2025 DL Jalen Wiggins Excited to Get Detailed Look at Notre Dame
2025 James Rickards (Fla.) defensive lineman Jalen Wiggins has arrived in South Bend for his official visit to Notre Dame, which has been a long time coming.
The Irish offered the four-star Florida commit in April and now Notre Dame will have a chance to make a significant impression with the Early Signing Period less than a month away.
”It’s been a thing the coaches have been pushing,” Wiggins said of the visit. “You can talk about a school as much as you want to, but being able to get that firsthand experience is probably the best opportunity you can get. That was one of the reasons I wanted to take this official visit - just to see what they’ve been talking about.”
Wiggins has a few specifics he wants to experience at Notre Dame this weekend, starting with fit.
“Just the team leadership, especially from the coaches and even from the players,” stated Wiggins. “The education system and seeing how well that fits with me. The scheme they intend to put me in is one thing I’m looking forward to.”
On the academic side, Wiggins is well aware of the power of the Notre Dame degree and he is looking forward to seeing how that meshes with what he wants out of his college experience.
“I’m hoping to see if it fits my preference,” Wiggins stated. “I know people talk about Notre Dame and the degree is prestigious. I want to see if that’s something I’d be interested in because education is a key point in my recruitment.”
Notre Dame has made Wiggins a priority and he feels it. In fact, many prospects who flip late can be considered luxury additions, but for Notre Dame, Wiggins would be filling a need as they see him as an interior defensive lineman.
“Right now, they told me they really don’t have anybody who looks like me,” explained Wiggins, who is projected to play on the edge for the Gators. “Notre Dame doesn’t usually need anybody, but in my case, it’s something they need. That’s one thing they’ve been pushing towards me as well.”
As far as the game, Notre Dame has one of the best defenses in the nation and Wiggins wants to see that up close.
“I’m ready to see a great game and see them dominate,” said Wiggins. “I want to see what I’ve been expecting and see the atmosphere and presence of the game.”
When it comes to being from Tallahassee, a Florida commit and coming to Notre Dame to watch the Irish play Florida State, it’s all coincidence as the timing worked.
“That kind of popped out of nowhere,” laughed Wiggins. “I was supposed to come over the summer and that got interrupted, but then we flowed over and found a date for an official visit during the season for a game. This is the one that popped up best as far as me not having a game and being able to get here.”
Wiggins isn’t going to rush a decision as he plans to take some time to process all the information from this weekend and also the situation at Florida.
“I think after this, I’ll probably wait until Signing Day to make that decision,” said Wiggins.
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