2025 LB Gavin Nix Goes In-Depth On Notre Dame Visit

Gavin Nix‍ loves football, but he’d heard plenty about football leading up to his return visit to Notre Dame on Monday. 

The 2025 IMG Academy wanted to learn about more than football on Monday.

“The last time I went, I saw some of the school, but I wasn't able to meet with their head of school; seeing his vision, how he is with the guys, how he helps the guys who come in struggling, where he's trying to get them to go as far as life after football,” he said. 

And he certainly did that during his meeting with Adam Sargent, Associate Director of Academic Services for Student-Athletes.

“That was a huge thing,” Nix explained. “That's probably what stood out the most. Mr Sarge, who's overall head of school for football, he's legit. 

“My main focal point was life after football. That was the main thing. I was able to talk a lot with the head of school about that and the GM, Chad Bowden. That's the big thing that I wanted to see. I've been talking football, shoot, since they recruited me, so I wanted to see is the 4 For 40 at Notre Dame really legit? So I was really able to hone on that.”

Nix found out the 4 For 40 is in fact legit.

“Man, it was great,” he said. “It's not easy going to a place like Notre Dame. So the guys who make that decision are really setting themselves up for the next 40 years of their life. I think that's really what sets Notre Dame apart from a lot of other schools. 

“You get the best of both worlds; being able to invest and develop yourself as an athlete and still to try to pursue a dream, but also still having that safety net, knowing that the ball can go flat any day and knowing that you get a degree from Notre Dame and be a part of that alumni network, man, you're going to be set for life. So my impression of it is it's phenomenal.”

Nix, who visited last year, was impressed with all the people he met.

“They were great, man. I loved it,” he said. “Everybody showed me great hospitality.”

“Even just random people. We ran into a couple just random people on campus, man, super nice, genuine people.”

Nix had a chance to speak with sophomore linebacker Drayk Bowen briefly and was able to watch freshman linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa during practice.

“What they've been doing with him, his trajectory; he just got there and he’s going to be a for-sure player,” Nix said of Viliamu-Asa. “It's just a testimony of showing if you come in there and do what you need to do and take care of business, everything will take care of itself. That meant a lot to see a freshman coming in there and doing what he's doing at such a hard place at a hard level like that. 

“That was good . Overall man, they're just super nice people, whether it's people in the program or just people on campus visiting or just regular students. It was pretty dope to experience.”

Nix’s mother wasn’t able to make the trip this time, so he’s considering coming back on an official visit soon so she can see it. 

Next up are unofficial visits to Ohio State, Louisville, UCF, Oregon and Miami before locking in official visits.

Nix expects to make a commitment this summer. 

It’s clear Notre Dame put itself in a very strong position with Nix.

“It was great. I loved it. It was one of my favorite visits for sure.”

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