Notre Dame has made Ace Alston a priority and based on him making yet another visit to South Bend this weekend, it seems like the elite 2027 Ohio cornerback is making the Irish a priority as well.
Alston made multiple trips to Notre Dame in the offseason. He returned for the Irish’s home opener against Texas A&M last month and was back again on Saturday for the primetime game against USC.
“It went great,” Alston said. “We pulled up and we ate some good food. They had the food trucks out there waiting for us.
“A couple of legends came in, like Joe Montana. We got to sit down and listen to him and I was just soaking everything in that he was telling me and stuff like that. We had a great time at that.
“He was just talking about his experience at Notre Dame. He just spoke very highly of Notre Dame and how Notre Dame helped him just be successful overall in life. Not even in the NFL, just in life overall. That was just great hearing from an NFL legend, that it's not all about football when it comes to Notre Dame.”
The visit was a little different from the Texas A&M trip because the weather prevented the recruits from going on the field for pregame, but the Anderson High School star enjoyed watching Notre Dame’s 34-24 win over the rival Trojans.
“The game was very intense; a rivalry game, seeing people get into it,” he said. “I just liked seeing them on the competitive side and the atmosphere and the culture. Jeremiyah Love went crazy. It was a great overall game.”
He was impressed with the secondary, especially Christian Gray, Leonard Moore and Adon Shuler.
“I feel like the DBs had a very great game,” he said. “I feel like #6 (Gray) and #15, Lenny, are standout DB players on the team, #8 (Shuler) too. He was just everywhere out on the field making plays. I feel like the DBs did a great job doing their job and doing their assignment.”
Alston has several major offers from schools like Notre Dame, USC, Ohio State, Michigan, LSU, Auburn, Nebraska, Texas A&M and Oregon among several others. He feels the Irish’s scheme in the secondary would fit his style.
“Of course,” said Alston. “I feel like the plays that they're running, the coverages that they run, I feel like I would fit perfectly into their scheme.”
Alston was able to go into the locker room after the win and speak with defensive assistant Jevaughn Codlin, Mike Mickens and Marcus Freeman.
“I caught Coach J Cod in the tunnel when all the players were going up into the locker room,” Alston recalled. “J-Cod was happy to see me. He was like, 'We're glad you're back. Did you seen those DBs strapping out there?' He was just getting everybody very hyped.
“After, we got in a huddle with all the DBs, including Notre Dame players and things like that. Coach Mikcens talked for a little and then we said a little group prayer. And then I got to talk to Coach Mickens afterward. He was just saying he was excited for me to get down there and he wants me to be a part of that program. That really meant a lot coming from the corners coach, Coach Mickens and knowing we're both from Ohio, it just meant a lot.
“And then Coach Freeman, just his speech, after the game, putting the deuces down, everybody getting hyped and then him greeting all the recruits and things like that. It was just great.”
The way the Irish have made it known how much of a priority he is for them is important.
“It just means a lot with how big of a program they're building and everything they have to offer,” Alston said. “It just means a lot that they're making me one of their priority players and I feel loved every time I go down there.”
Alston will go to LSU next weekend and Indiana next month.
But, he’ll remain in contact with Notre Dame as well and is already looking forward to his next trip.
“Just keeping up in the mix and the next time I'll be up there is probably my official visit. Just taking the process all in, still keeping in contact with the coaches, still building that relationship, but just staying in touch.”
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