For Brayden Parks, this past weekend at Notre Dame was about getting a closer look at how he would be coached.
The 2027 Illinois defensive lineman returned to campus for Junior Day as one of the Irish’s top targets.
“It went great,” Parks told Irish Sports Daily.
The 6-foot-3, 305-pounder has been to Notre Dame multiple times and is already familiar with the program, but this visit allowed him to focus more closely on the details, particularly within the defensive line room.
That started with his time around new defensive line coach Charlie Partridge.
“He's intense, technical,” Parks said. “I didn't expect that, which is great. I love the way he coaches.”
The Brother Rice High School standout has been a priority for Notre Dame since early in the cycle and continues to build on that foundation with each visit.
His conversations with the staff also extended beyond football, something that continues to stand out as he works through his decision.
“It was about how they can better me as a person,” he said.
That message has been consistent in his conversations with head coach Marcus Freeman throughout the process.
“He'll always be that person,” Parks said. “Even if everything's going bad or everything's going good, he'll always have your back.”
The Chicago native also spent time with current players and recruits during the visit, continuing to evaluate how he fits within the locker room.
“I'd say those are definitely guys I could fit in with,” he said. “Just being around them, seeing how they interact with each other. I would love to be a part of that.”
The next step in the process will be getting back to South Bend for an official visit as Notre Dame looks to maintain its position heading into the summer.
He holds offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oregon, Michigan, Georgia, Tennessee, Miami, Illinois, Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, Florida, Auburn and Washington among others.
Parks is scheduled to visit Miami, Tennessee, Michigan, Georgia, Oregon and Illinois this spring, but seems most focused on three for now with official visits set to Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oregon in advance of a summer decision.
He isn’t sure if he will add more official visits or stick with that group, which has emerged as the top tier of his recruitment.
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