Dallas Golden’s recruiting process wasn’t dramatic. Notre Dame set a bar and then the former Berkeley Prep (Fla.) star became comfortable in South Bend.
Notre Dame’s brotherhood quickly drew in Golden and there haven’t been any surprises two months into his college experience, which is exactly what he was counting on.
”Not really, because I've taken a visit here six or seven times,” Golden said when asked if he experienced any surprises on or off the field. “What they preached to me is true. I came here and everything they said was exactly true.”
Golden has adjusted well as he finds himself in the two-deep at cornerback as fall camp closed on Sunday.
Where will the explosive athlete play? That’s to be determined as he and Mark Zackery IV have been training at boundary and field corner, which isn’t the easiest thing to do as a true freshman.
”I mean, it's challenging, but I'm young, so I'm still learning,” said Golden. “I didn't come in here fully developed yet, so I'm just still learning, getting better at it every day.”
Helping that growth is the chance to learn daily from two of the nation’s top corners, Leonard Moore and Christian Gray. Both have been intentional about mentoring Golden and the younger defensive backs.
”I've seen my game grow a lot,” Golden explained. “Just having great mentors above me, like I said, Leonard Moore and Christian Gray. They've been helping me with the playbook and just the small details on the field. Also, Coach Mick (Mike Mickens) has been coaching me hard.”
The most valuable lesson so far?
”You’re not going to be perfect,” explained Golden. “I'm young, but I'm learning every day. Just playing football, having fun at the end of the day.”
Golden played a little bit of everything in high school, so there wasn’t ever a complete focus on one position.
The Tampa native is now locked into just one position and he’s seeing the benefits of not playing offense.
Was it an easy decision to give up receiver? Not really.
”Me and my dad, growing up, always worked out at corner with the cornerback coaches,” stated Golden. “It’s just this thing I’ve been wanting since I was a little kid.”
Mickens has also seen growth in Golden over the last two weeks.
”He’s just a competitive kid,” explained Mickens. “Now it’s just all about the details. Where’s my leverage here?’ What’s my leverage here? What do I have responsibility-wise? That’s the part he’s figuring out, playing full-time DB right now.”
That said, Golden is in the mix to return punts. It’s hardly a surprise as Golden was a dynamic returner at the prep level and if it’s a role he’s hungry to earn.
“I'm trying to get on the field anywhere,” Golden said. “Whatever the coach feels like I can play, I'm going to give it a go.
“I feel like I'm OK. I'm still getting better. I'm learning different techniques and different ways to field the ball still. We can still get better.”
It’s a humble attitude and one that has been drilled into him over the years at Berkeley Prep. In fact, Golden was quick to credit Berkeley Prep for preparing him to handle life at Notre Dame.
”Berkeley prepared me like no other,” Golden stated. “I had a great teaching staff, great coaching staff with academics and our coach, one of the best head coaches in the country, Dominick Ciao. He's going to always push me to my hardest and make sure I'm a good man on and off the field.”
Golden also has a familiar support system in South Bend. Several Berkeley Prep alums are on campus, including Tre and Troy Reader. Tre is helping coach the linebackers, while Troy is a junior on the baseball team.
”It's definitely a blessing having some family friends so close to you,” Golden said. “I've known them since I was in 8th grade. Just having that comfort of someone you can always go to when things are wrong or you're having a problem or anything, you just go to the Readers.”
What can Notre Dame fans expect from Golden this fall?
”I'm just a football player,” said Golden. “I'm going to play football every single day. Whatever the coach asks me to do, I'm going to do.”
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