Aidan O'Neil came away from his visit to Notre Dame last weekend feeling like he belonged.
The 2027 New Jersey edge defender made his way to South Bend for Junior Day as the Irish continue to build relationships along the defensive front.
“It was great,” O’Neil told Irish Sports Daily. “I had a great time. Their hospitality was great. I felt very welcomed there and I felt like I belonged.”
The 6-foot-5, 250-pounder spent time around both players and coaches throughout the visit, which helped shape that impression.
“I think the guys are just so down to earth,” he said. “I got to talk to a couple of the players and got the opportunity to go out to dinner with some of the coaches and players. They were just really nice and they felt like real people.”
The Don Bosco Prep standout also spent time with defensive line coach Charlie Partridge and defensive coordinator Chris Ash as those relationships continue to develop.
“They've been in the game for a while, but they're not so old to the point where they can't relate to you,” he said. “I can still relate to these guys and there's a lot of connections.”
Ash’s background added another layer to that relationship, as he already has familiarity with O’Neil through his high school program.
“Coach Ash, he coached at Rutgers a little while back and he's good friends with my head coach and he knows a lot about me through him,” O’Neil said.
Irish head coach Marcus Freeman’s message was one of the biggest takeaways from the visit.
“He basically told me Notre Dame is Bosco on steroids and that I belong there,” O’Neil said. “He told me if he drops dead tonight, he wants me to come to Notre Dame no matter what. He said I would be doing myself a disservice not coming there.”
That message resonated.
“It feels amazing,” he said. “I remember watching ‘Rudy’ as a little kid and thinking Notre Dame was the most prestigious thing ever. And it still is.”
The Garden State product said he can already see similarities between Notre Dame and his high school program in terms of structure and expectations.
“I feel like they're very well structured,” he said. “I think my high school is very well structured. I think that we have a lot of things in common.”
The visit focused more on understanding the overall environment and culture than diving into detailed scheme conversations.
The next step in the process will be continuing to gather information as he works through a busy spring visit schedule.
He will meet with Notre Dame’s academic staff in the near future to learn more about potential pathways off the field.
Following the trip, he announced a Top 7 that included the Irish, Texas A&M, Tennessee, Penn State, Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.
By the end of the spring, he will have visited each of those schools and could be ready for a decision shortly afterward.
Want the latest scoop on the Fighting Irish? Sign up for our newsletter and become an ISD Premium Subscriber: Sign Up for ISD
New Era Gray Notre Dame Fighting Irish 19TWENTY Adjustable Hat
