2026 Notre Dame OL Commit Greg Patrick Excited For Season, Future

After a 5-5 season in 2024, Gregory Patrick‍ and the Portage Northern (Mich.) High School football squad are fired up for the upcoming year. 

“We're really optimistic,” said Patrick, a 2026 offensive lineman who is committed to Notre Dame.

“Last year was kind of an off-year for us. We ran into some unfortunate circumstances. This year, we have a lot of returning guys. We're really, really optimistic and we're ready to go. We feel great.”

Patrick and his teammates have some big goals, but they’re keeping their sights set on the present.

“Obviously, we want to win championships and do big stuff as a team, but we're not really focused on that,” said Patrick. “We are kind of more of a practice-by-practice team. We're just really staying where we're at right now. 

“Obviously, we want to win conference, win championships, win regionals, but we're kind of just focused on the day-by-day right now.”

The squad has made some changes for the upcoming season.

“A big part of it was upfront and really putting some guys in the best positions where they're at,” he said. “Upfront, offensive line is going to be more of a focus going into this next year.”

Patrick feels like he’s improved in multiple facets this offseason.

“I think I just got better overall,” he said. “I don't think any specific thing. Everything I've been doing, my pass protection, run blocking. I feel like I've really just taken steps in every one of those aspects.”

The 6-foot-5, 275-pounder is ready for his senior season.

“It's going to be really exciting,” he said. “You're really optimistic about the future. This is going to be a good time. I've really enjoyed my time at Northern. It's a little weird knowing that my high school football career is going to be done here in four or five months. It's a pretty weird feeling knowing that. 

“But I'm just really excited, especially with the younger guys too like my brother coming up through high school, really showing them a senior year and what that looks like.”

Of course, he knows his future in the sport will continue in South Bend and he should get several peeks at that future in the fall. 

“I think I'll probably be at almost every game just because I'm so close,” he said. “It's really no big deal for me to just drive down to a game and check them out. 

“On the ticket form that they sent the commits, I think I put down that I'll be at every single one. Things change, but I kind of set my Saturdays for that so far.”

Patrick also appreciates being part of one of Notre Dame’s best recruiting classes in recent history.

“It is pretty special. This is a big class for Coach Freeman and Notre Dame after that run that they had. It's a pretty special feeling knowing I could be with some of these guys and obviously they took a lot of o-linemen. I think it's pretty cool that we have a bit of a bigger class. Just getting to know every one of them has been really cool and I really enjoyed just being around them all.”

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