Making Moves | Notre Dame Football on the Recruiting Trail 5.9
Notre Dame’s coaching staff will make several key stops to see 2025 prospects and check on underclassmen on Thursday.
Housekeeping Notes for the Spring Evaluation Period
- Head coaches can’t be on the road during this period, which means Marcus Freeman won’t be on the road.
- Coaches are allowed to talk to 2025 prospects at their schools.
- Coaches are not allowed to talk to 2026, 2027, etc. prospects in person.
- Colleges are only allowed one stop at the same high school during this period, which is new as the previous rule had been two visits during the spring.
Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock and Receivers Coach Mike Brown
DePaul Catholic (N.J.) is expected to have Denbrock and Brown drop by to visit with 2025 Notre Dame receiver commit Elijah Burress. The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder has visited South Bend twice this offseason and has become a glue guy behind the scenes for the class.
ISD’s Christian McCullough caught up with Burress on Sunday following the Under Armour camp in New Jersey.
2025 Notre Dame WR Commit Elijah Burress Shows Out At Under Armour NJ
Junior Highlights
Quarterbacks Coach Gino Guidugli
Guidugli will continue his West Coast trip on Thursday as he’ll check on a couple underclassmen. Mission Hills High School (Calif.) is one stop we expect from him as its the home of 2026 quarterback Troy Huhn. The four-star prospect visited Notre Dame this spring for the first time and it seemed to leave a lasting impression. Huhn also visited Clemson, Michigan, Ohio State, Penn State and Texas this spring.
We had Mike Brown making a stop at Mount Miguel High School (Calif.) a few weeks ago, but that didn’t happen. Guidugli is expected to make the trip on Thursday to check on 2026 receiver target Brandon Arrington. The four-star speedster ran 10.46 in the 100m last week and is one of the most explosive athletes in the country.
Huhn Offers: Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, UCF, Florida State, Kansas State, Louisville, LSU, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, SDSU, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA and Virginia Tech
Arrington Offers: Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas State, BYU, Cal, Central Michigan, Hawaii, Michigan, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Oregon State, Penn State, Sacramento State, SDSU, SJSU, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Utah, Washington and Washington State
Huhn Sophomore Highlights
Arrington Sophomore Highlights
Running Backs Coach Deland McCullough
McCullough will head east to Georgia on Thursday. We expect him to make a stop at Sandy Creek (Ga.) to check on 2026 running back Amari Latimer, who was offered on Pot of Gold Day. The 5-foot-11, 195-pounder ran for 648 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023. Alabama, Auburn and Jacksonville State hosted him over the last few months.
Sandy Creek is also the home of 2025 athlete Dalen Penson, who Notre Dame offered earlier this spring. The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder ran 4.48 earlier this spring with a 36.9-inch vertical and 128-inch broad jump.
Carrollton High School (Ga,) is another stop we believe McCullough will make as he’ll check on 2026 running back Jonaz Walton. The 5-foot-9, 205-pounder ran for 1,683 yards and 24 touchdowns in 13 games last fall. Walton took spring trips to Alabama, Auburn, Georgia and Tennessee.
Latimer Offers: Arizona, Arkansas, Auburn, UCF, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Florida, Florida A&M, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Jacksonville State, Kentucky, Louisville, Marshall, Maryland, Memphis, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Troy, Vanderbilt, Washington, West Virginia, Western Michigan and Wisconsin
Walton Offers: Alabama, Auburn, UCF, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Penn State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, USC, Vanderbilt, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Latimer Sophomore Highlights
Walton Sophomore Highlights
Offensive Line Coach Joe Rudolph
Rudolph will remain in the Northeast and he’ll visit 2025 Notre Dame offensive line commit Matty Augustine and safety commit Ethan Long. Mike Mickens will join him on the trip.
Defensive Coordinator Al Golden
Golden will hit New Jersey and he’ll be joined by a couple coaches for his expected stops. Powerhouse Bergen Catholic (N.J.) is expected to host Golden, Al Washington and Mike Mickens as they’ll check on a couple 2026 offers. Cornerback Jordan Thomas already holds a national offer list and the Irish offered earlier than most. Defensive lineman Jermaine Kinsler also holds an offer and measured in with a wingspan of 81.4 inches over the weekend.
Christian McCollum spoke to both on Sunday:
Top 2026 DB Jordan Thomas Calls Notre Dame Offer "A Major Blessing"
2026 DE Jermaine Kinsler Earns MVP, Talks Notre Dame
Golden and Mickens are also expected to make a trip to St. Joseph Regional (N.J.) to visit with 2025 defensive back Jahmir Joseph. The four-star prospect has an official set to Notre Dame for June 7th and the Irish are recruiting him at safety.
Joseph will take officials to Stanford (May 31) and Penn State (June 14).
Thomas Offers: Akron, Alabama, Boston College, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Illinois, James Madison, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, South Carolina, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Kinsler Offers: Boston College, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Florida, Florida A&M, Florida State, Georgia Tech, James Madison, Marshall, Maryland, Miami, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Western Kentucky and Wisconsin
Joseph Offers: Boston College, Charlotte, Cincinnati, UConn, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, USC, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Thomas Sophomore Highlights
Kinsler Sophomore Highlights
Defensive Line Coach Al Washington
In addition to Kinsler, Washington is expected to make a trip to The Hun School (N.J.) to meet 2025 defensive lineman Kole Briehler. The 6-foot-2, 270-pounder attends the same school as former Notre Dame commit and Michigan signee Owen Wafle and 2026 linebacker Luke Wafle, who the Irish also offered.
Notre Dame hasn’t offered Briehler to date and he he has top three of Ohio State, Oklahoma and Stanford. He'll take officials to all three in June.
Wafle hasn’t made it to Notre Dame since being offered. The 6-foot-4, 225-pounder did make spring trips to Penn State and Texas.
Briehler Offers: Boston College, Charlotte, Cincinnati, UConn, Duke, Florida, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Liberty, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, Stanford, Syracuse, Temple, USC, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Wafle Offers: Boston College, Duke, Georgia, Illinois, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Briehler Junior Highlights
Wafle Sophomore Highlights
Linebackers Coach Max Bullough
Bullough will make his way to The Benjamin School (Fla.) on Thursday to check on 2026 four-star linebacker Adam Balogoun-Ali. The 6-foot-2, 205-pounder doesn't hold an offer from the Irish just yet, but he’s a kid who seems to be trending that way after a big spring.
Balogoun-Ali won LB MVP at the Miami Under Armour Camp. This spring, Balogoun-Ali has verified a 40 of 4.81, 28.1-inch vertical and a broad jump of 110.8 inches.
Offers: Appalachian State, UCF, Coastal Carolina, Florida, FAU, Georgia Southern, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Liberty, Maryland, Miami, Minnesota, NC State, Penn State, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Wake Forest, Western Kentucky and Western Michigan
Sophomore Highlights
Special Teams Coordinator Marty Biagi
Biagi will head to Hartfield Academy (Miss.) to check on 2026 safety Bralan Womack. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder has quietly built an impressive offer list over the last 12 months. Womack took a spring visit to Alabama and then made multiple trips to Mississippi State.
Womack ran 4.64 with a shuttle of 4.38 and a vertical of 30.8 earlier this spring.
Womack Offers: Alabama, Arkansas, UCF, Florida, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Louisville, LSU, Memphis, Mississippi State, Missouri, NNC State, Ole Miss, Tennessee, UNLV and Western Kentucky
Sophomore Highlights
Under Armour Navy Notre Dame Fighting Irish School Logo Performance Cotton T-Shirt
