Emerging 2028 DL Javontae Eldridge Makes Multiple Notre Dame Stops

Javontae Eldridge‍ was clearly impressed with his first trip to Notre Dame, which is why the 2028 in-state edge defender returned the following week.

The Wayne High School standout took in the Irish’s home opener against Texas A&M a couple weeks back and then was back for Notre Dame’s home game against Purdue one week later.

Eldridge was impressed with the Irish’s performance, especially in their win over Purdue.

“The Irish fought very hard from the beginning of the game,” said Eldridge. “They were showing Purdue who the team is. 

“They fought hard from the beginning, especially Tae Johnson showing who he was. He was showing out for Fort Wayne, Indiana.”

A Fort Wayne native himself, Eldridge has been excited to see somebody he knows like Johnson on the field making an impact.

“He's like a brother to me, like an older brother to me,” Eldridge said of Johnson.

“I feel like he's living his dream and soon in like two, three years, I'll be living mine.”

Eldridge has an early offer from Florida Atlantic and is also receiving interest from several other program, including schools like Georgia and Ohio State.

Eldridge plans on visiting Athens and Columbus later in the season. 

For now, though, he remains overwhelmed by what he saw in South Bend this month. 

“I love Notre Dame fans, wild Notre Dame fans,” he said. “Notre Dame fans bring the heat to the game and I feel like they make the other team pretty nervous because they've got an especially big crowd. 

“I also learned that their defense is just crazy. They are hard hitters. They really actually come to the game ready to hit.”

Eldridge has plenty of time before he needs to make a decision, but will be basing it on the love he feels from the coaching staff.

“How the coaches treat me, that's all. I don't really don't go in for the money. That's what some other recruits and all that go for. I just go for how the coaches treat me.”

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