Top 2026 OL Gregory Patrick Excited For Notre Dame Return
After multiple trips to Notre Dame earlier this year and last, Gregory Patrick will be back in South Bend for the Irish’s game against Miami-Ohio on Saturday..
“Pretty much just the game environment and how Notre Dame performs,” the 2026 Michigan offensive lineman said of what he hopes to see this weekend.
“I'm just really looking forward to seeing the game environment and how the fans are.”
Over the summer, the 6-foot-5, 275-pounder announced a Top 9 of Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Alabama.
The Irish, especially head coach Marcus Freeman and offensive line coach Joe Rudolph, certainly have his attention.
“Probably the education and just the University itself, how special of a place it is,” he said of what interests him most. “It's really close to home for me. For me, it's actually the closest college.
“The offensive line play has always been a really big thing too at Notre Dame. That's what has really been piquing my interest along with Coach Rudolph and Coach Freeman and how they run the program and the good relationships I've built with both of them.”
Patrick feels like he can trust Freeman and Rudolph.
“Both of them are just really genuine; really down to earth people, which I appreciate,” he said. “There's no funny business with either of them. They're just really, really good people.”
Patrick has already visited Michigan and Michigan State this season; taking in the Wolverines’ loss to Texas and the Spartans’ narrow season-opening win over Florida Atlantic.
“They were both really good games,” he said. “I know Michigan didn't have the outcome they wanted to, but it was really cool seeing that environment.
“And then Michigan State obviously wanted to perform to their best potential, but it was the first game and with a new coaching staff, a lot of stuff can happen in their first game. I really enjoyed both of those.”
He doesn’t have any other trips locked in beyond this weekend.
“I've kind of been playing it by ear a little bit with how my football schedule is working out and my family,” he said.
The Portage Northern High School standout expects his next cut to come sometime next year.
“It'll just happen naturally when I take my official visits,” he said. “I'll go on more visits next spring. Where I get to for games this year will really help decide where I take my official visits.”
Do the Irish have a good shot at landing one of those official visits?
“100 percent.”
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