. McNutt is an Ohio State legacy, but he’s been to South Bend three times in the last year, including his most recent trip for the USC game. The four-star prospect was in Columbus last weekend and the Buckeyes should be considered the favorite, but the Irish are still making a push.
Offers: Akron, Arizona State, Arkansas, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Eastern Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, South Carolina, Tennessee, Tennessee State, Texas A&M, Toledo, USC, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Junior Highlights
Safeties Coach Chris O’Leary
O’Leary will be in Austin to do area recruiting.
We expected him at Horn High School (Texas) to check on a couple prospects, including 2025 offensive lineman Lamont Rogers, who has a national offer list, but Notre Dame hasn’t offered yet. 2026 safety Markel Ford also holds an impressive offer list and Notre Dame could join the mix.
Rogers Offers: Alabama, Auburn, Baylor, BYU, Cal, Florida, Florida State, Houston, Kansas, LSU, Memphis, Michigan, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Penn State, Purdue, SMU, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas State, Texas Tech, USC, UTSA and Washington
Ford Offers: Arizona State, Arkansas, Auburn, Baylor, Grambling, LSU, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Oregon State, Purdue, SMU, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas State, USC, Utah and UTSA
Rogers Junior Highlights
Ford Sophomore Highlights
O’Leary is also expected at powerhouse Lake Travis High School. 2025 defensive lineman Gustavo Cordova is a name he will likely check on as the 6-foot-5, 250-pounder also holds a national offer list.
Offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, Cal, Georgia Tech, Kansas, Maryland, Miami, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Pitt, SMU, TCU, Texas, Texas A&M, UTSA and Wisconsin
Junior Highlights
Special Teams Coordinator Marty Biagi
Biagi will be in Brian Kelly country as he’ll be across the street from LSU’s campus on Tuesday to check on 2026 University Lab (La.) offensive lineman Lamar Brown. The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder is a composite five-star prospect and attends the same high school as current Notre Dame linebacker Jaiden Ausberry.
Offers: Alabama, Colorado, Florida A&M, Florida State, Georgia, Grambling, Houston, LSU, Miami, Ole Miss, Southern, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Tulane
Sophomore Highlights
Another expected stop for Biagi will be 10 minutes down the road at Catholic High School to check on 2026 safety Blaine Bradford. The four-star prospect camped at Notre Dame in summer after earning an offer in May. Bradford also has a tie to Ausberry as they are cousins.
Offers: Arkansas, Baylor, Colorado, Florida State, Georgia, Houston, LSU, Marshall, Mississippi State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Stanford, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Tulane, USC and Vanderbilt
Sophomore Highlights
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