2025 CB Chuck McDonald III Enjoys Special Visit, Moment At Notre Dame
It was a memorable trip for Chuck McDonald III and one the 2025 California cornerback hopes to do again soon.
“Everything was good,” McDonald said of his visit to Notre Dame this weekend. “It was great. I liked everything. I toured the campus, went to the stadium.”
Notre Dame Director of Recruiting Dre Brown took the Mater Dei standout around to see all of the sites.
“Campus was great,” McDonald said. “We got to see everything.
“It was great. And then we went to the stadium, went into the locker room and it was great. Everything was great.”
One touching moment was at the Grotto, where the Irish made sure to honor McDonald’s mother.
“My mom passed away a couple months ago,” McDonald said. “They made it special. We went to the Grotto and we lit a candle for her. They made a tag for tag and they said, 'She's going to be with us on this visit.'
“It was great. I really appreciate what they did for her.”
In addition to Brown, McDonald spent time with several members of the staff, including head coach Marcus Freeman.
“He was just basically talking about the benefits of Notre Dame, how that degree is second to none and how I'm a top priority for them,” McDonald said. “It was great talking to him.
“It felt great to hear because he's a great head coach. Notre Dame is a great program, so it was really great to hear that from him.”
He also had a “great” conversation with defensive backs coach Mike Mickens.
“Coach Mickens, he's been recruiting me for over a year now, so we've built a great relationship,” McDonald explained. “It was just great finally getting up there and just getting to talk to him about everything they do, what coverages they run and everything. It was just great.”
McDonald also enjoyed speaking with defensive coordinator Al Golden.
“I asked him a few questions on how he thinks I'd fit in their defense, what coverages they run and everything like that,” he said. “It was just great talking to him too.
“They have a great scheme. They run an NFL scheme and most of the time they play with five DBs on the field and on third down, they run six DBs on the field. So he just basically told me that there's a lot of opportunity for me coming into their program to play early.”
McDonald will head to LSU and Georgia for visits next week, but said he will return to South Bend.
“I'm definitely coming back,” he said. “I've just got a plan a day for the official visit, but I'll be back down here.
“They showed me a lot when I came today, but I just want to just see it another time, have more time to get up there to see everything and do everything.”
