Nicholas Reddish was back at Notre Dame this weekend for the third time and there seems to be an increased clarity for the 2026 North Carolina safety each time.
“It was a great trip,” Reddish told Irish Sports Daily afterward.
The Independence High School star arrived in South Bend on Thursday and kick started his visit with a private dinner in the athletic director’s box at the Stadium. It was himself, Director of Recruiting Carter Auman, General Manager Mike Martin, defensive backs coach Mike Mickens and defensive backs assistant Jevaughn Codlin.
“There were a lot of different people there,” Reddish explained.
“It just shows I'm a high priority and it really speaks for itself that they're doing that,such a high program, knowing that they still want me and that I'm a big target for them.”
It was the kind of gesture that proved the Irish value Reddish as much as they’ve always told him they did.
“Then on Friday, it was just a whole lot of meetings, just really talking to coaches more about the academic side of Notre Dame and what it can do for you when your career's over in football,” said Reddish.
“It was nothing short of impressive. It's always like that when I go down there, but they just harped on the education more and how it could set you up and the networking you get and the opportunities you get.”
Learning more about the long-term impact Notre Dame can make may have been the highlight of the trip for Reddish.
“It sets you up for life even when football's over,” the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder said. “Even if you have a long career in the NFL, it's 10 years and you're 32. So, after that you still have to be able to do stuff and with having that degree, you'll be able to do so many more things than you'll expect.
“They can provide so much for life and I can see myself being built there, being developed there, not just as a player, but as a person. There are no online classes, so you have to go through hard work every day, being able to balance your schedule. It just sets you up for the real world.”
And knowing that he’ll be surrounded by like-minded people ready to embrace those same challenges makes the opportunity that much better in his mind.
“That's why I feel like Notre Dame went to the national championship because it doesn't start on the field,” he said. “I feel like it starts off the field. I feel like it starts with putting the work in with competing with your classmates before you're even competing with your actual teammates on the football field. I feel like down there it's just a platform to get you better every day no matter what.”
Reddish has one more unofficial visit set to take, to Indiana on April 16th.
After that, it will be official visits to his Top 5, which he announced on Sunday night; Indiana (May 2nd), Wisconsin (May 30th), Virginia Tech (June 6th), Notre Dame (June 13th) and North Carolina (June 20th).
He’s set to announce his final decision on July 11th.
Reddish doesn’t have much more he’s looking to find out about Notre Dame.
“I don't have any questions,” he said. “I don't have anything. My thing with Notre Dame is just want to go down and have fun with the coaches and the staff again.”
And the Irish are sitting at the top at the moment.
“They are number one right now,” he said, adding that Virginia Tech is second.
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