Coach | 2025 Notre Dame LB Target Noah Mikhail Is One Of A Kind
Even when he was a freshman playing cornerback at Bonita (Calif.) High School, there were some who could project what Noah Mikhail would ultimately be.
“You're not going to start at cornerback unless you've got some hips and speed and athleticism,” Bonita head coach Steve Bogan says. “That very year, (Arizona assistant coach) DeWayne Walker just looked at me and said, ‘Don't be surprised if you see him on his hand someday.’”
Indeed, Mikhail has grown into a 6-foot-3, 220-pounder who is used all over Bonita’s defense, lining up linebacker, safety and edge rusher on defense while also seeing time at running back and receiver on offense.
“He was wiry, athletic but very talented and he just slowly filled in, filled in and just kept improving,” says Bogan, who compares Mikhail to the best player on a Little League Baseball team who fits in wherever he is needed.
“Noah's one of those guys. He is the guy who plugs the hole in the dam. If we need a guy coming off the edge.”
Bonita’s co-head coach Bo Beatty runs the defense.
“I get the joy of just mostly doing offense,” Bogan says. “Coach Beatty, he’s kind of the lead guy, he'll bring him off the edge or keep him at middle linebacker. He will move him anywhere and everywhere to stop the trouble and he does.
“That kind of says something about him; he doesn't feel uncomfortable at any position. Maybe the only one he would be at d-tackle because he hasn't done that yet.”
Mikhail also checks the boxes off the field, according to Bogan.
“Unbelievable family, just great integrity and character, all that stuff,” he says. “Just a flat out, good person and he's also 6-3 and 220 pounds, so that gives you a special recruit.”
Over the past couple of years, Mikhail has earned offers from schools like Notre Dame, USC, UCLA, Stanford, Oregon, Washington, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Ohio State, Michigan, Georgia, Florida and Alabama among others.
“I've never had a kid get recruited this hard and I've had kids who played Washington, USC, UCLA, Oregon State, a number of places,” says Bogan. “No one has gotten the recruiting attention that this guy has. It's been at a special level and it goes to the fact that he is just that talented.”
Mikhail has already been to South Bend multiple times and will be back April 3rd.
“Notre Dame is a place that is looking for that type of athlete,” says Bogan. “My gut, just from talking to the coaches, they're not going to bring in a super talented knucklehead. It's not happening.
“Notre Dame has that reputation and that rightly is attractive to him.”
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