2027 Notre Dame LB Target Isaiah Leilua Takes Mature Recruiting Approach

Isaiah Leilua‍ understands that landing an offer from Notre Dame is just the beginning of his relationship with the Irish and that his work isn’t complete.

“I've got to do my part in the recruiting,” the 2027 California linebacker told Irish Sports Daily after receiving the offer on Monday. 

“They gave me the offer, but I'm still an underclassman. I've still got to take the initiative to reach out because ultimately they're recruiting a bunch of guys, so I've got to stick out somehow, stay in contact, and then after we develop that relationship, just start getting out there for visits.”

He doesn’t have a trip to South Bend planned yet, but hopes to eventually.

“I want to see the environment and the coaching staff,” the 6-foot, 215-pounder said. “I've got to see how that fits in for me and my family too.”

Leilua does have visits planned to USC and Arizona State this spring. 

Earlier in the week, Notre Dame’s Director of Recruiting let Leilua know that Irish linebackers coach Max Bullough wanted to talk to him.

“I called him after school and he was just talking about my tape,” Leilua recalled. “He watched it several times and then that's when he offered me.

“He said I can track the ball really well and I set up the run like a linebacker should, but I have coverage plays in my tape, my ability to affect the passing game and be a contributing factor in that way.”

Leilua also has offers from schools like USC, Washington, Arizona, Arizona State, Ole Miss and Wisconsin among the others.

The Irish offer had him fired up, but he did his best to keep his emotions in check.

“I had to keep it cool because they were still on the phone, but after that I was ecstatic,” he laughed. “I had just watched those guys in the national championship not too long ago and now the backers coach just offered me, so it was a full circle moment kind of.”

He has a good understanding of what the opportunity means.

“There is a big tradition over there, a big Catholic school,” he said. “I'm at Servite and we're a Catholic school, so the teachers at my school came through Notre Dame's teaching programs. Not only that, but they have two of our Trinity League backers over there right now in Kyngston (Viliamu-Asa) and Madden (Faraimo).”

He’s already outlined a couple key factors in his ultimate decision.

“The biggest thing I want to do is I just want to have a shot to play as a freshman. I know they have a bunch of guys who they're recruiting, but as long as I get a shot and I see that schools don't play the Portal Game because a lot of schools do that, but Notre Dame's good at developing guys. They played like five freshmen and sophomores last year equally, so that was a good thing to hear. Just a place where I can develop over time. And a place where I can get a shot to play my freshman year.”

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