Coach | New 2026 Notre Dame TE Target Preston Fryzel Has "Top-Notch" Skills
The importance of the moment was obvious to Greg Dempsey as the Central Catholic (Ohio) High School head coach was present when Notre Dame general manager Mike Martin extended an offer to his 2026 tight end, Preston Fryzel.
“You see a look in a kid's eyes,” says Dempsey. “I was in the room when Coach Martin told him they were offering them and to see the look on a kid's eyes when he hears that, you can tell how much it meant.”
Fryzel saw an already-impressive list of scholarships grow this month as he added schools like the Irish, Miami and Indiana.
Dempsey, who coached former star Irish quarterback Deshone Kizer in high school, isn’t surprised.
“His size and athleticism and ball skills are just top notch for what people look for in an athletic tight end,” he says of the 6-foot-4, 220-pounder.
“Great kid, outstanding student, outstanding person, leader. He just has all the intangibles then to go with it.”
Fryzel announced a Top 5 at the start of the month that included Iowa, Pitt, Duke, Minnesota and Cincinnati, but it wasn’t a list of finalists.
Dempsey is proud of the way Fryzel has handled the process.
“There are two things that happen these days,” says Dempsey. “Somebody commits real early and then he ends up decommit and everybody takes shots at that kid, that's one thing. And then you've got other guys who play it kind of slow and it ends up paying off for him. He kind of bet on himself and he's had some great offers.
“He had a great list of five schools. I think all are great programs with great coaches. Then to have the additions to those that have come on. You put out a list and that doesn't mean that everything's done these days. He actually had an opportunity to perform and make his list grow is how I look at it. He did a great job of it.”
The Irish didn’t rush the offer, getting to the school to meet him and see him in person before continued evaluation.
“Getting a chance to do a big film evaluation on them between then and now, I think just showed them we've got something special,” Dempsey says.
“I think in the recruiting business, it happens at certain times. People blow up at different times and he's definitely at that blow-up moment.”
Fryzel is scheduled for an unofficial visit to South Bend June 4th and then potentially adding Notre Dame to an official visit schedule that currently includes Duke, Pitt and Iowa.
Dempsey isn’t surprised the Irish have a chance.
“I would think, especially in this part of the country, but also nationally, Notre Dame always has a chance. You're talking about one of the most national brands there is as a school and as a football program.”
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