2025 DE Commit CJ May Visits, Notre Dame Returns Favor
CJ May made his first trip back to South Bend since committing to Notre Dame in the fall and enjoyed his return.
“It was fun,” the 2025 Alabama defensive end told Irish Sports Daily. “I had a great time with the coaching staff and everybody. It was just a fun weekend overall.
“I got to see a lot. We went through campus and went around. I got to hang out with my future teammates. We just got to play in the snow. That's the first time I've ever seen snow. It was a pretty fun time for me and my family because that's the first time we've ever been that far North during this time of the year. I thought it was pretty cool for me and my family to get to experience something different.”
The Highland Home High School standout particularly enjoyed spending time with his future teammates.
“I think it's important for team bonding, just building that chemistry with each other; go ahead and create that brother-like bond early, so when we're on campus in December, whenever that time comes around, we're not all strangers to each other,” he said.
“I think it's pretty important to go ahead and start building that bond and getting to know each other like brothers.”
He also felt it was important to spend time with the uncommitted targets on campus.
“We were talking to Jack Lange and all the other guys I was talking to the other guys trying to get Owen Strebig, Jerome Bettis Jr., talking them up, telling them how committing to Notre Dame would change a lot for them,” he recalled. “I just think it's best for them and best for us to try to get uncommitted guys in there with us because we're trying to grow the class that we have going right now.”
The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder had a good meeting with Irish defensive line coach Al Washington as well.
“He came down to one of my playoff games last year and he got the film and broke it down for me,” May explained. “We sat there and went through it and just got a deep understanding on how he could coach me up on things I could do better and things I do great.
“We just had a good little meeting about me as a player and him trying to coach me up in the future.”
May downplayed a recent unofficial visit to Auburn.
“Honestly, I really wasn't going there for a recruiting visit,” he said. “My cousin plays football up there and I don't really get to see him as much anymore with him playing football. It was a free opportunity to watch an SEC basketball game.
“I kind of avoided the coaches, talking with staff and the coaches because I don't want to waste their time or give them hopes of me trying to come there because I really like why I'm at right now and don't want to entertain anything else.
May isn’t sure when he’ll be back in South Bend, but Washington, Marcus Freeman, Mike Denbrock and Deland McCullough took in his basketball game on Monday night.
Want the latest scoop on the Fighting Irish? Sign up for our newsletter and become an ISD Premium Subscriber: Sign Up for ISD
Under Armour White Notre Dame Fighting Irish HOVR Phantom 3 Running Shoes
