JaDon Blair Gets Head Start at Notre Dame, Eyes Impact at Free Safety

JaDon Blair’s Notre Dame career began earlier than most.

The 6-foot-5, 205-pounder arrived on campus in mid-December to go through bowl prep for the Fighting Irish. That experience quickly turned into a month of practice at receiver on the scout team as Notre Dame made a run to the national championship. 

While most early enrollees get their first taste of college football during winter and player-led workouts, Blair received a firsthand look at what it takes to compete at the highest level.

"It was a great experience seeing the older guys and getting coached up on the little things,” Blair said. “I saw how they practiced and developed for bowl games. It was a great experience, especially for bowl prep to see the preparation and how everyone was locked in for one goal." 

The level of detail was something Blair knew would be a jump, but preparation for four playoff games shed light on what would be expected of him in 2025. 

“It's obvious from high school to college that there is a big difference,” Blair stated. “The preparation and what they put into it was a huge difference from when I was preparing for the playoffs." 

Fast forward to this spring and Blair isn’t working at receiver anymore. The North Carolina native is learning the free safety spot, which is a familiar home. 

"It's very comfortable,” said Blair. “That's what I'm used to. I'm used to roaming, being a free hitter, running the alley and tracking that near hip." 

What’s the focus for Blair? Playing fast. 

"I want to get better every day,” stated Blair. “I've been getting a lot of reps on the field every day. The coaches are trusting me to learn it fast and elevate my game. The only thing they want from me is to play fast. I'm trying to elevate and get better every day." 

Blair has also been impressed with Notre Dame’s new defensive coordinator, Chris Ash. While Ash’s football IQ was expected, it’s his intense and demanding coaching style that has resonated the most with Blair. 

"He's great,” Blair explained. “He seems like a great guy. He's going to teach you the system. He's going to be a hard coach and he's going to be on you, but that's what you want in a coach. I don't want a coach who is going to pat me on the butt and let me get away with something. I really like Coach Ash.

“When he came in, I didn't know him, but I got to know him and he's a great dude. He expects excellence from you and that's what I'm going to give him every time I'm on the field." 

Another key factor in Blair’s decision to choose Notre Dame was the presence of the nation’s top defensive backs coach, Mike Mickens.

"That definitely played a factor, but when I had my one-on-one meeting with Coach Mickens, this dude knew what he was talking about and I knew he would prepare me to get to the next level - my dream,” said Blair.”Just trusting him and trusting him within the system, I had no doubt in my mind and I would be great." 

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