Saturday was a long day for Josiah Molden, but not in a negative way.
The 2027 Oregon cornerback spent the day in South Bend, visiting Notre Dame for the Irish’s home opener against Texas A&M.
“It was a long, fun day,” the 6-foot, 180-pounder told Irish Sports Daily.
“It was so much fun. Being there for the first time in the stadium and seeing all the fans was truly amazing. It was so much fun.”
The tradition was what stood out most to the West Linn High School star.
“Everything they did from the band to the fans and stuff like that,” he said. “Seeing the student section and seeing how much love for the game that they all have was really, really amazing.”
Despite the Irish’s 41-40 loss to the Aggies, Molden enjoyed Saturday night’s game as well.
“Great game,” he said. “Unfortunately, Notre Dame lost by one point at the end, but still it was so much fun to be out there and watching them compete against a Top 20 and now Top 10 team.”
He also enjoyed connecting with Irish secondary coach Mike Mickens and head coach Marcus Freeman.
“I got to talk to the DB coach at the beginning as well as Coach Freeman,” Molden said. “I got a picture with him. I talked to him for a little bit, but I didn't really see any coaches after the game, so those are just the two.
“All good impressions. Marcus Freeman was obviously a really good guy. I was so nervous talking to him, I'm going to be honest. Talking to the DB coach, he really had nothing but nice things to say about me. They're really good people.”
Molden was also able to chat with some of the other visiting prospects.
“I got to spend some time with some of the recruits,” he said. “All the recruits I fit in with. I can adapt really anywhere, so it was easy talking to those guys.”
Molden’s offer sheet includes schools like Notre Dame, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington, USC, Ohio State and Miami among several others.
He’s looking at trips to Oregon, Washington USC and Ohio State among others this fall, but is already thinking about a potential return to South Bend.
“Not just football, well, obviously football, but touring campus and the different types of facilities and the whole NIL structure, just learning about that,” he said of what he’d like to learn on his next trip to Notre Dame.
“I feel like those are the next steps and then obviously meeting more coaches and checking out what type food they have in South Bend.”
Maybe that could come later this season, but Molden said sometime in the offseason is more likely.
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