2026 OL Casey Thomann Fired Up For First Notre Dame Game
Casey Thomann has impressed several college coaches already, which is why the 2026 Illinois offensive lineman is pushing double-digit scholarship offers.
The East Richland High School standout also impressed Notre Dame’s coaching staff during a camp this summer, which is why he’ll be back in South Bend for Saturday’s game against Stanford.
“They liked me and they said they'd get me down for a game,” Thomann says of the Irish. “One of the coaches followed me on Instagram. We got to talking and he said he'd like to have me down for the game against Stanford.”
Thomann’s current offer sheet includes schools Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Missouri and Northwestern among others.
“It's awesome,” he says of the early offers. “Coming from playing football my freshman year, really hitting it hard, that's where it really started and how much I've grown and the path I've taken and the amount of hard work and dedication I put in, it's showing you can really do anything if you put your mind to it.”
The 6-foot-7, 315-pounder may not have an offer yet, but Notre Dame has his full attention.
“Just the culture that they have at that school,” he says. “I love everything at Notre Dame. I love the football that they play, especially the culture that the players and the students both have. Notre Dame is a special place that's had culture for many years, and just the way they play football and how they handle business. I just really want to see how that looks and be a part of it.
“I love their o-line coach, Coach (Joe) Rudolph. He is a great guy. He knew a lot about the game, especially the offensive line. I love the drills that he did. Just all the coaches and everything. I love how competitive they all are and how the camp went.”
If he were ever to be offered by the Irish, that would “mean a lot.”
“It'd really mean that all this hard work has really paid off,” he says. “It's such a great school with a great education and a great culture and that's something that nobody should take for granted.”
He’s already made trips to Northwestern, Illinois and Missouri. He’s planning visits to Indiana and Iowa later this fall.
Not surprisingly, culture is going to be a major part of his decision.
“Definitely how the coaches and the players are, especially the o-line coach. The o-line coach is like a parent. You're always going to be around him. He's going to basically be your guy. Definitely the players who are in your position group and the o-line coach, and then also the culture that the program has or that they're building. I want to be a part of something that continues to grow and has a great culture.”
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