2025 RB Commit Justin Thurman Recaps Notre Dame Official

Justin Thurman‍ has been firm in his commitment to Notre Dame since the 2025 Florida running back made it last summer.

But it was still good for Thurman to get back on campus this weekend for his official visit.

“It was absolutely great,” Thurman told Irish Sports Daily. “It was an amazing experience; being able to bond with my fellow commits, being able to spend quality time with not only them, but with the coaching staff. 

“Also just to see all the things that Notre Dame has to offer in terms of academics, athletics, life after football, life after Notre Dame again, all the resources that Notre Dame can provide to put you in the best position for success on and off the field.”

The Jesuit standout called his meetings with the Irish coaches “great.”

“They are very excited to have me up there next year,” he said. “They kept talking about the culture and basically what they're building at Notre Dame and how it's the best place to be. It's the place to be for not only football, but also for life in general. 

“Notre Dame can put you in a really good position after football because as they say, you have to put the helmet down at some point in time, so it's about what you're going to do after Notre Dame, after football. Notre Dame can help you with that.”

Throughout the process, Irish running backs coach Deland McCullough has explained how he envisions using the 6-foot, 185-pound Thurman.

“We have talked about that and he just basically reinforced how my skillset would be contributed in the game as an all-purpose back being able to play receiver along with running back, and also contribute on special teams as well,” said Thurman. “My skillset really fits into the offense that Coach (Mike) Denbrock and Coach McCullough are working with. I feel like I can be a great asset to the team.”

Thurman believes it’s beneficial for him and the other commits in the 2025 class to continue building strong bonds amongst themselves.

“If we're able to basically come in knowing each other, being comfortable around each other, I feel that will help better acclimate us on the football field and just help have a better team chemistry and basically working together as an offense and defense and as a whole team in general,” he said. “I feel like knowing your fellow commits is very crucial in terms of building a good team bond.”

Thurman also spent time this weekend in the ear of 2025 receiver target Derek Meadows‍.

“I got to know Derek very well,” he said. “He's a great guy and I think he's really high on Notre Dame. He really likes Notre Dame and I feel like he would be a great asset of the team. I feel like his personality, just the way he interacted with the other commits, the other guys and the coaches as well, I feel like he would be a perfect fit for Notre Dame.”

Overall, Thurman called the official visit “absolutely amazing.”

“It basically reinforced why I chose Notre Dame in terms of everything; in terms of academic, athletics, the coaches, the culture, the environment, the campus. The whole visit basically just reinforced why I chose Notre Dame. It sets a good example of why Notre Dame is a place to be.”

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