Jonaz Walton was interested enough in Notre Dame to take a visit way back in January, but that trip launched his interest to an entirely new level, which ultimately led to the 2026 Georgia running back announcing his commitment to the Irish on Wednesday.
“It was the first day that we got there back in January,” Walton told Irish Sports Daily of what led him to South Bend.
“Just walking on the campus, it felt different than everywhere else I've been. I know a lot of people say that about Notre Dame, but it is true. I could feel that this probably was a place that I would want to be.”
Former Irish running backs coach Deland McCullough played a major role in that initial interest and head coach Marcus Freeman and new running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider took it from there.
“Coach McCullough recruiting me and him just telling me all the great things that Notre Dame can do and then even after he had left, Coach Freeman just reminded me of that when we went up there,” said Walton, who returned to South Bend for a second trip back in April.
“It was just a feeling when I was there that I enjoy and always will.”
Walton’s commitment gives the Irish a pair of top backs in the Class of 2026, joining Texas’ Javian Osborne, and 16 overall commits in the class.
For Walton, the decision went beyond football.
“It's the connections Notre Dame has,” he said. “The Notre Dame alumni base is worldwide and the connections they can bring and the connections that I'll grow when I'm there, that's what I'm talking about off the field as well as just their academic support.
“They have a great school, one of the top schools of the nation as well as being able to compete for a national championship every year. It's great. It goes hand in hand there. They're amazing. There are a lot of good things off the field.”
The Central High School star said there was plenty to point to on the field as well.
“Jeremiyah Love is a potential Heisman candidate next year and he was only a sophomore,” said Walton. “Same thing with Jadarian Price, him coming back when he could have easily been drafted last year. Their o-line; I watched a few games and their o-line is amazing. One of the best I've seen.
“And then Coach Freeman, Coach Seider, I can see their belief in what they're doing and you can see it on the field throughout the players and how they talk about them from interviews and everything like that.”
Walton is hopeful that he and Osborne can be one of Seider’s next great duos.
“One thing that sold us was the success that Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton both had at Penn State. They were both freshmen. They came in and they made impacts right away. I feel that could potentially be something that could happen between me and Javian, so I've been sold on it.”
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