2025 LB Antoine Deslauriers Talks Notre Dame Offer, Sets Official

Antoine Deslauriers‍ has been racking up the offers since coming down to the States…well even before then really.

The 2025 linebacker is from Quebec, but made the move down to Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School in Georgia before this past season.

“I didn't know what to expect when I came down here,” the 6-foot-1, 230-pounder says. “I actually had some offers when I was back home in Canada, because after I committed to Rabun Gap, my coach already started promoting my tape from high school back in Canada. I received a couple offers like Ole Miss, Maryland, UNC and South Carolina.”

Deslauriers has continued to stack up offers from schools like Auburn, Duke, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Missouri, Tennessee, NC State, Florida State among others.

Notre Dame offered a couple weeks back.

“Coach Max Bullough actually came to the school and we had the chance to talk a little bit,” Deslauriers explains. “After about 30 minutes of talking and getting to know each other, he extended me an offer to come play at Notre Dame.

“It's really something special. Being a Canadian football player and making the change to come play in the US, having an opportunity like that to go play at a major program like Notre Dame, I feel privileged to receive that offer and to be recognized by such a big program.

“I definitely came down here in the US to chase that dream and have these types of opportunities.”

Deslauriers isn’t waiting around to dive into the recruiting process with the Irish. On Monday, he spoke to Bullough again along with head coach Marcus Freeman.

“He invited me to an official visit June 7th to June 9th, so I'll be going down there during that time,” he says. “In the meantime, we're trying to figure out a way for me to get down on campus just to visit the facilities and everything.

“I'm definitely looking to meet up with the coaches to see how comfortable I am with them and building that relationship. I believe that that's pretty important in football. Also, the campus I heard was beautiful and the football facilities and everything. I'm really looking forward to meeting all these people and seeing what Notre Dame is about.

He’ll make other visits as well, but doesn’t have anything else set yet.

“I don't know which schools I'll be able to go to just because I'm at a boarding school right now and transportation isn't the easiest thing to manage,” he says. “But my coach is working really, really hard to get us to different campuses that are maybe close to Georgia. I'll try to go to as many schools as possible, but Notre Dame is definitely one of the main ones I'm looking forward to.”

When it comes time to make a final decision, football will be an important factor, but not the only factor.

“I was taught that even if you make it big-time in football to the pros, football doesn't last forever, so you always need to have a plan to fall back on. For me, education and making sure I have my degree and in something I like. Definitely education and the programs they're offering are important to me and my family. Also, more on the football side, meeting with everybody and building relationships; talking with the players who are already there, sharing their experiences, just so I can know what it's like to attend that school. 

“That's pretty much it; education and relationships and having a feel for the place, how comfortable I am on campus and all that.”

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