2025 LB Madden Faraimo Explains Notre Dame Decision

Madden Faraimo‍ doesn’t blame anybody for having a difficult time figuring out what college he was going to choose. 

“I was right there with them,” the elite 2025 California linebacker told Irish Sports Daily. “My mind was flipping all over the place. I didn't even know where to Crystal Ball myself until the last couple moments.”

In the end, he was choosing between Notre Dame, USC and Washington. Texas had been involved until late as well. 

And in those final moments, Faraimo decided Notre Dame was the place for him. 

“They have a great staff,” Faraimo said. “I'd love to play under Coach (Marcus) Freeman, Coach (Al) Golden and Coach (Max) Bullough. I'll have three sets of linebacker eyes on me. But at the end of the day, I just wanted my decision to fall within my faith and how I'd grow in that area of my life.

“Honestly, out of the schools that I was deciding between, I just felt like Notre Dame offered the most opportunities to grow in that area of my life, which is the most important to me. I feel like if I deserve the things on this earth, such as my goals in life - playing my freshman year or even long-term, getting to the NFL, having a wife, having kids - I believe that Notre Dame will give it to me once I earn it.”

The JSerra Catholic High School standout didn’t come to his final conclusion until shortly before Freeman emerged for his National Signing Day press conference.

“He was definitely excited and super happy that I made the decision,” said Faraimo. “I was a little mentally worn down, so I just gave him the news, told him I was thankful, and then I went from there.

“It was definitely stressful in the matter of understanding that there's only one school that I could end up at. These coaches have poured so much time into me, so it was unfortunate that I had to make those calls and say no to three of them. But it definitely was a blessing to be in the position I was in, and I did keep repeating that to myself. I'm just very thankful for the whole process.”

Faraimo’s decision was the biggest of the day for Notre Dame and he certainly felt the reaction from the Irish coaches and fans from across the country.

“It really does mean a lot. Through this whole process, the Notre Dame fans have been really great to me, and I'm still in high school, so to have that support already is just really meaningful.

“Since the beginning, Coach Freeman and the whole entire staff has just been really great to me. It was more than two years of relationship-building, so I really can't wait to earn all I can get and learn everything I can from everyone there.”

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