Notre Dame Stays After 2026 Texas Safety Jermaine Santana-Diaz
Notre Dame has been in on Jermaine Santana-Diaz for months and the Irish aren’t letting up now, which is why they were quick to contact him on June 15th, the first day they directly contact the 2026 Texas safety.
“They called me right at 12 (midnight),” Santana-Diaz told Irish Sports Daily. “It meant a lot because they were the first ones to get at me.
“They definitely want me there for sure. I've been talking to them every week.”
Santana-Diaz, who also has offers from Oklahoma, Boston College and Tulsa, said there isn’t a single message the Irish have been pushing.
“They've just been checking in on me, really,” he said.
They are reinforcing a couple facts that seem to be hitting home, though.
“The fact that Coach Freeman is a defensive coach and they produce a lot of good defensive players,” he said.
The Ridge Point High School standout says Freeman is one reason he’s been interested in the Irish since being offered back in March.
“Coach Freeman and Coach (Mike) Mickens,” he said. “They're just some genuine guys and them producing every year, getting better every year.”
The Irish were hoping to get Santana-Diaz up for their BBQ later this month, but he already had family plans to be in Arkansas on that day and will be visiting Oklahoma during that trip.
He was in South Bend for the spring game in April and does want to return to see more of Notre Dame.
“I didn't really get to see much of the actual facilities, like weight room and stuff like that,” he said. “I saw the campus and stuff and I really enjoyed that part, but I want to see more with that athletic department.”
Santana-Diaz acknowledged that the offer he received from the Sooners last month was a big one.
“It meant a lot because my family's from Arkansas, so OU is right down the street,” he said. “That's always been a school that was one of my dream schools.”
He is set to see the Irish in person early this coming season.
“I'm going to the A&M-Notre Dame game,” he said. “I'm not sure what else.
“I want to go to the OU-Texas game. That's really it so far.”
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