2026 Edge/LB Cincere Johnson Loves Notre Dame Visit

Notre Dame has been a focus for Cincere Johnson‍ the past couple of weeks.

After announcing South Bend as his first spring visit stop two weeks ago, the 2026 Ohio edge defender announced he’d received an offer from the Irish on Sunday before making that planned visit on Wednesday.

“Everything was great,” said Johnson, who arrived on campus early in the morning. “I loved it.

“I saw their early practice. I was in the meetings and then I obviously went on to tour the campus, things of that nature. I met with different players who go there, met with the coaches, talked football. Looked at some of my film, looked at some of their practice film and just talked football and just talking about the future.”

The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder had the chance to pick Sam Hartman’s brain a bit while the former Irish quarterback was observing practice.

“I asked him about the culture and things of that nature, stuff outside of football that a player has to go through,” Johnson said of Hartman. “I try to look at it more than just football. Don't get me wrong, I love the football aspect and that's the part that I really did enjoy. My favorite part was the practice, if I'm being honest with you. I love the intensity they had, the urgency, the competitiveness they had, just how much they wanted and the fire that they brought. The coaches are some dogs too, don't get me wrong. The coaches were fired up and that had me fired up just watching. 

“I was talking to them and was talking to the players and just the stuff outside of football. They told me, if football is going good, everything's going to be good. And that's how it is with me. I understood that and that's something I liked. That's the place where they want me and that's the place where I can see myself playing at in the future. We talked about that and then we just talked about how it's still early in my recruitment process.”

In addition to Notre Dame, the Glenville High School standout has offers from Kentucky, Cincinnati, Toledo and Central Michigan. 

Johnson said he will “most definitely” return to Notre Dame, possibly for a another practice or a game. 

He has a few more visits on the docket over the next week.

“I go to Ohio State this weekend and then I go to Louisville on Wednesday, next week on the 27th,” he said. “Then I've got Michigan State that weekend on the 30th.”

After Wednesday, Johnson has South Bend on his mind.

“I still have some time ahead of me, but I can see myself in a place where they see me and I loved the visit. It was a great visit. I enjoyed talking to them, meeting with other players and just talking.”

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